Zinc

Anglo American's $5.4 billion sale of its 24% stake in Codelco to Mitsubishi — Japan's largest trading house — is just the beginning of further rounds of competition between Japanese trading houses for the red metal. According to Reuters, Japan's top trading houses are flush with cash and ready to compete for copper assets, which they see as good prospects as demand for the metal rises and supply tightens: The competition is likely to drive up asset prices for potentially lucrative properties holding the base metal, with the trading houses jostling for the prize of becoming the top supplier for the world's fifth biggest copper market and to tap surging demand in China and other emerging markets.

Gregory A. Lang, former President of Barrick Gold of North America, accepted the position of president and chief executive officer of NovaGold Resources (TSE:NG). He starts in January. NovaGold also announced its intention to sell its 50% stake in the Galore Creek project it owns with Teck Resources, and to spin off its Ambler project, in order to focus on the company's flagship Donlin Gold project in Alaska. Markets liked the news, which was announced today. NovaGold Resources shares jumped 27% to $11.42 a share in mid-day trading.

Pro-and anti-mining forces are clashing once again over a proposed copper-gold mine in northern BC. On Monday Taseko Mines, the proponent of the New Prosperity mining project, said it has started legal action against people it alleges have obstructed preparations at the minesite. In response, the Tsilhqot’in Nation filed an injunction against the company "to halt its plans for extensive road-building, drilling, excavation of test pits, and timber clearing in support of its unprecedented and controversial resubmitted bid for approval of its soundly rejected Prosperity Mine project," the Tsilhqot’in, which represents six First Nations, stated in a press release.

TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - Nov. 15, 2011) - Dia Bras Exploration Inc. (TSX VENTURE:DIB) ("Dia Bras" or the "Company") is pleased to report that exploration drilling from the surface at Promontorio mine (Figure 1: http://diabras.com/files/media/a20ec_figure1.pdf) combined with underground channel and bulk samples from drifting in the Promontorio mine continue to identify wide zones of disseminated silver mineralization, confirming the discovery of a new zone with large tonnage potential.

Mining companies in Zambia may have to scale down their operations to cope with higher mining taxes recently imposed by President Michael Sata's new government. Reuters quotes the general manager of the country’s chamber of mines, Frederick Bantubonse:

Crazy Horse Resources Inc. (TSX VENTURE:CZH)(OTCQX:CRZHF) (the "Company") is pleased to announce that its new management has completed a review and scoping study of the Taysan Copper-Gold Porphyry Project in Batangas Province on Luzon Island in the Philippines.

Overall construction at Oyu Tolgoi continues to advance on budget and reached a 54.4% level of completion at the end of Q3'11. Key elements of the project, including the concentrator complex, primary crusher and tailings-thickening ponds, remain ahead of schedule. Total capital invested in the project to the end of Q3'11 was approximately $3.2 billion. Facilities required for first ore production in mid-2012 remain on schedule and commercial production is expected to commence in the first half of 2013.

Chile will draw on all options at its disposal, including suing for damages, to defend the interests of state-owned Codelco in its fight with Anglo American, President Sebastián Piñera told the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum on Saturday. Earlier Codelco's chief Diego Hernandez said in a press interview the looming legal battle with Anglo could take three to four years to be resolved. The state-owned copper giant is putting together a crack team of lawyers and financial advisers from Chile and New York to fight Anglo's attempt to block it from exercising an option to buy half of Anglo's Chilean copper assets for $6 billion. Anglo last week sold 24.5% to Mitsubishi for $5.4 billion.

The Telegraph reports Anglo American CEO Cynthia Carroll took a last-minute flight to Santiago on Thursday to calm tempers over the sale of a 24.5% stake to Mitsubishi Corporation but neither Chile's president Sebastian Pinera, finance minister Felipe Larrain or mining minister Hernan de Solminihac would see her. She is understood to have contacted all three before announcing the $5.39 billion deal that undermines state-owned copper giant Codelco's plan to exercise the 33-year old option to buy half of Anglo's Sur copper complex. The Mitsubishi transaction values Anglo Sur at $22 billion and Anglo's stock is up 4.8% since the deal. Codelco was offering $6 billion for 50% and is now putting together a team of top New York and Chile litigation firms and financial advisor Rothchild.