Copper is a ductile metal w/very high thermal and electrical conductivity. Known for its reddish-orange color, it is used as a conductor of heat and electricity, a building material, and a constituent of various metal alloys. Pure copper is orange-red and acquires a reddish tarnish when exposed to air. We are offering a 4.5x4.5x2.5" tall specimen that has tiny quartz crystals interspersed throughout. It weighs just under 1.25 lbs. It was mined in Chile, from the Atacama Desert, one of the driest and harshest regions on earth, north of Copiapó, in the North. This area is home to the largest copper mine in the world and was brought under the international spotlight in 2010, when 33 Chilean miners were trapped 700 meters underground. The crew of experienced miners and technical support personnel subsequently survived for a record 69 days deep underground before their rescue.