Why was copper one fo the first metals to be extracted from its ore?
1) It was easy to find. Many places have copper available right up to the surface and it does not require deep mines to get usable amounts. (Though there are deep mines now.) 2) It is highly versatile in its base form. It does not need to be combined with other metals or materials to be useful. 3) It is highly malleable and can be formed into useful shapes without excessively high temperatures, which put other metals out of reach for ancient civilizations.
