Containing chemical element nickel in such quantities and chemical compounds that its extraction is not only possible, but also economically profitable. Typically these are deposits of sulfide (nickel content 1-2%) and silicate (nickel content 1-1.5%) ores. The most important include the most common: sulfides (pentlandite, millerite, nickelite, nickel pyrrhotite, polydymite, cobalt-nickel pyrite and others), hydrous silicates (garnierite, annabergite, howahsite, revdinskite, shuchardite, nickel nontronites) and nickel chlorites. Copper ores are natural mineral formations in which the copper content is sufficient for the economic extraction of this metal. Of the many known copper-containing minerals, they are used in industrial scale about 17: native copper, bornite, chalcopyrite (copper pyrite), chalcocite (copper luster), covellite, bournonite, faded ores (cuprite, tenorite, malachite, azurite and others).
The following types of deposits are of industrial importance: copper pyrites, skarn copper-magenetite, copper-titanium magnetite and porphyry copper.
They lie among volcanic rocks of the ancient period. During this period, numerous land and underwater forces operated. Volcanoes released sulfurous and hot waters saturated with metals - iron, copper, zinc, etc. seabed and in the underlying rocks ores were deposited, consisting of sulfides of iron, copper and zinc, called pyrites. The main mineral of pyrite ores is pyrite, or sulfur pyrite, which makes up the predominant part (50–90%) of the volume of pyrite ores.
Most of the mined nickel is used for the production of heat-resistant, structural, tool, stainless steels and alloys. Not most of Nickel is spent on the production of nickel and copper-nickel rolled products, for the manufacture of wire, tapes, various equipment for industry, as well as in aviation, rocket science, in the production of equipment for nuclear power plants, and in the manufacture of radar instruments. In industry, nickel is alloyed with copper, zinc, aluminum, chromium and other metals.
Types of nickel deposits:
Igneous sulphide copper-nickel deposits
The initial accumulation of sulfides occurs during the process of intrusion, differentiation and segregation of an initially homogeneous nickel-bearing melt into two liquids: silicate and sulfide components. The sulfide melt sinks, concentrates and crystallizes after the silicate melt crystallizes. The rise of nickel-bearing minerals occurs along deep faults that penetrate into the mantle and determine the geological position of ore areas and fields of copper-nickel deposits. Deposits of sulfide copper-nickel ores are concentrated in zones of deep faults on ancient shields and platforms. Ores mainly occur in layers.
Low-grade ores (up to 1.5% nickel) are enriched. High-grade ores (containing more than 1.5% nickel) are produced without beneficiation. In addition to nickel, copper, cobalt, platinum group metals, gold, silver, sulfur, selenium, and tellurium are also extracted from copper-nickel ores.
Silicate nickel ores of weathering crust
Deposits of silicate nickel ores are closely related to one or another type of weathering crust. When minerals decompose and mobile elements are transferred from upper parts crust to the lower. These elements then precipitate as secondary minerals.
Nickel reserves in deposits of this type are 3 times higher than its reserves in sulfide ores. Some contain more than a million tons of nickel. The average nickel content in them is 1.1-2%. Such ores also contain cobalt.
Depending on the geological structure, two types of silicate-nickel deposits are distinguished - areal and linear. Areal ones are formed on fairly homogeneous massifs that have flat surface, and linear - at the contacts of the main rocks with others (limestones) or along faults.
Deposits of copper and nickel ores in Russia:
Serovskoe silicate-nickel deposit
Copper-nickel ores are located within two zones: Eastern and Central. Eastern zone, in which the richest ores are known. Within the zone, syngenetic and epigenetic mineralization is developed with the predominant role of the latter. The deposit is ribbon-shaped, 1700 m long, the thickness of the layers is 0.2-25.5 m. The ores contain from 0.41 to 8% (on average 0.95-1.33%) nickel and 0.31-0.57 % copper. Nickel reserves are estimated at 20.7 thousand tons (with an average content of 1.33%). The upper deposit is sheet-like in shape, length - up to 2000 m, thickness 1.7-49.1 m. Nickel content varies between 0.34-1 .39%.
Svetloozerskoe copper-nickel ore deposit
Located in the eastern part of the Western Svetloozersky massif, it is represented by a complex lens-shaped deposit, up to 1200 m long, 0.2-40 m thick. The ores are disseminated, densely disseminated and vein-disseminated. Nickel contents range from 0.2-11.6%. Nickel reserves are estimated at 25 thousand tons.
Podolsk copper-zinc deposit
Located 180 km south of the city of Magnitogorsk. Pyrite ores are located at a depth of 600 – 800 m and consist mainly of copper-zinc and copper ores. Sulfur-pyrite and veinlet-disseminated ores are also found in the lower part. The thickness of the layers ranges from 5 to 90 m. Basalts occur at depths of 800–1000 m. The average metal content in the ores of the Podolsk deposit is: copper - 1.73%, zinc -1.05%, lead - 0.13%. Ore reserves at the Podolsk deposit are about 80 million tons.
Udokan copper ore deposit
The only large undeveloped copper deposit located in Russia. Located east of, in the Chita region. The Udokan deposit contains from 25% to 60% national stocks copper ore and is one of the largest in the world.
Page 7
Copper ore deposits. Copper is the most important non-ferrous metal. It is characterized by a low metal content in the ore (1-2%) and often occurs in combination with zinc, lead, gold, and silver. Large deposits of copper ores have been explored in the Urals, North Caucasus, Eastern Siberia.
In the Urals, the largest deposits - Degtyarskoye, Krasnouralskoye, Kirovogradskoye, Revdinskoye - are located in Sverdlovsk region. IN Chelyabinsk region The Karabashskoe deposit is located, in the Orenburg region there are the Raiskoe and Blavinskoe deposits.
In the Republic of Bashkortostan, the richest deposits are Sibay and Uchalinskoye. In the North Caucasus - Urupskoye and Khudesskoye in the Stavropol Territory.
Deposits are available in Western Siberia, in Altai. In Eastern Siberia, in the Krasnoyarsk Territory, the main reserves of copper-nickel ores are located, where the Norilsk, Talnakh, and Oktyabrskoe deposits are particularly prominent. The unique Udokan deposit is located in the Chita region. Reserves of copper-nickel ores are available in the North, in Murmansk region.
Deposits of polymetallic ores. Polymetallic lead-zinc ores of Russia are concentrated in Western Siberia - the Salair group ( Altai region), Eastern Siberia - Nerchinsk group (in Transbaikalia), Gorevskoye field in the Krasnoyarsk Territory, in Far East- Tetyukhinskaya group (Primorsky Territory).
Deposits of nickel and cobalt. The main deposits of nickel ores are located in the Murmansk region (Kaula), Orenburg (Buruktalskoye) and Chelyabinsk (Cheremshanskoye) regions, Krasnoyarsk Territory(Norilskoye, Talnakhskoye).
The bulk of cobalt produced in the country is carried out by processing complex ores.
Tin deposits. The main location area is the Far East. The largest deposits are in the areas of the Lesser Khingan and Sikhote-Alin ridges, Southern Primorye and the river basin. Yana.
Deposits of light metals. From light metals in industry important role aluminum and magnesium play. Leading role in industrial production belongs to aluminum, whose alloys are found wide application in the aviation and space industry. Magnesium is widely used in pyrotechnics, photography, the aviation and nuclear industries, as well as in ferrous and non-ferrous metallurgy.
To obtain aluminum, three main types of feedstock are used - bauxite, nepheline and alunite.
Bauxite is a sedimentary rock that contains alumina, silicon and ferrous oxide. The alumina content in bauxite ranges from 40-70%. Bauxite deposits have been explored in the Urals (in the Sverdlovsk region - North-Ural, in the Chelyabinsk region - South-Ural), in the North-West (in Leningrad region- Tikhvinskoe), in the North (in Arkhangelsk region- North Onega), as well as in Eastern Siberia (in the Krasnoyarsk Territory and the Republic of Buryatia).
Nephelines are found in many areas of the country. The largest deposit in Russia is located in the Murmansk region (Khibiny), in Western Siberia ( Kemerovo region- Kiya-Shaltyrskoye field), in a number of areas of Eastern Siberia Irkutsk region and the Republic of Buryatia.
Deposits of magnesium ore (magnet) are being developed in the Urals (Satka) and in the Eastern Sayan Mountains.
Deposits of precious metals and diamonds. Russian Federation is one of the largest producers of precious metals and precious stones. The forecast reserves of gold resources are estimated at 150 thousand tons. Russia ranks fifth in the world in gold production, accounting for 6-7% of world production. The main gold deposits are found in bedrock in the form of quartz-gold veins and placers. They are located in the Urals, in Eastern Siberia (Krasnoyarsk Territory and Irkutsk Region), in the Far East (in the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) and the Magadan Region), as well as in Western Siberia and the European North of the country.
Metals in the copper subgroup are characterized by low chemical activity, for this reason they are found in the form chemical compounds, as well as nuggets. Many centuries ago, copper could only be found in the form of sulfur compounds - chalcopyrite and chalcocite. This is because copper has a high chemical affinity for sulfur. Most primary ores contain copper in sulfide form - CuS.
Over time, especially in conditions of volcanic activity, when exposed to large quantity oxygen, copper sulfides became oxides. Copper nuggets were formed in nature during the strong heating of oxidized sulfur ore. For example, if oxidized copper minerals and sulfur ores lay under a thick layer of rock, then they were heated by natural disasters and earthly warmth. In such natural “metallurgical shops” colossal volumes of copper were smelted. A nugget weighing 420 tons was found in North America. However, this is rare; native copper on the planet is approximately 1%.
World copper deposits
A lot of copper, like other minerals, is located at the bottom of the oceans. At the bottom there are clusters of round stones containing approximately 0.5% copper. According to the analysis of geologists, the reserves of copper ore in the ocean reach 5 billion tons.
There are almost 250 copper minerals, but only 20 are used industrially. The main copper ores include:
- chalcocite - Cu 2 S, which contains 79.8% copper
- chalcopyrite - CuFeS 2, which contains 30% copper. This ore accounts for almost 50% of all copper deposits
- bornite - Cu 5 FeS 4, contains from 52 to 65% copper
- covellite - CuS, contains 64% copper.
According to genetic and industrial-geological parameters, copper deposits are:
- stratiform, which include copper shales and sandstones
- pyrites. This group includes native and vein copper
- hydrothermal
- igneous, including the most common ores of the copper-nickel type
- carbonate. This group includes iron-copper and carbonatite ores.
Copper reserves in the world
The largest amount of copper, approximately 65%, occurs in the Northern and South America. European states have 15% of resources, Asian - 11%, African - 4.5%.
The largest confirmed copper reserves are recorded in Chile. Almost 20% of the world's reserves are located there. And in the USA - 12.7%. In addition to these countries, there is a lot of copper in Poland, Indonesia, Iran, Kazakhstan, China, Uzbekistan, the Philippines, as well as in Zaire, Zambia, Brazil, Canada, Mexico, Panama, Peru and Australia. In each of these states, according to experts, there are about 10 million tons.
Copper ore mining
Due to the low copper content in the ore, its extraction is associated with the processing of large volumes rocks. In order to smelt 1 ton of copper, over 200 tons of ore must be processed.
Copper mining methods:
- open method. If ore deposits are close to the earth's surface, then they are developed in this way depth open-pit mining is 150-300 m. The method is characterized by lower losses
- underground method. Using this method, ore is mined from a depth of 500 m, and sometimes from 800-1000 m.
There are five technological systems for field development:
- using self-propelled equipment. This technology is widely used
- using continuous vibration mechanisms
- using hardening goaf backfill. In this case, there is a continuous excavation of reserves of powerful deposits with minimal losses. With the use of such systems, losses are reduced by 3-4 times
- method of extracting ore in horizontal layers. When filling goafs (in underground mines) with hardening compounds, pipes lined with rubber or basalt are used, the service life of which is 50-100 times higher than that of steel
- cyclic-flow technology for the implementation of mining operations.
Copper production centers
Copper production centers are present in different regions Russia. Kazakhstan boasts the richest ore deposits. There are also deposits in the Urals. According to the latest data, Russia ranks first in the world in copper ore mining.
Copper plants are being built in close proximity to the mines. The raw material factor is the determining component, due to the low content of concentrates in the feedstock. There are 11 copper complexes located in the Urals, producing 43% of the country’s copper. In addition to our own raw materials, production also uses materials imported from Kazakhstan. There are also waste recycling plants. For example, sulfur dioxide gases, as a byproduct of copper mining, are used to create sulfuric acid, which is then used to make fertilizers.
BRIEF HISTORICAL INFORMATION. Copper was known to man already at the beginning of the seventh millennium BC. e. (in the Middle East and Turkey). The first copper ores were apparently nuggets, which were quite common. The world's largest copper nugget was found in the lake area. Upper in the USA and reached 500 tons. In the second millennium BC. e. an alloy of copper with tin (bronze) began to be used, in the Caucasus - alloys of copper with arsenic, and in Central Asia– alloys of copper and lead. The population of Europe has long been aware of copper deposits in Cyprus. It is believed that the Latin name for copper “cuprum” originated from the word Cyprus.
At the beginning of the 19th century. Copper production worldwide was about 18,000 tons. Russia under Peter I for several decades occupied first place in copper smelting.
Copper is a red metal with good malleability, ductility, electrical conductivity, alloyability with other metals, and is fusible (melting point 1083º C).
GEOCHEMISTRY. Clark copper 0.01%. Its increased contents are observed in basic rocks (1.4·10 -2%), lower in granites (3·10 -3%). The concentration coefficient of copper is 200. It is represented by two isotopes: 65 Cu and 69 Cu.
Copper is a typical chalcophile element and most often occurs in the form of sulfides. Under natural conditions, it is mono- and divalent. Bivalent copper is characterized by a high migration ability under reducing conditions and reacts with CO -2 3, SiO 3 2-, PO 4 3- and VO 4 3 ions, forming phosphate, carbonate and silicate compounds.
During basaltic magmatism, copper is concentrated in hypermafic rocks, forming liquation and skarn deposits, and at the post-volcanic stage it is associated with sulfide formations.
MINERALOGY. More than 240 copper minerals are known in nature, of which about 200 are found in the weathering crust. However, no more than 17 minerals are of industrial importance. The main ones among them are: native copper, chalcopyrite, bornite, cubanite, chalcocite, covellite, enargite, tetrahedrite, tennantite, cuprite, tenorite, malachite, azurite, etc.
Native copper(Cu content up to 100%) crystallizes in cubic system, crystal habit is cubic and dodecahedral, forms dendrites, thread-like, wire-like, mossy aggregates, powdery secretions, nodules, solid masses, pinkish and copper-red color with brown and mottled tarnish, hardness 2 .5–3, specific gravity 8.4–8.9 g/cm3.
Chalcopyrite CuFeS 2 (Cu 34.6%). Two of its modifications are known: tetrahedral and cubic – high-temperature. The color of the mineral is golden-yellow, often with brown tarnish, a metallic luster, found in skarns, segregated copper-nickel, lead-zinc, tungsten-molybdenum-tin and pyrite deposits, as well as in cuprous sandstones and phosphorite deposits.
Bornite(last name Born) Cu 5 FeS 4 (Cu 63.3%). Forms several polymorphic modifications: tetragonal - low temperature, trigonal - metastable at low temperatures, cubic - stable above 228º C. The crystal habit is cubic, dodecahedral, less often octahedral, dark bronze color with variegated tarnish, metallic luster, hardness 3, specific gravity 5.3 g/cm3.
Kubanite(on the island of Cuba) CuFe 2 S 3 (Cu 22–24%) crystallizes in the cubic system, the habit of the crystals is elongated, thick tabular, bronze-yellow in color, metallic luster, specific gravity 4.16 g/cm 3 . It is found in sulfide copper-nickel deposits with pyrrhotite and chalcopyrite in sulfide ores, and occasionally in vein and polymetallic deposits.
Chalcozine Cu 2 S (Cu 79.9%). Two polymorphic modifications are known: rhombic - low-temperature and the less common hexagonal - high-temperature. The habit of the crystals is short-prismatic, tabular, dipyramidal, lead-gray color, hardness 2.5–3, specific gravity 5.8 g/cm 3 . It is found in copper deposits with bornite, chalcopyrite and other sulfides.
Covellin(after the surname Covelli) CuS (Cu 66.5%), crystallizes in a hexagonal system, lamellar habit, earthy, powdery, sooty aggregates, indigo-blue to black color with iridescent tarnish, hardness 1.5–2, specific gravity 4, 6 g/cm 3 .
Enargite Cu 3 AsS 4 (Cu 48.3%) crystallizes in the orthorhombic system, crystals are prismatic or tabular, granular aggregates, grayish to iron-black color, grayish-black streak, hardness 3.5, specific gravity 4.3–4.5 g/cm 3 . It is found in hydrothermal, usually medium-temperature copper pyrite, porphyry copper, pyrite-enargite, lead-zinc, silver-copper and other deposits.
Tetrahedrite(according to crystal shape) Cu 12 Sb 4 S 13 (Cu 52.3%). The following varieties are known: silver-containing - freibergite; mercury-containing – Schwazite, uptonite, mercury fahlore; zinc-containing – sandbergerite, zinc faded ore; iron-containing – ferrotetrahedrite, coppit; nickel-containing – frigid, nickel fahlore; tellurium-containing – goldfieldite; lead-containing – malinovskite and etc.
Domeikit(named after our fellow countryman Ignacio Domeyko) Cu 3 As (Cu 71.1%). Two polymorphic modifications are known - cubic and hexagonal with a transition temperature of 225º C. The aggregates are dense, kidney-shaped and grape-shaped, the color is silver-white, gray with a yellowish-brown tarnish, hardness 3–3.5, specific gravity 7.5 g/cm 3 . It is found in hydrothermal deposits in association with native copper and silver, copper sulfides and nickel and cobalt arsenides.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICATION. The widespread use of copper is based on its high electrical conductivity, chemical resistance, malleability and other properties. It is used in mechanical engineering, the chemical industry (distillation boilers, coils, pipes), electrical engineering, shipbuilding, engraving, coin making and many other industries. For example, in the USA and Great Britain, up to 20 kg of copper is used to produce one passenger car.
Currently, the bulk of copper is used to make alloys, the most important of which are bronze and brass. Bronzes are not only composed of copper and tin in varying proportions; Lead, zinc, phosphorus, silicon and other components are added to some varieties. Brasses consist of an alloy of copper (60–80%) with zinc (20–30%).
Industrial requirements for ores change over time towards their reduction. So, back at the beginning of the twentieth century. only rich ores with a Cu content of 5–15% or more were mined; currently, when underground mining large deposits, the copper content should be at least 1%, small ones - about 3%, when mining in quarries - 0.2–0.7%, and from complex polymetallic ores, copper is extracted at a content of 0.1% or more.
RESOURCES AND RESERVES. Currently, copper resources have been identified in more than 90 countries. According to USGS they are estimated at 1.6 billion tons. The basis of the mineral resource base of the world's copper mining industry is made up of deposits of three geological and industrial types: porphyry copper; stratiform in cuprous sandstones and shales; copper pyrite and pyrite-polymetallic. The total reserves of copper in the world are 932.6 million tons, confirmed - 668.3 million tons. Their main volumes are concentrated in the depths of Chile, the USA, Peru, China and Kazakhstan (Table 5). There are no data on copper reserves in Russia.
At the rate " Metals Economics Group» (MEG) costs of geological exploration carried out by mining companies for non-ferrous and precious metals in the world in 1995–2000, annually amounted to 4–5 billion US dollars. Of this, about 18–19% was copper. In Chile, the main directions of geological exploration work were additional study and preparation for development of previously undeveloped deposits, as well as work aimed at increasing the reserves of existing mines.
Unique deposits include deposits with copper reserves of more than
5 million tons, large - 5-1 million tons, medium - 1-0.2 million tons and small - less than 0.2 million tons.
MINING AND PRODUCTION. The plants produce rough (99.0%), refined (99.6%) and electrolytic copper (99.95%). World copper production 1995–2000 amounted annually to about 10–11 million tons, with about 45% of its output coming from two countries – Chile and the USA.
Geology
Metals of the copper subgroup have little chemical activity, so they are found partly in the form of chemical compounds, and partly in a free, native form. Copper in distant geological epochs, obviously, was found only in the form of sulfur compounds - chalcopyrite and chalcocite. This is explained by the high chemical affinity of copper for sulfur, and sulfides are the most common copper minerals.
At high temperatures, for example, during volcanic activity, when exposed to excess oxygen, copper sulfides were converted into oxides. Native (metallic) copper arose in nature when partially oxidized sulfur ores were strongly heated. For example, if oxidized copper minerals along with sulfur ores were buried under a thick layer of rocks under the influence natural disasters and were heated by the earth's heat.
Such natural “metallurgical plants” smelted enormous quantities of copper: the largest nugget found weighed 420 tons ( North America). Apparently, the interaction of copper oxides with sulfides continues today in areas of volcanic activity, for example in the Kuril Islands. Similar processes occur during copper smelting at metallurgical plants.
A large amount of copper and other minerals is found on the ocean floor, which is covered with so-called nodules - clusters in the form of round stones. irregular shape. They contain an average of 0.5% copper. According to scientists, the reserves of this valuable and unique ore amount to 5 billion tons.
Copper ores are natural mineral formations of copper compounds containing it in such quantities that industrial production is technically possible and profitable. In the primary ores of most industrial deposits, copper is present in the sulfide form - CuS. Approximately 90% of the world's known copper reserves are in the form of sulfur ores, approximately 9% in the form of oxide ores and less than 1% in the form of native copper.
Typically, copper in minerals is found in the form of the corresponding compounds: oxides - tenorite, cuprite, carbonates - malachite, azurite, sulfates - chalcanthite, brochantite, sulfides - covellite, chalcocite, chalcopyrite, bornite.
About 250 copper minerals are known, but only 20 of them are of industrial importance. Main ore minerals copper is chalcocite (chalcocite) or copper luster Cu2S (79.8% copper), chalcopyrite or copper pyrite CuFeS2 (30% copper), which is estimated to make up about 50% of all deposits of this element, bornite Cu5FeS4 (52-65 % copper), covellite CuS (64.4% copper). Copper is found in earth's crust mainly in the form of complex compounds containing, in addition to copper, lead, zinc, antimony, arsenic, gold and silver.
Copper pyrite or chalcopyrite - a brass-yellow mineral. A compound of copper with iron and sulfur - CuFeS2, containing 30% Cu. Mohs hardness 3-4. It is the primary copper ore from which most mined copper is extracted.
Copper shine or chalcocite, a lead-gray or black mineral. This is a compound of copper and sulfur - Cu2S, which contains 79.8% Cu, and sometimes contains an admixture of silver. The hardness of the mineral on the Mohs scale is 2-3. Copper luster refers to rich copper ores.
Variegated Copper Ore or bornite, is a product of the decomposition of copper pyrite. The chemical composition of the mineral is Cu5FeS4, containing 52-65% Cu. Mohs hardness is about 3.
Cuprite, or cuprite, is a red mineral with chemical composition Cu2O with 88.8% Cu content. Mohs hardness 3.5-4. It is a rich copper ore.
Production
Copper deposits are not concentrated in certain areas geographical areas, and are found in many countries, on all continents. Copper is extracted from different minerals in different regions. In the US states of Arizona and Nevada, as well as in British Cornwall, it is chalcocite, or copper luster. In France and Australia it is azurite, or copper glaze. Copper oxide - cuprite is mined in Cuba. Copper chloride - atacamite - is mined in Peru.
There are many different copper ores, but rich deposits in globe little, and besides, copper ores have been mined for many hundreds of years, so rich deposits of copper have long been worked out. If in the 19th century copper was mined from ores containing 6-9% of this element, now 5% copper ores are considered very rich, and the industry of many countries processes ores containing only 0.5% copper.
Today, almost all metal is mined from low-grade ores containing no more than 1% copper. Some copper oxide ores can be reduced directly to the metal by heating with coke. However, most copper is produced from iron-bearing sulfide ores, which requires more complex processing.
These ores are relatively poor, and economic effect during their operation can only be achieved by increasing the scale of production. Since the average copper content in various ores ranges from 0.3-5%, the raw materials are ground and concentrated and only then sent for metallurgical processing.
The main method of mining copper ores is open pit. Ore is usually mined in huge quarries, where excavators with buckets up to 25 m^3 and trucks with a lifting capacity of up to 250 tons are used. The annual capacity of the largest copper ore enterprises exceeds 30 million tons of ore and 200 thousand tons of metal.
In the production of copper, about 20 more valuable elements and over 40 types of commercial products are obtained: copper, zinc, molybdenum and lead concentrate, flotation sulfur pyrites, rough and refined copper, gold, silver, platinum, lead, bismuth, copper and nickel sulfate and much more. other.
Place of Birth
The main countries with rich copper deposits are: Chile-22%, USA-12%, China -6%, Kazakhstan-5%, Poland-5%, Indonesia-4%, Russia-3%, Zambia-3%. The leaders in copper ore production (ICSG data): Chile-34%, USA-10%, Indonesia-8%, Peru-7%, Australia-6%, Canada-5%, Russia-4%, Poland-3%.
The largest copper ore mining companies: Codelco-11%, Phelps Dodge-8%, Rio Tinto-7%, BHP Billiton-7%, Grupo Mexico-5%, PT Pakuafu Indah-5%, Angio American-4%, Norilsk nickel-3%, KGHM Polska Miedz 3%.
The largest deposits include: Chuquicamata, which has already been mined for more than 100 years (26 million tons) in Chile, and Escondida (23.6 million tons), which began to be mined since 1990 in Chile, Grasberg (27.1 million tons) in Indonesia, Collahuasi ( 17 million tons) Chile, Oktyabrskoye (16 million tons) Russia and Udokan (14 million tons) Russia. Recently developed large fields include: Antamina in Peru, El Tesoro in Chile, Salobu and Sossegu in Brazil, Nurkazgan in Kazakhstan. They are actively exploring Uyu Tolgoi in Mongolia, Pebble in Alaska, and El Pachon in Argentina.
Among the largest copper mines open type(quarries) include: Escondida (annual capacity 1200 thousand tons), Grasberg (annual capacity 800 thousand tons), Chuquicamata (annual capacity 600 thousand tons). The largest underground mines in the world: the world's largest Chilean El Teniente (production of about 450 thousand tons) and Andina (capacity 250 thousand tons), Polish Rudna, Polkowice-Sieroszowice and Lubin with a total of 450 thousand tons, underground mines of Norilsk Nickel (capacity more than 400 thousand tons).
The world's largest reserves of copper ore are concentrated in volcanic rocks (porphyries) of the Chilean Andes. World reserves of economically viable deposits, according to various estimates, amount to 340-470 million tons. In the absence of an increase in reserves and improvements in copper mining and production technology, current recoverable reserves will only last until 2050.
Total proven reserves (according to USGS) - Chile -140 million tons, USA -35 million tons, Indonesia 35 million tons, Poland 30 million tons, Peru 30 million tons, Mexico 27 million tons, Australia 24 million tons, Russia 20 million tons The total base of known copper reserves is, according to various methods, 600-940 million tons. Although copper supplies are not unlimited, there will be sufficient supply for the foreseeable future for all applications.
Russia
The largest deposits in modern Russia are located in the Taimyr Autonomous Okrug: Oktyabrskoye, Talakhninskoye and Norilsk - I, they provide two-thirds of production today. The Oktyabrsky deposit alone produces almost 57% of Russian mine copper.
Almost a third of the mined copper is produced by the Ural copper mining region (Volga and Ural federal districts); deposits: Gayskoye, Uchalinskoye, Sibaiskoye, Safyanovskoye, Uzelginskoye. Only two large deposits not being developed: Yubileiny and Podolskoe. Yubileinoye is being prepared for development, and Podolskoye is in the state reserve.
The largest deposit of cuprous sandstones in the Chita region, Udokan (14 million tons), is not yet being developed. The average copper content in ores is 1.56%. Its development is hampered by the absence of transport infrastructure and the remoteness of Transbaikalia from processing enterprises copper industry (Ural).
In terms of balance copper reserves, Russia accounts for about 9% of the world's reserves, and according to this indicator we are in third place in the world after Chile and the USA. Russia as a whole is provided with proven reserves of copper at the current level of production for 90 years (but the supply of exploited deposits is less, 25-30 years).
Loading...
