New mine capacity from yet-to-be found copper deposits
Abstract The copper industry in the USA is declining, but exploration for copper has been particularly promising in western Montana. The potential copper mine capacity of the area was estimated by using an interdisciplinary geological-economical assessment technique that categorizes deposits on the basis of development probability. Development probability is quantified and aggregated into potential new mine supply curves, which summarize resource potential of the region. The results suggest that copper resources in Montana and elsewhere are potentially large and that these resources probably will be mined at higher copper prices. This mineral assessment technique increases the usefulness of traditional methods for planners and policy makers.
COPPER AVAILABILITY--DOMESTIC. A MINERALS AVAILABILITY SYSTEM APPRAISAL
The Bureau of Mines evaluated the potential supply of primary copper from domestic mines and deposits and found that increases in copper price will be required in order for many domestic deposits to continue production. As part of the study, a tonnage-price relationship was developed indicating the quantity of copper that could be produced economically from known deposits at various copper prices and at various rates of return on the required capital investment. costs of production are based on estimated capital and operating costs for mining, concentrating, transporting, smelting, and refining. Direct and indirect operating costs, recovery of investment, and return on investment have been included in the smelting and refining costs. Capital and operating costs are calculated in January 1978 dollars, and byproduct credits are based on January 1978 prices. Known domestic copper mines and deposits contain nearly 92 million metric tons of copper in about 14 billion metric tons of demonstrated mineralized material. These tonnages represent the current domestic copper reserve base. Approximately 74 million metric tons of copper are recoverable from the reserve base using existing technology. Of this quantity, slightly more than 50 million metric tons are economically recoverable assuming a price of $1.00 per pound of copper, credit for the recovery of byproducts, and a 15 percent rate of return on capital investment. Approximately 60 percent of the copper occurs in mines that were producing at the time of the study.
Population and Settlement
Part 1 Population distribution: world population distribution variations in world population distribution population distribution in the Highlands and Islands population distribution in Japan population distribution in Brazil. Part 2 Population growth and movement: population structure the world population explosion variations in population growth migration why do people migrate types of migration in North and West Africa West German migration populating the USSR populating Australia attitudes to population control population and natural resources. Part 3 Settlements: location of settlement settlement types settlement functions settlement patterns South Wales valley settlements the changing village. Part 4 Urbanization: million cities world urbanization rural-urban migration in the developing world urban land use inner city problems urban transport the Tyneside metro spheres of influence changing shopping habits the Dutch Randstad Lagos - a city in the developing world new and expanding towns in the UK new settlements in developing countries green belts or red bricks? Part 5 Further studies: UK population migration Kenya's population problems Sheffield Washington New Town.