In ancient years, copper was the only metal known to man. It remains one of the most used and reused of all metals. The demand for copper is due to its good strength and fatigue resistance, excellent electrical and thermal conductivity, outstanding resistance to corrosion, and ease of fabrication. Copper offers moderate levels of density, elastic modulus, and low melting temperature. It is used in electrical cables and wires, switches, plumbing, heating, roofing and building construction, chemical and pharmaceutical machinery. It is also used in alloys such as brass and bronze, alloy castings, and electroplated protective coating in undercoats of nickel, chromium, and zinc.

Copper beneficiation may consists of: crushing and grinding, washing, filtration, sorting and sizing, gravity concentration, flotation, roasting, autoclaving, chlorination, dump and in situ leaching, ion exchange, solvent extraction, electrowinning, and precipitation. Crushing and grinding is the most energy intensive.