Great Bear now contains 3.3 million oz. gold in 22.7 million inferred tonnes, open pit and underground, grading 4.5 grams gold per tonne.

Analysts have calculated an additional provision between about $3.5 billion and $3.6 billion to match BHP provisions for the year.

Lithium prices have dropped more than 80% in the past year.

John Thornton, an ex-investment banker from Goldman Sachs, joined Barrick in 2012 as a director under founder Peter Munk.

Silver reserves by year-end, totalling 238 million oz., were also its second-largest ever.

Nickel prices fell 40% in the last year as Indonesian supply jumped.

Saddled with $6.4 billion in outstanding debt, Vedanta has been attempting to shore up its finances.

The project was the first to be added to the US FAST-41 permitting process, and the company said it has the potential to be one of the world’s largest zinc producers.