Rio Tinto declares force majeur at Bingham Canyon copper mine due to landslide

Rio Tinto yesterday reported that the landslide in the Bingham Canyon copper mine moved more than 165 million tons of materials.   They warned that "Early estimates are 2013 production of mined and refined copper will be roughly 50 percent lower than planned."

The announcement also said "As a consequence of the slide, Kennecott Utah Copper also invoked 'force majeure' with those companies that we supply copper cathodes and sulphuric acid. In simple terms, this means we are notifying customers that because we are not operating at full capacity we anticipate being able to provide copper products in the short term, but timing of future shipment is yet to be determined."

Kennecott has posted a fact sheet on the mine and landslide at  http://kennecott.com/sites/kennecott.com/files/newsroom/pdf/slide_fact_sheet_fnl4_15_13_315pm.pdf

They have an extensive photo set posted on Flickr at http://www.flickr.com/photos/riotinto-kennecottutahcopper and at http://www.flickr.com/photos/riotinto-kennecottutahcopper/sets/72157633216160914/