Changes to Brazil mining law to bring mostly higher taxes, costs — experts

Small B.C.-based junior Serengeti Resources (TSX-V: SIR) signed on a sizeable partner to explore territory thick in prospective copper-gold porphyries. Mining giant Freeport McMoRan Copper & Gold (NYSE: FCX) inked an exploration agreement with Serengeti Resources that could see a 51-49-percent joint venture in Freeport's favour formed on Serengeti's Choo and Tchentlo properties, not far from Thompson Creek Metals' Mt. Milligan copper-gold project.

Five drillholes plugged some wide gaps for Richfield Ventures (TSX-V: RVC) at its Blackwater deposit, showing impressive continuity of deep gold mineralization at its flagship project 100-kilometers south of Vanderhoof, B.C. New Gold (TSX: NGD) will likely be pleased, as in early April it announced an all share takeover of Richfield worth C$550 million and plans on bringing Blackwater into production if the takeover succeeds. Ongoing drilling is part of an aggressive campaign to flesh out and expand Richfield's growing resources.

Northern Tiger Resources Inc. (NTR: TSX-V) is pleased to announce a $7.2 million exploration program, including 12,500 metres of diamond drilling, is planned for its Yukon properties in 2011. The exploration programs are designed to follow up high-grade gold drill discoveries made in 2010 at both the 3Ace and Sonora Gulch projects. Drilling is expected to begin in late May at the company’s 3Ace and Sprogge projects in the southeast Yukon (10,000 metres planned) and in early August at Sonora Gulch in the central Yukon (2,500 metres planned). Click on the full press release for more details.

Detour Gold Corporation (TSX:DGC) (“Detour Gold” or the “Company”) is pleased to announce the closing of the previously announced agreement with Caterpillar […]

The Pebble Partnership has approved US$91 million of program expenditures this year with the objective of completing a prefeasibility study next year, which will lead to the beginning of permitting for the massive Alaskan copper, gold and molybdenum project under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). Activities to be undertaken this year at the Pebble Project include engineering to complete a pre-feasibility project design in 2011, as well as environmental studies to finalize an Environmental Baseline Document in preparation for project permitting.

Canada's Primero Mining Corp said the month-long strike at its San Dimas gold-silver mine in Mexico had ended and it did not expect the strike to hurt its full-year production outlook.

Lake Shore Gold (TSX: LSG) grew two new resources at its Bell Creek project in Canada near Timmins, Ontario, as it eyes bringing on line a second 100,000-ounce-plus gold mine. "It's fair to say we have found more than we expected at Bell Creek," Mark Utting, Lake Shore vice president of investor relations said. Image by Lakeshore Gold

Centerra Gold Inc. (TSX:CG) today reported net earnings of $136.6 million or $0.58 per share on revenues of $250.2 million compared to earnings of $123.9 million or $0.53 per common share based on revenues of $255.5 million in the same quarter last year. Image by Centerra Gold

Greystar Resources Ltd. (TSX:GSL)(AIM:GSL) is pleased to announce receipt of a positive scoping stage Preliminary Assessment under National Instrument 43-101 ("Scoping Study") for an underground only operation at its 100%-owned Angostura gold-silver project in northeastern Colombia. Image by Greystar Resources Ltd.