- Former Xstrata boss Mick Davis' X2 Resources is out of the race for a stake of up to 50% of Barrick Gold's (ABX) Zaldivar copper mine in Chile after it was outbid in the first round of the sale process, Reuters reports.
- Chilean copper miner Antofagasta (OTC:ANFGF) is said to be interested in Zaldivar, but it is not clear if it would be a second round bidder; others in the running likely include Glencore (OTCPK:GLCNF, OTCPK:GLNCY); Teck Resources (TCK), possibly backed by a Chinese partner; HudBay Minerals (NYSE:HBM), also with a partner; and an unnamed Chinese miner,
- Analysts have put a price tag of ~$1B on a 50% stake in the mine, which ABX put up for sale in April as it strives to cut $3B off its debt pile by year's end.