Copper company Aditya Birla Minerals has suspended development work at a project within its Mt Gordon operations, in North-West Queensland, due to a downturn in copper prices.

In an announcement, the company said it planned to put its Ezperanza South project on care and maintenance, pending an upturn in the market.

All other work on the Mt Gordon operations was continuing as normal, it said.

Aditya Birla shares were down 4 cents, or 22.9 per cent, to 13.5 cents at close of trade today.