The UN's International Seabed Authority (ISA) is working on global rules covering sea bed mining, which is not allowed until the regulations are finalised.

This follows a deal last month in which Sibanye agreed to buy half of ioneer's Nevada lithium mine project.

It shipped 45.6 mt of iron ore in the quarter, compared with 44.3 mt a year earlier.

Newcrest Mining on Thursday posted a 21.2% fall in first-quarter gold production as output declined at its flagship Cadia mine and the Lihir operations in Papua New Guinea due to maintenance activity

J Capital alleges Vulcan's management team low-balled the costs, thus making the project look profitable, and overstated the quality of the resource.

Forrest, whose Fortescue Metals Group aims to become carbon-neutral by 2030, has been travelling the world to promote green hydrogen.