Copper is essential to our future, and people have used it for a variety of purposes for hundreds of years. Copper has an inherent ability to kill a wide range of harmful microbes relatively rapidly and with a high degree of efficiency, making it especially useful in combating the spread of COVID-19.
Freeport-McMoRan is a long-time member of the International Copper Alliance and is one of the world’s leading copper producers. It operates seven mines in the U.S. that produce copper. Morenci, just one of its mines, can produce 1 billion pounds of copper a year.
Copper’s physical attributes include superior electrical conductivity, corrosion resistance, structural capability, efficient heat transfer and aesthetics. As a result of copper’s unique characteristics, healthcare workers, transportation providers, educators and delivery services rely on it for equipment and for crucial functions, including electronic devices, electricity delivery and storage, transportation, communication and safe drinking water. From mines and smelters/refiners through to fabricators, the copper industry provides the raw material and the finished products to assist society through any challenge.
Additionally, renewable and alternative energy applications, medical science research, and hybrid and electric automobile development depend on the red metal and use more copper than standard applications. The typical U.S.-built conventional automobile contains approximately 50 pounds of copper, and hybrid and electric vehicles can use more than double that amount. Copper is an essential metal for a wide variety of applications and can be mined right here in the United States.