Mineral Copper Sources
Copper is an essential mineral for your body and it is an important mineral for industrial uses.
Copper helps your body uses iron and can reduce the tissue damage caused by free radicals. Copper also helps to maintain your bone health and connective tissue. Your body produces pigment called melanin, which copper helps to produce. Many times people with thyroid problems have copper deficiencies. Copper helps to keep your thyroid gland functioning properly. Copper also preserves the myelin sheath which protects and surrounds your nerves. Copper can be found in several different foods that you eat everyday. Sesame seeds contain over 70% of your daily value of copper. Cashews contain 37% of your daily needs, and soybeans contain around 35%. Other foods containing copper that can help you reach your daily allowance are barley 31%, sunflower seeds 30%, tempeh 29%, garbanzo beans 29%, lentils 25%, lima beans 22%, and pumpkins seeds 22%. Other excellent sources of copper are chard, spinach, asparagus, liver, mushrooms, turnip greens, kale, and molasses.
Sesame Seeds are a great source of copper
Copper Sources – From the Earth
Copper ores are found throughout the world. The top 10 producers measured in production tones are:
1) United States
2) Chile
3) Peru
4) China
5) Australia
6) Indonesia
7) Russia
’8) Zambia
9) Canada
10) Poland
Copper can be found in several different forms.
Copper sources can be found throughout the world
Copper pyrite – sulfide of copper and iron
Copper glance – a shiny gray copper sulfide
Bornite – a brownish red sulfide of copper and iron
Cuprite – a red oxide ore
Malachite – a bright green carbonate ore
Azurite – a blue crystal like carbonate usually found with other copper ores
Chrysocolia – a blue green copper silicate ore
The United States is the chief producer of copper. In the US, copper mines are primarily found in 6 states (Utah, Montana, Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada, and Michigan). There are only four operators of the top 10 mines in the US. The largest mine is the Morenci mine operated by Freeport-McMoran located in Greenlee County Arizona. The Brigham Canyon mines, which is the subject of a great book if you enjoy mine history, Living On the Edge – Bingham Copper Mine