Nonferrous

• A380.1 aluminum pushes upward as Nasaac price hits all-time high Nov 30, 2005

  U.S. prices for A380.1 aluminum alloy have strengthened in tandem with gains by the North American special aluminum alloy contract (Nasaac) on the London Metal Exchange.

• DNSC offers zinc, awards tungsten Nov 30, 2005

  The Defense National Stockpile Center (DNSC), a unit of the U.S. Defense Logistics Agency, is offering 20.6 million pounds of zinc. Bids are due by Dec. 9.

• Indium consumers try for lower contract prices Nov 30, 2005

  Indium consumers are attempting to lock in low prices on long-term deals as softer market conditions allow them to negotiate more favorable terms, according to trade sources.

• Alcan set to shut aluminum cast plate facility in California Jan. 21 Nov 29, 2005

  Alcan Inc. will close its Vernon, Calif., aluminum cast plate facility Jan. 21, 2006, the Montreal-based company said Tuesday.

• Falconbridge stands by Koniambo deadline Nov 29, 2005

  Falconbridge Ltd. said Tuesday that it has every intention of meeting the Dec. 31 deadline to commit to the proposed 60,000-tonne-a-year Koniambo ferronickel project in New Caledonia.

• Possible Falcondo strike expected to have limited nickel mart impact Nov 29, 2005

  A possible strike at Falconbridge Ltd.'s ferronickel plant in the Dominican Republic would create only a slight tightening of the market as the mills that process the alloy would have to compete for feed, traders said Tuesday.

• Zinifex sees continued shortages, higher costs Nov 29, 2005

  Zinifex Ltd., Melbourne, Australia, expects shortages of lead and zinc concentrate to continue, but the vertically integrated producer should be insulated from the worst effects of the shortfall, company executives said at its annual meeting.

• Freeport predicts lower 4th-qtr. production at Indonesian mine Nov 29, 2005

  Fourth-quarter production of copper and gold at Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc.'s Indonesian mine will fall short of expectations because of lower-than-expected ore grades.

• BHP's Worsley boost gets environmental OK Nov 29, 2005

  Mining giant BHP Billiton has won environmental approval for an Australian $900-million ($668-million) expansion of its joint-venture Worsley alumina refinery in Western Australia.

• Newmont not ruling out Placer Dome bid Nov 28, 2005

  Newmont Mining Corp., Denver, is considering making an offer for Placer Dome Inc. after the Vancouver, British Columbia,-based company rejected a $9.2-billion takeover bid from Barrick Gold Corp., Toronto.

• Cobalt cathode offerings idled as DNSC awaits military's 'go' Nov 28, 2005

  The U.S. Defense National Stockpile Center (DNSC) is awaiting word from the military on whether it can release nearly 3.3 million pounds of high-purity cobalt cathode into the market.

• Umicore, Arcelor trimming stakes in Traxys Nov 28, 2005

  Umicore SA, Brussels, and Arcelor SA, Luxembourg, have agreed to sell 80 percent of their stakes in joint-venture trading company Traxys SA to a group led by Traxys' management for an undisclosed sum.

• New Orleans zinc warrants added Nov 28, 2005

  The London Metal Exchange has approved 847 more zinc warrants in New Orleans for delivery against exchange contracts. The warrants are for metal stored at Metro International's warehouse at 600 Market Street.

• 'Panic' selling out of China sends indium prices spiraling downward Nov 28, 2005

  Indium prices continue to soften as Chinese sellers unload material on the spot market because of concerns that prices could weaken further.

• Cuts loom for chrome producers Samancor Nov 28, 2005

  South African charge chrome producers will be forced to trim production if prices fall further, leading producer Samancor Chrome said.

• With China's blessing, Shanghai Sigma should ride high in recycling Nov 23, 2005

  China's metals recycling industry has backing from Beijing, and Shanghai Sigma Metals Inc. seems set to benefit.

• Rusal, Sual plan to invest $870M in Komi Aluminium project in '06 Nov 23, 2005

  Russian aluminum producers OAO Rusal and Sual Holding plan to invest $870 million by the end of 2006 to develop the Komi Aluminium project.

• 1,400T of lead up for bid from DNSC Nov 22, 2005

  The U.S. Defense National Stockpile Center (DNSC), an arm of the Defense Logistics Agency, is soliciting bids for lead under its basic ordering agreement format.

• Construction of electrowinning plant at Lisbon Valley is delayed Nov 22, 2005

  Construction at Constellation Copper Corp.'s Lisbon Valley copper mine in San Juan County, Utah, has been delayed.

• Lead buoyant despite dip as shortage lingers Nov 22, 2005

  Lead remained buoyant as cash prices held above the $1,000-a-tonne mark on the London Metal Exchange Tuesday, driven primarily by overall robust demand, a tightening in market forecasts and ongoing warehouse drawdowns.

• Alcan, Alcoa World Alumina sign 1.5M-tonne Guinea refinery deal Nov 22, 2005

  Alcan Inc. and Alcoa World Alumina LLC have signed a basic agreement with the government of the Republic of Guinea for the development of a 1.5-million-tonne-per-year alumina refinery in the West African country.

• Inco deal gets a deeper look Nov 22, 2005

  The U.S. Justice Department has asked Inco Ltd. and Falconbridge Ltd. for additional information on Inco's pending acquisition of Falconbridge.

• First Nickel calls find 'potentially significant' Nov 21, 2005

  Canadian miner First Nickel Inc. said Monday that it has discovered a "potentially significant" nickel-sulfide mineralization in a greenfield area of its Morgan-Lumsden property in Ontario.

• Inco to appeal decision permitting class-action lawsuit on pollution Nov 21, 2005

  Inco Ltd., Toronto, plans to appeal an Ontario Court of Appeal ruling to certify a class-action suit against the company.