Hunan antimony mine suspended after fatal accident

Production has been suspended at an antimony mine in China's Hunan province in the wake of an accident in which at least eight people were killed and more than 20 were injured, according to reports from the region.
The Hunan government has ordered mining operations to halt after the fatal accident at a mine in Lengshui Jiang - located close to China's largest antimony producer, Hsikwangshan Twinkling Star Co - late on Monday evening.
"It's in an area where there are plenty of small mines," said a trader in Asia. "This will attract the attention of local government... Recently, there has been a series of coal mine accidents that has put mining at the top of the [political] agenda."
The cause of the accident is unknown. The mine produces around 1,000 tpm of antimony concentrates.
"I think this will have a big effect on the antimony price... with this news, people will stop wanting to sell. People's attitudes will change," the trader said. "The Chinese will be reluctant to let go of metal."

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