Cochilco said demand for lithium had been muted because of the pandemic, expected at around 75,000 tonnes, but would surge to 1.4 million tonnes by 2030.

Assay results include a 2.3-kg outcrop sample grading 51.1 g/t gold and 165 g/t silver.

The latest study suggests a 23-year open pit operation, with a staged development for the British Columbia asset.

EPI, which measures the relative change in precious and base metals prices, weighted by the percentage of overall exploration spending for each metal as a proxy of its relative importance to the industry, was at 135.9, weighting to gold and the positive gold price performance in the quarter, S&P reports.

Bernard Wessels replaces Jim Cooper as general manager of the Peñasquito mine.

The option agreement would nearly double the company's tenement footprint in the Iron Quadrangle region.

The investment firm has boosted its position in the Stibnite project owner by more than 40%.

Union said the company had agreed a wage increase of 8% for the lowest-paid workers and 6.5% for the highest-paid, but the two parties had disagreed over sick leave.