Rio Tinto (ASX:RIO) continues the recent spate of mining sector retrenchments with job cuts at its Clermont thermal coal mine in Australia's north-east.
Takeovers and mergers in the global mining sector has slowed radically this year as a result of lower commodity prices, but Canadian companies continue leading worldwide mergers and acquisitions.
Alpha Natural Resources has announced the closure of eight coal mines in Virginia and Pennsylvania as well as the reduction of its workforce by 1,200 heads.