While it appears a truism to state that commodity prices are set to continue their bull runs in the first half of 2011, a more precise look coming from one of the most interested parties in the game, Rio Tinto, provides additional support and key insight into risks facing prices for iron ore, coal, copper, and aluminum.

FORBES: Watch Out In Iron Ore, Coal, Copper When Easy Money Policies Are Done, Says Rio Tinto

But the company has been facing difficulties in the recent past with lower quality copper ore, resulting in reduced production levels for the company.

FORBES: Metals Still Strong Enough To Lift Freeport To $60

By beaming broadband signals from phone poles into homes, Spitfire solves a major problem facing regional Bells: One third or so of homes have copper wires so degraded by splicing or old age that they cannot handle DSL service.

FORBES: Swords into Dow shares

The declining grade of copper ore, a simultaneous increase in costs and political problems are other major problems facing Freeport.

FORBES: Freeport McMoran's Earnings: China Recovery, Energy Foray In Focus