Mining private equity is being fundamentally transformed

Motley Fool puts Saskatchewan’s Potash Corp. through the Warren Buffet test this week. Ilian Moscovitz of the investment site rates the world’s biggest fertilizer manufacturer in terms of the criteria – consistent earnings, good management and a simple business among others -- laid out by the legendary investor in Berkshire Hathaway's most recent annual results filing. There is renewed interest from investors in Potash Corp., which operates six mines in the Canadian province, on the back of rising global food prices, record earnings at the company, and after BHP Billiton’s nearly $40bn hostile takeover bid was scuppered by the federal government in November last year.

Encanto Potash Corp said it is on track to meet its target of doubling resources at its flagship Saskatchewan project after a First Nation council transfers mineral rights to Canada, sending the company's shares up 18 percent in afternoon trade. Encanto, which explores and develops potash properties, expects further drilling at its Muskowekwan property to commence after a referendum by First Nation on transferring the mineral rights on the reserved land to Canada.

Allana Potash Corp. (TSX VENTURE:AAA) (“Allana” or the “Company”) is pleased to announce that drill hole DK-11-17 intersected significant potash mineralization of […]

Though the hurdles of government approval and project financing remain, Orocobre (ASX: ORE; TSX: ORL) released a strongly positive feasibility study of […]

Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan Inc. (PotashCorp) today reported record first-quarter earnings of $0.84 per share1 ($732 million), 71 percent above the $0.49 per share ($444 million) earned in the same period last year. Strong demand and improved prices for all three nutrients resulted in record first-quarter gross margin of $1.1 billion, significantly above the $729 million earned in last year’s first quarter. Earnings before finance costs, income taxes and depreciation and amortization (EBITDA)2 of $1.1 billion and cash flow prior to working capital changes2 of $899 million substantially exceeded the first-quarter 2010 totals of $776 million and $633 million, respectively.

Ringbolt Ventures Ltd. (the "Company" or "Ringbolt") (TSX VENTURE:RBV)(OCTBB:RNGTF)(FRANKFURT:3OZ) is pleased to announce that it has received a permit to carry out an initial drilling program. The State of Utah, Department of Natural Resources, Division of Oil, Gas, and Mining has approved a "Notice of Intent of Conduct Exploration" for drilling. The planned exploration will primarily consist of drilling to a depth of approximately 5,000 feet to test the potash and salt horizons on one of its state leases.

Sherritt's Q1 earnings rose 116% over the same quarter a year ago. The company reported net earnings on Thursday of $63.6 million or 22 cents a share. A year ago, the company reported only $29.4 million in net earnings or 10 cents a share. The company's sales volumes were up slightly. Sherritt's sales volumes of nickel, reported in thounsands of pounds, was 9,438 in 2011 and 9,392 in 2010, less than a one per cent increase.

Allana Potash Corp. (TSX VENTURE:AAA) ("Allana" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that drill hole DK-11-16 intersected significant potash mineralization of 29.80% KCl over 4.00 metres starting at a depth of 125.20 metres. Hole 16 intersected two strong zones of potash mineralization which are interpreted to correlate with the Sylvinite Zone and Kainitite Zone in a previously unexplored part of the basin. The Sylvinite Zone returned 6.50 metres of sylvinite which graded 24.79 % KCl and includes a 4.00 metre interval that returned 29.80% KCl. Further down the hole, 5.00 metres of kainitite was intersected which returned 20.29% KCl.

Allana Potash Corp. (TSX VENTURE:AAA) ("Allana" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that drill hole DK-11-13 intersected significant potash mineralization including one metre of 47.81% KCl. Hole DK-11-13 intersected two robust potash zones which appear to correlate with the Sylvinite Zone and Kainitite Zone. The Sylvinite Zone returned 2.8 metres of sylvinite which graded 45.86 % KCl and includes a one metre interval that returned 47.81% KCl. Further down the hole, 8.7 metres of kainitite was intersected which returned 22.91% KCl.