Copper and Molybdenum Deposits in the United States
Copper and molybdenum resources were not recognized as valuable
commodities until economic needs demanded the collection and processing of these
minerals in large amounts. The most expansive deposits of copper and molybdenum
occur in massive low grade ores and are found in intrusive porphyry formations,
although many smaller sized but higher grade ores are located in non-porphyry
areas. The nation has abundant domestic copper ore reserves but because of many
detrimental economic factors much of the copper used by the U.S. industry is
imported. Molybdenum ore is profuse and exports of it are high to fulfill the
needs of foreign demand.
Copper was first used by people around 4000 B.C. in the manufacture of
tools because of its malleability and later became an important additive in
harder, more useful metals such as bronze (copper+tin; 2500 B.C.) and brass
(copper+zinc; 0 A.D.). The growth of copper production in the United States has
been a relatively recent occurrence. North American French explorers knew of
sources of native copper in the region of Lake Superior and the area natives had
copper jewelry and ornamentation. Earnest copper mining began in Simsbury,
Connecticut about 1709 and copper was actually exported to England after a
source was discovered in New Jersey around 1719. In later times domestic copper
resources did not satisfy national needs until the discovery of gold in
California shifted the focus of mineral exploration westward and strikes of rich
copper ores occurred in Tennessee and the Cordilleran base regions. The Civil
War caused copper demand to increase greatly in order to manufacture cartridges
and canned goods, this resulted in the openings of numerous copper mines of
which more than 90% were in the Lake Superior area giving an important advantage
to the Union armies. Major copper production districts then shifted to Montana
and Arizona in the early 1890's. Production increased... [continues]
Copper and molybdenum resources were not recognized as valuable
commodities until economic needs demanded the collection and processing of these
minerals in large amounts. The most expansive deposits of copper and molybdenum
occur in massive low grade ores and are found in intrusive porphyry formations,
although many smaller sized but higher grade ores are located in non-porphyry
areas. The nation has abundant domestic copper ore reserves but because of many
detrimental economic factors much of the copper used by the U.S. industry is
imported. Molybdenum ore is profuse and exports of it are high to fulfill the
needs of foreign demand.
Copper was first used by people around 4000 B.C. in the manufacture of
tools because of its malleability and later became an important additive in
harder, more useful metals such as bronze (copper+tin; 2500 B.C.) and brass
(copper+zinc; 0 A.D.). The growth of copper production in the United States has
been a relatively recent occurrence. North American French explorers knew of
sources of native copper in the region of Lake Superior and the area natives had
copper jewelry and ornamentation. Earnest copper mining began in Simsbury,
Connecticut about 1709 and copper was actually exported to England after a
source was discovered in New Jersey around 1719. In later times domestic copper
resources did not satisfy national needs until the discovery of gold in
California shifted the focus of mineral exploration westward and strikes of rich
copper ores occurred in Tennessee and the Cordilleran base regions. The Civil
War caused copper demand to increase greatly in order to manufacture cartridges
and canned goods, this resulted in the openings of numerous copper mines of
which more than 90% were in the Lake Superior area giving an important advantage
to the Union armies. Major copper production districts then shifted to Montana
and Arizona in the early 1890's. Production increased... [continues]
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