Phelps Dodge / U.S. Dept. of Interior Copper Mining Film Smelting, Uses of Copper 67864 (1962)

Synopsis

This color educational film is about Copper, how to mine for it and its uses. It was made in 1962 and features footage shot at Phelps-Dodge mines. Opening titles: US Dept of the Interior - Bureau of Mines presents COPPER: THE OLDEST MODERN METAL (:12-:55). The ancient symbol of enduring life is also the modern symbol of copper. Liquid flows through a mine. A solid piece of copper that has been formed through human means. Copper pieces going through production. Copper wire being formed. The wire is being wound up. Copper is number 29 on the periodic table -the table is shown. Animated copper atom is shown and then inside of it is explained (:56-3:04). The metal copper. Pure copper is malleable, conducts heat rapidly, allows it to resist corrosion, permits it to be drawn, and enables it to conduct electricity efficiently. Other minerals are shown. Exploration for copper. The side of a mountain. Men study with microscopes. A man lays out a map to plan. Copper is found in many parts of the world as the map shows. Southwestern parts of the US have copper deposits. Open pit and underground are two ways to mine. A mining plant. Men with hard hats get ready to head into the mines. Copper wire spins off its spool for the elevator. The men exit the elevator and go into the mine. A drill is used to get into the rock. Explosives are placed into it. The mine is blasted to break up the rock. Broken ore is put into chutes then into tiny railcars to transport it (3:05-7:55). Ore is…

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Details

Running time

27 minutes

Collection

Ephemeral Films

Subjects on the Internet Archive

• 1962
• Phelps Dodge
• Copper Mining
• Smelting
• STock Footage