Copper is a new ore that was added to Minecraft in version 1.17. Here are some of the uses of copper in Minecraft:

• Construction and Decoration: Copper ore can be used to replace stone, granite, diorite, andesite, tuff, and deepslate. Copper blocks are an excellent block for industrial-style Minecraft builds like factories due to their clean-cut or oxidized looks. Copper blocks can be crafted into cut copper slabs and stairs.

• Oxidizing: Copper blocks will oxidize over time and turn green, but you can wax them to stop the aging process. The oxidizing process does not happen overnight. Copper in Minecraft will show signs of oxidizing after several daylight cycles.

• Lightning Rod: Copper ingots can be used to craft lightning rods, which redirect all lightning strikes in a certain radius to the top of the rod.

• Spyglass: Copper ingots can also be used with an amethyst shard to make a spyglass.

• Preventing Fire: Copper rods in Minecraft can be used to prevent lightning from lighting a players home on fire.

To obtain copper, players need to mine copper ore, which is most commonly found underground, especially underneath beaches. Once mined, it drops as raw copper, which needs to be smelted in a furnace or blast furnace to turn into ingots.