Where can I mine copper ore?

The largest copper mine is found in Utah (Bingham Canyon). Other major mines are found in Arizona, Michigan, New Mexico and Montana. In South America, Chile, the world’s largest producer, and Peru are both major producers of copper.

Can you mine pure copper?

Oxide and sulfide ores undergo different processes to be purified into 99.99\% pure copper. When it is economically feasible, a mine may extract both types of copper minerals; when it is not possible, mines will only process either the copper oxides or the copper sulfides.

Is copper mining bad for the environment?

A peer-reviewed study of the track record of water quality impacts from copper sulfide mines found severe impacts to drinking water aquifers, contamination of farmland, contamination and loss of fish and wildlife and their habitat, and risks to public health.

How long does it take to mine copper?

Extraction (“Mining it”) The extraction stage can take from 5-30 years to complete, although many mines have been open for more than 100 years, and may cost anywhere from a few million dollars to hundreds of millions of dollars a year depending on the size of the mine and its location.

Why is copper mining toxic?

Sulfide-ore copper mining is a toxic industry with a very poor track record of success. Sulfide-ore copper mining also releases sulfates, which fuel the chemical reactions that transform mercury to its toxic form methylmercury.

How much of copper ore is waste?

The process results in a toxic slurry of mine tailings, containing substances like arsenic and mercury, that threaten both human health and wildlife. A lot of mined earth ends up this way. Waste accounts for 99.9 percent of the processed material in gold production, 99 percent for copper and 60 percent for iron.

What is copper ROCK worth?

Copper is only worth about $3 per pound, but natural specimens are worth considerably more than that. Collectors pay a premium for nice nuggets and specimens that is not based on the “melt value” of the copper. Individual specimens with nice crystalline shapes can bring hundreds or even thousands of dollars per pound!

How does copper mining affect humans?

Sulfide-ore copper mining has the potential to release numerous chemicals known to negatively affect human health, including mercury, arsenic, lead, asbestos-like fibers, and air pollution. These chemicals are included in the World Health Organization’s “top 10 chemicals of major public health concern.”