How Is Copper Made?

Copper is used in everything from electrical wiring to plumbing, construction, and even artwork. But how does it get from the ground into the products we all rely on every day?

Here at Taroni’s of Birmingham, we know a thing or two about metals, so we’ve put together this quick and simple guide to how copper is made.

Mining the Ore

Copper starts its life deep underground, usually in rock that contains copper ore like chalcopyrite or malachite. The ore is dug out from open pit or underground mines and then crushed down into smaller pieces, ready for the next step.

Concentrating the Copper

The crushed ore goes through a process called froth flotation. It’s mixed with water and chemicals, and air is blown through it. Copper particles stick to the bubbles and rise to the top, making it easier to separate the copper from the waste rock. This creates a concentrated copper mixture.

Smelting

Next up is smelting, where the concentrated ore is melted in a furnace. This separates the metal from impurities and creates something called matte, which is around 60% copper.

Refining the Copper

The matte then goes through a refining process. It’s first turned into blister copper (about 98–99% pure) and then refined even further using a method called electrolysis. This final step brings the copper to 99.99% purity, good enough for even the most demanding uses.

Turning It Into Products

Once refined, the copper can be turned into all sorts of useful products, from electrical wires and plumbing pipes to roofing materials and more. It’s a tough, reliable, and highly versatile metal which is why we see it come through our yard so often.

Recycled Copper

Here at Taroni’s, we’re proud to handle a huge amount of recycled metal including copper every year. The great thing about copper is that it can be reused again and again without losing its quality. In fact, around half of all the copper used in the UK comes from recycled material.

Recycling copper saves a massive amount of energy compared to mining and processing new ore (up to 85% less) and it helps reduce waste going to landfill. So when you bring your scrap copper to us, you’re not just earning money, you’re helping the environment too.