Canada, the USA and Mexico produce up to 30% of global copper, with the USA
being the world’s second largest producer after Chile. Chile and the USA
combined produce 46% of global copper. The USA and Canada are both seeing
declines in mine production despite plans for new expansions on previous mining
operations. The drop in output has been due to power shortages along the US West Coast as well as historically low copper prices experienced in 2000/2001. Although the USA commands an important role in copper production locally, emphasis on copper mining projects is firmly placed on Latin American
and Australasia.
The USA's copper production continued to decline, producing 1.48 million tonnes of contained copper in 2000, down from 1999's 1.92 million tonnes. Eighteen copper mines accounted for 99% of production.
Cambior has wide range of precious and base metal mining interests Canada
and Mexico as well as the Carlota copper project in the USA.
Rio Tinto’s wholly owned Kennecot Utah Copper Company is the third
largest copper producer in the USA, accounting for about 15% of that nation's
supply.
Phelps Dodge operations lead the United States in copper and molybdenum
production from several opencast operations.
BHP Billiton has several large scale copper operations in the USA, mainly in Nevada
and Arizona. In mid 1999, BHP had placed all its copper operations on care and
maintenance.
Canada produced 6.2% of global production at 630 000t of copper concentrate in 2001, and is the
world’s 3rd largest producer after Chile and the USA. A majority of
Canada’s copper deposits are found in British Columbia, Ontario and
Quebec.
The newly merged Teck Cominco is one of Canada’s largest base metal producers and has several base metal operations in Canada. The Polaris mine in the North Western Territories is the
world’s most northern mine. The recent Red Dog mine in Alaska is one of
North America’s largest lead – zinc – silver mines.
Billiton Base Metals has a 33.6% interest in the Highlands Valley Copper mine in Canada
(Teck Cominco is the other major shareholder).
One of the world’s largest nickel companies, Inco produces copper and
cobalt as a co product of its Sudbury operations in Canada.
Falconbridge operates the Kid Creek copper zinc mine in Ontario, Canada, as
well as the Sudbury nickel-copper mines. Noranda owns 50.1% of Falconbridge.
Imperial Metals has a large number of mining operations in which it has a 50
– 52% share. Most operations are in British Columbia in Canada.
Through it wholly owned mining operations in Canada as well as indirectly
through its 49.9% share in Falconbridge; Noranda has four major base metal
mining operations, which include nickel, copper and gold.
InMet Mining Corporation operates the wholly owned Troilus copper gold mine in Canada.
European miner, Boliden has a copper zinc mine on Vancouver Island, British
Colombia, Canada.
Mexico produced 344 000t copper in 2000, representing a drop from 1999. Copper
contributes 16% to Mexico’s mining products, the largest contributor.
Grupo Mexico is Mexico’s largest mining company. The Group principally
engages in the mining and processing of copper, zinc, silver gold, molybdenum
and lead. One of its mining units, Industrial Minera México, has seven
underground mines producing a variety of metals, including silver.
Teck Cominco (55%) and Western Copper Holdings (45%) operate a zinc copper mine in
Mexico. Western Copper is also investigating a similar deposit.
