News | August 17, 2007

Analyzing The US Copper Industry Takes A Look At The Global Copper Industry Focusing Primarily On The Basic Characteristics Of The Metal Itself

Dublin, Ireland - Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/c65837) has announced the addition of "Analyzing the US Copper Industry" to their offering.

Copper is a chemical element in the periodic table that has the symbol Cu and atomic number 29. It is a ductile metal with excellent electrical conductivity, and finds extensive use as an electrical conductor, heat conductor, as a building material, and as a component of various alloys. Copper has played a significant part in the history of mankind, which has used the easily accessible uncompounded metal for nearly 10,000 years. Civilizations in places like Iraq, China, Egypt, Greece and the Sumerian cities all have early evidence of using copper.

During the Roman Empire, copper was principally mined on Cyprus, hence the origin of the name of the metal as Cyprium, "metal of Cyprus", later shortened to Cuprum. A number of countries, such as Chile and the United States, still have sizeable reserves of the metal which are extracted through large open pit mines. Nevertheless, the price of copper rose rapidly, increasing 500% from a 60-year low in 1999, largely due to increased demand. This metal has come into the limelight on account of high volatility in prices. According to New Scientist, the earth has an estimated 61 years supply of copper left.

Copper mining in the United States began with marginal workings by Native Americans and some development by early Spaniards. Europeans were mining copper in Connecticut as early as 1709. Perhaps the oldest operating large-scale copper mine was the historic Elizabeth Mine in Vermont. Dating to the 1700s, "the Liz" produced copper until it was closed in 1958. Westward movement also brought an expansion of copper exploitation with developments of significant deposits in Michigan and Arizona during the 1850s and then in Montana during the 1860s.

Copper was mined extensively in Michigan's Keweenaw Peninsula with the heart of extraction at the productive Quincy Mine. Arizona had many notable deposits including the Copper Queen in Bisbee and the United Verde in Jerome. The Anaconda in Butte, Montana became the nation's chief copper supplier by 1886.

Copper is mined in many other areas of the United States, including Utah, Nevada and Tennessee. Copper is the state mineral for Utah.

Analyzing the US Copper Industry takes a look at the global copper industry, focusing primarily on the basic characteristics of the metal itself. The first part of the report deals with understanding copper, technologies involved in copper production, exploration, mining, and the uses of copper, as well as the global industry structure, impact of copper mining on the environment, the various markets of copper, etc.

The second part of the report focuses on the Copper Industry in the United States. In-depth profiles are given of market players, production profile of copper, consumption statistics, industry usage divided in to various segments, and a look at the fabricators of copper. The report further focuses on the price trends of copper in the US, market performance, import/export scenario, the physical market trends, investment demand for copper, and of course, a market forecast.

SOURCE: Research and Markets