Introduction
One of the many legal runs that you can do on the island of Altis is copper mining. Copper is an ore found in the ground that can be processed into and sold as ingots. It is one of the first recommended runs for newer players as its payout is viable enough for small to medium scale operations that can be increased with possession of a Worker's Protection License.
Starting the Run
Before you begin, it is a good idea to check the market value of copper using the market tab on your “Y” menu to make sure nobody has sold copper recently to maximize your profits. It is also recommended to stop by the DMV and purchase a “copper processing license” as it is a prerequisite for processing the ore into ingots for sale. It is also necessary to take a pickaxe, which can be purchased at any market or gas station, as well as 3 items of food and water to sustain yourself for the duration of the run. You will want to begin this venture by retrieving your vehicle of choice from the truck shop south-west of Kavala. From there it will be a decent drive out to the Copper Mine, which is located east of Kavala where you will gather copper ore. Upon arrival, you will position yourself close to the copper mine icon on the map as within its proximity is the harvesting zone where you will be able to use your windows key to harvest the ore. The mine itself is definitely “off the beaten path” so you will not have to worry about concealing your vehicle. Once you have collected the desired amount of ore you will then proceed to the copper processor.
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An aerial view of the mine. -
A route from a garage to the mine.
Processing
Fortunately, the processor is also located away from most high-traffic areas and roadways as it is nestled in the very rear of a small-scale mining facility. For peace of mind, you can also park your vehicle behind the large blue warehouse where the processor is located to keep it out of view of the main road. You will begin processing the copper ore into ingots by filling your inventory from your vehicle and using your scroll wheel to open the processing menu. It will take a long time to process so be prepared to be vulnerable and keep your wits about you. Fortunately, there is a bonus for processing that will incrementally give you faster progress as you process more copper if you possess a Worker's Protection License.
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An aerial view of the processor. -
A route from mine to the processor.
Selling
After you have processed everything you will depart down the MSR (Main State Road) directly south to the Copper Trader. Park close to the building that houses the trader as you will be very vulnerable while selling and, if killed, will drop all cash obtained on the ground for other players to take. When interacting with the trader you may also double click the copper ingots in your inventory to select the total amount that you are carrying for faster selling. Once you have traded all of your copper for cash, quickly travel to either the south to access the ATM in the town of Neri, or to the north to deposit your cash in the ATM located at the Kavala Hospital.
Payout
Using a box truck with no storage upgrades and a Bergen backpack (210 Copper Ingots) will yield a payout of $419,160 (WPL: $482,034)
Run Time
Using a box truck with no storage upgrades, Bergen backpack, and Tier-4 turbo this run will take 27 minutes and 30 seconds with no real difference with any alternate routes posted in the screenshots. With a Worker's Protection License to increase processing it will take 23-25 minutes.