Demand for copper is at an all-time high and looks set to continue because of increasing demand for hi-tech lifestyles and the growth of urbanization. The global focus on switching to renewable energy sources and electric vehicles to meet 2015 Paris Climate Agreement targets also increases demand for copper. Pressure is simultaneously mounting on the copper mining industry to move towards more sustainable methods of extraction and change how waste is processed. Solar energy is being investigated to produce power and heat for copper mining processes to lower the industry’s carbon footprint.
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Copper Use and Environmental Consequences of Copper Mining
Copper is one of the most abundant nonferrous metals in the Earth’s crust. It is attractive to use across a vast range of industries because of its properties; workability…