Copper is Versatile

In hazardous environments, copper is non-magnetic and non-sparking. Because of this, alloys such as beryllium copper are used for special tools where a spark would be dangerous, such as around flammable liquids or explosive gases. They are also important in military applications, such as minesweepers, which must have a low magnetic permeability. The famous sea clocks and watches made by John Harrison in the 18th Century, which helped solve the problem of longitude, could not have been made without extensive use of brass and tin bronze.