Globally, exploratory drilling fell by almost 20 percent in 2015 and fell even further in 2016. Russia's exploration activities, suffered a double blow during this period.
A UK listed junior exploration company is hoping to switch Chad’s historic focus from black gold to the more traditional metallic variety with ‘potentially nation-building’ projects.
Experts expect the country, which accounts for more 30% of the world's copper supply, to produce 5.4 million tonnes of the metal in 2017, slightly down from the 5.5mnt it yielded last year.
The miner said it won't meet its coal export commitments due to the damage caused by cyclone Debbie, which struck Australia’s north-east coast last week.
The stock shot up 13% in London Wednesday after Firestone announced it had unearthed an 110-carat yellow diamond, it’s biggest find so far at its Liqhobong mine.