- Did you know that behind every call, message or selfie is a complex network of minerals extracted from a mine? Copper, which represents 90% of Chilean mineral exports, is one of the heroes that makes it possible for our cell phone to function like a small pocket computer.
Connectivity has become essential, which is why the penetration of smartphones is increasing in all countries of the world, including Chile, where according to the Undersecretariat of Telecommunications, there are just over 21 million smartphones as of December 2023. But this This figure represents not only the massive adoption of technology, but also the growing demand for resources for its manufacturing and operation.
Today’s smartphones are estimated to be made up of around 40 different minerals, according to the Minerals Council of Australia. One of the most important is copper, which is key for the manufacture of the cables that connect all the components, given its great power to transmit electricity and heat.
Álvaro Castro, Sectoral Director of Applied Technology of INACAP and adherent of Mining Commitment, reaffirms that copper is a key component for the internal transmissions of smartphones and its high conductivity allows for rapid and efficient transmission of electricity, which becomes data and information from everything we do on our phones: “The manufacturing process of the internal circuits of the smartphone uses advanced techniques for the use of copper that allows the creation of routes, which in turn achieve data transmission. In this sense, the main qualities of copper that achieve digital life from the cell phone are its high performance in conductivity, durability and resistance for daily and intensive use, versatility and attractive cost-effectiveness.
This is how Chile, where copper represents 90% of the country’s mining exports, according to the Central Bank of Chile, and which leads the world production of this mineral, becomes key so that we can continue enjoying social networks in our phones.
Although the quantities of smartphone components change over the years and vary according to brands and models, it is estimated that in one million cell phones there could be around 16,000 kilos of copper.
Andreina García, a member of Compromiso Minero and researcher at the AMTC of the University of Chile, goes further and explains that copper is also an essential element to make the leap towards the much-demanded carbon neutrality, as a forceful action to confront climate change. “It is a critical element due to its chemical properties, it is highly used in the development of clean energies (wind, solar, among others). In turn, it can be used in electric cars and electronic devices such as our smartphones. Therefore, copper contributes not only to the route towards the energy transition, but also to the progress of electromobility and digitalization. Chile being one of the main producers of copper in the world, positions it not only as a mining power for economic development, but as a country that contributes and will contribute to supplying the high demand for this much-needed element in this global transition towards clean energy, electromobility. and digitization»
This reddish metal is not only an excellent conductor of electricity, but has also positioned Chile as a world leader in its production. This growing demand in the technology industry is transforming the mining landscape, opening up new opportunities, but also posing challenges in terms of sustainability.
