Copper has been an integral part of human society since ancient times.
In the Stone Age, copper malleability and durability made it the perfect material for tools, and the Bronze Age that came later on was thus named when people first discovered how to harden copper with a little bit of tin to form a bronze alloy.
Ever since the Bronze Age, mankind has been harnessing the unique properties of copper to mint coins, conduct heat and electricity, improve roofs and plumbing, build ships, etc.
Copper: The Industrial Precious Metal
Because of its many practical uses and relative ease of availability, copper is traditionally considered more of an industrial metal than a precious metal like gold and silver. However, experts warn that unless metal recycling is improved, the world’s copper reserves could be depleted in less than 25 years.
Furthermore, although the Information (or Computer) Age has gradually phased out many of the traditional manufacturing processes and industries birthed during the Industrial Revolution, the need for copper has shown no signs of slowing down.
In fact, copper demand now is higher than ever…
Here are a few of the most popular industrial uses for copper in today’s society:
- Energy – Copper is one of the leading metals in the race to finding sustainable sources of energy. As an efficient manager of heat and electricity, copper’s unique properties are frequently used in solar panels and wind turbines. Many LEED certified sustainable buildings utilize a significant amount of copper. Plus, since copper is 100% recyclable, it is the ultimate “green” metal.
- Medicine – Copper’s medicinal value in treating chest wounds and purifying water has been known for centuries, but many believe that the metal can prevent inflammation of arthritis and joint pain as well. Copper is also antimicrobial in nature, meaning it is able to assist in keeping surfaces hygienic in health facilities.
- Electricity – A large portion of the world’s copper supply flows into electronics and electrical wiring. Electricity is an inseparable component of daily life in the modern world – from computers and smartphones to air conditioning and batteries – and copper remains the metal of choice for conducting electrical currents. Because of this, just about every piece of technology you own has at least some copper in it.
- Architecture – Copper contains many qualities that make it a desirable building material, including its natural corrosion resistance, durability, light weight, low maintenance, ventilation and recyclability. As a result, many of the world’s modern architectural masterpieces contain copper roofs, wall clads, domes, downspouts, flashings, spires, etc.
- Automotive – Copper, in addition to platinum and palladium, is heavily used in automobile production. Geology.com says: “The average car contains 1.5 kilometers (0.9 mile) of copper wire, and the total amount of copper ranges from 20 kilograms (44 pounds) in small cars to 45 kilograms (99 pounds) in luxury and hybrid vehicles.”
As you can see, copper was not only a cornerstone metal for ancient civilizations – it’s also an essential part of modern society. In fact, it is hard to imagine a world without this precious metal.
We encourage investors to consider diversifying their portfolio with copper bullion. Not only is copper more affordable than gold and silver, it also shows tremendous promise for future demand and value.