China boosts its mining quota for first batch of rare earths

Anglo American Platinum kept the dividend tap flowing as it reaps the benefits of a pivot to mechanised mining that has lifted productivity and cut costs.

The $502-million transaction makes the Chinese company Arab Potash's majority shareholder.

It has decided not to go ahead with a proposed $100-million share sale to help it fund the Mexican project.

Yttrium is just one a host critical minerals on the list of Chinese imports targeted for the next escalation of the simmering trade war between the two countries.

From the $939bn invested in major projects between 2008 and 2017, the world’s top 40 mining companies by market cap. wrote-off $273bn or 29% of the initial capital outlay.

Company aims to be the first significant world producer outside of China of dysprosium, used by electric vehicle makers in the manufacturing of engine magnets.

Company plans to complete a feasibility study next year, which will reveal whether the proposed $800 million, underground lithium-uranium mine can and should be built.

Canadian junior MGX has entered into an option agreement to earn into the Kibby Basin lithium brine project, in Nevada.

A mineral sands operation on the South African coast run by Rio Tinto has been closed since Friday due to violent community protests which saw a security guard killed earlier this week, the company and a union said on Wednesday.