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TABLE OF CONTENT

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1.1 INTRODUCTION.

Copper is a chacophile element which means it is highly associated with sulfur in

nature. Pure copper metal is generally produced from a multistage process,

beginning with mining and concentrating of low grade ores containing copper sulfide

minerals, and followed by smelting and electrolytic refining to produce pure copper

cathode. Copper is also produced by acid leaching of oxidized ores.

Because of its properties, singularly or in combination, of high ductility, malleability,

and thermal and electrical conductivity, and its resistance to corrosion, copper has

become a major industrial metal, ranking third after iron and aluminum in terms of

quantities consumed

Electrical uses of copper, including power generation and transmission, building

wiring, telecommunication, and electri cal and electronic products, account for about

three quarters of the total copper use. Building construction is the single largest

market, followed by electrical and electronic products, transportation, industrial

machinery, and consumer and general products.

Copper products can be readily recycled and contribute significantly to the overall

copper supply.

A countrys economic growth is reflected in its consumption of copper.

1.2 MAJOR PRODUCERS OF COPPER

Even though copper is consumed by virtually all nations of the world, like most other

minerals some parts of the world have more copper resources than others. For this

reason some countries have to import from others.

World map showing the major copper producing countries.

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In terms of production (tonnage) the following are the top 25 heavy weights; Chile,

The United States, Peru, China, Australia, Indonesia, Russia, Canada, Zambia

Poland, Kazakhstan, Papua New Guinea, Argentina, Iran, Brazil, Mex ico, DR Congo,

Mongolia, Uzbekistan, Bulgaria, South Africa, Sweden, Portugal Laos and India.

Some countries produce more than they can consume and export to other countries

while other countries consume all that the produce and import more, for instance

China and Indian.

2.0 OCCURRENCE OF COPPER AND DEPOSIT TYPES

Copper occurs mainly as mineral combinations with Iron, sulfur, Carbon and Oxygen.

More than 160 copper minerals are known but only a few are of commercial

importance. The most important commercial minerals of copper include, Chalcocite

(Cu2S) with almost 80% Copper and Chalcopyrite(CuFeS 2) with almost 35% copper.

There are basically two most important commercial types of copper deposits;

porphyry copper and Sediment hosted copper. Copper also occurs in other types of

deposits but may or may not be the main commodity. Such deposits include VMS

deposits,