The world’s fourth-largest platinum miner Aquarius Platinum increased its attributable production by 3% year-on-year to 114 260 platinum group metal (PGM) ounces, but CEO Stuart Murray said on Tuesday volumes from South African operations fell short of the company’s expectations. Challenging conditions at Kroondaal, Marikana and Everest mines negatively impacted on production, but Murray said operations were now moving towards normal production.

Vancouver-based Quadra FNX Mining increased second-quarter copper production by 20% compared with the first three months of the year, and still expects to meet its full-year forecast of within 10% of 240-million pounds.

TSX- and Amex-listed Revett Minerals is targeting 2018 to start commercial production at its big Rock Creek silver/copper mine in Montana, as it finally sees light at the end of a long litigation process that delayed development.

Canada’s mining industry continues to rally from the recent global recession, with this year’s production currently exceeding that of 2010, reports government department Natural Resources Canada (NRCan).

South Australia Premier Mike Rann on Friday banned mining in the Arkaroola region, in the state’s far-north, where junior Marathon Resources is drilling for uranium.

Mine developer reports the initial site construction of a mine and lithium carbonate processing facility at its Quebec Lithium Project, near Val d’Or, Quebec, should start in the third quarter of this year.

Paladin Energy, the ASX- and TSX-quoted uranium miner, said on Wednesday that production for the year ended June rose 32% to 5.7-million pounds, but was lower than expected because of heavy rainfall at its Namibian mine and “mechanical issues” at the Kayelekera operation in Malawi.

Gold prices eased a touch on Tuesday after earlier hitting record highs, as a rebound in assets seen as higher risk, such as shares and the euro, took some of the heat out of appetite for safe havens.

WOLFSBURG Russia is offering Germany closer cooperation on rare earths as well as gas and oil supplies, a Russian official said on Monday ahead of an annual bilateral summit in Germany. Berlin has been trying to improve German industry's access to the

LONDON Gold prices rallied to record highs above $1 600 an ounce in Europe on Monday as investors spooked by the euro zone debt crisis and the threat of a US default bought into the metal as a haven from risk. Spot gold rose as high as $1 601.80 an ounce

JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) Commodities trader Metmar has entered into R61.4-million transaction to buy a further 60% of Eastern Belt Chrome Mines, taking the its ownership to 80%, the JSE-listed company said on Monday. Metmar would settle

PERTH (miningweekly.com) Brazilian mining giant Vale has signed a $20-million farm-in agreement with Australian listed junior Goldminex Resources over its Papua New Guinea copper assets. Under the farm-in agreement, Vale had the right to earn a 51%