Step 1: Historical background.
Early humans initially relied on stone tools during the Stone Age. Gradually, they discovered metals that could be easily extracted and shaped. The first such metal was copper, which could be obtained in a relatively pure form from nature (native copper).
Step 2: Analysis of options.
- (A) Iron: Although widely used later in the Iron Age, iron requires high temperatures for smelting and was discovered much after copper.
- (B) Copper: The earliest known metal used by humans. Copper tools, ornaments, and weapons have been found from the Chalcolithic Age (Copper-Stone Age).
- (C) Silver: Rare and not as easily extracted in early times. It came into use later for ornaments.
- (D) Bronze: An alloy of copper and tin. It was discovered after the use of pure copper. Bronze marked the beginning of the Bronze Age, which succeeded the Chalcolithic Age.
Step 3: Conclusion.
Since copper was the first metal used by humans in the Chalcolithic period, the correct answer is Copper.