also: じねんどう
noun
native copper
Mineralogy term for naturally occurring metallic copper, as opposed to refined copper.
この鉱山では自然銅が採れる。
Native copper is mined at this mine.
銅 is the general term for copper as a metal or element, while 自然銅 specifically refers to copper found in its native metallic form in nature.
Compound of 自然 (natural) and 銅 (copper). The reading しぜんどう is the standard on'yomi combination; じねんどう uses the older go-on reading for 自然.