We need to mine as much copper in the next 25 years as we did in the last 125 years. The vast majority of global reserves sit between .14-.34 %. That is the canary in the coal mine. That mean exponentially bigger pits, more waste, more tailings, more chemicals, and more energy to get the same amount of copper. Copper recoveries are not getting better. Economies of scale in mining are becoming diseconomies of scale. This cannot be done without completely re thinking how we find, mine and refine everything from copper to rare earths. The Copper Paradox is the Mining Paradox. #mineralimperative #criticalmineralshub. @ScottNorth64736 @EdZamanillo @ctindale
Amanda Vandyke (@AmandaVandyke13) tweeted on 2026-05-11 that we must mine as much…
Brief
Amanda Vandyke (@AmandaVandyke13) warns that we must mine as much copper in the next 25 years as was mined in the previous 125. She says most global reserves are low grade (0.14–0.34% Cu), forcing exponentially larger pits, more waste/tailings, greater chemical use and energy; with stagnant recoveries and failing economies of scale, she calls for rethinking discovery, mining and refining, including rare earths.
Why it matters
Amanda Vandyke (@AmandaVandyke13) tweeted on 2026-05-11 that we must mine as much copper in the next 25 years as was mined in the previous 125 years.
Key details
- She states the vast majority of global copper reserves grade 0.14–0.34% Cu, which implies exponentially larger open pits, more waste and tailings, greater chemical use, and higher energy per unit of recovered copper.
- Vandyke asserts copper recoveries are not improving and that economies of scale are becoming diseconomies of scale, calling for a complete rethink of how we find, mine and refine copper and rare earths.