Peter Kettle, manager of statistics and market studies at the International Tin Institute (ITI), had some interesting things to say about tin at the close of the Investing in Tin conference in London. As reported in Robin Bromby's column in The Australian, Kettle remarks that Australia could be the main source of new tin mine production in the next five years.

China Knowledge reports the Middle Kingdom could experience an escalation in the demand for iron ore according to the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology.

Mediterranean Resources Ltd. announces a private placement to raise up to $1,500,850 through the distribution of up to 11,545,000 units at $0.13 per unit.

The Philippines will offer 30 coal exploration projects in the central and northern provinces, where mining is not yet banned that may need total investments of $600 million at a tender to be held in the first quarter of 2012.

Coin Update reports for November 2011, sales of the United States Mint’s most popular gold and silver bullion coins fell to their lowest monthly levels in years after first slowing down in October. Sales of the one ounce American Silver Eagle coins were 1,384,000 for November, down by more than 50% from the previous month and down by nearly two-thirds from a year ago while the American Gold Eagle coin sales totaled 41,000 ounces for November 2011, down from 50,000 ounces in the previous month, and down more than half last year's monthly sales.

Bloomberg reports copper traders are bullish for the first time in six weeks on signs that demand is still expanding as global inventories decline to an 11-month low and central banks cut funding costs to shore up growth. The last time they were bullish overall, in the week ended Oct. 21, prices surged more than 14 percent in the following five days.

Copper advanced the most in more than two weeks in New York after record holiday sales in the U.S., the world’s second-biggest consumer of the metal, fuelled optimism demand will remain steady. Copper also gained as the euro climbed against the dollar after German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble urged fast-track treaty changes to tighten budget discipline.

Members of a Filipino tribe are protesting after the country’s second richest businessman agreed to enter a nickel joint mining venture with a Chinese concern on the island of Palawan. Palawan was in the news recently when the Puerto Princesa subterranean river on the island was chosen as one of the world’s new seven wonders of nature, according to organizers of a global poll conducted via social media. The Philippine government vigorously campaigned for the 8.2 kilometer navigable underground river in a bid to boost tourism. South Korea’s Jeju Island, Indonesia’s Komodo and South Africa’s Table Mountain were also among the list.

Canadian gold royalties company Franco-Nevada aims to raise C$340-million in an equity offering, it said on Tuesday. The TSX- and NYSE-listed firm said it would use the cash for acquisitions, working capital and general corporate purposes.