Vale said in August that it had to temporarily halt operations at the Viga concentration plant of its newly-acquired Ferrous Resources do Brasil due to “inconsistency in the documents.

The world's largest lithium producer is grappling with a fall in prices on near-term oversupply concerns.

Projected silver production totalling 49 million ounces during the first three operating years would make Corani one of the world's largest silver producers.

The venture last month won permission to resume operations at its Germano iron ore mine, four years after a dam burst in the city of Mariana.

Like an earlier Senate probe, the report from the Brazilian lower house suggested the indictment of various Vale executives.

The blockade hit Penasquito's third-quarter production by some 11,000 gold ounces, 1.7 million silver ounces, 13.7 million pounds of lead and 22.8 million pounds of zinc,

The Edmonton-based company is now focusing on the Atajo zone.