925 Sterling Silver, Gold and Copper

Artisan Style Rings, Bracelets, Necklaces, Pendants

Natural, Cabochon and Faceted Cut Stones and Beads.

Amethyst, Citrine, Peridot, Charoite, Tigers Eye, Quartz, 

Topaz, Ruby, Emerald, Obsidian, Carnelian, Agate ....

Copper

History of copper

Copper has evolved into many different uses.  It was the first metal mined and used for many different crafted uses by man.  It was largely available and relatively easily to extract out of the ground.  It was used for tools, weapons and ornamental items.  

It was a historical event when the process needed to obtain copper from its ores was discovered.  This gave birth to metallurgy. From this we developed great industries, not only copper industry, but indirectly iron and steel industries.

Leaching, smelting and electrolysis is required to obtain pure copper.  Several forms exist of copper including pure copper, brasses (copper-zinc alloys) and bronze (copper-tin alloys)

Copper is an element (Cu) and is found in nature mostly in impure mineral form such as malachite, a green semi-precious stone or azurite, a blue crystal and the basic carbonate of copper

It is estimated that copper was discovered as early as around 9000 B.C. in the Middle East.

The worlds largest deposits of copper are found in Chile.  The United States has the second largest deposit having Arizona as its largest source.  Canada, Russia, China, Poland, Mexico, Kazakhstan, Indonesia and Zambia also have sources of copper.

Naturally occurring Copper resources have almost run out and copper is no longer as economically affordable to mine.  Commercial Copper mining now focus on removing the element from multi-elemental compounds or recycling used copper.  

Statue of Liberty -  Copper was the choice for the construction of the Statue of Liberty.  The statue is made of a sheathing of pure copper, hung on a framework of steel.  

Popular health and spiritual beliefs and opinions:  We are not representing any of this as factual, please do your own research in regards to opinions on copper.

Copper is representative of  the number One and the Base and Sacral Chakras. Taurus and Sagittarius astrological signs as well as Earth/Fire elementals and the Sun and Mars.

All living organisms, including mankind need trace elements of certain metals.  Copper is one of these metals mankind needs as it activates the enzymes which catalyses certain biochemical reactions. Since copper serves as a co-factor for many enzymes, it's absence can lead to certain diseases.  Copper is the third most prevalent mineral in our body and is mostly carried by the blood plasma protein, ceruloplasmin.  

Most of us don't get sufficient copper from our modern diet.  

The most important enzyme affected by lack of copper is lysyl oxidase which is involved in the synthesis and maintenance of bone and connective tissue.  With lack of activity of this enzyme the maintenance breaks down.  Many people believe that copper is essential to the activation of lysyl oxidase and supports both elastin and collagen.

Copper is believed to be an effective anti-inflammatory remedy for rheumatism, arthritis, osteoporosis, tendonitis and sports injuries.  When in contact with our skin it is absorbed by our body in small amounts directly into the circulatory system avoiding the gastrointestinal tract side affects that often occur with anti-inflammatory drugs.

Some main sources of copper are foods such as liver, seafood, meat, whole grain soy flour, beans, wheat bran, almonds, avocados, barley, garlic, blackstrap molasses, nuts, oats, beets and lentils. Oysters are very rich in copper. Copper water pipes help provide some copper in our drinking water and if we use copper cooking pots we will increase the copper in our food while we cook it.  When foods are stored in tin cans and in food materials high in acid content the copper content is lost.

I think many of us need to examine our diets and determine if we feel we are obtaining copper through good food sources.

Some of the benefit claims of copper I have found on the internet are,  anti-inflamatory properties to help with arthritis, proper growth, pigmentation of hair and eyes, connective tissue, brain stimulation, utilization of iron and sugar, enzymatic reactions (copper is an element or cofactor in as many as 50 enzymes), helps in slowing aging, increased energy production, thyroid glands ..... and there are many more interesting facts and opinions about copper and health.  Like anything else to much may not be a good thing so understand what your needs are, talk with a physician, dietician, homeopath, holistic etc.

We suggest you research many of  the facts and opinions about copper to see what you believe is good for you as an individual.

Copper has been used for many years in jewelry.  We are making fashionable attractive copper jewelry that will be fun and enjoyable to wear.  We are combining many semi-precious stones into our copper jewelry designs.  Check out our many earring styles at our market store.

Our copper line is being introduced at are market location January and February 2010.  Western Fair Farmers Market London, Ontario.