Metal prices, financing, exploration and assays are all up

Vancouver's First Point Minerals served notice of arbitration on Cliffs on Saturday because the iron and coal giant refuses to hand over crucial information about the tiny explorer's Decar project, set to become the world's first commercial nickel-iron alloy mine, effectively naturally-occurring 'stainless steel'. BlackRock, an asset manager with more than $3 trillion in assets picked up a stake in First Point two months ago.

Brazilian mining giant Vale (NYSE:VALE) announced the country's Superior Court of Justice ruled in favour of the federal tax authority in its appeal against an injunction granted in March suspending payment of taxes on overseas profits by the company.

Brazilian investment in mining is about to shatter a five-year record.

BHP Billiton addressed shareholder concerns about its ambitious investment plans in four mega-projects on Wednesday saying it will match capital expenditures closely with cash flows and stagger the project pipeline.

There is no such thing as an average miner.  There is no such thing as an average salary.  Yet we can get some idea of how well mining people are paid by looking at the average salaries for 2011 on US metal mines recently published CostMine.

Cool.

China's push to diversify its supplies away from the big three iron ore miners is propelling development that will transform Canada's Nunavut/Labrador Trough into a world-class iron ore region.

Clive Palmer, who made his fortune through securing access to 160 billion tonnes of iron ore reserves in the Pilbara Ranges, plans to rebuild the Titanic and contest the seat held by Wayne Swan, the Deputy Prime Minister of Australia.

NRI business tycoon Lakshmi N Mittal on Sunday said India's economy will continue to grow despite politics over policy paralysis.