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According to Reuters, the index was 0.3 per cent lower at 09:19 BST, dropping to 4,932.97 points.
Lonmin was 2.6 per cent lower, while there were declines of between 2.5 per cent and 3.5 per cent for Eurasian Natural Resources, Randgold Resources, Xstrata and Rio Tinto.
There were also falls among banks during what market strategist Joshua Raymond described as a "quiet" morning session.
Lloyds Banking Group, Standard Chartered Barclays and HSBC were all lower.
However, news that the oil price has settled around $71 (£43) per barrel helped boost energy stocks, with Cairn Energy, BP and BG Group rising during morning trading.
Mr Raymond added that the fact that copper prices have retreated has prompted investors to "cash in some healthy profits" that were made during the 12 per cent rally in the sector last week.
