答案
Introduction
Copper is a metal of great economic and scientific value, primarily due to its excellent thermal and electrical conductivity. It is found in mineral deposits all over the world and is the only metal that is naturally colorized (it comes in a variety of cooper hues ranging from pink to chocolate brown). Copper has been used for thousands of years in a variety of ways - from jewelry to coins, pottery, electrical wiring, and more. Today, copper is one of the most important metals for industrial applications, having a large range of uses in construction, manufacturing, electronics, transportation, and other sectors.
Copper mining
Mining of copper is done by either open-pit or underground mining. In the past, underground mining was the primary method of copper production, but now approximately 70 percent of copper is produced using open-pit mining, a process that involves digging large pits in the ground to access copper deposits. Open-pit copper mining usually involves the following stages:
1. Exploration: Geologists and other personnel search for copper deposits and assess the economic viability of mining them.
2. Development: After a copper deposit has been identified, mined, and assessed, it is time to develop mining operations. This involves constructing infrastructure, such as access roads, buildings, and powerlines that will enable mining operations to take place.
3. Extraction: Ore is extracted from the ground using heavy machinery.
4. Processing: The extracted ore is then crushed and processed to remove the impurities and extract the copper.
Main copper producing countries
North America
In North America, Chile is the largest producer of copper, producing 5.6 million tons in 2018. Canada produced 1 million tons in 2018 and the United States produced 1.3 million tons. Other countries in North America, including Mexico and Peru, together produced 700 thousand tons in 2018.
South America
South America is one of the world’s largest copper-producing regions, with the continent producing a total of 21.5 million tons in 2018. Brazil is the largest producer, accounting for 8.2 million tons or 37.5 percent of the region’s total copper production. Peru and Chile are other large copper producers, with Peru accounting for 4.7 million tons (21.6 percent of the region’s total) and Chile producing 5.6 million tons (25.8 percent of the region’s total).
Europe
In Europe, Russia is the largest copper producer, producing 4.1 million tons in 2018. Other major copper producers in the region are Spain (2.2 million tons) and Sweden (1.6 million tons).
Africa
In Africa, the Democratic Republic of Congo is the largest copper producer, producing 950 thousand tons in 2018. Other major copper producers in the region include Zambia (636 thousand tons), South Africa (632 thousand tons), and Ghana (525 thousand tons).
Asia-Pacific
In the Asia-Pacific region, China is the largest copper producer, producing 8.2 million tons in 2018. Other major copper producers in the region include India (610 thousand tons), Australia (575 thousand tons), and Japan (510 thousand tons).
Conclusion
Copper is an important industrial metal that has numerous uses around the world. A variety of countries contribute to global copper production, with some of the largest producers being located in North and South America, Europe, Africa, and the Asia-Pacific region.
