Codelco signals prolonged lower throughput at El Teniente after fatal collapse
Read Our Expert Analysis
Create an account or login for free to unlock our expert analysis and key takeaways for this development.
By continuing, you agree to receive marketing communications and our weekly newsletter. You can opt-out at any time.
Recommended for you

Landslide at Eastern DRC Coltan Pits Kills Over 200, Exposes Supply and Safety Risks
A catastrophic slope collapse at artisanal coltan workings near Rubaya has killed more than 200 people and left many trapped or injured. The disaster, occurring in territory held by the M23 armed group, exposes acute safety failures, humanitarian need, and potential short-term disruption to tantalum supply chains.

Lundin Mining’s Vicuña PEA defines a world‑class Argentina–Chile copper‑gold‑silver district
An integrated Preliminary Economic Assessment positions the Vicuña district as a multi‑decade, high‑margin copper, gold and silver development with a base‑case after‑tax NPV of approximately $9.5 billion and an IRR near 15% at conservative metal prices. The staged plan targets early cash flow from a Stage‑1 sulphide concentrator while preserving scale optionality (peak >500 ktpa copper) and outlines funding, infrastructure and permitting pathways across Argentina and Chile.

Glencore Canada halts near‑billion-dollar upgrades at Horne Smelter amid regulatory impasse
Glencore Canada has suspended planned capital spending and begun demobilization at the Horne Smelter effective February 3, 2026, citing lack of regulatory certainty. The decision pauses about $1 billion in planned investments, including $300 million earmarked for emissions cuts, and raises the prospect of future operational constraints if targets that take effect in 2027 cannot be met.

Copper Giant’s Mocoa Drilling Extends Porphyry Footprint; MD-054 Reveals Stronger Southern Mineralization
Copper Giant concluded its 2025 campaign with two strategic holes that extended the Mocoa porphyry system toward the La Estrella target and returned higher-than-modelled grades at the southern margin. The company’s updated inferred resource now stands at ~1.12 billion tonnes at ~0.51% CuEq, while follow-up infill and permitting work are slated for 2026.
US copper reserves expand sharply, tightening global supply and pushing prices higher
A substantial build-up of refined copper inventories inside the United States has withdrawn volumes that would otherwise flow into international markets, adding to upward price pressure. That domestic accumulation comes as exchange stocks fall and regional physical premiums widen, heightening short-term delivery stress and broader market volatility.
Rio Tinto profit flat as copper gains fail to fully offset weaker iron ore
Rio Tinto reported underlying annual earnings of $10.87 billion, roughly unchanged year-on-year and below the Visible Alpha consensus of $11.03 billion. Strong copper prices and higher copper output helped offset a drop in iron ore contribution, but cost inflation in Pilbara and a share-price decline underline near-term investor pressure.
Metalla posts a standout 2025 as royalty receipts surge and portfolio projects advance
Metalla reported a sharp rise in royalty-derived cash flow for 2025 with attributable gold-equivalent deliveries and top-line receipts well above the prior year. That near-term strength arrives as capital markets rotate toward asset-driven stories and projects that can be rapidly advanced to auditable resources, a backdrop that increases the strategic value of Metalla’s progressing portfolio while leaving execution risk concentrated with third-party operators.
Brownfield Momentum Re-rates the Sector as Golden Goose Adds Large Argentinian Footprint
Capital is rotating toward brownfield and near-term drill-ready assets across precious metals, with Golden Goose’s agreement for a large epithermal package in northern Patagonia providing a clear example. The market is rewarding projects that can validate legacy datasets quickly and be integrated into existing infrastructure, compressing timelines and raising acquisition interest.