Raw Copper Nuggets from Zimbabwe
Individual copper nuggets from Zimbabwe, pieces are sold individually or orders can also be placed by weight. Prices are calculated at 15p per gram and there's a large selection of pieces to choose from. Due to the volume of copper that we sell it's not possible for us to photograph each copper nugget individually. If you'd like to place an order for a specific weight please get in touch to let us know how much you would like. We'll then send you a PayPal invoice in order to make payment.
Copper was one of the first metals to have been used by man and can be traced back as far as 10,000 years. It was also the first metal to be smelted which is the process of extracting a metal from an ore by heating and melting. Imported by the Roman Empire from Cyprus, copper was originally called aes cyprium meaning "metal of Cyprus" although that was later shortened to cuprum.
Widely used in industry because it resists corrosion from the air, moisture and sea water. Copper conducts electricity and heat hence is used in pipes, wiring, heating, cooling applications and cooking pans. It's widely alloyed with other metals including brass which is copper and zinc. Bronze is copper, zinc and tin although other elements are often added. Sterling silver is 7.5% copper 92.5% silver which is the reason for the widely used 925 hallmark.
Even though copper is used for the purpose of strengthening silver it's actually quite a soft metal. With it being ductile and malleable it hardens after being shaped and hammered but once heated, it softens again. Whilst most people think of silver as being a metal that tarnishes, in its purest form silver does not tarnish but copper does. The tarnish that can be seen on sterling silver is actually caused by the copper.
Copper is an important trace element that's vital for the health of all living organisms and can be found in a wide range of foods.
Harvard Museum of Natural History, Cambridge, Massachusetts. Photo Stone Mania ©
As well being a chemical compound copper can also occur as a native element. Known as native copper this means it's not combined with any other element. Most copper is extracted from ores which are rocks that contain important elements and metals in sufficient quantities to make extracting them worthwhile. The quantity however is usually very small. The popular green coloured mineral known as malachite is one of the oldest ores of copper.
Prior to 1992 coins in the United Kingdom contained 97% copper which meant the 2p coin contained 6.9 grams of copper and the penny 3.45 grams. As market price increased the amount of copper being used was reduced. From 1992 1p and 2p coins have been manufactured from steel with only a thin copper plate. That means they're no longer as valuable as they once were.
Our third photo gives an idea of the size of the copper from our collection. The large nugget on the left weighs 10.4 grams, the piece on the right weighs 17.2 grams. The copper nugget on the front left weighs 7.6 grams and the piece on the right weighs 1.6.
To see our original sized photograph of these copper nuggets head over to our page on Flickr.
When making your purchase please do not adjust the quantity as you are purchasing the actual piece of copper that you've selected from the dropdown list.
Weights Sizes Prices
3.8 / 1.6 x 1.3 cms £0.57
4.2g / 2.2 x 1.5 cms £0.63
4.7g / 2 x 1.3 cms £0.75
4.8g / 2.6 x 1.8 cms £0.72
5.5g / 2 x 1.3 cms £0.82
5.5g / 2.3 x 1.7 cms £0.82
5.7g / 2.8 x 1.4 cms £0.85
5.8g / 2.4 x 1.5 cms £0.87
5.9g / 1.9 x 1.4 cms £0.88
5.9g / 2.8 x 1.5 cms £0.88
6.4 / 2 x 1.9 cms £0.96
6.5 / 2 x 1.4 cms £0.97
7.6g / 2 x 1.3 cms £1.14
7.7g / 2.9 x 1.5 cms £1.15
7.8g / 3 x 2.3 cms £1.17
8.1g / 2.2 x 1.8 cms £1.21
8.3g / 2.7 x 1.5 cms £1.24
9.1g / 2.4 x 1.9 cms £1.36
9.9g / 2.1 x 1.9 cms £1.48
10g / 2.2 x 1.6 cms £1.50
10g / 2.8 x 1.3 cms £1.50
10.1g / 1.9 x 1.6 cms £1.51
12g / 2.1 x 1.7 cms £1.80
12g / 2.1 x 1.9 cms £1.80
12.7g / 2.2 x 1.6 cms £1.90
13.1g / 3 x 2.1 cms £1.96
14.6g / 3.5 x 2 cms £2.19
15g / 2 x 1.6 cms £2.25
15.4g / 2.2 x 1.8 cms £2.35
17.2g / 2.8 x 1.6 cms £2.58
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