Reuters reports that zinc prices ended May slightly firmer, recovering from an early rout but the prospect of a sizeable supply surplus this year and next will continue to weigh on the market, especially if other metals weaken. Ms Claire Hassall of consultancy CHR Metals said that market watchers were concerned about weakness in the Chinese economy. The general feeling is that demand is not particularly strong in China at the moment using latest car sales figures as an illustration of the source of these worries.

Korea Resources Corporation as says that its Boleo copper project in Mexico with Canada’s Baja Mining Corporation will begin production in 2013, supplying South Korea with about 30% of the mine’s output. The mine on Mexico’s Baja California Peninsula is expected to produce 38,000 tonnes of copper annually for 23 years starting in the H2 of 2013, according to the the Seoul based company which owns 30% of the project along with other Korean partners. Baja Mining holds the remaining 70% of the mine.

The Hindustan Times reports three people were feared killed while seven others were rescued in a major mining accident in Goa's Sanvordem town, officials said on Saturday. The 10 people got trapped under debris when an unstable tailing stack -- a huge heap of aluminium and silica impurities extracted along with iron ore - gave way due to heavy monsoon showers.

Dow Jones Newswires reports Brazil’s steel sector has been shaken up since mining giant Vale SA started building its first steel mill, […]

Mining Weekly reports Zambia is keen to diversify its mining sector and wants more exploration in iron-ore, manganese, coal and uranium, Vice-President George Kunda said on Wednesday. Speaking at a mining conference in Lusaka, Kunda said that the Zambian economy was too dependent on copper. Zambia aims to be the third-largest uranium producer in Africa in the near future, Kunda said, adding that this would depend on exploration and investment.

Prophecy Coal Corp. announced on Tuesday it has entered into an arrangement with the Port of Sovgavan in the State of Khabarovsk, Russia whereby Prophecy will have initial access to port allocation of 25,000 tonnes per month starting in June, potentially expandable to 50,000 tonnes per month. Prophecy's Ulaan Ovoo mine commenced production in 2011 and year to date the mine has produced a total of 200,000 tonnes of coal, currently being stockpiled. In total, over $25 million has been committed or invested in the equipment and commissioning of the mine.

Helio Resource Corp. on Monday reported the first diamond drill results from the current drill programme at the Gold Kop Target, on its 100%-owned Damara Gold Project in Namibia. The Gold Kop Target is situated 45km northeast of AngloGold Ashanti's Navachab gold mine. On Monday, Helio which also owns gold projects in Tanzania was trading up almost 5% on the TSX Venture Exchange on the news. The tightly-held company is worth some $44m with 104m shares outstanding.

Central Europe’s biggest hard coal mining company OKD says it is sticking to a low-risk production portfolio in spite of ‘booming demand’ for coke to make steel. General Manager Klaus-Dieter Beck told a press conference on Monday that two years ago the company could hardly sell its coking coal, largely used for steelmaking. Now, it can barely keep up with demand. OKD last year produced jut over 6 million tonnes of coking coal, or 52% of total production.

Northam CEO Glyn Lewis says that the JSE-listed platinum-group-metals (PGM) producer is taking the step to provide its “growing” US shareholder base with a more visible profile. Recent corporate developments have resulted in improved liquidity in the Northam stock, with the free float increasing to 64%.

Dow Jones reports a recovery in global auto and aerospace demand and continued strength in emerging markets should underpin a sharp rise […]