How much copper has been found in the world?

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A copper sample. (Oxidation coating has been removed). Image Credit: USGS
Information on this page was collected from the source acknowledged below:

U.S. Geological Survey FAQs:

"To date, roughly 700 million metric tons of copper have been produced around the world. This would fit into a cube measuring about 430 meters on a side.

Identified deposits contain an estimated 2.1 billion metric tons of additional copper, which brings the total amount of discovered copper to 2.8 billion metric tons. This would fit into a cube measuring 680 meters on a side. It is also estimated that undiscovered resources contain about 3.5 billion metric tons of copper, which would mean that there are roughly 6.3 billion metric tons of copper [resources] on Earth. This would fit into a cube measuring about 890 meters on a side.

Of the identified copper that has yet to be taken out of the ground, about 65% is found in just five countries on Earth -- Chile, Australia, Peru, Mexico, and the United States."

Learn More:

  • Copper Statistics and Information (Website), U.S. Geological Survey
    Monthly and annual data on the U.S. copper industry, including information on production, imports and exports, and recycling, as well as global historical statistics from 1990-2011.
  • Copper - A Metal for the Ages (Fact Sheet), U.S. Geological Survey
    Information on where copper comes from, worldwide copper supply and demand, and how to ensure adequate supplies of copper for the future