A widespread and industrially important mineral, copper has been used by humans as ornamentation, tools, and as a precious metal for thousands of years. The word copper originates from the latin for the island of Cyprus, where early very productive copper mines supplied much of the ancient world with the material. Copper is a so-called native metal, which means it naturally occurs in its metallic form. Natural copper is relatively soft and often found in intricate and unique structures, with nodules and delicate filigree-like branches.