1.4.1. Copper

Copper has been used for making utensils and coins since long. Also, Copper is an indispensable metal in the electrical industry for making wires, electric motors, transformers and generators. It is alloyable, malleable and ductile. It is a good conductor of electricity and it is used in making electrical wires, equipments and utensils. India has limited reserves of copper. The Copper deposits mainly occur in Singhbhum district in Jharkhand, Balaghat district in Madhya Pradesh and Jhunjhunu and Alwar districts in Rajasthan. Minor producers of Copper are Agnigundala in Guntur District (Andhra Pradesh), Chitradurg and Hasan districts (Karnataka) and South Arcot district (Tamil Nadu). Mining of copper is a costly and tedious affair as copper ores contain small percentage of metal. The production of copper ore in the country always fall short of our requirements and India has to import copper from other countries, mainly USA, Canada, Zimbabwe, Mexico.