Metal "blobs" that I believe are copper

[perdidogringo]

Hi all,

One type of item that I found all over this Spanish colonial site in Colombia is (what I call) metal "blobs". The ring up on my AT PRo in the high 60s (and sometimes into the 70s) and they are heavy for their size. At first, I figured they were lead, perhaps to make bullets back in the day, but now I suspect that they are copper "blobs". See the photo below. Seems there was a copper mine nearby long ago when the settlement was around. I probably have 20-30 of these copper blobs and I know there is more at the site.

Question- If these turn out to be copper, is there any use for them at all? Scrap copper doesn't seem to go for much nowadays.

 

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[kcm]

If you shine them up (not sure which acid would work best), they can sell on eBay. I have a friend that makes his own copper nuggets and he sells a few that way.

 

[Back-of-the-boat]

If they were copper I would think they would have a green patina,Maybe they are other metals that were removed when purifying the copper?just my thoughts?

 

[perdidogringo]

Thanks, guys, for the feedback. Back of the Boat- yes, that is a very interesting hypothesis and would make sense since why would they leave copper ore laying around, right? On the other hand, I scrubbed down a couple of the samples and some green patina is now apparent as you can see in the photo below. Not sure what to think.

 

[Back-of-the-boat]

Yeah I can now see patina, also on the larger piece it actually looks like some copper shining through.

 

[perdidogringo]

KCM- Maybe this is one of your friend's copper nuggets? Solid Native Copper Polished Nugget Specimen Keweenaw Michigan 2 2oz | eBay

 

[kcm]

KCM- Maybe this is one of your friend's copper nuggets? Solid Native Copper Polished Nugget Specimen Keweenaw Michigan 2 2oz | eBay

Sorry, no. His mine (and him!) is in South Dakota.

 

[kcm]

I'm having lots of trouble getting and staying connected to internet right now, but will try to provide a link to some of his nuggets.

 

[kcm]

Here's a pic from another forum. It's copper, but not pure. Still has other metals in the copper.

 

[Muddyhandz]

The only way you may fetch a bit of coin for that copper (beyond scrap value) is if you are able to prove that an ancient civilization nearby used native copper for their tools or weapons.
If this was the case then you may find some sort of implement made out of that copper nearby and that would change the whole situation.
The Great Lakes here in N.A. are the mecca for the famous Copper culture and the source for almost all of the copper artifacts found attributed to the copper culture throughout North America.
I would research your area (Columbia?) to find out how common or scarce natural copper deposits are.
Maybe you found the only known source in a large area and can link that copper to an ancient people?
Who knows, you maybe onto something historically significant....
Or you at least have some nice pieces of natural copper.