Ordinary copper ore from Alderley Edge, Cheshire

Copper is the second most commonly used metal after iron. It has a warm reddish colour, is very malleable and ductile and is one of the best conductors of heat and electricity. Copper was probably the first metal used by man and because it is difficult to cast, it is usally alloyed with tin (to make bronze), zinc (to make brass), aluminium (to make aluminium bronzes), nickel (to make cupro-nickels) and lead.