Real Assets
Charted: Major Copper Discoveries Since 1900
The following content is sponsored by the BHP
Visualized: Major Copper Discoveries Since 1900
In the evolving landscape of copper mining, deposits are increasingly challenging to locate and extract.
As deposits are found deeper underground, accessing these resources becomes more costly and technically complex, ultimately impacting copper prices.
To highlight this trend, Visual Capitalist partnered with BHP to show the depths and sizes of major copper discoveries found since 1900.
A Century of Copper Discoveries
This graphic shows copper discoveries with over 3 million metric tons of copper equivalent, based on data from MinEx Consulting and BHP up to 2022.
The latest major discovery, made by Filo del Sol in 2020, lies 600 meters below ground and contains just over 11 million metric tons of copper equivalent.
| Deposit Name | Discovery Year | Million metric tons of copper equivalent | Depth (Meters) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Filo Del Sol | 2020 | 11 | -600 |
| Hu'u | 2015 | 15 | -550 |
| Kakula | 2014 | 19 | -200 |
| Cascabel | 2013 | 12 | -25 |
| Timok | 2012 | 16 | -460 |
| Los Helados | 2009 | 11 | -350 |
| Kamoa | 2008 | 25 | -70 |
| Los Sulfatos | 2007 | 45 | -320 |
| Heruga | 2005 | 7 | -950 |
| Carapateena | 2005 | 5 | -470 |
| Pebble | 2002 | 37 | -80 |
| Resolution | 2002 | 27 | -1280 |
| Hugo Dummett | 2002 | 19 | -500 |
| Centinela (Sulphide) | 2000 | 18 | -350 |
| Spence Cu Camp | 1996 | 15 | -100 |
| Escondida Norte | 1995 | 10 | -200 |
| Tampakan | 1992 | 15 | -200 |
| Collahuasi Cu Au Camp | 1991 | 92 | -75 |
| Batu Hijau | 1990 | 8 | -45 |
| Ministro Hales | 1989 | 24 | -300 |
| Grasberg-Ertsberg Project (Camp) | 1988 | 57 | -25 |
| Escondida (Main Deposit) | 1981 | 85 | -40 |
| Los Bronces | 1978 | 33 | -20 |
| Salobo | 1977 | 10 | -40 |
| Olympic Dam | 1975 | 86 | -350 |
| Antamina | 1974 | 27 | -30 |
| Los Pelambres | 1971 | 38 | -20 |
| Ok Tedi | 1969 | 9 | -20 |
| Sar Cheshmeh Cu Camp | 1967 | 30 | -20 |
| El Abra Cu Camp | 1965 | 18 | -20 |
| Panguna | 1965 | 9 | -20 |
| Kidd Creek | 1963 | 5 | -30 |
| Lubin Cu Camp | 1957 | 66 | -5 |
| Palabora | 1956 | 8 | -35 |
| Andina Cu Camp | 1955 | 144 | -20 |
| Chambishi | 1952 | 6 | -13 |
| Gaisky Complex | 1950 | 8 | -30 |
| Udokan | 1949 | 27 | -15 |
| Kamoto Cu/Co-Operation | 1940 | 26 | -3 |
| Konkola (Bancroft) | 1935 | 19 | -5 |
| Kalmakyr | 1931 | 10 | -5 |
| Dzhezkazgan | 1929 | 22 | -5 |
| Nkana (Rokana) Division | 1928 | 11 | -5 |
| Cananea Cu Camp | 1926 | 35 | -5 |
| Mufulira | 1923 | 16 | -10 |
| Nchanga | 1923 | 15 | -10 |
| Tenke Fungurume | 1918 | 27 | -5 |
| Chuquicamata Cu Camp | 1910 | 131 | -5 |
| El Teniente | 1904 | 127 | -5 |
| Ely/Robinson | 1902 | 6 | -5 |
Andina Copper Camp, discovered in 1955 in Chile, holds a massive 144 million metric tons of copper equivalent, making it the largest deposit discovered since 1900. However, deposits of this scale near the surface are becoming increasingly rare.
Notable discoveries like the Escondida deposit, found at a relatively shallow depth of only 40 meters in 1981, contrast sharply with newer, deeper finds like the Resolution deposit, discovered in 2002 at a depth of 1,280 meters.
The Future of Copper Mining
This trend in recent copper discoveries highlights that copper mines are harder to develop than ever before.
And while copper recycling is expected to play an essential role in meeting growing demand, it won’t be sufficient on its own, according to BHP. An emphasis on primary supply, along with technological progress that improves mine productivity, is crucial.
Overall, BHP’s analysis estimates that a $250 billion investment in the sector is necessary in the next decade to overcome these challenges.
Get more copper insights in BHP’s Economic and Commodity Outlook.
Real Assets
How Much Gold is in Fort Knox?
The United States Bullion Depository holds more than half of the Treasury’s $428B in gold reserves.
How Much Gold Is in Fort Knox?
This was originally posted on our Voronoi app. Download the app for free on iOS or Android and discover incredible data-driven charts from a variety of trusted sources.
U.S. President Donald Trump has promised to visit Fort Knox “to make sure the gold is there.”
Officially, the United States Bullion Depository (commonly known as Fort Knox) holds over half of the Treasury’s $428 billion gold reserves.
In this graphic, we put that amount into perspective by comparing Fort Knox’s reserves with central bank gold reserves worldwide. The data comes from the U.S. Mint and the World Gold Council. For illustrative purposes, we considered a pallet of 1,190 gold bars (400 troy ounces each) weighing approximately 14.8 tonnes.
What Is Fort Knox?
Located in Kentucky, Fort Knox is a U.S. Army installation that serves as the primary storage site for America’s gold reserves. The facility was established in the 1930s to protect gold from potential foreign attacks.
The first gold shipment arrived in 1937 via U.S. Mail from the Philadelphia Mint and the New York Assay Office. During World War II, Fort Knox safeguarded important U.S. documents, including the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights. It has also housed international treasures, such as the Magna Carta and the crown, sword, scepter, orb, and cape of St. Stephen, King of Hungary, before they were returned in 1978.
Currently, it holds 4,175 tonnes of gold, equivalent to nearly half of China’s gold reserves and four times the Swiss central bank’s reserves.
| Reserves | Gold (Tonnes) |
|---|---|
| 🇺🇸 U.S. Reserves | 8,133 |
| 🏛️ Fort Knox | 4,175 |
| 🇨🇳 China | 2,280 |
| 🇯🇵 Japan | 846 |
| 🇨🇭 Switzerland | 1,040 |
| 🇮🇳 India | 876 |
| 🇰🇷 South Korea | 104 |
| 🇸🇬 Singapore | 220 |
| 🇧🇷 Brazil | 130 |
| 🇲🇽 Mexico | 120 |
| 🇹🇭 Thailand | 235 |
Only small samples have been removed for purity testing during audits; no major transfers have occurred for years.
Gold Bar Specifications
- Size: 7 inches × 3 5/8 inches × 1 3/4 inches
- Weight: 400 ounces (27.5 pounds)
Extreme Security
Only a select few know the full security procedures, and no single person knows how to fully open the vault.
In 1974, a group of journalists and a Congressional delegation were allowed inside—marking the first official visit since Fort Knox’s creation. Previously, President Franklin D. Roosevelt was the only person other than authorized personnel to access the vaults.
In 2017, Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin, Kentucky Governor Matt Bevin, and several Congressional representatives became the second group to visit the vault.
Learn More on the Voronoi App 
If gold was shared equally, how much would you get? Check out this graphic to find out.
Real Assets
Charted: Top Suppliers of Aluminum and Steel to the U.S.
President Trump has imposed a 25% tariff on all steel and aluminum imports.
Charted: Top U.S. Suppliers of Aluminum and Steel
This was originally posted on our Voronoi app. Download the app for free on iOS or Android and discover incredible data-driven charts from a variety of trusted sources.
U.S. President Donald Trump has imposed a 25% tariff on all steel and aluminum imports, marking one of the most discussed measures of his first month back in the White House.
But which countries are most affected by these tariffs?
This map illustrates the top suppliers of aluminum and steel to the United States in 2024. The data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau. Aluminum includes unwrought aluminum, plates, sheets, and strips; bars, rods, and profiles; foil; wire; pipes and tubes; castings and forgings; and tube or pipe fittings.
Canada: The Largest Partner
Canada is by far the top supplier of both steel and aluminum to the United States. The neighboring country exported $9.4 billion worth of aluminum to the U.S. in 2024, significantly ahead of the second-largest exporter, the European Union, which exported $1.5 billion.
Canada also exported $7.1 billion worth of steel last year, compared to $7 billion from the European Union.
| Country | Steel Imports (USD) | Aluminum Imports (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| 🇨🇦 Canada | $7.1B | $9.4B |
| 🇲🇽 Mexico | $3.5B | $397M |
| 🇧🇷 Brazil | $3.0B | - |
| 🇨🇳 China | $799M | $809M |
| 🇹🇼 Taiwan | $1.3B | - |
| 🇰🇷 South Korea | $2.9B | $781M |
| 🇩🇪 Germany | $1.9B | $318M |
| 🇯🇵 Japan | $1.7B | - |
| 🇮🇳 India | $489M | $445M |
| 🇪🇺 European Union | $7B | $1.5B |
| 🇦🇪 UAE | - | $917M |
| 🇧🇭 Bahrain | - | $535M |
| 🇦🇷 Argentina | - | $468M |
| 🇹🇭 Thailand | - | $271M |
| 🇬🇧 UK | $440M | - |
Mexico, South Korea, and Brazil are also among the top suppliers of steel to the United States. Meanwhile, the country imports aluminum from other key partners, including China, the United Arab Emirates, South Korea, Bahrain, and Argentina.
A recent report by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) noted that the U.S. produces less than 2% of the world’s primary aluminum.
Learn More on the Voronoi App
If you enjoyed this graphic, be sure to check out this chart illustrating the GDP impact of Trump’s tariffs on China.
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