Zacks.com reports that stocks in mining companies fell after the Prime Minister of Australia said the government will require the nation’s 500 largest polluters to pay a carbon tax.

The market news is quoted as saying,

Austrilian mining company, Rio Tinto (NYSE:RIO) said the tax-due is to take effect in mid-2012-will curtail investment and job creation. In early trading, Rio Tinto dropped 2.553% to $70.88 while BHP Billiton (NYSE:BHP) is also down 2.5% to $93.41, and Anglo American (PINK:AAUKU) slid 3.26% to 24.30

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