Non Ferrous Metals - Copper: It retards rust and is used in the manufacture of roofing and siding sheets and plates and copper wire is essential in electrical equipment. The world production of copper ore (Cu content) in 1985 was 3780 thousand metric tons. The producing countries in order of importance are U.S.A (31% in 1988), Chile (14% in 1988), Northern Rhodesia (13% in 1988), Canada (9% in 1988).
About 90 per cent of U.S.A's total production comes from Arizona, Utah, Montana, New Mexico and Nevada.
In Chile the ore bodies occur along the west flanks of the Andes. Ocean haulage is within reach-thus providing cheap transportation to world markets. The ore reserves of Katanga and Rhodesia are so great that these districts are now among the foremost production areas of the world. The mines are worked by British and American capital predominantly.
Chile is the largest producer accounting for one-sixth of the world's total Chuquicamata in Chile is the world's largest copper mining centre. The mines are worked by American companies and the ore is exported to the United States. The Chilean copper belt extends into Peru, which is a minor producer.
The United States is the second largest producer with 31% of world production. The mining centres are in the states of Arizona, Utah and Montana in western United States. The copper mine at Ringham in Utah is the largest mine.
The Urals region has been an important copper producing centre in the Soviet Union. These ores have been depleted and the new centre at Kazakhstan has become the major producer. Minagements or copper mining are in Armenia, Uzbekistan and Siberia.
Canada has now become the third largest producer of copper. Important mining centres are located at Sudbury in Ontario, Flin Eon in Manitoba and at copper mine in North West territories.
The continent of Africa accounts for about 20% of the world's copper ore production. The Katanga copper belt extends for a length of 500 km in Zaire and Zambia. The mines were first opened up by Belgium companies. The ore is of high grade and is easily mined by open cast method. The interior location results in high cost of transport.
India's copper ore reserves have been estimated at 400 million tonnes, with a metal content of 5 million tones. The principal copper belt of India lies in Singhbhum and Hazaribagh in Bihar. The mining centres are located at Mosabani, Ghatsila, Thobani and Badia of Singbhbum, Hazaribagh of Bihar, the Khetri and Dariba areas of Rajasthan, and Agnigundala of Andhra Pradesh. Total production is 2.6 million tones.
Trade in copper: As copper ore has low metal content of less than 5% it has to be first concentrated to separate all waste material. After concentration it is smelted to produce blister copper containing 95% metal. This is refined by electrolysis to produce metal of 100% purity needed by electrical industry. Industrialized nations import copper ore, smelt them and refine them. Chile, Zambia, Canada, and Zaire are the major exporting countries. The United States, West European countries and Japan are the major importing countries.
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