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Native copper is an uncombined form of copper that occurs as a natural mineral. Copper is one of the few metallic elements to occur in native form, although it most commonly occurs in oxidized states and mixed with other elements. Native copper was an important ore of copper in historic times and was used by pre-historic peoples.
Following is a list of minerals that serve as copper ores in the copper mining process: [1] Image Name Formula % Copper when pure Chalcopyrite: CuFeS 2: 34.5 Chalcocite:
The spectrum of copper minerals closely resembles that of silver, ranging from oxides of its multiple oxidation states through sulfides and silicates to halides and chlorates, iodates, nitrates and others. Natural alloys of copper (particularly with silver; the two metals can also be found in separate but co-mingled masses) are also found.
Porphyry copper deposits represent an important resource and the dominant source of copper that is mined today to satisfy global demand. [6] Via compilation of geological data, it has been found that the majority of porphyry deposits are Phanerozoic in age and were emplaced at depths of approximately 1 to 6 kilometres with vertical thicknesses on average of 2 kilometres. [6]
To skip the detailed analysis of the copper industry, go directly to the Top 5 Copper Producing Countries in The World. Copper is one of the most commonly used and important metals in the world.
Production trends in the top five copper-producing countries, 1950-2012. This is a list of countries by mined copper production. Copper ore can be exported to be smelted so that a nation's smelter production of copper can differ greatly from its mined production. See: List of countries by copper smelter production.
Azurite is found in the same geologic settings as its sister mineral, malachite, though it is usually less abundant. Both minerals occur widely as supergene copper minerals, formed in the oxidized zone of copper ore deposits. Here they are associated with cuprite, native copper, and various iron oxide minerals. [8]
This list of copper mines includes operating, ... Skouriotissa (the oldest operating mine in the world) Tamassos; Finland. Kevitsa mine; Poland.