China’s recent tailings leak the worst in 20 years

Augusta Resource jumped more than 10% on Monday after announcing it has received an air quality permit for its Rosemont mine in Arizona which could by itself account for about 10% of annual US copper output once in production in 2015.

The diversified miner suffered lower realized prices across the board with copper down 14% to $3.57 a pound, its realized coal price was 26% below Q2 2011 at $202 a tonne. Zinc (-15%), silver (-24%), lead (-22%) and molybdenum (-18%) prices all declined.

The World Trade Organization will investigate China's quotas and tariffs on rare earth minerals following prompting from the US, EU and Japan, who allege the export restrictions are in contravention of international trade regulations.

Arguably the richest prize in mining, the Pebble project pits a watershed where up to 40 million salmon spawn each year against copper and gold reserves worth as much as $500 billion according to a new documentary.

Chile’s largest open pit copper mine, Chuquicamata, has officially started its conversion towards underground mining. The project will cost Codelco over $2 billion in the preliminary phase but will substantially increase production and extend the mine's lifespan.

Ontario-based MFS Systems (2007) Inc. said its cooling equipment could help large companies such as Chile’s copper producer Codelco and molybdenum processor Molymet increase their profits while maintaining high environmental standards.

Chile-owned copper giant Codelco plans to invest $400 million in a molybdenum processing plant and to maximize its market value amid a legal dispute with global miner Anglo American.

Rio Tinto Copper's Chief Executive, Andrew Harding, said the investment will secure low cost copper, gold and molybdenum production for the company in next two decades.

Already with massive copper, gold and molybdenum deposit in Argentina, Lumina Copper now has two new copper mineralized zones.