Australia has refused to match commitments by the US, UK and other countries targeting net zero emissions by 2050.

Engineers and technicians told the auditors that the tailings at Xingu had not been properly drained.

Shipments from Rio Tinto were seen declining, while Vale has interrupted production at two mines over safety concerns, reducing its output by 40,000 tonnes a day.

Researchers explored over 30 deep mines in the Swedish Precambrian basement to search for ancient life.

Other steelmaking ingredients also weakened, with Dalian coking coal down 1.3% while coke slipped 0.5%.

Chinese imports fell nearly 9% in May with further weakness expected in coming months, putting pressure on prices for the steelmaking material.

Ben Wyatt is to be Rio Tinto's first Indigenous board member in a move to restore a reputation tarnished after last year's destruction of the Juukan Gorge rock shelters.