✅ 3.2.5.5 RESOURCE SECURITY - Mineral Security Flashcards
Sources of copper
Mostly in igneous, sometimes sedimentary rocks like sandstone in Congo
Ores: malachite, chalcopyrite, bornite
Often at fold mountains
Formed via deep-sea volcanic activity (although deep-sea extraction is too expensive currently)
Which countries produce the most copper
Chile, Peru, China, USA, Congo
When are copper mines established
When an area has at least 5 kg of copper per tonne of rock (0.5%)
Amount of remaining reserves and undiscovered reserves
Estimates of 2.1 billion tonnes of discovered deposits left, 3.5 billion tonnes in undiscovered reserves (potentially much in Africa)
Different types of copper reserves
Porphyry, igneous rocks (most common at 45% of reserves and easiest to extract)
Sulphide
Sediment
Properties of copper
Conductive
Relatively cheap and common
Doesn’t rust (non-ferrous) and Corrosion resistant
Malleable
Easy to extract - occurs in natural form
Recyclable
Can be combined to make alloys
Biostatic (no bacterial growth)
End uses of copper
Wires (although now being replaced more with fibre optics)
Pipes
Surfaces in hospitals and hygiene
Alloys, often harder so used in industry
3rd most consumed industrial metal
What region produces the most copper?
The Andean region in South America - 40% of world’s copper
6 of the largest 10 copper mines are are in South America
How many tonnes of copper does Chile produce / year
5.6 million tonnes
How many kilograms of copper does the average UK house have?
180 kg
Wiring, plumbing
What has lead to an increase in copper production?
Developing countries entering the global market
Demand has also increased
Who are the main importers and exporters of copper ores
Most exporters are countries producing more than their domestic demand
Most importers are countries with developed smelting industries
Who are the main importers and exporters of refined copper
Most exporters are countries with smelting industries like Chile
Most importers are consumers using it in manufacturing like China
How recyclable is copper
Copper is 100% recyclable
Recycled copper meets 40% of world’s copper demand
Why is copper considered a good indicator of economy health?
Its consumption across a wide range of markets means analysts view copper prices as a reflection of economy health so it has been nicknamed ‘Dr. Copper’
What do producers often do when copper prices fall
Leave copper in the ground, hoping the shortage of copper will raise prices
How are estimates of undiscovered copper found?
Remote sensing
Rock sampling
What geographical factors influence location of exploration and mine development
Remoteness
Access to processing
Extreme environments like deserts, forests or mountains
Although technology has reduced these constraints and mines in remote areas such as the Atacama Desert in Chile have developed
Benefits if open-pit mining
Common in emerging economies due to
Technology allows for rapid removal of large amounts of material, including lower-grade ores
Digging equipment is not limited to the size of tunnels underground, so faster production can be achieved
Common in emerging economies due to its inexpensive nature especially if ores are close to surface
However much more soil is removed, overburden
Environmental impacts of copper mining
Air Pollution - dust, CO2 - breathing issues
Water Pollution - lots of waste water created during cleaning and processing, discharge can enter drainage basins
Overburden dumps from waste
Increased population pressure in local area - problems of sanitation, access to basic services, increased deforestation etc.
Example of water pollution from Copper mining
In Zambia, most wastewater from the mines ends up in the Kafue River. This river is source to about 40% of drinking water for the cities.
How many jobs generated by the Lumwana, Zambia open-pit mining scheme
3800
How much overburden does Zambia have
32 overburden dumps in Zambia’s mining industry.
Contains approximately 1,899 Million Tonnes of overburden and covers an area of approximately 206,465ha.
Can contaminate rivers, etc.
Mitigation measures in Zambia
Mines have been privatised to improve their efficiency and increase re-investment
EIAs for any new mines which have to be approved by the Zambian authorities
Government set up an Environmental Management Facility (EMF) to take up ownership of all environmental liabilities that were not taken by new mine owners (to cost about USD $200m)
Attempts to control waste runoff
How much of Zambia’s GDP and exporters are from copper mining?
11% of GDP
70% of exports
What is the biggest issue with sustainability of ores?
Their finite nature
Methods to increase copper sustainability
Cost-effective exploration
New extraction methods
Recycling
Substitution with alternatives
Sustainability: Copper’s impact on climate change
Copper creates 3.5 tons of co2 to produce one ton of copper however, it is so high in efficiency in conductivity that in high-end applications it can reduce output of co2 by 100-7500 tons compared to other metals
Is only 0.2% of carbon emissions
Method to clean waste water from copper production
Pass through crushed limestone to immobilise toxic chemicals
How much copper is recycled, compared to iron?
40-50% recycled
Not as much as some others like iron - 70-90% recycled
Especially due to its frequent use in alloys which are harder to separate to recycle
Example of copper mine water pollution
Mexico
Aug 2014, 40,000 m³ of copper sulphate acid spilt into Sonora river, polluting 60 km stretch of river and causing water shortage or 20,000 people
