Mining must “court” US judiciary as NGOs file more lawsuits

Novinite reported that on Saturday, miners at Bulgaria's state owned Maritsa Iztok Mines launched a symbolic protest, warning that effective strike was in store, after talks failed Friday.

The Australian reports the Queensland government is going after speculative prospecting by what the state treasurer termed two-dollar shell mining companies, slapping the industry with $375 million in additional fees. Under the radical new rules competitive cash-bidding auctions for mining exploration permits will replace the flat $1,030 application fee in force currently.

Patriot Coal was beaten down more than 12% on Friday after announcing it will cut production of coking coal due to weakening global demand.

AFP reports about 500 protesters blocked a coal train line in Mozambique in a dispute with Vale over housing.

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.

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.

Later this month Coal India Ltd (CIL), the world's biggest coal producer, will sign an agreement with the Limpopo government in terms of which it will receive mining rights on various coal blocks in that province.

Given that the earth's temperature is rising, sciencetists are investigating if gases trapped in the permafrost are going to be released and what effect it will this have on the climate.