The influence of ion -exchange conditions upon the spatial distribution of small copper particles in soda -lime silicate glasses has been investigated. The samples, polished in the shape of a wedge with a taper approximately 1 µm per 1 mm of sample length, were characterised by means of transmission electron microscopy and optical absorption spectroscopy. The observed changes of the position of the plasmon resonant band with the distance from the surface were related to the spatial distribution of the size and/or shape of colloidal copper particles. The appearance of a new optical absorption band, located on the high -energy side of the colloidal one, could be related either to some aggregates of copper or to the copper oxide colloids.