All articles tagged with #copper
Archaeologists excavating Cave 338 in the Pyrenees uncovered burnt green malachite fragments, hearths, jewelry, and human remains dating roughly 5,500 to 4,000 years ago, suggesting prehistoric people intermittently used the high-altitude cave to process copper rather than merely passing through, challenging the idea that mountains were marginal for ancient economies.
Archaeologists excavating a high-altitude cave in Girona, Spain (2,235 m/7,333 ft) uncovered nearly 200 malachite fragments, charcoal-rich pits, and other artifacts suggesting prehistoric people repeatedly processed green copper ore to extract copper, constituting a Copper Age copper-smelting camp active for more than 4,000 years, with intensive use between 3600–2400 BCE. The finds—human remains, animal bones, pottery, and cultural ornaments—indicate long-term occupation and resource exploitation in the Pyrenees, and researchers plan to confirm the malachite identification and continue excavations to understand the site’s purpose.
Researchers doped bulk double-walled carbon nanotube fibers with tetrachloroaluminate (AlCl4−), boosting mean conductivity about 10x on average (up to 15x in the best fibers) and reaching roughly 70% of aluminum’s conductivity; when normalized by density, the doped fibers can outperform copper, suggesting potential for lightweight, high-capacity wiring. However, the dopant is air-sensitive and short-lived (weeks) unless the fibers are polymer-coated, posing stability and scalability challenges even as the approach identifies a promising dopant strategy.
Archaeologists in southern Hungary uncovered a 150-year-old infant hand preserved as a green mummy after a grieving mother reportedly placed a 19th‑century Kreuzer copper coin in the child’s fist. High copper exposure caused an antimicrobial reaction that preserved soft tissue, with copper levels about 500 times typical. The ritual, likely intended to pay Saint John the Baptist for heavenly baptism for an unbaptized infant, also involved sealing the child in a pot and burying it secretly; researchers found two other similar, inexplicably preserved infant burials nearby. This represents a rare case of copper-driven natural mummification rather than a deliberate process.
OSU researchers captured real-time, second-by-second interactions that drive copper-associated amyloid-beta protein clumping in Alzheimer’s, showing that carefully targeted chelators can interrupt or reverse aggregation and providing a roadmap for more precise therapies, with future tests in cellular and preclinical models.
The United States is leveraging offtake deals and state-backed funding to compete with China for Africa's critical minerals—targeting copper, cobalt and more in the DRC, Guinea and Zambia—aiming to steer output into U.S.-aligned value chains; while Congo's major assets remain Chinese-controlled and disputes persist, the push signals Washington's preference for financial tools over direct mining presence.
Copper prices are surging and demand is expected to outpace supply for the next decade. The Pebble Mine in Alaska sits on vast copper and gold deposits but has been blocked by an EPA veto since 2014, stalling what could be a key domestic source for AI-driven infrastructure. Projections from S&P Global warn of a roughly 10 million metric ton copper shortfall by 2040 unless new mines come online, reviving calls to reevaluate permitting and push for domestic production amid political and environmental opposition across administrations.
Gold, silver, copper and tin surged to new record highs as geopolitical tensions and concerns about Federal Reserve independence spurred risk-off buying. Gold rose to as high as $4,641 per troy ounce, silver topped $90 per ounce, copper hit about $13,407 per tonne, tin reached roughly $54,760 per tonne, and platinum climbed to about $2,478 per tonne. Analysts say the move is unusually synchronized across metals and largely driven by geopolitical fears and policy uncertainty, with investors watching for potential tariffs and Fed developments.
Gold, silver, copper and tin surged to record highs as investors bet on additional US rate cuts and improving Chinese sentiment, aided by a softer dollar and supply constraints that bolster both precious and base metals.
A Chinese manufacturer, Guangzhou Xinhongzheng Electronic Technology, signals that power supplies could rise about 6-10% and CPU coolers 6-8% due to higher costs for raw materials like copper, silver, and tin. The note advises buyers to stock up in January before promotions end in February, noting that ~90% of products are currently discounted and may soon sell at full price with higher markups. While the claim mentions potential for even larger hikes, there is no independent verification yet and the situation across the supply chain remains uncertain. Copper and silver demand, notably from data centers, underpins the broader price pressure on these PC components.
Geopolitical tensions, notably around Venezuela, are lifting hard assets as oil, gold, silver and copper rally, fueling talk of a 2026 commodities supercycle driven by inflation dynamics, AI-related capex, and evolving monetary policy expectations.
Rio Tinto is rekindling talks with Glencore for a potential $260 billion megamerger aimed at creating the world's largest mining group, focusing on copper assets amid sector consolidation and strategic growth in critical metals for the energy transition.
Copper prices have reached a new high due to concerns over potential supply disruptions, highlighting ongoing volatility in the commodity market.
Oil prices experienced volatility due to geopolitical tensions in Venezuela, while gold and silver prices rose as safe havens amid macroeconomic uncertainty. Copper hit a record high driven by supply concerns and tariff uncertainties. Meanwhile, agricultural commodities like coffee and cocoa saw mixed movements influenced by export surges and weather conditions.
Copper prices are on track for their largest annual increase in over 15 years, driven by fears of global shortages, increased demand from renewable energy sectors, and supply disruptions due to mining accidents, with prices surpassing $12,000 a tonne.