February 26, 2024

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Geologists search for indicators of mineral deposits, paving the way for mining under favorable geological, economic, environmental, and legal conditions. The amount of copper content increases in each phase of refinement. Primary copper production involves extracting copper-bearing ores through surface, underground, or leaching methods, with open-pit mining being the most common. After extraction, ores are crushed, ground, and concentrated, resulting in copper concentrates containing approximately 30% copper. The subsequent smelting processes yields a “matte” with 50-70% copper. It is further refined to blister copper and, ultimately, to refined copper cathodes through electro-refining or hydrometallurgical routes.

See also:
Global Copper Mine Production 2010-2022
Copper Price 2010-2023
Copper Production Forecast By Country 2023-2029
Future Copper Production Capacity 2023-2029
Future Copper Production From New Projects 2023-2029
Global Copper Production Forecast 2022-2030
Refined Copper Usage By Sector 2022
Global Refined Copper Production 2019-2022
Global Proven Copper Reserves 2023

References:
International Copper Study Group