The source of the copper used for the Statue of Liberty is not known, but is likely to be European. Local tradition suggested that it came from the Visnes Mine near Bergen, Norway. Copper samples from the Statue and from an object presumed to be made from Visnes copper were analyzed by emission spectrography, after the corrosion products were removed. The pattern of trace elements was very similar in each case. Documentary evidence of production, and a knowledge of the ore used (in some cases) at other major sources of supply for copper in Europe, also suggest that the Visnes mine was the most likely source for a massive, single supply of copper at that time.