Copper is one of the metals in Minecraft that you can discover and mine underground. However, this resource functions differently from typical iron and gold, as you cannot craft tools or weapons with it. So, what is copper useful for? Well, much like in the real world, copper has exciting properties that make it great for building. The oxidation process is particularly noteworthy, as Minecraft once again shows how much it draws inspiration from real-world phenomena. Today, we will take a closer look at copper, its various building blocks, and the oxidation process!
Finding and Mining Copper: Locations and Tips
Like all other metals in the overworld, copper can be found in the form of ores underground. You will encounter copper veins in both regular stone and deepslate, and you can mine them with at least a stone pickaxe. Copper chunks are dropped, which you can smelt into copper ingots in a furnace. Copper ore can be found between heights -16 and 112, with the highest concentration at Y-level 43. Copper is more prevalent in dripstone caves if you’re specifically looking for it.
Similar to iron, copper also has long veins from which you can extract hundreds to thousands of copper ores and raw copper. These copper veins can be identified by red granite blocks and sometimes raw copper blocks mixed with a multitude of ores. You can find these veins above Y-level 0, but they can also extend deeper.
You can obtain more copper by using the Fortune enchantment. This allows you to extract up to 20 raw copper from one ore. With “Silk Touch,” you can mine the ores themselves and either smelt them or store them for later.
Creative Building Ideas with Copper Blocks
As mentioned earlier, you cannot craft tools like pickaxes from smelted copper ingots. However, copper is incredibly versatile when it comes to building! The reddish-orange blocks have a truly unique color and come in many different variations.
Raw Copper Block: A block resembling cobblestone, showcasing both orange and green hues. You can craft it from nine raw copper and use it for decoration.
Copper Block: You can assemble this block from nine regular copper ingots and also use it for decoration. It has a smooth appearance, with four nails in each corner, making it perfect for an industrial style!
Cut Copper Block: A variation of the regular copper block, divided into smaller squares, creating a tile pattern. It can be crafted from four regular copper blocks or with a stone cutter. Cut copper also has slabs and stairs, which you can also craft. This block is excellent for decoration!
Chiseled Copper Block: A decorative block crafted from two cut copper slabs. Its pattern also indicates an industrial use.
Copper Lantern: With three copper blocks, a redstone, and a blaze rod, you can craft this beautiful lamp! It can be turned on with a redstone signal and glows with a fascinating pattern. The more oxidized the block is, the weaker the light.
Copper Grate: From four copper blocks, you can create this unique block intended to represent a grid pattern. The block functions similarly to glass, allowing light to pass through.
Copper Door/Copper Trapdoor: Like iron, you can craft doors and trapdoors from copper ingots. Their functionality is similar to other metals.
Some of these copper blocks can also be found in trial chambers. We have written an entire article about it (Minecraft Trial Chambers: How to Find & Master Them!) , if you want to take on this challenge.
Oxidation of Copper: How It Works and How to Stop It
But copper doesn’t always stay orange and changes color over time if you don’t intervene. This is due to the oxidation process, where copper reacts with the air, resulting in a chemical reaction. This changes the color of the orange copper to a greenish or turquoise hue.
In our world, the Statue of Liberty in New York City’s harbor is probably the best example of this. While the statue was also orange in the first months, it gradually turned into the green statue we know today. Unfortunately, the process cannot be traced back due to the exclusive black-and-white photography of that time.
In Minecraft, there are four stages of oxidation:
Normal Stage: Not oxidized, orange color
Tarnished Stage: Slightly oxidized, somewhat greenish hue
Weathered Stage: Advanced oxidation, noticeably green color
Oxidized Stage: Fully oxidized, green/turquoise color
It takes about 15 to 30 minutes to go through one stage. The more air is between individual copper blocks, the faster they oxidize.
Manually Stop or Reverse Oxidation
If you don’t want your copper blocks to weather or want to keep them in a specific stage, there are ways to do so! You can prevent oxidation with honeycombs. This can be done with a right-click on the respective copper block or directly in the crafting interface. You’re essentially applying a protective layer of wax. Meanwhile, you can reverse the process with an axe. Similar to stripping bark from logs, you can remove the oxidized layer from the copper and maintain your desired stage.
Additional Uses: From Telescope to Armor
But copper is not only good for decoration but is also required in several other recipes. And even though you can’t craft axes or swords from it, you should always have some copper ingots on hand! Some of the items are really useful and belong in your inventory or on your buildings.
Telescope: With an amethyst shard and two copper ingots, you can craft a telescope. It allows you to better survey your Minecraft world and observe things from a distance.
Brush: A brush can be crafted from a feather, a copper ingot, and a stick. It is useful for archaeology and armadillos. We have already written articles on both topics!
Lightning Rod: With three copper ingots, you can build your lightning rod, which protects your constructions from natural lightning strikes. This prevents wooden huts from accidentally burning down, for instance.
Armor Decoration: Use copper ingots in combination with smithing templates to create cool armor with patterns. Copper gives you an orange tone.
Conclusion
Copper is an incredibly versatile block in Minecraft that many tend to overlook or completely ignore. Yet, you can create many beautiful building blocks from it, and thanks to oxidation, they change color over days and weeks in the game. This alone should be an incentive to use copper here and there! Rent your own Minecraft server and set off with friends to search for massive copper veins to try out this mechanic. And if you want to maintain a specific stage, use honeycombs or axes for controlled handling of copper!
