The sun may be about to shine on the precious metals, even if the upcoming rally is not yet destined to last.

Gold production is expected to be more strongly weighted to the second half of the year.

The company has entered into an agreement with Orion Mine Finance to add 10% from Orion’s 50% share of the project.

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

CEO Sebastien de Montessus said his priority now is to show shareholders he is committed to organic growth in six core gold mines across Ivory Coast, Senegal, and Burkina Faso.

Satori Resources is about to start drilling at the Tartan Lake gold mine project near Flin Flon.

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.