Copper is a metal which is mined from the earth and used for
a number of different purposes. It was formed as a result of
volcanic activity which resulted in large masses of molten
rock and hot water cooling and then solidifying into copper
compounds. This fact sheet provides information about copper
and its extraction. It describes the properties and uses of
copper, formation of copper ore bodies, mining and
processing, and the management of associated environmental
impacts.
Educational value
statement
- Includes descriptions of both underground and open-cut
mining
- Explains concentration of the ore by froth flotation, as
well smelting and refining of copper metal.
- Relates the properties of copper to its uses
- Includes some representative statistics about copper in
Australia
- Includes a table listing environmental impacts of copper
production and describing how each impact is managed.
- Can be downloaded as a MS Word file.
Key learning
objectives
- Students explain how the uses of copper are influenced by
its properties
- Students describe the processes involved in the
extraction of copper from its ores
- Students list some environmental impacts of copper
extraction and explain how they can be managed.
Strands
- Science Understanding: Chemical sciences; Earth and space
sciences
- Science as a Human Endeavour: Use and influence of
science