INFOGRAPHIC: Minerals make manufacturing

Bullion hit an all-time high of $2,483.73 an ounce on Wednesday.

Over two-thirds of today’s junior miners are essentially worthless, says resource speculator Rick Rule. 

The decision will hit artisanal miners of metals such as gold and tin hard, as they are the region's dominant producers.

The metals and energy major plans to ramp up copper production from the mines to 300,000 tons a year and cobalt output to 6,000 tons.