China Minmetals is bracing for further delays in building a second pit at its troubled Las Bambas copper mine.

The plan includes the development of the first hybrid railway in Brazil.

The rise in gold production was driven by higher output at Carlin mine in Nevada and return to normal throughput levels on completion of maintenance work at the site.

Fortescue Metals was forced to make a statement on Thursday regarding the future of the company on news of the split between Andrew and Nicola Forrest.

Mine is currently operating with military protection.

The Australian company will supply all saleable vanadium bearing products from its project in Finland for an initial period of five years.

The trial technology could cut emissions from the sector that accounts for up to 3% of Australia's total emissions.

Zijin has agreed to partner with Camyen, the provincial mining company of Catamarca, and a unit of state-run energy firm YPF.