Juno is the largest claim holder within the Ring of Fire, a metal rich region in northern Ontario.

The decision effectively reverses one made by officials in the waning days of former President Donald Trump's administration.

Freeport Chief Executive Richard Adkerson said he has no desire to combine Freeport with Barrick or another gold producer.

The US Army Corps of Engineers has accepted the request to appeal the latest refusal to grant a water licence to the copper-gold-molybdenum project.

Around a dozen companies are said to make their next investments elsewhere.

Freeport to expand US copper mines as Biden moves to electrify the nation; Minnesota court hands victory to PolyMet copper-nickel project; Sibanye-Stillwater to invest in European lithium company.

The iron ore miner is confident in the trajectory of copper in 2021.