Copper

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwire - Oct. 26, 2011) - Teck Resources Limited (TSX: TCK.A and TCK.B, NYSE: TCK) announced today that it will pay an eligible dividend of $0.40 per share on its outstanding Class A common shares and Class B subordinate voting shares on January 3, 2012, to shareholders of record at the close of business on December 15, 2011. This represents a 33 percent increase from the previous dividend.

Washington lawmakers yesterday approved a bill to approve a land exchange clearing the way for what would be North America’s largest copper […]

Bellhaven Copper & Gold (CVE:BHV), a Canadian exploration company operating in Panama and Colombia, received a 10.2% equity interest investment by IAMGOLD Corporation which will subscribe for eleven million units of Bellhaven at C$0.55 per unit. In mid-October, IAMGOLD (TSE:IMG) said it was going start buying new companies that would complement its core strengths, established relationships with foreign governments and working experience in Africa and the Americas. "The private placement will build our treasury to approximately $9.6 million, allowing us to ramp-up the exploration programs at La Mina," said Paul Zweng, Bellhaven's interim CEO and director.

In the last decade spending on exploration in British Columbia has increased 20 fold. It was another bright spot for British Columbia's mining sector, as covered in PricewaterhouseCoopers' industry survey. "The estimated total economic output, value added GDP employment generated from exploration and development activities are $352 million, $168 million and 3,017 jobs respectively," wrote the survey authors.

AP reports one of the four bronze sculptures that included a Jules Dalou, sculptor of the famous Triomphe de la République in Paris (pictured), stolen from the Johannesburg Art Gallery in South Africa since January, were probably melted down and the copper content sold for a paltry $250. The market for scrap metal has grown dramatically in recent years and China alone imports some 400,000 tonnes of scrap copper per month. So called No. 2 copper scrap, which typically consists of a mixture of wire and tubing, sells for roughly 40 cents below the futures prices, which on Tuesday was $3.40/pound.

According to a new report from PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (PwC), direct mining expenditures in British Columbia mining crested $5.2 billion in 2010. An additional $3.7 billion was spent in secondary and support industries and services resulting in a total of $8.9 billion of economic activity across British Columbia. The Economic Impact Analysis report commissioned by the Mining Association of British Columbia (MABC) and compiled by PwC measures direct, indirect and induced economic impacts of mining in terms of output, Gross Domestic Product, employment and government tax revenues.

The Australian government has approved the $1.3B takeover of Anvil Mining (TSE:AVM) by China-based Minmetals Resources Ltd. The deal announced on September 30th required approval from the Australian Foreign Investment Review Board for the acquisition. The Minmentals offer of C$8 per Anvil share in cash represents a 38% premium on the $5.79 price the market was offering before the acquisition was announced last month. Anvil was trading at around $7.83 on Monday.

Since gold has slid nearly 20% since hitting a high of $1,900 in September, maybe the precious metal can get a lift from some "magical necklaces" worn by baseball players. Necklaces that contain gold and titanium are starting to catch on with professional athletes who believe wearing them can help improve their performance. Phiten markets the necklaces, as well as wrist bands, athlete's tape and other products. The company started in Japan whose founder, Yoshihiro Hirata, was seeking ways to alleviate chronic pain. The company says that metals like gold and titanium are broken down into microscopic particles dispersed in water and then added to its materials.

One of the Seven Great Wonders of the World is being threatened by mining. Reuters reports that legal and illegal mines operating below the Great Wall of China are tearing chunks of the wall away and allowing the historic landmark to crumble: About 200 km (124 miles) southwest of Beijing, in rural Laiyuan county in Hebei province, dozens of small mines are threatening the stability of the centuries-old wall as prospectors dig for copper, iron, molybdenum and nickel, state news agency Xinhua reported. Some mines have excavated within 100 meters of the wall.