Copper has been used for thousands of years and is still a key material in the latest technologies, underpinning the digital and renewable energy revolutions. Copper has more diverse uses than you think. Here are just some of the places you're likely to encounter copper in your daily life.
Copper is a safe and excellent conductor of electricity and extremely ductile, meaning it can be hammered and stretched into wires without breaking. Copper is widespread in household electronics and communications, from computers and appliances to lights and phone cables.
Copper is also an excellent conductor of heat, so it's commonly found in air conditioners and other heating and cooling systems, gas boilers and car radiators, as well as cooking pots.
Antimicrobial and resistant to rust, copper is an ideal and affordable choice for water pipes, and has been used for this very purpose since as far back as Ancient Egypt.
High electrical and thermal conductivity make copper a vital component for vehicle systems and parts. Its use in batteries and wiring for electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles is a key factor in the growing demand and price of the red metal.
Door knobs, handles and metal railings made of brass or bronze incorporate copper alongside other metals such as zinc or tin. This is partly due to its antimicrobial properties, which is seeing copper become more widely used for many surfaces in medical settings to help prevent the spread of bacteria and infections.
Many household and professional tools including pliers, screwdrivers and spanners are made of beryllium copper, a non-magnetic and non-sparking alloy.
Many musical instruments are made using copper alloys for their excellent acoustic qualities – from self-evident brass instruments to cymbals and bells.
Coins are primarily made from copper alloys. $1 and $2 coins are 92 per cent copper, while silver 5, 10, 20 and 50 cent coins are made of 75 per cent copper and 25 per cent nickel.
Easily moulded, copper is frequently combined with gold or silver to offer more design flexibility and rust resistance for all types of jewellery, buckles and buttons.
Copper roofs and gutters are less common today, due to their higher cost compared to galvanised steel and other metals, but they make an attractive, long-lasting and low-maintenance alternative, particularly for their resistance to rust.
Locksley Resources has a 100% legal and beneficial interest in the highly prospective Tottenham Copper-Gold Project in the NSW Lachlan Fold Belt. The Company recently defined a 9.86Mt resource across the Tottenham Project's Carolina and Mount Royal to Orange Plains deposits.
To keep up to date with their news and progress, and for more information about copper investment as a whole, subscribe to the Locksley Resources Limited Chairman's List.