In porphyry copper deposits, copper ore minerals are disseminated in igneous intrusions. Sediment-hosted stratabound copper deposits, in which copper is concentrated in layers in sedimentary rocks, account for about 20 percent of the world's identified copper resources. Globally, mines in these two deposit types produce about 12 million tons of copper per year. This study considered potential for exposed and concealed deposits within 1 kilometer of the surface for porphyry deposits and up to 2.
For porphyry deposits, tracts were delineated; tracts contain 1 or more identified deposits. Fifty tracts were delineated for sediment-hosted stratabound copper deposits; 27 contain 1 or more identified deposits. Results of the assessment are provided by deposit type for 11 regions see Copper Deposit Map on this page. The mean total undiscovered resource for porphyry deposits is 3, million tons, and the mean total undiscovered resource for sediment-hosted deposits is million tons, for a global total of 3, million tons of copper.
The ranges of resource estimates between the 90th and 10th percentiles reflect the geologic uncertainty in the assessment process. Copper Deposit Map: Distribution of known copper deposits in Red indicates copper associated with igneous intrusions porphyry copper deposits and blue indicates copper contained in sedimentary rocks sediment-hosted copper deposits. Map by USGS. Enlarge Map.
South America has the largest identified and undiscovered copper resources about 20 percent of the total undiscovered amount. The world's largest porphyry deposits are mined in this region. Chile and Peru are among the world's top copper-producing countries.
Most of the undiscovered resources are in a belt that extends from Panama to southwestern Mexico. The estimated undiscovered porphyry copper resources are approximately equal to the identified resources.
The leading copper-producing states in the U. In the United States, undiscovered sediment-hosted stratabound copper deposits in Michigan , Montana, and Texas are estimated to contain about three times as much copper as has been identified. Two giant deposits are known, in Michigan and Montana.
Northeast Asia is relatively underexplored, with modest identified porphyry copper resources and only one identified giant porphyry copper deposit. However, the mean undiscovered resources are estimated to be quite large. This region has the largest ratio of undiscovered to identified resources in the study.
North Central Asia has 35 porphyry copper deposits, including a supergiant deposit in Mongolia and a giant deposit in Kazakhstan. The tract area is estimated to contain about three times the amount of identified porphyry copper resource. This region also hosts three giant sediment-hosted stratabound copper deposits, in Kazakhstan and Russia. The USGS estimates that as much sediment-hosted stratabound copper as has already been discovered may be present.
South Central Asia and Indochina are less thoroughly explored than many other parts of the world; however, four giant porphyry copper deposits have been identified to date in the Tibetan Plateau.
Undiscovered porphyry copper deposits may contain eight times the identified amount of copper. Southeast Asia Archipelagos host world-class, gold-rich porphyry copper deposits such as a supergiant in Indonesia and about 16 giant deposits in Indonesia , Papua New Guinea , and the Philippines. Although parts of the region are well explored, undiscovered porphyry resources are likely to exceed identified resources.
Eastern Australia has one giant porphyry copper deposit and several small porphyry deposits. Modest undiscovered resources are expected under cover. Australia has been a leading copper producer for decades. Eastern Europe and Southwestern Asia have been mined for copper since ancient times, and giant porphyry copper deposits have recently been identified. Undiscovered copper is predicted to be about twice the identified resources, both for porphyry deposits along a belt from Romania through Turkey and Iran and for sediment-hosted stratabound deposits in Afghanistan.
Western Europe has the largest sediment-hosted stratabound copper deposit in the world, in Poland. Undiscovered sediment-hosted stratabound copper resources in southwestern Poland are estimated to exceed identified resources by about 30 percent. Africa and the Middle East have the world's largest accumulation of sediment-hosted stratabound copper deposits, with 19 giant deposits in the Central African Copper belt in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Zambia. Significant undiscovered copper resources remain to be discovered.
Copper vs. COVID Research has shown that the novel coronavirus, responsible for the COVID pandemic, can survive for days on glass, plastic, and stainless steel surfaces, but dies within hours on a copper surface.
Copper has antimicrobial properties that are effective against a wide variety of disease-causing organisms. In hospitals, the use of copper and copper alloys on frequently touched surfaces can reduce the number of patients who acquire infections during a hospital stay.
Frequently touched surfaces tested in studies include bedside rails, tray tables, intravenous poles, and chair armrests [4]. Bill Keevil at the University of Southampton found that MRSA an antibiotic-resistant strain of bacterial staph cannot survive on copper surfaces the way it can on the platinum metals often used in hospital building railings, doorknobs, and beds.
With the help of his research, hospitals are installing copper touch surfaces around the world to halt the spread of bacterial infections in hospital settings. Copper wire, tubing, and piping are still some of the most commonly used building materials in the plumbing and electrical industries. Here are some of its most common uses:. We mine copper in large open-pits in Chile and Peru. Copper can occur naturally but is most often mined via minerals such as chalcopyrite and bornite.
Leaching, smelting, and electrolysis processes purify this copper. Learn more about open-pit mining methods. Our approach to mining. A world-class portfolio. COVID update. Take a tour of a modern mine. Q3 Production Report. Working at Anglo American. Our Stories. How to become a supplier. The sound of copper. Our products Common uses for copper in our daily lives. What is copper used for? Here are some facts about common uses for copper today: 1. Copper alloys used in jewellery Copper is an easily molded base metal that is often added to precious metals to improve their elasticity, flexibility, hardness, colour, and resistance to corrosion.
Gold alloys Gold is one of the most common alloyed metals with copper. Sterling silver Sterling silver is also a copper alloy used to make utensils, tableware, and jewellery. Medical uses for copper As the Egyptians documented, copper is known to kill many germs on contact. Copper use in home services Copper wire, tubing, and piping are still some of the most commonly used building materials in the plumbing and electrical industries. Our products. Known land-based resources of copper are estimated to be 1.
Copper is element number 29 on the Periodic Table of Elements. It is considered a semi-precious, nonferrous, malleable metal with many hundreds of applications in the areas of electricity and electronics, plumbing, building construction and architecture, industry, transportation, and consumer and health products. Its most important properties include superior heat transfer, electrical conductivity and corrosion resistance. Copper is easily alloyed with other metals.
Currently, there are more than copper alloys listed with the American Society for Testing and Materials International. More than of them have been acknowledged by the U. Environmental Protection Agency as antimicrobial. EPA registration is based on independent laboratory tests showing that, when cleaned regularly, copper, brass and bronze kill greater than Brasses and Bronzes are probably the most well-known families of copper-base alloys.
Brasses are mainly copper and zinc. Bronzes are mainly copper along with alloying elements such as tin, aluminum, silicon or beryllium.
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