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29

Cu

Copper

Atomic Mass

63.546

Element Profile

COPPER

Transition metal

CoreGenesis 12 ActiveQ2 2026 Reviewed

Copper is a core civilization metal for electricity, grid systems, data centers, motors, and telecom.

Launch Engine

Periodic Context

Current elementConnected elementsGenesis 12 active
H
HeLi
Be
B
C
N
O
F
Ne
Na
Mg
AlSi
P
S
Cl
Ar
K
Ca
Sc
Ti
V
Cr
Mn
Fe
CoNi
Cu
Zn
GaGe
As
Se
Br
Kr
Rb
Sr
Y
Zr
Nb
Mo
Tc
Ru
Rh
Pd
Ag
Cd
In
Sn
Sb
Te
I
Xe
Cs
Ba
La
Ce
Pr
Nd
Pm
Sm
Eu
Gd
Tb
Dy
Ho
Er
Tm
Yb
Lu
Hf
TaW
Re
Os
Ir
Pt
Au
Hg
Tl
Pb
Bi
Po
At
Rn
Fr
Ra
Ac
Th
Pa
U
Np
Pu
Am
Cm
Bk
Cf
Es
Fm
Md
No
Lr
Rf
Db
Sg
Bh
Hs
Mt
Ds
Rg
Cn
Nh
Fl
Mc
Lv
Ts
Og

Copper connects to grids, conductors, data centers, motors, and electrification systems.

Fiji: modeled context not active yetTanzania: modeled context not active yetW. Sahara: modeled context not active yetCanada: modeled context not active yetUnited States of America: modeled supply contextKazakhstan: modeled context not active yetUzbekistan: modeled context not active yetPapua New Guinea: modeled context not active yetIndonesia: modeled context not active yetArgentina: modeled context not active yetChile: modeled context not active yetDem. Rep. Congo: modeled context not active yetSomalia: modeled context not active yetKenya: modeled context not active yetSudan: modeled context not active yetChad: modeled context not active yetHaiti: modeled context not active yetDominican Rep.: modeled context not active yetRussia: modeled supply contextBahamas: modeled context not active yetFalkland Is.: modeled context not active yetNorway: modeled context not active yetGreenland: modeled context not active yetFr. S. Antarctic Lands: modeled context not active yetTimor-Leste: modeled context not active yetSouth Africa: modeled context not active yetLesotho: modeled context not active yetMexico: modeled context not active yetUruguay: modeled context not active yetBrazil: modeled context not active yetBolivia: modeled context not active yetPeru: modeled context not active yetColombia: modeled context not active yetPanama: modeled context not active yetCosta Rica: modeled context not active yetNicaragua: modeled context not active yetHonduras: modeled context not active yetEl Salvador: modeled context not active yetGuatemala: modeled context not active yetBelize: modeled context not active yetVenezuela: modeled context not active yetGuyana: modeled context not active yetSuriname: modeled context not active yetFrance: modeled context not active yetEcuador: modeled context not active yetPuerto Rico: modeled context not active yetJamaica: modeled context not active yetCuba: modeled context not active yetZimbabwe: modeled context not active yetBotswana: modeled context not active yetNamibia: modeled context not active yetSenegal: modeled context not active yetMali: modeled context not active yetMauritania: modeled context not active yetBenin: modeled context not active yetNiger: modeled context not active yetNigeria: modeled context not active yetCameroon: modeled context not active yetTogo: modeled context not active yetGhana: modeled context not active yetCôte d'Ivoire: modeled context not active yetGuinea: modeled context not active yetGuinea-Bissau: modeled context not active yetLiberia: modeled context not active yetSierra Leone: modeled context not active yetBurkina Faso: modeled context not active yetCentral African Rep.: modeled context not active yetCongo: modeled context not active yetGabon: modeled context not active yetEq. Guinea: modeled context not active yetZambia: modeled context not active yetMalawi: modeled context not active yetMozambique: modeled context not active yeteSwatini: modeled context not active yetAngola: modeled context not active yetBurundi: modeled context not active yetIsrael: modeled context not active yetLebanon: modeled context not active yetMadagascar: modeled context not active yetPalestine: modeled context not active yetGambia: modeled context not active yetTunisia: modeled context not active yetAlgeria: modeled context not active yetJordan: modeled context not active yetUnited Arab Emirates: modeled context not active yetQatar: modeled context not active yetKuwait: modeled context not active yetIraq: modeled context not active yetOman: modeled context not active yetVanuatu: modeled context not active yetCambodia: modeled context not active yetThailand: modeled context not active yetLaos: modeled context not active yetMyanmar: modeled context not active yetVietnam: modeled context not active yetNorth Korea: modeled context not active yetSouth Korea: modeled supply contextMongolia: modeled context not active yetIndia: modeled context not active yetBangladesh: modeled context not active yetBhutan: modeled context not active yetNepal: modeled context not active yetPakistan: modeled context not active yetAfghanistan: modeled context not active yetTajikistan: modeled context not active yetKyrgyzstan: modeled context not active yetTurkmenistan: modeled context not active yetIran: modeled context not active yetSyria: modeled context not active yetArmenia: modeled context not active yetSweden: modeled context not active yetBelarus: modeled context not active yetUkraine: modeled context not active yetPoland: modeled context not active yetAustria: modeled context not active yetHungary: modeled context not active yetMoldova: modeled context not active yetRomania: modeled context not active yetLithuania: modeled context not active yetLatvia: modeled context not active yetEstonia: modeled context not active yetGermany: modeled supply contextBulgaria: modeled context not active yetGreece: modeled context not active yetTurkey: modeled context not active yetAlbania: modeled context not active yetCroatia: modeled context not active yetSwitzerland: modeled context not active yetLuxembourg: modeled context not active yetBelgium: modeled context not active yetNetherlands: modeled context not active yetPortugal: modeled context not active yetSpain: modeled context not active yetIreland: modeled context not active yetNew Caledonia: modeled context not active yetSolomon Is.: modeled context not active yetNew Zealand: modeled context not active yetAustralia: modeled context not active yetSri Lanka: modeled context not active yetChina: modeled supply contextTaiwan: modeled supply contextItaly: modeled context not active yetDenmark: modeled context not active yetUnited Kingdom: modeled context not active yetIceland: modeled context not active yetAzerbaijan: modeled context not active yetGeorgia: modeled context not active yetPhilippines: modeled context not active yetMalaysia: modeled context not active yetBrunei: modeled context not active yetSlovenia: modeled context not active yetFinland: modeled context not active yetSlovakia: modeled context not active yetCzechia: modeled context not active yetEritrea: modeled context not active yetJapan: modeled supply contextParaguay: modeled context not active yetYemen: modeled context not active yetSaudi Arabia: modeled context not active yetN. Cyprus: modeled context not active yetCyprus: modeled context not active yetMorocco: modeled context not active yetEgypt: modeled context not active yetLibya: modeled context not active yetEthiopia: modeled context not active yetDjibouti: modeled context not active yetSomaliland: modeled context not active yetUganda: modeled context not active yetRwanda: modeled context not active yetBosnia and Herz.: modeled context not active yetMacedonia: modeled context not active yetSerbia: modeled context not active yetMontenegro: modeled context not active yetKosovo: modeled context not active yetTrinidad and Tobago: modeled context not active yetS. Sudan: modeled context not active yet
Chile

Major copper mine supply

China

Smelting, refining, demand

DRC / Zambia

Copper belt supply

Map Legend

Critical concentration
Production / source node
Processing / manufacturing

Key Takeaway

Copper risk is a capacity and demand problem tied to grids, AI data centers, electrification, telecom, and industrial systems.

Modeled intelligence. Not government data.

Copper

Element Intelligence

How Copper functions across real-world systems and future Periodic Engine economy layers.

Element Overview

Copper is a highly conductive industrial metal central to electricity, heat transfer, wiring, motors, grids, and electronics.

OverviewMaterial Input

Sector Exposure

Copper connects AI infrastructure, power grids, telecom networks, EVs, defense systems, buildings, motors, and industrial equipment.

Industry ExposureSystems

Supply Risk

Copper risk comes from rising demand, long mine development timelines, ore quality challenges, permitting, and refining concentration.

Supply RiskProcessing

Engine Utility

Copper functions as a civilization backbone element because nearly every electrified system depends on it.

Engine InputDependency

Future Token Role

Copper tokens can represent electrification, grid buildout, data center power, motor demand, and infrastructure expansion.

Supply ClaimEconomy Layer

Comparative Relevance

Copper has broader civilization impact than most Genesis 12 elements, but lower substitution difficulty than Gallium or Helium in some use cases.

ComparativeGenesis 12

Modeled Intelligence Scorecard

Overall Score

86/100

Critical

Rising

Supply Risk

72/100

Medium High

Monitored

Strategic Value

87/100

High

Future Relevance

93/100

Very High

Substitution Risk

83/100

Medium

Application-specific

Industry Exposure

Very High

Multi-sector

Policy Sensitivity

Medium

Monitored

Confidence

Medium

Reviewed

Scores are modeled intelligence scores, not official government scores.•Source-backed methodology.•Reviewed Q2 2026.

Pro

Reviewed Evidence Context

Reviewed Pro evidence summaries behind this element profile.

Copper (Cu)

Claim support summaries

See how reviewed public-safe context supports element intelligence.

Confidence and review status

Understand confidence levels and latest review signals.

Source discipline context

Broad source categories that inform the evidence.

Evidence summaries support interpretation of modeled intelligence. They do not expose scoring formulas, source-to-score mapping, reviewer notes, or internal source architecture.

Request Pro Access Request Briefing

Evidence summaries support interpretation, not official ratings.

Fact Box

Chemistry

Atomic Number29
Atomic Mass63.546 u
Group11
Period4
Blockd-block
State at 20°CSolid
Melting Point1084.62 °C
Boiling Point2562 °C
Density8.96 g/cm³
Electron Configuration[Ar] 3d¹⁰ 4s¹
CAS Number7440-50-8
Key Isotopes⁶³Cu, ⁶⁵Cu

Fact Box

Strategic

Modeled StatusCore
Genesis 12 StatusActive
Overall Score91 / 100
Supply Risk72 / 100
Substitution Risk65 / 100
Strategic Value87 / 100
Future Relevance93 / 100
Primary IndustriesGrid, AI Data Centers, Electrification, Telecom
ReviewedQ2 2026
ConfidenceHigh

Why Copper Matters

Copper matters because electrification runs through copper: power grids, transformers, motors, wiring, data centers, telecom networks, EVs, renewable energy systems, and industrial equipment.

Power Grids

Transmission, distribution, substations, wiring

Data Centers

Power delivery, cooling, cabling

EVs and Motors

Motors, charging, wiring, battery systems

Telecom

Network infrastructure and power systems

Industrial Systems

Machinery, heat exchangers, manufacturing

Uses & Strategic Relevance

Electrical wiring

Standard conductor for building and equipment wiring.

Data-center power delivery

Carries high-current power across data-center infrastructure.

Network interconnect

Wiring and connectors in telecom and networking hardware.

Motors and electrification

Windings and conductors in electric motors and drives.

Supply-Chain Risk

Production ConcentrationMedium High
Processing ConcentrationMedium High
Import ExposureMedium for some users, high for others
By-product DependenceLow as primary copper
Recycling MaturityStrong
Substitution DifficultyMedium
Policy SensitivityMedium

Risk Summary

Broad extraction base with concentrated refining capacity.

Supply-Chain Flow

source

Mine concentrate

Chile

source

Mine concentrate

Chile

source

Mine concentrate

Chile

source

Chile

Chile

source

Mine concentrate

Chile

Copper substitution often means redesign rather than one-for-one replacement.

Company Relationships

Strategic Company Relationships

Public-safe company relationships connected to Copper across materials, components, devices, and downstream applications.

Company relationships are modeled intelligence relationships based on public source categories and reviewed context. They are not supplier certifications, official ratings, or confirmation of direct procurement relationships.

GLEN

Glencore

Smelter•Smelting

Public limited

Publicly described Copper smelting participant; modeled relationship signal connecting Glencore to Copper through smelter context in the materials graph.

CuCopperSwitzerlandMining & Processing

Confidence

Medium

Source

Public company filings

Last reviewed June 2026

Open relationship intelligence →Request source-linked briefing

Source-linked evidence is available by briefing for eligible companies.

Request a full company briefing to unlock public-source traceability, context, and relationship details.

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Substitution Difficulty

Use CasePossible Substitute(s)TradeoffDifficulty
WiringAluminumMore volume, different mechanical and thermal propertiesMedium
MotorsAluminum, redesigned motor systemsEfficiency and design tradeoffsMedium
TransformersAluminum windingsSize, heat, reliability tradeoffsMedium
Heat exchangersAluminum, steelThermal performance tradeoffsMedium
Data center powerAluminum or redesigned systemsPerformance and space tradeoffsMedium High

Connected Elements

Elements often analyzed alongside Copper.

LiLithiumBattery systemsNiNickelFrequently mined and refined together from sulfide ores.CoCobaltCobalt is often a by-product of copper mining.AlAluminumCompeting conductors for power transmission.SiSiliconElectronics, chipsGaGalliumPower electronicsGeGermaniumTelecom opticsMnManganeseManganese strengthens copper alloys.

How to Read This Profile

Periodic Engine modeled intelligence scores combine public source data, industry insights, supply-chain analysis, and technology relevance to assess strategic importance and risk.

Source Categories

USGS

U.S. Geological Survey

DOE

U.S. Department of Energy

IEA

International Energy Agency

EU Commission

EU Commission

PubChem

Chemical database

NIST

National Institute of Standards and Technology

Industry

Industry reports & associations

View Methodology
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