Description
Copper is a chemical element with the symbol Cu and atomic number 29. It is a red/yellow transition metal that, in its unalloyed form, is also known as copper. Excavations in the north of what is now Iraq have shown that copper was already in use around 8700 BC. Other excavations indicate that copper was already being smelted and isolated from copper-bearing minerals such as malachite and azurite as early as 5000 BC. The Sumerians and Egyptians are known to have smelted copper and used it to make bronze around 3000 BC. The use of copper was also known in China, and very high-quality bronze objects dating back to 1200 BC have been found. The mummy Ötzi, found in 1991 in the Austrian-Italian Alps, who is believed to have died around 3300 BC, wore tools made of 99.7% pure copper. In mythology and alchemy, copper was often associated with the deity Aphrodite because of its beautiful sheen. For this reason, copper was once used for mirrors, among other things. The name copper comes from the Latin word cuprum. This word is derived from "aes cyprium," meaning "ore of Cyprus." Copper was mined on Cyprus in ancient times. The main sources of copper are the minerals chalcopyrite, chalcocite, covellite, azurite, malachite, and bornite. These are found in abundance in the earth's crust. Major deposits of copper ore are Chile, Peru, and the United States. Approximately one-third of all copper is mined in Chile. Indonesia has seen the strongest growth in copper production over the past decade and was the fourth-largest producer in 2009. The main users of copper are China, Germany, and the United States. Global copper consumption in 2009 was 18.4 million tons. Mine production was 15.8 million tons, and due to recycling, total supply was 18.6 million tons. Demand is increasing faster than supply, causing inventories to decline. On February 4, 2011, the price of copper reached a record high of $10,000 per ton. The same Financial Times article reported that demand will significantly exceed supply in 2011, leading to further price increases. Copper is traded on various international exchanges, including London, New York, and Shanghai.
