Ancient Nasca Iron Ore Mine In Peruhttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/...80129125405.htmScienceDaily (Feb. 3, 2008) — A Purdue University archaeologist discovered an intact ancient iron ore mine in South America that shows how civilizations before the Inca Empire were mining this valuable ore
Archaeologists know people in the Old and New worlds have mined minerals for thousands and thousands of years," said Kevin J. Vaughn, an assistant professor of anthropology who studies the Nasca civilization, which existed from A.D. 1 to A.D. 750. "Iron mining in the Old World, specifically in Africa, goes back 40,000 years. And we know the ancient people in Mexico, Central America and North America were mining for various materials. There isn't much evidence for these types of mines.
Copper: a world trade in 3000 BC? 
http://www.philipcoppens.com/copper.htmlhttp://www.exploringthenorth.com/cophistory/cophist.html
http://ethnicity.lib.mtu.edu/groups_NatAms.htmlEurope’s economy between 2000 and 1000 BC stood and fell with copper, used for the creation of bronze. At the same time, large quantities of copper were mined in America, though no-one seems to know who was using it. A question of a world economy, and supply and demand?
