Copper stands as humanity’s enduring metallic companion, transforming from an ancient material of tools and ornaments into the critical backbone of our modern technological civilization. Since 1800, this remarkable metal has evolved from powering the first telegraph lines to enabling today’s renewable energy revolution and digital infrastructure.

The story of copper in the modern era is fundamentally the story of human progress itself—from the Industrial Revolution’s steam engines to the electric vehicles and data centers of the 21st century. As we trace copper’s journey through the past two centuries, we witness not merely the history of a commodity, but the very foundation upon which our interconnected, electrified world has been built. This transformation has seen copper production surge from thousands of tons annually in the early 1800s to over 25 million tons today, reflecting its indispensable role in virtually every aspect of modern life.

A History Of Copper In The Modern Era (1800 – Present Day)

The modern history of copper represents an extraordinary transformation from regional mining operations serving local markets to a globally integrated industry that underpins our technological civilization. Beginning with the industrial innovations of the 19th century, copper evolved from a material primarily used for household items and basic tools into the essential conductor of electricity and data that powers our modern world. This evolution encompasses revolutionary changes in mining technology, from the first open-pit operations to today’s massive excavations visible from space; breakthrough applications from telegraph cables to semiconductor interconnects; and the metal’s central role in addressing contemporary challenges of renewable energy, electric mobility, and sustainable development.

Chronology

• 1800 – Alessandro Volta invents the electric battery, creating the first practical source of electricity that would enable the use of copper as an electrical conductor [1]
• 1812 – Russian engineer Schilling uses copper cables to detonate mines in the Baltic, marking one of the first recorded uses of electric cables [2]
• 1816 – Francis Ronalds transmits the first telegraphed messages through copper wire laid underground, pioneering electrical communication [2]
• 1820 – Hans Christian Ørsted discovers that electric current creates a magnetic field, establishing the scientific foundation for electromagnetic devices using copper wire [1]
• 1825 – William Sturgeon invents the electromagnet using copper wire coils, enabling future electrical motors and generators [1]
• 1830 – The introduction of reverberatory furnaces to Chile revolutionizes copper smelting, using coal instead of charcoal and dramatically increasing production capacity [3]
• 1837 – Cooke and Wheatstone install the first commercial electric telegraph between Euston and Chalk Farm in London, using copper conductors [2]
• 1843 – The first mining claim in Utah’s Bingham Canyon is registered, beginning development of what would become the world’s largest copper mine [4]
• 1844 – Samuel Morse sends “What hath God wrought?” over copper telegraph wires from Washington D.C. to Baltimore, launching the age of electrical communication [5]
• 1845 – Industrial-scale copper mining begins in Michigan’s Keweenaw Peninsula, which would become America’s first major copper producing region [6]
• 1852 – The world’s copper production from smelters reaches 291,000 tons annually, marking the beginning of industrial-scale global production [7]
• 1854 – First attempts to lay transatlantic telegraph cable using copper conductors begin, though successful operation wouldn’t occur until 1866 [8]
• 1861 – The first transcontinental telegraph line is completed in the United States, using thousands of miles of copper wire to connect the eastern and western states [9]
• 1866 – The first successful transatlantic telegraph cable using copper conductors begins operation, revolutionizing international communication [8]
• 1873 – Railroad reaches Bingham Canyon, Utah, enabling the development of porphyry copper deposits that would transform global mining [4]
• 1876 – Alexander Graham Bell invents the telephone, creating new demand for copper wire in communication networks [10]
• 1877 – Thomas Doolittle develops hard-drawn copper wire strong enough for overhead telephone lines, enabling widespread telephone adoption [11]
• 1879 – Mining of brochantite veins begins at Chuquicamata, Chile, which would become the world’s largest copper mine [3]
• 1881 – Alexander Graham Bell patents copper twisted pairs for telephone systems, establishing the standard for telecommunications wiring [12]
• 1884 – The first long-distance copper telephone line connects Boston and New York, demonstrating copper’s superiority for electrical transmission [11]
• 1887 – Enos Wall recognizes low-grade copper mineralization in Bingham Canyon, acquiring claims that would prove to contain massive ore deposits [13]
• 1891 – The first long-distance three-phase power transmission uses copper wires in Germany, enabling efficient electrical distribution over 110 miles [14]
• 1895 – Frederick Russell Burnham’s expedition determines major copper deposits exist in Central Africa, opening the Zambian Copperbelt to development [15]
• 1899 – Development of loading coils allows the use of thinner copper wire in telephone systems, reducing material costs [12]
• 1900 – The Nizina district in Alaska begins copper production at Kennecott, which would give rise to Kennecott Copper Corporation [16]
• 1903 – Daniel Jackling and Enos Wall organize Utah Copper Company to develop Bingham Canyon’s low-grade copper deposits using revolutionary open-pit mining methods [4]
• 1906 – Open-pit mining begins at Bingham Canyon using steam shovels, revolutionizing copper extraction and making low-grade ores economical; Union Minière du Haut-Katanga forms in Belgian Congo, beginning industrial copper mining in Africa’s Copperbelt [4, 17]
• 1910 – Utah Copper and Boston Consolidated merge, creating one of the world’s largest copper mining operations [13]
• 1911 – Industrial copper mining using forced labor begins in the Belgian Congo portion of the Copperbelt [18]
• 1915 – The Guggenheims sell Chuquicamata mine to Anaconda Copper, and large-scale operations begin, producing 4,345 tonnes in the first year [19]
• 1916 – Michigan copper production peaks at 267 million pounds with over 16,000 workers, marking the height of American copper mining [6]
• 1917 – Copper prices reach 36 cents per pound due to World War I military demand, up from 11.3 cents at the war’s beginning [20]
• 1920 – Chuquicamata production reaches 50,400 tonnes annually, establishing Chile as a major global copper producer [19]
• 1923 – Anaconda Copper acquires 51% of Chuquicamata, consolidating American control over Chilean copper resources [3]
• 1929 – The Roan Antelope mine near Luanshya, Zambia comes into production, expanding African copper output [17]
• 1933 – The Great Depression drives copper prices to their lowest since 1894 at $4,690 per tonne [21]
• 1942 – The U.S. Mint begins producing steel pennies to conserve copper for World War II military applications [22]
• 1943 – The U.S. government restricts copper use in building construction and allocates supply for military production [21]
• 1944 – Shell case pennies using recycled military copper replace steel cents, containing 95% copper from ammunition casings [22]
• 1947 – The transistor is invented at Bell Labs, beginning the semiconductor revolution that would eventually require ultra-pure copper [23]
• 1950 – Korean War drives strategic stockpiling of copper, with the U.S. imposing ceiling prices of 24.6¢/lb [21]
• 1952 – Chuquicamata implements a copper sulfide treatment plant to process lower-grade ores, dramatically increasing copper production capacity [24]
• 1958 – Jack Kilby demonstrates the first integrated circuit, which would eventually incorporate copper in future generations [25]
• 1969 – Zambia nationalizes its copper mining industry under President Kaunda, creating Zambian Consolidated Copper Mines [17]
• 1971 – Chile begins nationalizing foreign copper holdings, taking control of Chuquicamata and other major mines [3]
• 1972 – Bingham Canyon Mine is designated a National Historic Landmark, recognizing its historical significance [26]
• 1976 – Copper prices plummet globally, devastating Zambian economy which depended heavily on copper exports [17]
• 1989 – Rio Tinto acquires Kennecott Utah Copper, continuing operations at the historic Bingham Canyon mine [26]
• 1991 – Escondida mine opens in Chile, becoming the world’s most productive copper mine [3]
• 1997 – IBM invents and announces revolutionary copper chip interconnects, replacing aluminum and enabling faster, more efficient processors [27]
• 1999 – ADSL broadband technology brings 6 Mbps internet speeds to homes using existing copper telephone lines [12]
• 2002 – China joins the WTO, beginning a copper demand supercycle as the country modernizes its infrastructure [21]
• 2003 – Kennecott celebrates 100 years of continuous operation at Bingham Canyon, having produced more copper than any other mine [28]
• 2004 – IBM receives the US National Medal of Technology and Innovation for semiconductor advances including copper interconnects [27]
• 2006 – Copper prices reach $9,000 per tonne driven by Chinese demand, marking a new era of high copper values [21]
• 2007 – VDSL2 technology achieves 50 Mbps speeds over copper telephone lines, extending the life of copper infrastructure [12]
• 2011 – Wind energy installations reach significant scale, with turbines containing up to 3.5 tonnes of copper each [29]
• 2014 – Bell Labs demonstrates 10 Gbps speeds over copper lines with XG-FAST technology [12]
• 2015 – The Paris Agreement accelerates renewable energy adoption, dramatically increasing copper demand for solar and wind installations [30]
• 2016 – Global copper recycling reaches 8.7 million tonnes annually, representing 32% of total copper consumption [31]
• 2018 – Electric vehicle sales exceed 2 million units globally, with each EV containing up to 80kg of copper [32]
• 2019 – Chuquicamata transitions to underground copper mining after 110 years of open-pit operations to access deeper ore bodies [33]
• 2020 – Data center copper consumption reaches 197,000 tonnes in North America alone due to cloud computing growth [34]
• 2021 – Copper prices hit all-time highs above $10,000 per tonne driven by green energy transition and supply constraints [35]
• 2022 – Global refined copper demand reaches 25.3 million tonnes, with electric vehicles consuming 3.7 million tonnes [36]
• 2023 – AI and data center expansion drives unprecedented copper demand for cooling systems and power infrastructure [34]
• 2024 – Copper reaches new record high of $11,464 per tonne as renewable energy and EV adoption accelerate globally [37]
• 2025 – Global copper market faces projected 6.4 million tonne supply deficit as demand reaches 36.6 million tonnes [37]

Final Thoughts

As we stand at the threshold of an electrified future, copper’s journey from the telegraph wires of the 1800s to the neural networks of artificial intelligence represents far more than technological progress—it embodies humanity’s capacity to transform raw materials into the building blocks of civilization. The metal that once carried Morse’s first telegraph message now powers electric vehicles, enables renewable energy systems, and connects billions through the internet. Yet this remarkable history also presents us with profound challenges: declining ore grades, geopolitical tensions over resources, and the urgent need to balance extraction with environmental stewardship.

The next chapter of copper’s story will be written not in virgin mines but increasingly through recycling and circular economy principles, as we learn to value this finite resource as our ancestors never could. Whether enabling quantum computers or powering sustainable cities, copper remains indispensable to human progress, reminding us that our most advanced technologies still depend on one of our oldest allies—a metal that has been shaping human destiny for over 10,000 years and will continue to do so for generations to come.

Thanks for reading!

References

[1] Telegraph – Invention, History, & Facts – Britannica – https://www.britannica.com/technology/telegraph

[2] 60 Centuries of Copper: The Electric Telegraph – https://www.copper.org/education/history/60centuries/electrical/theelectric.php

[3] Copper mining in Chile – Wikipedia – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copper_mining_in_Chile

[4] Bingham Canyon Mine – Wikipedia – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bingham_Canyon_Mine

[5] 1830s – 1860s: Telegraph – Imagining the Internet – https://www.elon.edu/u/imagining/time-capsule/150-years/back-1830-1860/

[6] Exploring 70 Centuries of Mining History – National Parks Conservation Association – https://www.npca.org/articles/2309-exploring-70-centuries-of-mining-history

[7] 60 Centuries of Copper: The Peak Years of British Copper Mining – https://copper.org/education/history/60centuries/raw_material/thepeak.php

[8] Electrical telegraph – Wikipedia – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electrical_telegraph

[9] The Transcontinental Telegraph – U.S. National Park Service – https://www.nps.gov/articles/000/the-transcontinental-telegraph.htm

[10] History of the telephone – Wikipedia – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_telephone

[11] Applications: Telecommunications – The Evolution of Telephone Cable – https://www.copper.org/applications/telecomm/consumer/evolution.html

[12] A history of the copper telephone line – Nokia.com – https://www.nokia.com/blog/history-copper-telephone-line/

[13] Open-Pit Copper Mining at Bingham Canyon – Utah Geological Survey – https://geology.utah.gov/map-pub/survey-notes/open-pit-copper-mining/

[14] 60 Centuries of Copper: Electricity Generation and Supply – https://www.copper.org/education/history/60centuries/electrical/electricity.php

[15] Copperbelt – Wikipedia – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copperbelt

[16] Copper mining in the United States – Wikipedia – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copper_mining_in_the_United_States

[17] Copperbelt – Britannica – https://www.britannica.com/place/Copperbelt-region-Africa

[18] Lead isotopes link copper artefacts from northwestern Botswana to the Copperbelt – ScienceDirect – https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0305440320300467

[19] Chuquicamata – Wikipedia – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chuquicamata

[20] Keweenaw Copper at War – U.S. National Park Service – https://www.nps.gov/articles/keweenaw-copper-at-war.htm

[21] Are Copper Prices in a Supercycle? A 120-Year Perspective – https://elements.visualcapitalist.com/120-year-perspective-copper-supercycle/

[22] Steel Cents, Silver Nickels, and Invasion Notes: US Money in World War II – The National WWII Museum – https://www.nationalww2museum.org/war/articles/united-states-money-in-world-war-ii

[23] Timeline – The Silicon Engine – Computer History Museum – https://www.computerhistory.org/siliconengine/timeline/

[24] Copper sulfide mining at Chuquicamata and the spread of arsenic in drinking water in Chile, 1952–1971 – ScienceDirect – https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2214790X22000995

[25] 1958: All Semiconductor “Solid Circuit” is Demonstrated – The Silicon Engine – https://www.computerhistory.org/siliconengine/all-semiconductor-solid-circuit-is-demonstrated/

[26] RioTinto – Kennecott – The Bingham Mine – Our National Historic Landmark – https://www.kennecott-groundbreakers.com/stories/the-bingham-mine—our-national-historic-landmark

[27] Copper interconnects – IBM – https://www.ibm.com/history/copper-interconnects

[28] Kennecott – Global – https://www.riotinto.com/en/operations/us/kennecott

[29] Renewables – https://www.copper.org/environment/sustainable-energy/renewables/

[30] Renewable Energy – International Copper Association – https://internationalcopper.org/policy-focus/climate-environment/renewable-energy/

[31] Circular Economy – International Copper Association – https://internationalcopper.org/sustainable-copper/circular-economy/

[32] The power of copper in electric vehicles – Metelec – https://www.metelec.com/the-power-of-copper-in-electric-vehicles/

[33] Chuquicamata Copper Mine, Northern region of Chile – https://www.nsenergybusiness.com/projects/chuquicamata-copper-mine/

[34] Why Copper Is Critical for Data Centers – https://www.visualcapitalist.com/sp/copper-the-critical-mineral-powering-data-centers/

[35] Copper Price Trends, Forecast, Price Graph, News & Chart – https://www.expertmarketresearch.com/price-forecast/copper-price-forecast

[36] EV sector will need 250% more copper by 2030 just for charging stations – MINING.COM – https://www.mining.com/ev-sector-will-need-250-more-copper-by-2030-just-for-charging-stations/

[37] What Factors Affect Copper Supply and Demand? – Nasdaq – https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/what-factors-affect-copper-supply-and-demand-updated-2024