First large-scale mine a test for Latin America’s copper rookie

Shares of Chilean miner Antofagasta PLC (LON:ANTO) were down 3.1% this morning after the company disappointed market hopes for a whopping special dividend and announced instead a cut on dividends and an increased spending on growth projects.

Goldcorp. Inc. (TSX:G) says development will continue as planned on the $3.9-billion El Morro copper and gold project unless Chile's supreme court upholds a decision that rescinds its environmental permit.

Great Panther is pleased to report revenues for the year ended December 31, 2011 of $57.8 million, representing a 37% increase over 2010. The Company's gross profit or earnings from mining operations increased by 64% to $26.9 million for 2011, and net earnings increased 8% to $11.5 million. The Company also increased working capital to $53.8 million at December 31, 2011, from $18.8 million at the end of the prior year.

Mining companies in Peru invested US$7.2 billion in 2011, 77% more than in 2010, Mines and Energy Ministry (MEM) reports.

Chile newspaper La Tercera is reporting that an appeals court has suspended environmental authorization for Goldcorp's El Morro project over objections by local communities. Construction of the mine was due to commence in September this year at a cost of $3.9 billion over five years.

Canadian miner Mandalay Resources (TSX: MND, MND.WT) resumed operations at its Cerro Bayo project in Chile today, after protestors removed blockades, allowing supplies in and out of the mine.

Peru's Madre de Dios gold-rich region is losing US$560,000 a day as a result of informal miners' protests happening in the area since Monday, said the country’s president of the regional chamber of commerce, Roman Meza.

Mexico’s exploration expenditures are the highest in Latin America, reaching a record high of almost US$1 billion in 2011, says the latest report released by the Metals Economics Group’s (MEG), a think tank based in Halifax, Canada.

Hudbay Minerals (TSE:HBM) rang in the fourth quarter with a $34.3 million profit or 21 cents per share, compared to $7.9 million or seven cents a share at the end of 2010.