The Worl d Copper Factbook 2019 International Copper Study Group 1 Chapter 1 Cu Basics What is Copper Copper is a malleabl e and ductile metallic eleme n t that is an e x cellent conductor of heat and electricity as well as be ing corrosion resistant and antimicrobial Copper occurs naturally in the Earths crust in a variet y of fo rms It can be fo und in sulfide de p o sits as chalcopyrite bornite chalcocite covel lite in carbonate de p o sits as azurite and malachite in silicate deposits as chrysycolla an d dioptase and as pure n a t ive copper Copper also occurs naturally in hum ans animals and plants Organic life forms hav e evol ve d in an en vir o nment con t aining copper As a nutrient and essential el ement copper is vital to maintaining health Life sustaining functions de pe n d on co pper Copper an d copper bas e d alloys ar e used in a va riety of a ppl ications that are nec e ssary for a reasonabl e standard of living Its continued production an d use is essential for societys devel o pment How society exploits and uses its reso urces while ensuri ng that tomorrows needs are not compromised is an important factor in ensuri ng societys sustainable developm en t Copper is one of the most recycled of all metals It is our ability to recycle metals over and over agai n that makes them a material of choice Recycled copper also known as secondary copper cannot be distinguished from primary copper copper originating from ores once reproc essed Recyc ling copper exten d s the efficiency of use of the metal re su lts in energy savings an d contribut e s to ensu ri ng that we have a sustainable source of metal for futur e generations Th e dema nd for copper will continue to be met by the disco v er y of new de p o sits technological improvements effici ent desig n and by taking adva ntage of the renewabl e natu re of copper through reuse and rec y cling As well competition between materials and supply and dema n d principl es contribute to ensuring that materials are used ef ficie n tly and e ffe ctive l y Copper is an important contributor to the national econo m ies of mature newly develo ped and developi ng countries Mining processing recycling an d the transformation of metal into a multitude of prod ucts creates jobs and generates wealth Th ese activities c o ntribute to building and maintaining a countrys infrastructure and create trade and invest ment opportunities Copper will continue to contribute to societys development well into the futu re Images co urte sy of th e Co p p e r Developme n t Association 1