Chile’s Codelco says Chuqui copper mine fully operational following strike

The world’s richest mining entrepreneur and wealthiest man in Brazil, Eike Batista, is now also the largest holder of mineral rights in the South American iron ore-rich area of Mato Grosso do Sul, with 9,362.98 hectares under his control.

Brazil's lower house mining and energy commission has rejected 10% export tax on all iron ore exported by local miners, but Standard & Poor warns permitting and infrastructure issues are threatening the country’ iron ore expansions.

London-based Anglo American (LSE:AAL) and Chile's state-owned Codelco have set this Friday as the deadline to resolve a dispute over billions of dollars in copper assets.

Baja says it "intends to defend this action vigorously."

Canadian Yamana Gold Inc. (TSX:YRI) (NYSE:AUY)(LSE:YAU) announced a $400 million acquisition Monday of Argentina-focused junior miner Extorre Gold Mines (AMEX:XG) (TSX:XG), which has an appealing gold-silver project in the South American country, while also saying it plans to boost its dividend by 18%.

"Natural resources companies with a pipeline of, say, five projects in five different countries are now likely to build just two or three of those. Thus, executives have the power to cherry pick which combination of country and project offers the best returns."

Mike Niehuser, founder of Beacon Rock Research, discusses the cloud of uncertainty hanging over Argentina in an interview with The Gold Report.

It is believed that the violence resulted from Glencore workers trying to forcefully take back control from a rival Bolivian state-based company.

"It's very difficult to foresee what's going to happen to copper prices, but the market remains strong and should stay that way," Sartain said at a press conference in Chile.