Carl Icahn moves two directors onto Freeport McMoran’s board

Oilsands Quest Inc. (NYSE Amex: BQI) ("Oilsands Quest," "OQI" or "the Company") has requested and obtained approval from the Alberta Court of Queen's Bench (the "Court") to conduct a process to solicit offers to acquire, restructure or recapitalize the Company (the "Solicitation Process"). The Company is also pursuing Debtor-in-Possession financing to provide liquidity as it conducts the Solicitation Process.

US Labor Department figures released on Wednesday show the country's mining sector added more jobs in 2011 than at any other period since the early 1980s.

The richest woman in the world, Gina Rinehart, on Tuesday handed her daughter Ginia (sic) directorships of three companies, including Hancock Prospecting which controls her $10 billion empire. Ginia who is 25 years old is the only one of Rinehart's four children who are not currently suing her in court in a bitter dispute over control of the family fortune.

Hedge fund genius John Paulson had the worst year of his career in 2011. The FT wonders if he will start dumping gold onto the market in a dash for cash.

Hard Assets Investor reports precious metals ETFs enjoyed solid $5.9 billion inflows last year that brought total assets in the sector to just under $98.5 billion; a figure that represents just under two-thirds of all exchange-traded products including energy and agriculture.

Rural communities in Australia’s mineral-rich states are unhappy about the many working girls following highly-paid miners into their small towns and motel and hotel owners are kicking out prostitutes using their rooms to ply their trade.

AP reports that the Obama administration is ignoring intense lobbying from the mining industry and political opponents on the right and will formally ban new uranium mining on 1 million acres around the Grand Canyon on Monday. Miners who registered thousands of claims during the final Bush years remain free to push ahead with new projects.

Teck Resources Ltd. (TSX:TCK.A) announced today that it will acquire its oilsands partner SilverBirch Energy Corp. (TSXV:SBE) for over C$435 million.

The Obama Administration is expected to announce Monday a moratorium on uranium mining on a million acres near the Grand Canyon, The New York Times is reporting.