canasia.org

Most of the copper in pennies and pipes arose in supergiant stars like Rigel and Betelgeuse, say astronomers in Italy. The stars then exploded, casting the copper into space. The new finding means that gold, silver, and copper all owe their existence to massive stars. Scientists know the origins of most of the chemical elements from hydrogen to uranium. However, copper (atomic number 29) is an exception. Some theories say the element originated in big stars, while other theories point to stars smaller than the Earth: exploding white dwarfs, which astronomers call type Ia supernovae. For the full story, please see http://KenCroswell.com/Copper.html . Correct email:  MagnificentUniverse at yahoo dot com.

Actually, some elements heavier than iron are NOT made by supernovae: strontium (atomic number 38), yttrium (39), zirconium (40), niobium (41), barium (56), and several other elements heavier than iron were synthesized chiefly via the s-process, in which a slow flux of neutrons in a red giant or supergiant transforms iron nuclei into heavier elements. Also, if the new work is right, most copper was NOT made by supernovae.    I'd forgotten that the s-process occurred in AGB stars over long periods    of time. Thanks for waking me up on this point.   -Sam

Actually, some elements heavier than iron are NOT made by supernovae: strontium (atomic number 38), yttrium (39), zirconium (40), niobium (41), barium (56), and several other elements heavier than iron were synthesized chiefly via the s-process, in which a slow flux of neutrons in a red giant or supergiant transforms iron nuclei into heavier elements. Also, if the new work is right, most copper was NOT made by supernovae.   I'd forgotten that the s-process occurred in AGB stars over long periods   of time. Thanks for waking me up on this point.  -Sam      As I needed to review this, I thought others might be interested      in the neutron sources when massive stars are in their Asymptotic Giant      Branch phase after leaving the main sequence.        http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S-process#The_S-process_in_stars     -Sam