Zijin Mining Group Co Ltd said it plans a $280 million U.S. dollar-denominated bond issue, raising capital to acquire copper concentrate overseas for a smelter project of its unit. In a filing to the Hong Kong bourse on Tuesday, Zijin Mining said the bonds would have maturity of five years and a fixed interest rate of 4.25 percent per year during its term with interest payable semi-annually.

The miner has sold two key South East Asian assets for $170m but, the remainder of the sale will only be finalised in the third quarter, the miner said.

Oakland Resources (ASX: OKL) has commenced a 700m diamond core programme at Spion Kop Gold Prospect (EL 7412, Boorowa Project) where previously reported significant and anomalous gold mineralisation has been intersected in a number of shallow RC holes. Image from Oakland Resources.

Money managers raised bullish bets in COMEX gold futures and options to the highest level since the week of April 24, as bullion climbed to within $20 of its record during the period, data from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission showed Friday.

Money managers raised bullish bets in COMEX gold futures and options to the highest level since the week of April 24, as bullion climbed to within $20 of its record during the period, data from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission showed Friday. Speculators in silver futures and options also upped their net long positions in the week ended June 21, as safe-haven demand for precious metals grew in response to disappointing economic data from the United States and persistent concerns surrounding Europe's debt crisis, according to the latest report from the U.S. regulator.

U.S. aluminum producer Alcoa Inc (AA.N: Quote) said on Friday it won a multiyear contract worth about $1 billion to supply its new, lighter aluminum-based alloys for Airbus commercial aircraft. The news sent Alcoa stock up almost 1.8 percent to $15.55 in early trading on the New York Stock Exchange on a day when the broader market fell. Later in the morning, the shares were up 8 cents to $15.36. Image of an Airbus aircraft, operated by DHL, by Wikimedia Commons

Golden Minerals Co said it will buy Canada's ECU Silver Mining in a reverse merger for about C$302.5 million ($309.1 million) in stock and cash, to form a new silver mining company focused on Mexico and Argentina. Under the terms of the deal, ECU shareholders will get 0.05 common shares of Golden Minerals and about $0.000394 in cash for each share they hold.

Former Arizona congressman Richard Renzi must face public corruption charges over allegations that he coerced a mining company into buying land from one of his former business partners, a U.S. appeals court ruled on Thursday. Renzi was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2002.

Riversdale Mining (ASX: RIV) advises that Mr Eric Finlayson has been appointed as the new CEO of Riversdale Mining Ltd. Mr Finlayson will move from his current role as Head of Exploration with Rio Tinto to take up this appointment, effective from 1 July.

Results of additional drilling Iron Ore Holdings announces the following updated information on the company's Iron Valley Project. Iron Valley is one of IOH's largest identified bedded iron deposits.

Sinosteel Midwest Corporation's decision to suspend development of its $2B Weld Range project is understandable given the uncertainty around the Oakajee Port and Rail Development, Padbury Mining Ltd (ASX:PDY, The Company') Managing Director Gary Stokes

GGG Resources plc (GGG) has today announced that it has extended its off-market takeover offer for all of the ordinary shares in Auzex Resources Limited (Auzex) so that it will now close at 5.00pm (Perth time) on 4 August 2011.