Copper Facts and figures
Introduction
Copper (Cu) has a cultural significance as it was the
first metal used by man (probably as early as 7000 BC). Neolithic
man mined native copper and used it as a substitute for stone; its
malleability enabled easy shaping of tools by beating it. Copper
was smelted as early as 3500 BC at Timna in Israel. Its property of
alloying with other metals (particularly tin) was discovered about
500 years later and heralded the Bronze Age, which started in
southern Europe between 3000 and 2500 BC. Although the manufacture
of bronze tools largely fell into disuse with the onset of the Iron
Age about 1000 BC, copper continued to be used for its other
properties. As one of only two coloured metals, its beauty makes it
highly desirable for making ornaments and its resistance to
corrosion makes it suitable for use in, or near the sea. The growth
of the copper industry has been intimately linked with the
increasing use of electricity with electrical applications
continuing to be the metal's principal use which can be attributed
to two physical properties. It is an excellent electrical (and
heat) conductor and is ductile enough to be drawn into wire and
beaten into sheets without fracturing. Copper is used widely in
plumbing components and is a major component of alloys, many of
which are harder, stronger and tougher than their individual
constituent elements.
Occurrence
The main ore mineral of copper in Australia (and
worldwide) is chalcopyrite (CuFeS2). Bornite (Cu5FeS4), covellite
(CuS) and chalcocite (Cu2S) are important sources in the world, and
many ore bodies also contain some malachite (CuCO3.Cu(OH)2),
azurite (Cu3(CO3)2.Cu(OH)2), cuprite (Cu2O), tenorite (CuO) and
native copper. The sulphides, which yield most of the copper
produced throughout the world, generally occupy the deeper parts of
lodes which have not been exposed to weathering. Near the surface
they are altered by oxidation and other chemical actions to the
native metal, oxides and carbonates. These secondary copper
minerals may form rich ore in the upper parts of many deposits,
and, owing to their characteristic green or blue colour, even small
amounts are easily seen in the rocks in which they occur.
Copper is widely distributed in Australia in rocks of Precambrian
and Palaeozoic age (more than 250 million years old). Australia has
about 6% of the world's economic copper resources and is ranked
third after Chile (25%) and the USA (16%). In production Australia
is ranked fifth after Chile, USA, Indonesia and Canada.
Uses
Copper is an excellent conductor of electricity. More than half of
the copper consumed is used in electrical generators and motors,
electrical power and lighting fixtures, electrical wiring, radio
and television sets, computers and almost everything electrical.
Copper also conducts heat well and is used for thin-walled copper
tubing in air conditioning and refrigeration units, motor vehicle
radiators, home heating systems, steam condensers etc. Copper's
corrosion resistance and ease with which it can be joined make it
suitable for plumbing fittings and water reticulation systems,
automotive fuel lines, sea water desalination plants and hydraulic
systems. The blue-green colour of treated timber is the result of
copper naphthanate and copper-chrome-arsenate which have been
introduced under pressure to help protect the wood from borers.
Copper sulphate is used as a fungicide and as a trace element in
fertilisers. Copper is used also for making coins and scientific
instruments as well as in decorative applications.
- Metalliferous mining accounts for approximately 21% of the
total value of mineral production in NSW.
- In 2007-08, 34 t of gold was produced in NSW, valued at $1
billion.
- NSW is currently Australia's second largest gold producing
state.
- In 2007-08, 146,000 t of copper was produced in NSW, valued at
$1.26 billion.