Misc
All the World’s Metals and Minerals in One Visualization
All the World’s Metals and Minerals in One Visualization
We live in a material world, in that we rely on materials to make our lives better. Without even realizing it, humans consume enormous amounts of metals and minerals with every convenient food package, impressive building, and technological innovation.
Every year, the United States Geological Service (USGS) publishes commodity summaries outlining global mining statistics for over 90 individual minerals and materials. Today’s infographic visualizes the data to reveal the dramatic scale of 2019 non-fuel mineral production.
Read all the way to the bottom; the data will surprise you.
Non-Fuel Minerals: USGS Methodology
A wide variety of minerals can be classified as “non-fuel”, including precious metals, base metals, industrial minerals, and materials used for construction.
Non-fuel minerals are those not used for fuel, such as oil, natural gas and coal. Once non-fuel minerals are used up, there is no replacing them. However, many can be recycled continuously.
The USGS tracked both refinery and mine production of these various minerals. This means that some minerals are the essential ingredients for others on the list. For example, iron ore is critical for steel production, and bauxite ore gets refined into aluminum.
Top 10 Minerals and Metals by Production
Sand and gravel are at the top of the list of non-fuel mineral production.
As these materials are the basic components for the manufacturing of concrete, roads, and buildings, it’s not surprising they take the lead.
| Rank | Metal/Mineral | 2019 Production (millions of metric tons) |
|---|---|---|
| #1 | Sand and Gravel | 50,000 |
| #2 | Cement | 4,100 |
| #3 | Iron and Steel | 3,200 |
| #4 | Iron Ore | 2,500 |
| #5 | Bauxite | 500 |
| #6 | Lime | 430 |
| #7 | Salt | 293 |
| #8 | Phosphate Rock | 240 |
| #9 | Nitrogen | 150 |
| #10 | Gypsum | 140 |
These materials fertilize the food we eat, and they also form the structures we live in and the roads we drive on. They are the bones of the global economy.
Let’s dive into some more specific categories covered on the infographic.
Base Metals
While cement, sand, and gravel may be the bones of global infrastructure, base metals are its lifeblood. Their consumption is an important indicator of the overall health of an economy.
Base metals are non-ferrous, meaning they contain no iron. They are often more abundant in nature and sometimes easier to mine, so their prices are generally lower than precious metals.
| Rank | Base Metal | 2019 Production (millions of metric tons) |
|---|---|---|
| #1 | Aluminum | 64.0 |
| #2 | Copper | 20.0 |
| #3 | Zinc | 13.0 |
| #4 | Lead | 4.5 |
| #5 | Nickel | 2.7 |
| #6 | Tin | 0.3 |
Base metals are also the critical materials that will help to deliver a green and renewable future. The electrification of everything will require vast amounts of base metals to make everything from batteries to solar cells work.
Precious Metals
Gold and precious metals grab the headlines because of their rarity — and their production shows just how rare they are.
| Rank | Precious Metal | 2019 Production (metric tons) |
|---|---|---|
| #1 | Silver | 27,000 |
| #2 | Gold | 3,300 |
| #3 | Palladium | 210 |
| #4 | Platinum | 180 |
While metals form the structure and veins of the global economy, ultimately it is humans and animals that make the flesh of the world, driving consumption patterns.
A Material World: A Perspective on Scale
The global economy’s appetite for materials has quadrupled since 1970, faster than the population, which only doubled. On average, each human uses more than 13 metric tons of materials per year.
In 2017, it’s estimated that humans consumed 100.6B metric tons of material in total. Half of the total comprises sand, clay, gravel, and cement used for building, along with the other minerals mined to produce fertilizer. Coal, oil, and gas make up 15% of the total, while metal makes up 10%. The final quarter are plants and trees used for food and fuel.
Misc
Why Copper Is Critical for Data Centers
Copper consumption for data centers in North America is estimated to jump from 197,000 tonnes in 2020 to 238,000 tonnes in 2030.
Why Copper Is Critical for Data Centers
Data centers are computer server hubs that collect, store, and process large amounts of data, requiring extensive network infrastructure and electric power supply.
As the North American data center market grows, copper will be a key building block in this infrastructure.
This infographic from the Copper Development Association illustrates the critical role of copper in data center development.
Copper in Technology
Much has been said about the growing demand for critical minerals like copper, nickel, and lithium for clean technologies such as batteries, EVs, solar, and wind power.
Copper, however, has a more extensive role in technology as it is used in wires that connect power grids and data centers around the planet.
As one of the best conductors of electricity, copper maximizes efficiency in the transmission and distribution of electricity. Its thermal conductivity also helps build efficient heat exchangers, which are vital for cooling in data centers.
The inherent ductility and malleability of copper make it ideal for shaping into compact system components, like electrical connectors. In addition, copper can be fully recycled without losing any beneficial properties, providing an excellent solution in a growing green economy.
Data centers use copper across various electrical applications, including:
- Power cables
- Busbars
- Electrical connectors
- Heat exchangers and sinks
- Power distribution strips
To put the demand into perspective, Microsoft’s $500 million data center in Chicago required 2,177 tonnes of copper for construction.
North America’s Growing Need for Copper
With the rise of cloud computing and the Internet of Things (IoT), the North American data center market is expanding.
North American data center infrastructure is expected to grow from a $33 billion business in 2020 to $70 billion in 2030 and $185 billion in 2040.
This, in turn, will amplify the demand for copper. Copper consumption for data centers is estimated to jump from 197,000 tonnes in 2020 to 238,000 tonnes in 2030 and 293,000 tonnes in 2040.
The Copper Development Association (CDA) brings the value of copper and its alloys to society to address the challenges of today and tomorrow. Visit www.copper.org to learn more about copper’s critical role in data centers.
Misc
From Lead to Copper: Replacing America’s Aging Water Infrastructure
Investing in the transition from lead to copper is crucial for providing safe water to millions of Americans.
From Lead to Copper: Replacing America’s Aging Water Infrastructure
Water service lines, crucial for connecting buildings to the public water supply, are often outdated and built from lead, presenting significant health risks to Americans.
As the government invests billions toward replacing lead service lines, copper pipelines offer a safe, reliable, resilient, and sustainable alternative.
This infographic from the Copper Development Association illustrates how investing in the transition from lead to copper is crucial for providing safe water to millions of Americans.
The Problem with Lead Service Lines
In the 20th century, lead was commonly used for water service lines and plumbing pipes.
However, lead pipes can degrade over time, leading to the release of lead particles into drinking water. Even at low-to-moderate levels, lead exposure can have severe negative health impacts, including:
- Hearing loss
- Anemia
- Kidney impairment
- Immune system dysfunction
Today, every state in America has lead service lines (LSLs) that the federal government is actively working to replace.
Besides LSLs, an additional 2.8 million galvanized water pipes also need replacing.
Delivering Safe Water
Copper tubing has become the primary material to replace old water service lines.
The red metal is an antimicrobial material that kills pathogens, and it is also highly corrosion-resistant, with a typical service life of over 50 years.
In addition, copper service lines are impermeable and prevent outside chemicals from leaking into water. Copper tubes can be fully recycled at the end of their useful lives without losing any beneficial properties.
Replacing Lead Service Lines with Copper
If America were to replace all 12 million of its lead and galvanized service lines, it would require more than 650 million feet of copper tubing, equivalent to 180,000 tonnes of metal. To compare, the U.S. produced 22 million tonnes of copper in 2022.
The U.S. has commissioned several large-scale copper recycling projects in recent years, creating opportunities to meet the demand with recycled and mined supply.
However, upgrading the nation’s water infrastructure will require over $56 billion, way more than the $15 billion currently provided by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
Visit Copper Development Association to learn more about how copper is crucial for providing safe water to millions of Americans.
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