Subject: To extract and operate mines of copper; to produce high grade products of ore and copper products such as cathode, slab, billet, and 8-mm wires

Province: Tehran

Address: No. 2161 , Next to the saei park , Vali Asr Ave., Tehran, IRAN

Phone: 021 - 82 13 80 00

More Information: Copper is a metal which has been used for many years. 85-90% of copper consumed in the World is achieved by extracting from copper mines. Metals are extracted from ore in two ways: Pyrometallurgy and hydrometallurgy. Pyrometallurgy has been used by the humankind ever since the beginning of the human history. Nowadays, more than 95% of metals are procured in this way. Although pyrometallurgical methods have been prevalent, however, during the recent years, new hydrometallurgical methods have been considered, and there was a considerable growth in the production of copper and other basic metals in this way. According to the latest evaluation made in 1997, mineral deposits of copper have been estimated at 57000 million tons all over the World (except China and ex-Soviet), and the mineral copper deposit of Iran is roughly 1900 million tons containing 14 million tons copper, being around 3% of mineral copper deposits of the World. According to studies made, in terms of mineral copper deposits, Iran is located on the World belt of this metal, stretching in direction of the North West – South East axis of the country.
On July 03, 1972, Kerman Sarcheshmeh Copper Mines Co. (P.J.S.) was incorporated and in 1976 it was renamed National Iranian Copper Industries Co., which encompasses all operations of copper mines in the country. The functions of this company include among others: To extract and operate mines of copper; to produce high grade products of ore and copper products such as cathode, slab, billet, and 8-mm wires. Among the most important copper mines of the country one may name: Sarcheshmeh and Miduk in Kerman, and Songon in East Azerbaijan.