Vale launches self-driving trucks at its largest mine

The joint venture intended to explore for iron assets at the Simandou prospect, but the concession was revoked in 2014 by Guinea's government.

The company does not say whether this would impact shipping of the mineral.

Vale SA has opened negotiations with prosecutors and families of victims of the deadly January dam disaster.

Iron ore’s poised to hit $100 a ton, according to Citigroup, which highlighted “very, very low” seaborne cargoes just as data from China may show a pick-up in demand.

Giant mines currently under construction will churn out an additional one million tonnes of copper through 2023, but that won’t be enough.

Fundraising by unlisted funds for investment in natural resource reached a record $93 billion last year.

The move is aimed at providing a tool for institutional investors to assess the risk from their holdings in mining companies.

With a market facing a global deficit, the world’s biggest iron ore export port is flagging a timely boost in shipments as Fortescue and rivals bring on new mines in Australia’s Pilbara region.

Futures topped $90 a tonne on Wednesday amid increasing concern the crisis at Brazil’s Vale SA will be drawn out as regulators ordered dozens of dams to be shut.