Kinross Gold (TSX:K) lost $2.78 billion in the fourth quarter, having been forced to writedown the value of its Tasiast project in Africa.

Could one family farm stop a multi-billion-dollar pipeline project from going ahead? Probably not, but a Texas family farm will at least have its day in court.

A report published this week by Global Witness, an international human rights group, says that companies mining the controversial Marange diamond fields in Zimbabwe have senior personnel drawn from security forces loyal to President Robert Mugabe.

Canadian junior explorer Abcourt Mines (TSX-V:ABI) has intercepted a high-grade silver zone at its Abcourt-Barvue orebody in Quebec.

Sydney Morning Herald reports that between 3500 and 4000 miners have walked off the job at BHP Billiton's coal operations in Queensland.

Xstrata Plc is looking to offload a portion of its $6.4 billion Wandoan coal project in Australia, the Wall Street Journal reports.

The Washington Post reports a "stark collision of cultures" is taking place in the desert mountains of Mexico, where the Huichol Indians are trying to stop a Canadian company from starting a $100-million silver mine.

Fortescue Metals was up 5% Monday on rumours that Canadian coal and copper/zinc miner Teck Resources is making a play for the third-largest iron ore producer in Australia.

The Philippines is taking a cue from South Africa, Australia and Zambia, all recent examples of government attempts to extract more revenues from their mining sectors and add more controls.

Canadian Zinc Corp., the company developing a new zinc mine in the Northwest Territories, announced a major share purchase by a Chinese investor today.

The mining industry in Nevada is becoming a catalyst for an employment revival.

A $4 billion rare earths deal signed this week between Germany and Kazakhstan is being criticized by human rights groups.