Chilean Copper: Is it Helping or Hurting us? Eric Mason & Stacey Cherukara

Background Copper is one of only two metals that are colored, Copper is reddish brown. Copper was used long before the Roman Empire. It is one of the earliest metals known to humans. One reason for this is that copper occurs not only as ores (compounds that must be converted to metal), but occasionally as native copper—actual metal found way in the ground. "Copper." Mineral Information Institute. 12 Feb Web. 16 Nov

Origin of Name Copper was named from the Greek word kyprios, that is, the Island of Cyprus, where copper deposits were mined by the ancients. The chemical symbol for copper is Cu which is derived from the Latin name for copper, cuprium. "Copper." Mineral Information Institute. 12 Feb Web. 16 Nov

Background

How is copper mined? Copper is mined from huge pits in the ground or blasted away from the rock in mines. The ore is crushed then mixed with water to separate it from the other minerals. The copper is then skimmed off the top layer of water. Its then melted down and used. "How is the Copper Ore Mined ?" Wiki Awnsers. 15 July Web. 16 Nov ned. ned

Uses of Copper The most important use of copper is in electrical wiring; it is an excellent conductor of electricity it can be made extremely pure, it corrodes very slowly, and it can be formed easily into thin wires—it is very ductile. Copper is also an important ingredient of many useful alloys— combinations of metals, melted together. Because it resists corrosion and conducts heat well, copper is widely used in plumbing and heating applications. Because copper is an extremely good conductor of heat, as well as of electricity (the two usually go together), it is used to make cooking utensils such as saute and fry pans. Coppe r - History Of Copper, Making Pure Copper, Uses Of Copper, Compounds Of Copper

Sources Where can we find it ? The amount of copper believed to be accessible for mining on the Earth’s land is 1.6 billion tons. In addition, it is estimated that 0.7 billion tons of copper is available in deep-sea nodules. Of the copper ore mined in the United States, the majority is produced in three western states: Arizona, Utah, and New Mexico. Other major copper producing nations include Australia, Canada, Chile, China, Mexico, Russia, Peru, and Indonesia.

What's the Problem ? The copper mining is one of the most important economic activities in Chile. The main environmental impact to air pollution is associated to copper concentrate smelters. The disposal of tailings, leaching residues, and other mine products are also serious problems. Disposal of wastewaters into superficial waters, such as rivers, lakes and coastal areas, may affect some fragile ecosystems. This large mining industry is advancing to a cleaner production, but the problem is complex, so that, environmental challenges in both technology and management need to be faced.

What’s the Problem? The most serious problem in the Chilean mining industry is produced by gaseous emissions from smelters. However, a number of other dangerous wastes are produced, such as, flotation tailings, sulfuric acid, acid wastewaters, acid mist, leached solid residues.

How does this effect our environment? These enormous Chilean mines that produce a majority of the worlds copper are damaging the environment. The one and a half mile long open pit mine requires a lot of water to separate the minerals and rocks, soaking up the areas natural rivers and leaving river beds dry. It hasn’t rained around the mines since 1983.

How does this affect the people? The lack of water around the major copper mines in Chile has left the way water is bought and sold completely up to the people. Miners and the very few people who live in the surrounding town find themselves in a political dispute over water. Also, this arid and polluted environment has caused many people to develop respiratory problems.

A View of Chile’s Largest Mine From Outer Space Before the mines... After the mines...

Works Cited Sánchez, Mario, and Sergio Castro. "Towards a cleaner production in the Chilean copper industry." Port of Entry. GIS Software Databases, 23 June Web. 4 Nov "How is the Copper Ore Mined ?" Wiki Answers. 15 July Web. 16 Nov "Copper." Mineral Information Institute. 12 Feb Web. 16 Nov Copper - History Of Copper, Making Pure Copper, Uses Of Copper, Compounds Of Copper "The effects of mining pollution on subtidal habitats of northern Chile." Inder Science Publishers. Inder Science Enterprises, 15 Oct Web. 16 Nov &prevQuery=&ps=10&m=or