US steel and aluminum tariffs a ‘black day for the world’ — BHP

Rio Tinto has committed a further US$3.4 billion (Rio Tinto share $2.9 billion) to the major expansion of its Pilbara iron ore operations in Western Australia.

BHP Billiton raked in US$18.7 billion in the half-year ended December 31, 2011 — an 8.3% increase in Underlying EBITDA from the second half of 2010.

Downer EDI Limited (Downer) today announced it has been awarded a six year magnetite mining contract with Karara Mining Limited (KML) for the provision of services at the Karara Iron Ore Project in Western Australia.

The Haig Inlet Iron Ore Project contains 230 million tonnes of iron ore at 35.17% iron, a new resource estimate shows.

Anglo Pacific Group (TSX: APY) (LSE:APF) has agreed today to a proposal with Red Rock Resources Plc to acquire 50% of the Mount Ida 1.5% Gross Revenue Iron Ore Royalty (GRR) currently held by Red Rock Resources.

South Africa's ruling party, the African National Congress, appears to be moving away from nationalization of the mining industry to reassure foreign investors but is considering new taxes and "targeted interventions" in the sector, particularly platinum mines.

The Telegraph reports Chairman John Bond and CEO Mick Davis risk being voted off the board of Xstrata after being accused of negotiating "a cosy stitch-up" with Glencore and that other major shareholders have threatened to block the deal altogether if the Swiss commodities giant does not offer a "substantial premium."

The $80 billion proposed merger of commodities trader Glencore and Swiss-based miner Xstrata could lead to a fresh round of acquisitions in iron ore, Reuters is reporting today.

Glencore International is in talks with Xstrata to merge in a deal that would create a $80 billion rival to BHP Billiton, Vale, Rio Tinto and China's Shenhua. Here's a wrap-up of what people are saying about the birth of the globe's first vertically integrated resource giant.