Inversion: Copper flows from the US to China
The exportation of Copper ore from Nevada open pit mines to Chinese foundries, to end uses such as the Three Gorges Dam utilizes the production process of mining, concentration, smelting, and drawing to transform copper ore into copper wire. The industrial landscapes of the two countries are linked through global resource flows as China’s increased demand for electricity raises copper prices and makes the energy intensive mining and processing profitable again in the US. However, the process comes with human costs, especially to foundry laborers.