Utah State Mineral

Copper

Adopted in 1944.

Utah's State Mineral, Copper (chemical symbol, Cu), was enacted by the Utah State Legislature in 1994.

 It is versatile and widely used due mainly to its conductive properties (heat and electricity). It is used in electronics, plumbing, transportation, and in alloys (a mixture of two or more metals). Most of the copper mined in Utah comes from Kennecott's Bingham Canyon mine in the Oquirrh Mountains on the west side of the Salt Lake Valley.

That copper comes from the Bingham Canyon Mine, the largest open pit copper mine in the world, located about 28 miles southwest of Salt Lake City, Utah. The Bingham Canyon mine measures 0.5 miles deep and 2.5 miles wide. For perspective, the world's tallest building, the Sears Tower, is l,454 feet tall and would reach only half way up the side of the pit. the mine has produced 12 million tons of copper since open-pit operations began in 1906. This production figure is eight times the total metallic mineral yield from the Comstock Lode, Klondike, and California Gold Rushes combined.

The Bingham Canyon mine is an important contributor to Utah's economy. Kennecott Utah Copper provides about 15% of this country's copper needs. The computer you're sitting in front of right now contains copper wire, it may have come from Kennecott. Every year, Kennecott produces about 258,000 tons of refined copper -- along with 389,000 ounces of gold, 3 million ounces of silver, about 18 million pounds of molybdenum, and about 1 million tons of sulfuric acid, a by-product of the smelting process.

Differences

Minerals: Minerals are naturally occurring inorganic elements or compounds that have an ordered internal structure and characteristic chemical composition, crystal form, and physical properties. For example, quartz is a mineral as is copper.

Rocks: Minerals combine to form rocks like granite, basalt, and sandstone. Rocks can also be composed of solid organic matter, coal is an example.

Gems: Gems are especially fine ("gem quality") mineral specimens that have few flaws in their internal structure and exhibit superior color. These high-quality minerals are typically cut and used in jewelry.

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