How is mined copper treated legally after it's been removed from the ground?

Once mined, copper is classified as personalty, or personal property, because it is no longer affixed to the land where it was extracted. In real estate terms, real property refers to land and anything permanently attached to it, while personal property refers to movable items that are not permanently attached. When copper is mined, it becomes a tangible item that can be bought, sold, and transferred independently of the land from which it came.

This classification as personalty allows for various implications in transactions, ownership rights, and taxation, separate from the land’s ownership. In the context of mineral rights, while minerals can be considered part of the real property when in the ground, once extracted, they transition into personal property, which is key for legal and commercial purposes. This is why the other options do not accurately describe the legal status of mined copper.