Copper

Chile’s copper exports fell 6.5% to US$10.5 billion in the first three months of 2012 from $11.2 billion in the same period last year, according to figures compiled by the country’s Central Bank.

The $2.6 billion Qatari investment could provide Glencore CEO Ivan Glasenberg the necessary backing he needs to push through the deal which many Xstrata shareholders say sell them short.

The Vancouver-based miner gave up another 3% on Monday, bringing its losses over the past trading week to 15% as worries about grades and costs at Oyu Tolgoi – one of the richest copper and gold mines in the world – continue to mount.

TSX-listed Emed Mining hopes to re-open the Rio Tinto copper mines in southern Spain after an almost 30-year hiatus.

Mining investment in Chile, the world's largest copper producer, would reach US$ 100 billion between 2012 and 2020, the National Mining Society (Sonami) said on Monday.

Two or three days longer than anticipated could take rescuers to get to the nine Peruvian miners trapped 200 metres below ground since last Thursday, told reporters Oscar Valdes, cabinet chief to Peru's President Ollanta Humala.

Copper hit its highest level in 2012 this week, boosted by strong manufacturing data from China. Steady job growth in the US too is pushing up demand, but downside risks especially in Europe remain.

Reuters reports that Romania has backed out of a deal to sell its largest state-owned copper mine, Cupru Min Abrud.

The source of the surge in mining investment has been quite diverse, reflecting the widespread advance in prices. For 2012, gold leads the way with $3.6 billion of capital spending. But not far behind are copper-nickel-zinc mines at $3 billion, potash at $2.9 billion and iron ore at $2.7 billion as the Labrador Trough is developed.