Future Copper Deficits May Be Addressed by Mining Tailings
The use of new technology and the recent increase in copper prices has changed how miners are extracting copper from waste rock dumps. The price of the red metal surged as global stimulus measures prompted an increase in demand. Long-term projections show that the increase in consumption, which is driven by the green-energy transition, will surpass supply in the near future. A recent study reported by CRU Group has discovered that more than 40 million tons of copper are lying in waste dumps in different mines around the world. The red metal is considered to be challenging to economically extract…