Copper is considered to be a prime element for the industrial sector. Due to its highly desired properties like high ductility and malleability, thermal and electrical conductivity, and resistance, its demand is expected to grow. We, humans, are strongly associated with this metal for multiple purposes.
Various Uses of Copper
The modern world is technically and sustainably developing at a high pace in which minerals and metals play a major role. Traces of this element can be seen in kitchen sinks, tabletops, jewelry, doorknobs, and pull handles, railings, tools, musical instruments, wires, and many other resources. Copper can be merely used in pure form, but it is more often alloyed with other elements. Most significantly used copper alloys are brass and bronze.
Copper Exploration
You will be confused to know that between 1990 and 2019, 224 copper deposits were discovered across different locations containing about 1.08 billion tons of copper. The copper demand is increasing without indicating that the demand will decelerate anytime soon. The world is moving towards renewable sources of energy, sustainable and economic resources, and technical innovation, which is the reason why copper demands are expected to increase only.
It is admiring to know that copper is believed to be the first metal discovered and utilized by humans back 10,000 years. Have you ever thought about how copper was being discovered? The metal and mineral exploration processes are very complex. Exploration compiles the process of searching for mineralized deposits, and geographical information from different locations is collected for further studies. It involves various stages with increasing sophistication. Nowadays, trailblazing advancement has been introduced to exploration techniques. Various exploration methods involve boulder exploration, geophysical surveys, geological mapping, geochemical sampling, and drilling.
How Does It Begin?
The process of copper exploration begins with the search for mineral prospects and continues with the evaluation for the feasibility study. Every evidence of mineralization suspected in the surrounding rocks is important to consider. The major objective of exploration is to find out potentially minable deposits.
The exploration process is done on a wide region after detecting the target, which is further followed by narrowing it down for investigation. Drilling and sampling are crucial steps of exploration.
The exploration may begin with low-impact surface activities encompassing stream sediment sampling, rock sampling, geological mapping, soil survey, and passive and active ground geophysics. If the indication is positive, drilling is done for verification. Multiple companies are currently working on mineral exploration like Collective Mining Ltd and Barrick Gold. Collective Mining stock is making significant advancements in the exploration techniques for large-scale copper-gold-molybdenum porphyry targets.
In the End
Copper metal has significantly improved the way we live. Almost everything you see around might have small traces of copper. As this metal is enriched with desirable qualities, its usage and demands are expanding. Copper exploration on a large scale is done to find newer mineral-rich deposits that may be bearing metal. The exploration process involves many stages, which often increases the time gap and expenses.
