Without China global mining would be smaller than in 2000

No U.S. president has waxed as poetically about mining the moon the way John F. Kennedy did about landing on it. But that didn't stop four entrepreneurs from making their best pitches Sept. 11 to two empty chairs.

Mametlwe Sebei, one of the main leaders of South Africa's striking platinum miners, urged workers to go on a national strike that he said would "bring mining companies to their knees.”

Hundreds of striking miners forced Anglo American Platinum, the world's largest producer, to halt operations at its four mines on Wednesday, as labour unrest spread in South Africa's biggest industry.

The body of a man slashed to death was found Tuesday at Lonmin’s (LON:JSE) Marikana platinum mine in South Africa's North West province, where a protracted wildcat strike has cost the life to 44 people.

South African police are braced for possible violence ahead of Monday's back-to-work deadline for striking workers at Lonmin's flagship platinum mine, where 44 people died in labour strife last month, most of them at the hands of police.

Platinum miner Lonmin's (LON:JSE) has signed an agreement to end a nearly four-week platinum-mine strike and return to Marikana mine by Monday, but key parties didn't participate, undermining the government-backed attempt put an end to a violent labour dispute that has left 44 people dead.

The South African economy has struggled over the past few weeks as reports of unrest in the country’s mines drove down the equities of most local miners.

Taiwanese news animators, Next Media Animation, produced a video showing the unfolding platinum troubles in South Africa.

South African prosecutors have temporarily withdrawn murder charges against the 270 miners accused Thursday of killing 34 striking colleagues shot dead by police at the platinum miner Lonmin's (LON:JSE) Marikana mine, but warned they could be recharged when inquiries were complete.