Resources III: Copper Mining

Copper is not quite as easy to get as iron. Unlike bog iron, copper is only available once mining itself is available as a local technology. There are many modern sources of copper, but I'll focus on three as my main ones.

• Chalcopyrite. Found in porphyry copper deposits, which I am going to associate mostly with volcanic areas. It also shows up in coal seams.
• Malachite. This is possibly the oldest source of copper, as the Egyptians were using malachite ores very early in their history. It is also used as a blue pigment.
• Azurite. The best use for this is not as copper ore, but as green pigment. It's almost always found alongside malachite.

The next step once you have copper is to add tin. That of course makes bronze, and you can make fairly good weapons, at least until you figure out how to make iron and then steel.

Resources discussed: chalopyrite, malachite, azurite, green pigment (malachite), blue pigment (malachite), gold, coal, azure