Copper

The quest to commercialize one of Latin America’s last undeveloped major gold deposits is one major step closer to a prospectively big pay day for its unlikely owner - a small gold explorer named Exeter Resources. A Canadian-headquartered company, Exeter recently completed a major milestone development. It announced a positive metallurgical study for the sprawling Caspiche gold-copper deposit in northern Chile’s gold-rich Maricunga mineral belt.

Lundin Mining Corporation (TSX:LUN)(OMX:LUMI) today reported net income of $71.2 million ($0.12 per share) for the first quarter of 2011, an increase of $19.3 million from the $51.9 million ($0.09 per share) for the first quarter of 2010. "Production for the quarter was in-line with guidance and our production outlook for the year is unchanged. It should be noted however, that the production has come at a higher cost owing to lower than expected average head-grade at Neves-Corvo and milling difficulties caused by wet weather in January," said Phil Wright, President and CEO. "Caution also needs to be exercised on cost outlook given the on-going weakness of the US dollar."

OZ Minerals has reached an agreement to settle the two class actions brought against it by Maurice Blackburn and Slater & Gordon on behalf of certain shareholders who acquired shares in 2008. The total settlement payment in respect of the class actions is $55.1 million plus costs of $4.9 million with those totals to be allocated between the Maurice Blackburn and the Slater & Gordon classes.

Ausenco has been awarded a contract to manage the C$237 million expansion of the Gilbraltar copper-molybdenum project in Canada for Taseko Mine. Ausenco’s Minerals & Metals business will manage on an EPCM basis the Gibraltar Development Plan 3 (GDP3) expansion, which will include the construction of a 30,000 t/d concentrator to complement the existing, currently operating, 55,000 t/d facility.

Baja Mining Corp. (TSX:BAJ) is pleased to announce the commencement of surface mining activities at its 70% owned Boleo copper-cobalt-zinc project ("Boleo"), located near Santa Rosalia, Baja California Sur, Mexico. Beginning in the week commencing May 2, 2011, the Company's surface mining team completed an initial machine operator training program and commenced mining activities to develop the surface facilities and underground mining portals that are scheduled for operation later this year.

Canada’s First Quantum Minerals (FM.TO:Quote) reported a 37 percent rise in its first-quarter profit, as declines in copper production were more than […]

Thompson Creek Metals Company Inc. announced financial results for the three months ended March 31, 2011, prepared in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles ("US GAAP"). All dollar amounts are in U.S. dollars unless otherwise indicated. Financial Highlights: Revenue for the quarter ended March 31, 2011 was $206.7 million, up 62% from $127.8 million for the first quarter of 2010. Image by Thompson Creek Metals

Teck Resources Limited (TSX: TCK.A and TCK.B, NYSE: TCK) announced today that employees at its Fording River operation in southeastern British Columbia have ratified a new five-year agreement, replacing an agreement which expired on April 30, 2011. "Our discussions with the union were very productive and we are pleased to have reached a new five-year collective agreement at our Fording River operation," said Bill Fleming, Vice President, Operations and Engineering.

In the wake of a $15 million financing, CuOro Resources (TSX-V: CUA) is expanding what was already an ambitious start to its first drill program in Colombia. Since closing its qualifying transaction - options on two groups of Colombian minerals concessions - and joining active trading on the TSX-Venture board, CuOro has quickly raised cash, first through a $10 million financing announced in February, then through the latest $15 million financing, which brought its working capital to $30 million.