Copper
Copper (Cu) is an extremely useful industrial metal that is ductile (capable of being drawn into wire), malleable (capable of being hammered and molded) and an excellent conductor of electricity (only silver is better).
Copper is found in many minerals that occur in deposits large enough to mine. These include: azurite, malachite, chalcocite, acantite, chalcopyrite and bornite. Most copper comes from chalcopyrite.
The world’s leading producer of copper is Chile, followed by the U.S. and Peru. The majority of copper in the U.S. is produced in Arizona, Utah and New Mexico. Other major copper producing nations include Australia, Canada, China, Mexico, Russia and Indonesia.
Type
Element (Minerals/Ores of)
Mineral Classification
Sulfide
Chemical Formula
CuFeS2
Streak
Greenish black
Mohs Hardness
3.5
Crystal System
Tetragonal
Color
Brass yellow, may have iridescent purplish tarnish
Luster
Metallic
Fracture
Irregular, uneven
Description
Copper (Cu) is an extremely useful industrial metal that is ductile (capable of being drawn into wire), malleable (capable of being hammered and molded) and an excellent conductor of electricity (only silver is better).
Copper is found in many minerals which occur in deposits large enough to mine. These include: azurite, malachite, chalcocite, acantite, chalcopyrite and bornite. Most copper comes from chalcopyrite.
The world’s leading producer of copper is Chile, followed by the U.S and Peru. The majority of copper in the U.S. is produced in Arizona, Utah and New Mexico. Other major copper producing nations include Australia, Canada, China, Mexico, Russia and Indonesia.
Relation to Mining
The amount of copper believed to be accessible for mining is 1.6 billion tons. In addition, it is estimated that 700 million tons of copper is available in deep-sea nodules. Mineral-rich nodules of magnesium, copper and other metals are known to form as a product of deep-sea volcanic activity. Retrieving these nodules from the sea floor is as yet too expensive to allow this to be done commercially.
Open pit mining accounts for the majority of copper mined both domestically and internationally. Recycled copper, predominantly from scrap metal, supplies approximately one-third of the United States’ annual copper needs.
Uses
In pure form, copper is drawn into wires or cables for power transmission, building wiring, motor and transformer wiring, wiring in commercial and consumer electronics and equipment; telecommunication cables; electronic circuitry; plumbing, heating and air conditioning tubing; roofing, flashing and other construction applications; electroplated coatings and undercoats for nickel, chrome, zinc, etc.; and miscellaneous applications. As an alloy with tin, zinc, lead, etc. (brass and bronze), it is used in extruded, rolled or cast forms in plumbing fixtures, commercial tubing, electrical contacts, automotive and machine parts, decorative hardware, coinage, ammunition, and miscellaneous consumer and commercial uses. Copper is an essential micronutrient used in animal feeds and fertilizers.
