If the class action goes ahead, it will affect almost every gold mine in South Africa, including their parent companies, covering their conduct over the last 50 years.
Rumours follow Rio's decision to group its least loved units — coal, uranium salt, borates and its Iron Ore Co. of Canada — under a new umbrella branded as the “energy and minerals” business.
Silver is generally known for its use in coins, silverware and of course jewellery. However, today these account for less than 50% of all silver consumption.
Andrew Harding, once tipped as the most likely person to take the company’s reins, is being replaced by Chris Salisbury, currently leading the copper and coal division.
According to the Association of Mineral Exploration (AME), a number of junior exploration companies and their suppliers and contractors have been approached by First Nations.