1991 Cost & production figures
1997 Estimated cost & production figures
Mines Companies Countries cost USD/lb M lb Cu  Cumul M lb Cu  % of total production Mines Companies Countries cost USD/lb M lb Cu  Cumul M lb Cu  % of total production
Golden Grove Murchison Zinc Australia -5.66 1 856 1 856 0.0% Brunswick Brunswick Mining & Smelting Canada -5.99  7 476 7 476 0.09%
Samatosum Minnova polymétallic Canada -4.17 1 158 3 014 0.0% Golden Grove Murchison Zinc Australia -4.35  3 989 11 465 0.13%
Brunswick Brunswick Mining & Smelting Canada -2.76 850 3 864 0.1% Sudbury Inco Canada -3.62  105 987 117 452 1.37%
Sudbury Inco Nickel Canada -2.50 104 024 107 888 1.7% Heath Steele Brunswick M & S Canada -1.76  4 069 121 521 1.41%
Heath Steele Brunswick M & S polymetallic Canada -1.16 2 906 110 794 1.8% Crandon Exxon USA -1.74  13 230 134 751 1.57%
Southern Group Gecamines Zaire -0.25 10 520 121 314 2.0% Mobrun Audrey Canada -1.54  2 819 137 570 1.60%
El Indio Bond International Gold Chile 0.01 26 310 147 623 2.4% Thalanga Queensland Base Metal Australia -1.25  6 467 144 037 1.67%
Butte - Continental Montana Resources/Asarco USA 0.20 44 499 192 123 3.1% Blue Moon Colony Pacific USA -1.03  2 999 147 037 1.71%
San Martin IMMSA Mexico 0.31 11 424 203 547 3.3% Parys Mountain Anglesey Mining UK -1.02  4 801 151 838 1.77%
Western Group Gecamines Zaire 0.32 226 958 430 505 7.0% Far South East Lepanto Consolidated Philippines -0.73  50 778 202 616 2.36%
Thalanga Queensland Base Metal Australia 0.33 15 083 445 588 7.2% Collahuasi Dona Ines de Collahuasi Chile -0.48  110 814 313 430 3.64%
Bingham Canyon Kennecott USA 0.33 234 523 680 110 11.0% Chessy BRGM/Coframines/Amax/Aztec France -0.40  6 976 320 406 3.73%
Kidd Creek Falconbridge Canada 0.33 119 005 799 115 12.9% San Martin IMMSA Mexico -0.38  11 956 332 361 3.86%
Nkana Division ZCCM Zambia 0.35 45 334 844 449 13.7% El Indio Bond International Gold Chile -0.26  29 939 362 300 4.21%
Carolina Michilla Carolina Michilla Chile 0.40 24 797 869 245 14.1% Southern Group Gecamines Zaire -0.21  13 150 375 450 4.37%
Grasberg Freeport Indonesia Indonesia 0.40 143 957 1 013 202 16.4% Izok Lake Minnova Canada 0.06  31 973 407 422 4.74%
La Escondida BHP/RTZ/Mitsubishi Chile 0.41 297 815 1 311 017 21.2% Grasberg Freeport Indonesia Indonesia 0.06  267 904 675 326 7.85%
Ansil Minnova Canada 0.44 32 504 1 343 521 21.8% Bingham Canyon Kennecott USA 0.09  250 856 926 182 10.77%
Snow Lake Hudson Bay M & S Canada 0.44 9 959 1 353 480 21.9% Montanore (Noxon) Noranda/Montana Reserves USA 0.10  45 709 971 891 11.30%
Maria Frisco/Cominco Res. Mexico 0.45 16 088 1 369 567 22.2% Maria Frisco/Cominco Res. Mexico 0.12  2 228 974 119 11.33%
Olympic Dam Western Mining Australia 0.47 48 506 1 418 073 23.0% Santo Tomas II Philex Philippines 0.12  26 014 1 000 133 11.63%
Cerro Colorado Rio Tinto Minera Spain 0.50 38 821 1 456 894 23.6% Mount Milligan Continental Gold Canada 0.13  57 632 1 057 765 12.30%
Mantos Blancos - Mixed Hochschild Chile 0.51 47 158 1 504 052 24.4% Mount Lyell Renison Goldfields Australia 0.13  22 541 1 080 306 12.56%
Mobrun Audrey Canada 0.52 2 579 1 506 631 24.4% Woodlawn Denehurst Australia 0.15  8 166 1 088 472 12.66%
Ok Tedi Ok Tedi Mining Papua New Guinea 0.52 207 809 1 714 439 27.8% Kidd Creek Falconbridge Canada 0.22  119 700 1 208 172 14.05%
Neves Corvo Somincor Portugal 0.53 158 095 1 872 534 30.3% Quebrada Blanca Cominco International Chile 0.23  1 208 172 14.05%
Geco Noranda Canada 0.53 15 664 1 888 198 30.6% Snow Lake Hudson Bay M & S Canada 0.24  12 419 1 220 592 14.19%
Palabora Palabora South Africa 0.54 125 448 2 013 646 32.6% Flin Flon Hudson Bay M & S Canada 0.27  16 717 1 237 309 14.39%
Luanshya Division ZCCM Zambia 0.55 56 600 2 070 246 33.5% Rock Creek Asarco USA 0.30  19 927 1 257 236 14.62%
La Caridad Mexicana de Cobre Mexico 0.56 143 336 2 213 582 35.9% Bajo el Alumbrera YMAD Argentina 0.31  61 740 1 318 976 15.34%
Central Group Gecamines Zaire 0.57 30 545 2 244 126 36.4% Copper Flat Gold Express USA 0.33  18 891 1 337 867 15.55%
Chuquicamata Codelco-Chile Chile 0.59 554 400 2 798 526 45.3% Cayeli Cayeli Turkey 0.34  26 200 1 364 067 15.86%
Sar Cheshmeh NICIC Iran 0.59 79 015 2 877 542 46.6% Myra Falls Westmin Resources Canada 0.35  18 785 1 382 852 16.08%
Cerro Verde II Minero-Peru Peru 0.60 10 912 2 888 454 46.8% Cerro Colorado Rio Tinto Minera Spain 0.36  35 834 1 418 687 16.49%
Mantos Blancos - Oxide Hochschild Chile 0.61 31 554 2 920 008 47.3% Bougainville Bougainville Copper Papua New Guinea 0.36  175 498 1 594 184 18.53%
Highland Valley Highland Valley Copper Canada 0.61 177 366 3 097 374 50.2% Louvicourt Aur Resources/Teck/Louvem Canada 0.38  63 158 1 657 342 19.27%
El Soldado CMD Chile 0.62 65 940 3 163 314 51.2% La Escondida BHP/RTZ/Mitsubishi Chile 0.39  399 924 2 057 266 23.92%
Cuajone SPCC Peru 0.62 139 159 3 302 472 53.5% Ok Tedi Ok Tedi Mining Papua New Guinea 0.40  169 967 2 227 233 25.89%
Morenci Phelps Dodge USA 0.62 213 486 3 515 959 57.0% Mantos Blancos - Mixed Hochschild Chile 0.40  49 932 2 277 165 26.48%
Aitik Boliden Sweden 0.63 51 246 3 567 205 57.8% Olympic Dam Western Mining Australia 0.42  65 018 2 342 184 27.23%
Tsumeb Tsumeb Namibia 0.63 15 370 3 582 575 58.0% Tambo Grande Minero-Peru Peru 0.44  12 880 2 355 064 27.38%
Gaspe Noranda Canada 0.64 25 502 3 608 077 58.5% Aitik Boliden Sweden 0.45  52 527 2 407 591 27.99%
Andina Codelco-Chile Chile 0.67 114 791 3 722 868 60.3% Western Group Gecamines Zaire 0.46  303 005 2 710 596 31.51%
Ojos del Salado Phelps Dodge Chile 0.67 11 065 3 733 933 60.5% Carolina Michilla Carolina Michilla Chile 0.47  17 712 2 728 308 31.72%
Bagdad Cyprus USA 0.68 93 563 3 827 495 62.0% Butte - Continental Montana Resources/Asarco USA 0.47  41 718 2 770 026 32.21%
Tyrone Phelps Dodge USA 0.69 93 261 3 920 756 63.5% Los Pelambres Antofagasta Holdings Chile 0.48  18 900 2 788 926 32.43%
Ray Asarco USA 0.69 69 671 3 990 427 64.6% Cerro Verde II Minero-Peru Peru 0.49  21 824 2 810 750 32.68%
Toquepala SPCC Peru 0.70 103 539 4 093 966 66.3% Palabora Palabora South Africa 0.51  129 998 2 940 748 34.19%
Flin Flon Hudson Bay M & S Canada 0.70 17 717 4 111 683 66.6% Sar Cheshmeh NICIC Iran 0.52  125 706 3 066 454 35.65%
Nchanga Division ZCCM Zambia 0.70 218 024 4 329 707 70.1% Geco Noranda Canada 0.53  20 484 3 086 938 35.89%
Woodlawn Denehurst Australia 0.71 6 908 4 336 614 70.3% Salobo CVRD Brazil 0.54  68 160 3 155 098 36.68%
C.S.A. CRA Australia 0.71 23 811 4 360 425 70.6% Windy Craggy Geddes Resources Canada 0.54  87 437 3 242 535 37.70%
Mission Asarco USA 0.72 80 115 4 440 540 71.9% Neves Corvo Somincor Portugal 0.55  132 977 3 375 512 39.25%
Malanjkhand Hindustan Copper India 0.72 22 504 4 463 043 72.3% La Candelaria Phelps Dodge Chile 0.56  119 837 3 495 349 40.64%
Los Bronces CMD Chile 0.72 43 316 4 506 360 73.0% Benambra Denehurst/Macquarie Resources Australia 0.56  16 653 3 512 001 40.83%
Sodimiza Group Gecamines Zaire 0.73 22 080 4 528 440 73.4% Cuajone SPCC Peru 0.57  144 250 3 656 252 42.51%
Tintaya Tintaya Peru 0.73 46 721 4 575 161 74.1% Central Group Gecamines Zaire 0.57  39 413 3 695 664 42.97%
Bell Noranda Canada 0.73 25 448 4 600 609 74.5% Mantos Blancos - Oxide Hochschild Chile 0.57  34 710 3 730 374 43.37%
Mount Isa MIM Australia 0.74 178 182 4 778 791 77.4% Andacollo Enami Chile 0.57  54 531 3 784 905 44.01%
El Salvador Codelco-Chile Chile 0.74 91 433 4 870 224 78.9% Superior (Magma) Magma USA 0.58  13 140 3 798 045 44.16%
Selbaie BP Canada Canada 0.76 29 831 4 900 055 79.4% Selbaie BP Canada Canada 0.58  15 839 3 813 884 44.34%
Viscaria Outokumpu Oy Sweden 0.76 19 210 4 919 265 79.7% La Caridad Mexicana de Cobre Mexico 0.59  122 892 3 936 776 45.77%
Pinto Valley Magma Copper USA 0.77 71 120 4 990 385 80.8% Highland Valley Highland Valley Copper Canada 0.59  171 851 4 108 627 47.77%
Mamut OMRD Malaysia 0.77 25 217 5 015 602 81.3% Morenci Phelps Dodge USA 0.60  219 256 4 327 884 50.32%
Santo Tomas II Philex Philippines 0.79 13 427 5 029 028 81.5% Dizon Benguet Consolidated Philippines 0.60  17 834 4 345 718 50.53%
Mount Lyell Renison Goldfields Australia 0.79 20 156 5 049 185 81.8% Mamut OMRD Malaysia 0.61  25 217 4 370 935 50.82%
El Teniente Codelco-Chile Chile 0.79 278 964 5 328 149 86.3% Tintaya Tintaya Peru 0.61  66 964 4 437 898 51.60%
Dizon Benguet Consolidated Philippines 0.80 16 436 5 344 585 86.6% Ojos del Salado Phelps Dodge Chile 0.61  17 199 4 455 097 51.80%
San Manuel Magma Copper USA 0.80 75 732 5 420 317 87.8% Troy Asarco USA 0.61  15 071 4 470 169 51.97%
Chino Phelps Dodge/Mitsubishi USA 0.80 82 297 5 502 614 89.1% El Soldado CMD Chile 0.62  65 772 4 535 941 52.74%
Cananea Nafin Mexico 0.81 116 064 5 618 678 91.0% Bald Mountain Boliden USA 0.62  15 015 4 550 956 52.91%
Ruttan Hudson Bay M & S Canada 0.83 24 815 5 643 493 91.4% Toquepala SPCC Peru 0.62  102 335 4 653 291 54.10%
Troy Asarco USA 0.83 15 515 5 659 007 91.7% Gaspe Noranda Canada 0.63  25 502 4 678 794 54.40%
Similco Princeton Canada 0.85 26 866 5 685 873 92.1% Nkana Division ZCCM Zambia 0.63  49 750 4 728 543 54.98%
Mufulira Division ZCCM Zambia 0.86 81 650 5 767 523 93.4% Northparkes (Goonumbla) North Broken Hill-Peko Australia 0.63  25 515 4 754 058 55.27%
O'Okiep O'Okiep Copper South Africa 0.87 24 991 5 792 515 93.8% El Arco IMMSA Mexico 0.64  165 110 4 919 169 57.19%
Sipalay Maricalum Philippines 0.87 31 993 5 824 508 94.4% Toromocho (Mill) Centromin Peru 0.64  60 690 4 979 859 57.90%
Khetri Hindustan Copper India 0.88 23 570 5 848 078 94.7% Bagdad Cyprus USA 0.65  89 107 5 068 966 58.93%
Sierrita Cyprus Minerals USA 0.95 69 984 5 918 062 95.9% Mission Asarco USA 0.65  111 750 5 180 715 60.23%
Myra Falls Westmin Resources Canada 0.95 16 215 5 934 277 96.1% Los Bronces CMD Chile 0.66  129 091 5 309 806 61.73%
Gibraltar Placer Dome Canada 0.96 28 763 5 963 040 96.6% Nifty Western Mining Australia 0.66  36 288 5 346 094 62.16%
White Pine Metall Mining USA 0.96 49 274 6 012 313 97.4% Malanjkhand Hindustan Copper India 0.66  22 504 5 368 598 62.42%
Island Copper BHP-Utah Mines Canada 0.97 56 229 6 068 542 98.3% Toromocho (Leach) Centromin Peru 0.68  14 648 5 383 245 62.59%
Atlas Toledo Atlas Consolidated Philippines 1.00 62 958 6 131 500 99.3% Flambeau Kennecott USA 0.68  27 480 5 410 726 62.91%
Cobriza Centromin Peru 1.09 30 940 6 162 440 99.8% Chuquicamata Codelco-Chile Chile 0.69  484 704 5 895 430 68.54%
Aznalcollar Boliden Spain 1.16 7 128 6 169 568 100.0% Luanshya Division ZCCM Zambia 0.70  56 600 5 952 029 69.20%
Oracle Ridge Oracle Ridge USA 1.30 2 949 6 172 517 100.0% Andina Codelco-Chile Chile 0.70  202 816 6 154 845 71.56%
Bajo el Alumbrera YMAD Argentina 6 172 517 100.0% Ray Asarco USA 0.71  129 620 6 284 465 73.07%
Pachon Cia Minera Aguilar Argentina 6 172 517 100.0% El Teniente Codelco-Chile Chile 0.71  324 720 6 609 185 76.84%
Benambra Denehurst/Macquarie Resources Australia 6 172 517 100.0% Pinto Valley Magma Copper USA 0.72  71 120 6 680 305 77.67%
Northparkes (Goonumbla) North Broken Hill-Peko Australia 6 172 517 100.0% Sodimiza Group Gecamines Zaire 0.72  22 080 6 702 385 77.93%
Nifty Western Mining Australia 6 172 517 100.0% Quellaveco Minero-Peru Peru 0.72  62 370 6 764 755 78.65%
Salobo CVRD Brazil 6 172 517 100.0% Mount Isa MIM Australia 0.72  192 563 6 957 318 80.89%
Izok Lake Minnova Canada 6 172 517 100.0% El Salvador Codelco-Chile Chile 0.73  88 128 7 045 446 81.91%
Mount Milligan Continental Gold Canada 6 172 517 100.0% Ruttan Hudson Bay M & S Canada 0.73  24 815 7 070 261 82.20%
Louvicourt Aur Resources/Teck/Louvem Canada 6 172 517 100.0% Oracle Ridge Oracle Ridge USA 0.75  5 161 7 075 422 82.26%
Windy Craggy Geddes Resources Canada 6 172 517 100.0% Antamina Minero-Peru Peru 0.75  23 753 7 099 175 82.54%
Schaft Creek Teck Canada 6 172 517 100.0% Pachon Cia Minera Aguilar Argentina 0.75  101 304 7 200 479 83.72%
Collahuasi Dona Ines de Collahuasi Chile 6 172 517 100.0% Nchanga Division ZCCM Zambia 0.75  214 080 7 414 559 86.21%
Quebrada Blanca Cominco International Chile 6 172 517 100.0% Cananea Nafin Mexico 0.76  127 008 7 541 567 87.68%
Los Pelambres Antofagasta Holdings Chile 6 172 517 100.0% San Manuel Magma Copper USA 0.76  75 732 7 617 299 88.56%
La Candelaria Phelps Dodge Chile 6 172 517 100.0% Copper Basin Phelps Dodge USA 0.78  46 830 7 664 129 89.11%
Andacollo Enami Chile 6 172 517 100.0% El Abra Codelco-Chile Chile 0.79  153 090 7 817 219 90.89%
El Abra Codelco-Chile Chile 6 172 517 100.0% Sierrita Cyprus Minerals USA 0.79  69 984 7 887 203 91.70%
Cerro Colorado Rio Algom Chile 6 172 517 100.0% Chino Phelps Dodge/Mitsubishi USA 0.81  82 297 7 969 501 92.66%
Ivan Minera Rayrock Chile 6 172 517 100.0% Mount Tolman Colville Tribe USA 0.82  15 620 7 985 121 92.84%
Lince Carolina Michilla/Outokumpu Chile 6 172 517 100.0% White Pine Metall Mining USA 0.84  58 925 8 044 046 93.52%
Chessy BRGM/Coframines/Amax/Aztec France 6 172 517 100.0% Mufulira Division ZCCM Zambia 0.86  82 492 8 126 538 94.48%
El Arco IMMSA Mexico 6 172 517 100.0% La Granja Minero-Peru Peru 0.86  77 280 8 203 818 95.38%
Fort Saindak Resource Dev't Corp Pakistan 6 172 517 100.0% Gibraltar Placer Dome Canada 0.86  29 634 8 233 452 95.73%
Bougainville Bougainville Copper Papua New Guinea 6 172 517 100.0% Khetri Hindustan Copper India 0.87  23 570 8 257 023 96.00%
Tambo Grande Minero-Peru Peru 6 172 517 100.0% Atlas Toledo Atlas Consolidated Philippines 0.89  89 981 8 347 003 97.05%
Toromocho (Mill) Centromin Peru 6 172 517 100.0% Sipalay Maricalum Philippines 0.96  28 067 8 375 070 97.37%
Toromocho (Leach) Centromin Peru 6 172 517 100.0% San Antonio Marcopper Mining Philippines 0.96  34 952 8 410 022 97.78%
Quellaveco Minero-Peru Peru 6 172 517 100.0% Cobriza Centromin Peru 0.99  30 940 8 440 962 98.14%
Antamina Minero-Peru Peru 6 172 517 100.0% Michiquillay Minero-Peru Peru 1.00  89 376 8 530 338 99.18%
La Granja Minero-Peru Peru 6 172 517 100.0% Fort Saindak Resource Dev't Corp Pakistan 1.02  14 878 8 545 216 99.35%
Michiquillay Minero-Peru Peru 6 172 517 100.0% Similco Princeton Canada 1.02  22 388 8 567 605 99.61%
Far South East Lepanto Consolidated Philippines 6 172 517 100.0% Schaft Creek Teck Canada 1.16  33 466 8 601 070 100.00%
San Antonio Marcopper Mining Philippines 6 172 517 100.0% Samatosum CRA Australia 8 601 070 100.00%
Cayeli Cayeli Turkey 6 172 517 100.0% Ansil Minnova Canada 8 601 070 100.00%
Parys Mountain Anglesey Mining UK 6 172 517 100.0% Tsumeb Minnova Canada 8 601 070 100.00%
Crandon Exxon USA 6 172 517 100.0% Tyrone Noranda Canada 8 601 070 100.00%
Blue Moon Colony Pacific USA 6 172 517 100.0% C.S.A. BHP-Utah Mines Canada 8 601 070 100.00%
Montanore (Noxon) Noranda/Montana Reserves USA 6 172 517 100.0% Bell Rio Algom Chile 8 601 070 100.00%
Rock Creek Asarco USA 6 172 517 100.0% Viscaria Minera Rayrock Chile 8 601 070 100.00%
Copper Flat Gold Express USA 6 172 517 100.0% O'Okiep Carolina Michilla/Outokumpu Chile 8 601 070 100.00%
Superior (Magma) Magma USA 6 172 517 100.0% Island Copper Tsumeb Namibia 8 601 070 100.00%
Bald Mountain Boliden USA 6 172 517 100.0% Aznalcollar O'Okiep Copper South Africa 8 601 070 100.00%
Flambeau Kennecott USA 6 172 517 100.0% Carlota-Cactus Boliden Spain 8 601 070 100.00%
Copper Basin Phelps Dodge USA 6 172 517 100.0% Cerro Colorado Outokumpu Oy Sweden 8 601 070 100.00%
Mount Tolman Colville Tribe USA 6 172 517 100.0% Cochise Phelps Dodge USA 8 601 070 100.00%
Carlota-Cactus Cambior USA USA 6 172 517 100.0% Cyprus Miami Cambior USA USA 8 601 070 100.00%
Cochise Phelps Dodge USA 6 172 517 100.0% Ivan Phelps Dodge USA 8 601 070 100.00%
Cyprus Miami Cyprus Minerals USA 6 172 517 100.0% Johnson Camp Cyprus Minerals USA 8 601 070 100.00%
Johnson Camp Arimetco USA 6 172 517 100.0% Lince Arimetco USA 8 601 070 100.00%
MacArthur Arimetco/Holcorp USA 6 172 517 100.0% MacArthur Arimetco/Holcorp USA 8 601 070 100.00%
Sanchez AZCO USA 6 172 517 100.0% Sanchez AZCO USA 8 601 070 100.00%
Twin Buttes Cyprus Minerals USA 6 172 517 100.0% Twin Buttes Cyprus Minerals USA 8 601 070 100.00%
Van Dyke Arimetco USA 6 172 517 100.0% Van Dyke Arimetco USA 8 601 070 100.00%
Yerington Arimetco USA 6 172 517 100.0% Yerington Arimetco USA 8 601 070 100.00%