Copper. Natural nugget of copper. Copper is a pinkish-red transition metal which is malleable, ductile and an excellent conductor of heat and electricity. Apart from being found as nuggets, it is also found in the minerals cuprite, azurite, chalcocite, chalcopyrite and malachite. The metal is usually extracted from these minerals by smelting, leaching and electrolysis. Copper is used extensively in electrical cables and water pipes. Its alloys, brass (copper-zinc) and bronze (copper-tin), are also widely used. The chemical symbol for copper is Cu.