Global mining titan BHP Billiton on Monday announced the sale of its Pinto Valley mining operation and rail assets in the United States to Capstone Mining Corp for US$650 million, AFP reports.
In a statement to the Australian Securities Exchange, BHP said it had signed a definitive cash agreement with Canadian base metal miner Capstone.
The deal for the open-pit copper mining operation east of Phoenix in the Globe-Miami district of Arizona is subject to regulatory approval and expected to be completed in the second half of 2013.
BHP Billiton president copper Peter Beaven said: "The sale of Pinto Valley ... is consistent with our strategy and it takes the transaction value of divestments announced over the last 12 months to US$5.0 billion."
With profits hit by weak commodity prices and cool Chinese demand, BHP brought in new management, focused on core assets and declared a war on costs.
In February, the company posted a plunge in first-half net profit of 58 percent to US$4.2 billion, hurt by steep falls in commodity prices.
However, BHP affirmed on April 18 full-year guidance for its major products, reporting a "robust" March quarter of output. It said it expected to meet full-year targets with solid performances at iron ore and coal sites.
BHP has 100 percent ownership in both Pinto Valley and the associated San Manuel Arizona Railroad Company which operates a 47-kilometre (30-mile) railway from San Manuel to Hayden, Arizona.
Under the sale, Capstone will assume environmental liabilities at the mine.