With the train, Timbopeba processing plant will be able to operate at least at 80% of its capacity of 33,000 tonnes of iron ore "fines" per day.

Beijing confirmed the release of state reserves for the first time in a decade to cool metals markets, but copper prices rose more than 1% on the news.

Iron ore shipments from Australia and Brazil stood at 26.14 million tonnes last week, up by 1.1 million tonnes from the week earlier, data from Mysteel consultancy showed.

The Australian Renewable Energy Agency will provide half the funds for the $925,000 study.

Samarco's debt with Vale and BHP totals 23 billion reais, while bondholders are owed the equivalent of 26 billion reais.

The head of the chamber of mines in the DRC suggests investors focus instead on Congo’s copper.

Fortescue says it has held talks with the Democratic Republic of Congo for exclusive rights to develop the Grand Inga suite of projects.

An Australian inquiry into a blast that seriously injured five workers found that the miner repeatedly produced more methane gas than it could remove and had exposed workers to excessive risk.