‘Significant milestone’ for new gold mine in Scottish highlands

Speaking in Arequipa at Peru's premier mining conference industry executives said on Friday a drive by Peru's leftist president to raise mining royalties should not derail multibillion-dollar investments, but added that the viability of smaller, less efficient operations will be affected. Peru's Buenaventura and US-based Newmont said their $4.8 billion Conga mine, the most expensive mine in Peru's history, was on track to come on line in 2014 while others including Barrick Gold, Xstrata, Anglo American and Gold Fields reiterated their commitment to the country.

Silvercorp Metals Inc. says the anonymous fraud allegations that have hammered its share price are completely false, and the company is backing that view up by buying back its shares at low prices.

LONDON, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - Sept. 15, 2011) - Trueclaim Exploration Inc. ("Trueclaim") (TSX VENTURE:TRM)(OTCQX:TRMNF) recently finished a field mapping and sampling program on its Richmond Basin Property located 10 miles (16 kilometers) north of the city of Globe and two hours by road east of Phoenix, AZ.

Embattled Silvercorp Metals on Wednesday was forced to respond by opening up its books after a second anonymous report which it believes comes from a group of shortsellers trying to drive down the company's share price emerged on the web. Ongoing investigations into the apparent shakedown are being conducted by the RCMP, the BC Securities Commission, the SEC and the FBI, the company said. Silvercorp was forced on Friday 2 September to make public the first fraud allegations and at the same time disclosed that someone had built up a short position of 23 million shares – more than 13% of the number outstanding. The firm with projects in China and Canada plunged after the news broke and year to date losses now top 46% despite the firm’s ongoing buyback programme and a 14.3% bounce by midday today in massive volumes.

The British Geological Survey (BGS) on Wednesday published the latest list of the 52 elements, minerals and metals most at risk of supply disruption because global production is concentrated in a few countries, many with unstable governments. Surprisingly rare earths used in green technology and defence do not top the list but comes in at number five. Antimony, extracted mainly from stibnite (pictured), widely used for fireproofing is most at risk. The platinum group metals (auto catalysts) hold the second spot while niobium used in touch screens and scanners and tungsten for cutting tools are also at risk of supply disruption as a result of increased competition among the world's growing economies, political instability, resource nationalism, along with events such as strikes and accidents. China is the number one producer of 50% of the 52 chemicals on the list and produces 75% of the world's antimony.

Barrick Gold (TSX:ABX) will spend half a billion dollars to expand two of its mines in Peru, Bloomberg reports. Toronto-based Barrick, the world's largest gold miner, says it will invest $$550 million to expand operations at its Alto Chicama and Pierina mines by 2013. Quoting the company's country manager Darrell Wagner, Bloomberg states that the investment will serve to extend the minelives of both mines by four years, with production dropping as reserves are depleted:

Firestone Ventures Inc.(CVE:FV) reported high-grade zinc-lead-silver results from "La Luna" project, 80 km north of Guatemala City, Guatemala.

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwire - Sept. 13, 2011) - ATAC Resources Ltd. (TSX VENTURE:ATC) is pleased to announce the final 2011 drill results from its Ocelot silver-lead-zinc discovery. The Ocelot is located within the Rau Trend in the western portion of ATAC's 100% owned Rackla Gold Project in the Keno Hill Mining District, Canada's second largest primary silver producer. The 2011 diamond drilling program consisted of 19 holes totaling 3784.75 m. The first five holes returned encouraging results near surface (see news release dated June 13, 2011).

COLORADO SPRINGS, CO--(Marketwire - Sep 13, 2011) - Gold Resource Corporation (NYSE Amex: GORO) extends high-grade Arista deposit mineralization outside of the deposit's previously drilled mineralized envelope including 7.6 meters of 9.92 grams per tonne (0.32 oz/tonne) gold and 129 grams per tonne (4.15 oz/tonne) silver. In addition, confirmation drill returns include 5 meters of 20.28 grams per tonne (.65 oz/tonne) gold and 559 grams per tonne (17 oz/tonne) silver. Gold Resource Corporation is a low-cost gold producer with operations in southern Mexico. The Company has returned over $24.6 million to shareholders in monthly dividends since declaring commercial production July 1, 2010.