{image} Copper is one of the most-used metals in the world, for good reason. Global copper production has expanded with populations and economies, especially in China, which consumed 54% of the world’s refined copper in 2020. Copper’s demand comes from various industries, ranging from construction to renewable energy. But before copper reaches its array of end-uses, miners have to extract and refine from deposits within the ground. So where are the world’s largest copper mines, and just how large are they? Types of Copper Deposits The location of mines ultimately depends on the occurrence and discovery of copper ... (full story)