However, unless a copper piece is lacquered, it reacts slowly with oxygen in the air and quickly becomes tarnished.

The critical issue is the value of copper over water. We can live without more copper. Clean water, however, is necessary for survival. Water is more precious than any mineral the mine can extract.

SHOPPING: We can't clean up all of life's messes, but we can point you to a Bissell vacuum that gets pretty close - and right now, it's on sale at QVC for just $80 (yep, that's $60 off).

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