The blocks are for minerals including nickel, lithium, cobalt and platinum, along with rare earths.

Eramet has stopped its manganese mining operations and train-transport operations in Gabon out of precaution.

Jakarta recently delayed the issuing of mining quotas and suspended operations at a key site of state miner Aneka Tambang.

China is expected to continue building its influence over key minerals such as lithium and cobalt across the developing world, according to S&P Global.

Earlier this month, Esmark scraped its bid, leaving Arcelor-Mittal as the only known potential challenger to Cleveland-Cliffs.

Vale is "cautiously optimistic" about the largest global consumer of iron ore, as China's economy has proven resilient.

Though metals mining and production is expected to grow 7.0% this year, private investment - largely in mining - is expected to drop 4.5% this year.