Where is copper found?
Copper is naturally present in rock, either in its pure form or in compounds. Geological, meteorological, and biological processes disperse copper into the air, soil, and water as well as into organisms. The largest known copper ore deposits in the world are in Chuquicamata in the Chilean Andes, and the largest deposit of native copper is in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. The major producers of copper are Chile, which supplies 35 percent of world’s copper and the United States, which produces roughly 11 percent. Canada, the countries of the former Soviet Union, Zambia, China, Poland and the Democratic Republic of the Congo are also copper-producing nations. Human activity accounts for much of the copper found today in air, soil, and water. Industrial operations such as smelters, foundries, power stations, incinerators and other combustion sources emit copper into the atmosphere, where it can return to the earth in precipitation. Smelters and other copper production facilities emit high co
Native copper can be found in alluvial deposits, granitic and basaltic rock. The biggest ores of copper are the minerals chalcopyrite and malachite. Copper is mined throughout the world and the open pit mines created are the largest man-made excavations in the world. The top copper mining countries are Chile, U.S.A., Peru, China, Australia, Indonesia, Russia, Canada, Zambia. Copper is found in many other countries as well, it’s a pretty extensive list. Trace amounts of copper can be found in our blood – it is an essential enzyme that helps the central nervous system.
