SLIDESHOW: Mining on the mend – 2016 year in review

And why it's great for stocks.

Haywood Securities mining analyst, Kerry Smith, says the Vancouver-based miner already has "a lot on its plate."

US Mint figures indicates sales of silver eagles as in excess of 5,000 ounces as of January 15

Peru's indigenous communities will now have their say in each and every mining project potentially affecting them.

After only five months of kicking-off operations at the Dominican Republic’s Pueblo Viejo gold deposit, one of the largest in the world, Barrick and Goldcorp said the mine has achieved commercial production.

"The impact of the draft law on the minerals industry will be to halt current minerals exploration and development in Mongolia and greatly discourage any future investment."

Citizens’ groups, backed by the radical leftist party Syriza that is now the second largest group in parliament, have been trying to wreck the project since 2011, when Eldorado was granted its exploration licence.

First Quantum said Inmet is trying to sabotage the takeover, while Inmet suggested its counterpart’s complaints were dishonest.

The watchdog, known as OEFA, said the fines to mining firms accounted for 67% of the total collected.