Key points
- Copper is listed as a strategic metal for Australia and appears on critical mineral lists for other countries including the United States, Canada, India, South Korea and Japan.
- Highly recyclable and with superior electrical and thermal conductivity, copper underpins the global clean energy transition, circular economies and sustainability.
- Malachite is a notable copper ore and a favourite among mineral collectors.
We’ve heard a lot of talk about critical minerals recently. These are the metals and elements crucially important to the advanced technologies we have all become accustomed to. Our mobile phones, electric vehicles (EVs), our digital infrastructure.
But have you heard of strategic metals?
Strategic metal versus critical mineral
Strategic metals are those essential to a country’s economy, security and technological advancement, especially as nations increase their reliance on digital technologies and shift towards renewable energy sources and systems with lower carbon emissions.
The classification of copper depends on your location. It is considered a strategic mineral in places like Australia and my home country, Brazil. In Chile - the largest global copper producer - Canada, the United States, India and South Korea it is classified as a critical mineral.
Regardless of its category, copper is one of the most important metals in the history of humanity, serving as a source of riches for empires from the ancient to the modern era.
As the world accelerates towards a low-carbon future, copper stands out as a linchpin for sustainable development and the global energy transition.
Copper: the conductor of the energy transition
Copper is an exceptional electrical and thermal conductor making it indispensable for many technologies. It is the most common information transmitter in our laptops and mobile phones.
For renewable energy infrastructure it is used extensively in power grids, EVs, wind turbines and solar panels. In fact, renewable energy technologies require up to five times more copper than conventional systems.
The International Energy Agency (IEA) projects that copper demand for clean energy could nearly double by 2050, driven by the electrification of transport and the expansion of renewable power generation.
The mining industry forecasts that copper demand over the next decade will surpass the total amount mined in all of history.
Copper’s strategic importance is further underscored by its role in enabling energy efficiency and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
As the world rewires for a net-zero future, copper’s ability to efficiently transmit electricity is vital to minimising energy losses and supporting the integration of renewables into the grid.
An eternal metal: recycling for sustainability
Copper is one of the most recyclable materials on the planet. It is 100 percent recyclable. Nearly 80 percent of all the copper ever mined is still in use today!
Nearly one-third of global copper demand is met through recycling. This recyclability is central to copper’s contribution to sustainability and the circular economy, minimising the need for new mining and lowering the environmental footprint of copper production.
Mining companies are increasingly adopting responsible practices, from reducing water and energy use to engaging with local communities and investing in environmental management.
The industry’s focus on recycling, resource efficiency and technological innovation is helping to ensure that copper remains a sustainable enabler of the energy transition.
Malachite: a mineral beauty and copper source
Despite copper's recyclability, demand for new copper sources is rising.
I have a particular fascination with beautiful copper-bearing minerals, especially malachite. This vibrant green mineral has influenced history as both a pigment and copper source since Neolithic times. In fact, the smelting and use of copper ultimately marked the end of the Stone Age and beginning of the Bronze Age.
Used for pigments, cosmetics, weapons, and spiritual amulets, malachite has held significance across societies, symbolising fertility and immortality in Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cultures.
Today, it remains prominent in art, jewellery and as an exploration marker for copper deposits.
A guide for copper exploration
Malachite is a secondary mineral which means it forms after other copper minerals have already been created and then decomposed by substances present in the same environment.
For example, when primary copper-rich minerals like chalcopyrite and bornite are exposed to fluids containing water, oxygen or CO2, the copper in them dissolves and is carried away.
As the copper-rich fluid moves and reaches places with less oxygen, the copper joins with other chemicals like carbonates, sulfides, or oxides, creating layers rich in copper. The rest of the copper keeps getting carried until it meets and reacts with sulfides to form new copper deposits. These last two places are where people look for copper.
Malachite can take on many shapes, such as round, grape-like lumps (called botryoidal), stringy fibres, icicle-like coatings, or even powdery crusts.
It is often found in areas with volcanoes, whether they are still active or not.
Because malachite is a rich source of copper and forms in interesting ways, it attracts the attention of scientists, collectors and copper explorers.
Copper and malachite in a decarbonised world
The journey to a sustainable, decarbonised future is paved with metal. Copper with its superior conduction properties and recyclability is at the heart of this transformation.
Malachite, once a primary ore and now a symbol of sustainable resource recovery, highlights the evolving role of minerals in the circular economy.
As demand for clean energy technologies grows, securing responsible and resilient supplies of strategic metals like copper will be crucial.
By embracing innovation, recycling, and sustainable mining, we can ensure that these vital resources continue to power the world’s energy transition, supporting technological progress and environmental stewardship that define our era.
Dr Vinicius 'Vinnie' Louro leads sustainability in mining and mineral resources research at CSIRO.