Surface miners drive up savings in coal mining

Brewing disputes with First Nations, claims of mercury pollution and increasing challenges for delivering oil to distant markets are only some of the issues oil sands producers will face this year.

But bubbly stock markets could see investors return to the sector as 2013's plunge in commodity prices make metals and minerals look cheap.

While 2013 will go down as the one when gold stop glittering and miners were forced to tighten their belts, our readers favoured a wide range of stories.

The government is sending troops to seize and close a major illegal tungsten mine run by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC)

New mining listings in the Toronto Stock Exchange and its junior counterpart, the TSX-V, continue to dive.

But exports forecasted to rise by at least 10% next year.

The two separate buyers are US-based Westmoreland Coal and a group led by Altius Minerals.

Quality will win out, says Levi Spry, senior resources analyst at GMP Securities Australia.

Canada's United Steelworkers union is asking the British Columbia Supreme Court to revoke the HD's exploration permit, alleging local authorities granted it without addressing safety concerns.