Phosphates & Oxides
Native Metal
What it is
Pure, uncombined metal found in nature. Native copper forms dendritic (tree-like) crystal growths in basalt cavities. Humans' first metalwork used native copper, predating smelting by thousands of years.
How it forms
Native metals form when metal-bearing fluids deposit pure metal in rock cavities, or when chemical reduction strips oxygen from metal oxides.
Cu (pure elemental copper)
