Ursa Major Minerals Inc. has started mining operations at its nickel and copper mine near Sudbury, Canada after a strike was avoided at Xstrata PLC’s nickel operation in the region and due to improved metal prices. Nickel prices on the London Metal Exchange have doubled since the low at the end of 2008 when many nickel miners deferred the start of operations or closed down mines. Ursa has an agreement with Xstrata to ship ore from its Shakespeare mine to Xstrata’s Sudbury plant and said it plans to ship 200,000tns of ore to Xstrata this year, starting in February 2010. Based on previous ore grades and metallurgical results it is expected that the 200,000tns of ore should produce contained metals in concentrate of about 1.1 million pounds of nickel, 1.7 million pounds of copper, 55,700 pounds of cobalt and 3,100 troy ounces of precious metals.