Copper
| Copper | |
| |
| Stackable | 64 |
| Smeltable | |
| Smelt Point | 1084°C |
| Requires Container | Yes |
| Items | |
Copper is a Tier 2 metal. It is likely to be the first metal available to players at the beginning of a game. Copper may be cast or smithed into a variety of tools, weapons, armor and items. It is also a component in many alloys.
Creation
Obtaining copper nuggets
Copper nuggets can be obtained through panning, mining, or simply picking up surface bits of copper-containing ores. Due to the size of deep native copper veins as well as its presence as a surface ore in most rock types, it is one of the most common metals players will find.
There are two types of copper-containing ores in the game:
- Malachite
- Native copper
These ores may appear as surface deposits, or as deep native copper veins. Copper ores can be detected through the use of a prospecting pick. Mining copper ores with a pickaxe creates ore chunks, which must be further smashed with a hammer to yield useable nuggets.
Copper nuggets may also be sold by a commodities trader, or found in cracked vessels in ruins.
Usage
Copper nuggets must be smelted in a crucible until molten before use. Molten copper can be directly poured into a cast, or into an ingot mold to form ingots for smithing. Copper tools qualify as Tier 2 tools and weapons, and as such a copper pickaxe is capable of mining through stone.
Malachite nuggets may be used as a pigment, producing the color verdigris.
Casting
Copper nuggets or bits must be melted down in a crucible on a firepit. Due to its higher smelting temperature, this process will require high-temperature fuel such as charcoal or coal.
Liquid copper can be poured into molds created through clay forming. Copper can also be cast into ingots for smithing.
Smithing
Copper ingots can be heated in a forge and smithed using an anvil and hammer into a variety of items. Some copper items can only be made via smithing, such as copper plates or saws.
Alloys
Copper is a primary component of all bronze alloys, used for Tier 3 items. Copper is also used for brass (alloyed with zinc) and molybdochalkos (alloyed with lead).
| Alloy | Copper % | Other metal % | Other metal % |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tin bronze | Copper 88-92% | Tin 8-12% | - |
| Black bronze | Copper 68-84% | Silver 8-16% | Gold 8-16% |
| Bismuth bronze | Copper 50-70% | Zinc 20-30% | Bismuth 10-20% |
| Brass | Copper 60-70% | Zinc 30-40% | - |
| Molybdochalkos | Copper 8-12% | Lead 88-92% | - |
| Ores, metals and minerals | |
|---|---|
| Guides | Ore Deposits • Metals |
| Metals | Copper • Iron • Meteoric iron • Gold • Silver • Lead • Tin • Zinc • Bismuth • Titanium (Ilmenite) |
| Alloys | Bronze (Tin bronze, bismuth bronze, black bronze) • Steel • Brass • Solder (Lead solder, Silver solder) • Molybdochalkos • Cupronickel • Electrum |
| Minerals | Alum • Borax • Cinnabar • Coal • Halite (Salt) • Lapis lazuli • Quartz • Saltpeter • Sulfur • Sylvite (Potash) |
| Tools | Pickaxe • Hammer • Prospecting Pick • Crucible • Forge • Ore blasting bomb • Quern • Anvil • Bloomery • Helve hammer • Pulverizer |
| Other | Gemstones |
| Related mechanics | Panning • Mining • Clay forming • Casting • Smithing • Steel making |
