A share of the central bank's reserves have been in dispute in London courts.

Largest drill program since 2007 in the FDN district in southeast Ecuador has confirmed the continuity and expansion potential of recent discoveries Bonza Sur and FDNS.

The world's largest steelmaker hopes to keep a stable iron ore supply with a reasonable price.

Newmont has become its largest controlling shareholder following a $1.8m investment.

Its chairman said the $3.5 billion to $4 billion a year Codelco is spending will ensure production over the next five decades.

Jaguar's principal operating assets are currently all located within the Iron Quadrangle, a prolific greenstone belt in Minas Gerais.