Copper

Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc. (NYSE: FCX) was down about 1% this morning as the giant copper producer followed the commodity prices down as a consequence of protests in Spain and Greece renewed fears about the euro zone debt crisis and its drag on global economic growth.

Vancouver's Goldquest Mining (TSX.V:GQC) has dived 33% on heavy trading following the release of fresh drill results which fell below expectations.

Popular opposition from litigious activist groups in Chile is putting billions of dollars in mining projects at risk.

A Chinese copper project in Afghanistan threatens a wealth of archeological sites dating from the 5th century of the Common Era and earlier.

Transition Metals (TSX.V:XTM) CEO Scott McLean gave an interview to MINING.com following the company’s unveiling of promising new gold assay results for its properties in the Abitibi Greenstone belt.

Brazilian billionaire Eike Batista, number one on MINING.com's list of the world's wealthiest miners, is about to get even richer as the tycoon is in talks to sell a 49% stake in his gold mining company, AUX, to Qatar Holding, the investment arm of that country's sovereign wealth fund.

Chile’s Chemical and Mining Society (SQM), the world’s largest lithium producer, has won a tender to develop a lithium concession in the country, which produces nearly 40% of the increasingly popular metal.

Western Australia's Sandfire Resources (ASX:SFR) is on the verge of bringing its DeGrussa copper mine on line in accordance with its original schedule and budget targets.

Whip smart and devious, Frederick Heinze took advantage of the so-called apex law, a provision that allowed owners of a surface outcrop to mine it wherever it led.