Sandfire said last week it had discovered damage to an artefact scatter at its Monty copper mine that had occurred over 2017 and 2018.

The company hasn’t yet addressed issues that led to property destruction and multiple deaths after flooding reached a nearby community in March, the government said.

With Jack taking the reins, the company’s key officer positions are now held by siblings, as his brother Adam is the firm's chairman.

The company has notified buyers it will not be able to meet agreements due to force majeure.

London's 2024 benchmark copper price could slip 2% to $8,600 per metric ton, the firm said.

Copper production was up 2.1% from the same month a year ago, while gold and zinc jumped 10.0% and 10.4% respectively.