Copper, like gold, has been used by humans for thousands of years. Bronze is an alloy of copper and tin and every schoolkid knows about the Bronze Age.

The Romans originally called it aes Cyprium or “metal of Cyprus” as that island (Kupros in Greek) was famed for its copper mines. The metal ultimately came to be called cuprum and that’s where we get the Cu symbol.

Here’s how they mine for copper today:

That’s an open pit copper mine in Utah that’s half a mile deep and two and one-half miles across. It is one of the oldest and most productive mines on the planet. It is called Kennecott and it is located in Bingham Canyon near Salt Lake City. Kennecott Utah Copper Corporation is the listed owner and they are wholly owned by Rio Tinto Group, one of the largest metals and mining outfits in the world. Rio Tinto was founded in 1873 and spans the globe with headquarters in both Melbourne and London.

Copper is actually an essential nutrient. You need a milligram or two daily. But we mine for copper in these massive pits because we can’t have a modern society without it. We are connected together by a vast electrical grid. Through this grid flows the blood of a technological civilization—electricity. Without this blood we are doomed. Copper wires are like the arteries in our bodies that channel life-giving blood to our organs and extremities. The electricity the wires provide to our homes and businesses and everywhere else is just as life-sustaining. We live in an electrical world. There is no going back. We aren’t suddenly going to adopt Amish ways.

That means big, messy holes in the ground. Let’s hope we are smart enough to do it right and not make too bad of a mess.

World demand for copper is about 28 million tonnes annually. Chile is the world’s leading producer.