G7/8 Cycle A - 1: Geology: Copper

The chemical element copper is a reddish metal. The wires that deliver electricity for power are made of copper. So are the wires in electric motors and generators, and the circuits in radios, television sets, computers, and other electronic devices.

About 80% of the world's primary copper comes from ores in which copper is present as a sulfide mineral, for example, chalcopyrite (CuFeS2) (the most abundant copper ore), bornite (Cu5FeS4) and chalcocite (Cu2S). These ores contain typically only about 0.5-2% copper. The remainder of primary production comes from ores in which copper is present as silicates, sulfates, carbonates and oxides, which have been formed by the weathering and oxidation of sulfide minerals. About 30% of all copper production is recovered from secondary and scrap materials which are recycled.

From common household electrical wiring to boat propellers and from photovoltaic cells to saxophones, copper, and its alloys are employed in a myriad of end-uses.

Copper is typically extracted from oxide and sulfide ores that contain between 0.5 and 2.0 percent copper.

High levels of copper can be harmful. Breathing high levels of copper can cause irritation of the nose and throat. Ingesting high levels of copper can cause nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Very-high doses of copper can cause damage to the liver and kidneys, and can even cause death.

The federally approved Rosemont copper mine could dry up a wet spot in Arizona rich with biodiversity, but faces precedent-setting lawsuits.

The project’s reversal of fortunes has angered environmentalists and focused attention on an unusual connection between a Chilean billionaire and President Trump’s family.