Copper

Reuters reports copper hit a one-month low on Wednesday, pressured by worries about the outlook for demand after factory growth in top consumer China slowed in November, a poor bond sale in Germany intensified concerns about the euro zone debt crisis and US efforts to tackle its budget continued to flounder. Three-month contracts for the red metal fell to a one-month low at $7,168 a tonne in intra-day trade in London and extended its losses in New York where it was trading at $3.27 a pound by early afternoon, its lowest level since October 25 and down 30% from its 2011 high of $4.61 set in February. Copper used in the power, telecoms and construction sectors is often seen as a barometer for economic growth, but a new research report suggests "Dr. Copper is Dead" and that the red metal, along with oil, have actually been lagging other economic indicators. In short: things may well be even worse than the fall in the copper price suggests.

Imperial Metals (TSE:III) is extending its Huckleberry mine in northern British Columbia by 7 years. The company said it plans to extend the Main zone pit and build a new tailings storage facility, which will keep the mine running until 2021, 7 years later than the previous plan to close the mine in 2014. The pit is estimated to contain 39.7 million tonnes of ore grading 0.343% copper, with an overall strip ration of 1.46 to 1. Since startup in 1997, the mine has produced an aggregate 870 million pounds of copper, 8 million pounds of molybdenum, and 105,000 ounces of gold and 3.4 million ounces of silver.

Boardroom chairs are being shifted at two large diversified mining companies, Vancouver-based Teck Resources and Brazilian powerhouse Vale SA, the world's second largest miner. Teck announced yesterday that Marcia Smith, Vice President, Corporate Affairs, will replace Doug Horswell as Senior Vice President, Sustainability and External Affairs. Horswell, staging into retirement, will work half-time in the company's Zinc and Health program. Meanwhile, Vale announced that coming this Thursday, CEO Murilo Ferreira will submit to the Board of Directors a proposal for a new structure of the company's Executive Board. Among the changes, the most high-profile is the replacement of CFO Guilherme Cavalcanti with Tito Martins, who currently runs Vale’s base metals division.

TSX Venture-listed GobiMin's financial and operating results for the third quarter of 2011 showed the diversified explorer made a handsome profit on the sale of a stake in a Chinese coal project. GobiMin disposed of a 24.49% indirect equity interest in Balikun Coal Project for a total consideration of $30.35 million, recording a gain of $8.21 million. The unaudited interim financial statements also showed the company ended the quarter with $63 million in cash. GobiMin also announced its Sawayaerdun Gold Project has completed drilling works of about 30,100 meters with 84 drill holes and continues for further drilling aiming to maximize the project potential and that it has extended the deadline for obtaining the mining license of Yanxi Copper Deposit to January 31, 2012.

Chilean Government urged state-owned copper producer Codelco and Anglo American Plc (AAL) to seek an out-of court resolution to a contractual dispute over the sale of a stake in Anglo’s mine and smelting assets in the country. Codelco's Chief Executive Officer Diego Hernandez sai today in a public event that while the company is prepared to negotiate with Anglo, the starting point of any discussions would be to recognize Codelco’s right to the full 49 percent stake.

Australia’s plan to impose a 30 percent tax on its booming iron ore and coal sectors cleared its biggest political hurdle on […]

A new study is casting doubt on the viability of undersea mining, despite recent success by Vancouver-based Nautilus Minerals (TSE:NUS) in obtaining the first-ever permit to mine the seafloor off the coast of Papua New Guinea. The Canadian-led study, published in the journal Geology, states that "the possibility of mining sea floor [deposits] has stirred debate about the sustainable use of this new resource and whether commercial development is worth the risk.” The Vancouver Sun quotes Mark Hannington, the University of Ottawa's Goldcorp Chair in Economic Geology and lead author of the study, saying that while there may be vast mineral deposits under the ocean, they cannot hope to meet the world demand for metals:

Reuters reports copper hit its lowest in nearly a month on Monday as investors, already mired in worries over Europe's debt, digested news that US plans to combat debt are in disarray and took in warnings from China about gloomy global growth prospects. While US politicians' inability to reach consensus on tackling the country's debt problems was greeted with little surprise and the Europe crisis has been foremost in investors' minds for months, the statements by China's Vice Premier overnight really knocked sentiment. Wang Qishan said that a long-term global recession is certain to happen and China must focus on domestic problems. China is the world's top copper consumer, taking in about 40% of the world's copper versus Europe that accounts for 19% of demand.

The Globe & Mail reports local authorities in the Pakistani province of Balochistan refused to meet Tethyan Copper, a joint venture between Chile’s Antofagasta and Barrick Gold, for talks before rejecting a bid for one of the world's richest deposits of gold and copper at a remote site in the dry hills near the Afghan-Pakistan border, known as Reko Diq. Tethyan Copper said a “summary decision” by the restive province to reject a mining lease application for its Reko Diq project breached local rules and Pakistani law and has now filed a "notice of dispute." The company submitted a feasibility study earlier this year that indicated 22 billion lb of copper and 13 million oz of gold at the site. The Balochistan decision now paves the way for a Chinese consortium to construct a mine and processing facility.