Output at mines owned by Codelco, BHP, Anglo American, Rio Tinto and Glencore all went up.

"For one, copper supply is probably less ample than the apparent consumption data indicate."

More than five hundred gold panners have received support from an on-the-ground team to attain socially and environmentally responsible mining practices standards.

It is selling its remaining 20.7 million shares in the Vancouver-based gold miner to the other two major investors — Newcrest and the Lundin Family Trust.