When was copper first discovered?

Copper was first discovered around 9000 B.C. The first organized use of copper was around 4500 B.C, by the Mesopotamians. Copper was initially used to make weapons and tools.

Originally, copper was difficult to acquire, making it valuable. Ancient societies used it for jewelry and ornaments. The Chinese started to use the metal around 2800 B.C, while the Egyptians began to use it around 3500 B.C. The process for separating copper from rock improved during 3000 B.C, which made its usage more common. Pure copper was very soft, which made it a poor choice in tools and weapons. The creation of a stronger metal, bronze, replaced copper in most tools by 2500 B.C.