South African mining output rises for first time in nine months

Three people were injured after police used rubber bullets to quell protests in the same village where a woman was shot and killed yesterday, in the latest bout of violence to mar the project in recent years.

The new law could seek to limit mining companies' ability to replace workers during strikes.

Needless to say, the ETF which mirrors the junior resource markets, hasn’t performed well.

Gold price weakens sharply into holiday season as gold-oil ratio hits highest since February 2009.

Closely followed market commentator Martin Murenbeeld – chief economist at Dundee Capital Markets – feels gold market is "finally turning".

Andrew Kaip, managing director of mining equity research at BMO Capital Markets, says the stark reality is that the precious metals sector is only part way through a down cycle and that structural issues will result in a fresh phase of consolidation

Not so long ago, declining commodity prices and the outbreak of an epidemic such as Ebola would have triggered a firesale of interest in Africa.

The massive copper project, owned by Wanbao Mining Ltd, drew international attention in 2012 when police brutally dispersed protesters, injuring more than 100 Buddhist monks.

Vancouver's Turquoise Hill lowers output estimates for Mongolian mine to 600,000oz–700,000oz of gold and 175,000t–195,000t of copper in concentrates.