Misc
The Largest Copper Mines in the World by Capacity
The Largest Copper Mines in the World
Copper is one of the most-used metals in the world, for good reason.
Global copper production has expanded with populations and economies, especially in China, which consumed 54% of the world’s refined copper in 2020. Copper’s demand comes from various industries, ranging from construction to renewable energy.
But before copper reaches its array of end-uses, miners have to extract and refine from deposits within the ground. So where are the world’s largest copper mines, and just how large are they?
Types of Copper Deposits
The location of mines ultimately depends on the occurrence and discovery of copper deposits. There are two main types of copper deposits:
- Porphyry deposits:
These are copper ore bodies formed from hydrothermal fluids from magma chambers that lie deep below the deposit. - Sediment-hosted deposits:
These deposits are formed when copper-bearing fluids mix with permeable sedimentary and volcanic rocks.
Copper is primarily sourced from porphyry deposits, which are concentrated in the Americas. Therefore, many of the world’s largest copper mines operate in this region.
Top 20 Copper Mines by Capacity
North, South, and Central America collectively host 15 of the 20 largest copper mines. These three regions combine the capacity for nearly 36% of global copper production in 2020.
Rank | Mine | Country | Annual Production Capacity (tonnes) | Capacity as a % Global Production† |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Escondida | Chile 🇨🇱 | 1,400,000 | 7.0% |
2 | Collahuasi | Chile 🇨🇱 | 610,000 | 3.1% |
3 | Buenavista del Cobre | Mexico 🇲🇽 | 525,000 | 2.6% |
4 | Morenci | U.S. 🇺🇸 | 520,000 | 2.6% |
5 | Cerro Verde II | Peru 🇵🇪 | 500,000 | 2.5% |
6* | Antamina | Peru 🇵🇪 | 450,000 | 2.3% |
6* | Polar Division | Russia 🇷🇺 | 450,000 | 2.3% |
8 | Las Bambas | Peru 🇵🇪 | 430,000 | 2.2% |
9 | Grasberg | Indonesia 🇮🇩 | 400,000 | 2.0% |
10 | El Teniente | Chile 🇨🇱 | 399,000 | 2.0% |
11* | Chuquicamata | Chile 🇨🇱 | 370,000 | 1.9% |
11* | Los Bronces | Chile 🇨🇱 | 370,000 | 1.9% |
11* | Los Pelambres | Chile 🇨🇱 | 370,000 | 1.9% |
14 | Kansanshi | Zambia 🇿🇲 | 340,000 | 1.7% |
15 | Radomiro Tomic | Chile 🇨🇱 | 330,000 | 1.7% |
16* | Kamoto | Congo 🇨🇩 | 300,000 | 1.5% |
16* | Cobre Panama | Panama 🇵🇦 | 300,000 | 1.5% |
18 | Bingham Canyon | U.S. 🇺🇸 | 280,000 | 1.4% |
19 | Toquepala | Peru 🇵🇪 | 265,000 | 1.3% |
20 | Sentinel | Zambia 🇿🇲 | 260,000 | 1.3% |
*Mines with equal capacities have the same rankings. †2020
The Escondida Mine in Chile is by far the world’s largest copper mine. Its annual capacity of 1.4 million tonnes means that it can produce more copper than the second and third-largest mines combined.
Porphyry copper deposits are often characterized by lower grade ores and are mined in open pits. As a result, some of the top copper mines are also among the world’s largest open pits. The Bingham Canyon Mine (seen below) in Utah, United States, is the deepest open pit with a depth of 1.2 km. It’s also the largest man-made excavation on Earth, spanning 4 km wide.
Chuquicamata and Escondida are the second and third-deepest open pits, respectively.
Indonesia’s Grasberg Mine is another notable name on this list. It produces both gold and copper on a massive scale and has the world’s largest known reserve of gold and the second-largest reserve of copper.
Overall, the top 20 mines have the capacity to produce nearly nine million tonnes of copper annually—representing 44% of global production in 2020. However, with demand for refined copper expected to rise 31% between 2020 and 2030, these existing sources of supply might not be enough.
Falling Grades, Rising Demand: New Mines on the Block?
According to the International Energy Agency, average copper ore grades in Chile have declined by 30% in the last 15 years. Since Chile’s mines produce more than one-fourth of the world’s copper, these falling ore grades could be a cause for concern—especially with a deficit looming over the market for refined copper.
New copper mining projects are becoming more valuable and it wouldn’t be surprising to see fresh names on the list of the largest copper mines. For example, the Kamoa-Kakula Mine, which started production in May 2021, is expected to churn out 800,000 tonnes of copper annually after expansion. That would make it the second-largest copper mine by capacity.
Misc
The State of Copper Recycling in the U.S.
This graphic explores how recycling copper can help address the demand for the metal in the U.S.
The State of Copper Recycling in the U.S.
Copper is essential for a low-carbon economy due to its crucial role in renewable energy technologies.
As a result, many worry that a lack of the metal used in wires and batteries can hurt a transition to a green economy.
In this graphic, our sponsor, the Copper Development Association, explores how recycling can address the demand for copper.
Copper Scrap Recycled in the U.S.
In 2022, the total copper scrap recycled in the U.S. was approximately 830,000 tonnes, equivalent to 32% of the total U.S. copper supply for the same period. Around 670,000 tonnes (81%) originated from pre-consumer sources generated during manufacturing operations, while 160,000 tonnes (19%) came from post-consumer sources, such as obsolete products.
Brass and wire-rod mills accounted for the majority of the copper recycled from scrap (85%). Additionally, smelters, refiners, and ingot makers make 10% and chemical plants, foundries, and other manufacturers around 5%.
Copper from Scrap | 2022 Content (tonnes) |
---|---|
Brass and wire-rod mills | 650,000 t |
Smelters and refiners | 40,000 t |
Ingot makers | 39,500 t |
Foundries, Other | 40,000 t |
Despite the rising demand for copper, the U.S. predominantly exports its copper scrap.
In 2022, the U.S. exported half of the 1,569,000 tonnes of the copper content generated from scrap. This export trend persisted because, until recent years, the country lacked operating secondary copper smelters capable of processing complex scrap grades into furnace-ready raw materials.
However, reshoring this metal presents an opportunity for the country.
Tapping into the Urban Mine
North America currently has about 86 million tonnes (Mt) of copper in use, known as the Urban Mine. This copper will become available for recycling as aging infrastructure and products reach the end of their service lives:
- Buildings: 45.4 Mt
- Infrastructure: 16.1 Mt
- Consumer Products: 11.2 Mt
- Transport: 8.5 Mt
- Industrial Uses: 4.8 Mt
Increased secondary smelting and refining capacity is a crucial building block for a more resilient and self-sufficient U.S. copper supply chain.
In response to the growing need for copper, the U.S. plans to add over 280,000 tonnes of secondary smelting and refining capacity in the next few years. This expansion will enable the country to process more complex scrap grades domestically.
Given that copper products can last for decades, creating a lag time before the material becomes available for recycling, primary production will continue to play an important role in meeting the increasing needs in the U.S.
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 why copper is a critical mineral.
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.
-
Electrification2 years ago
Ranked: The Top 10 EV Battery Manufacturers
-
Electrification2 years ago
The Key Minerals in an EV Battery
-
Real Assets2 years ago
The World’s Top 10 Gold Mining Companies
-
Misc2 years ago
All the Metals We Mined in One Visualization
-
Electrification3 years ago
The Biggest Mining Companies in the World in 2021
-
Energy Shift2 years ago
What Are the Five Major Types of Renewable Energy?
-
Electrification2 years ago
The World’s Largest Nickel Mining Companies
-
Electrification3 years ago
How Much Land is Needed to Power the U.S. with Solar?