Joy Global Inc. had a successful second quarter. The mining equipment manufacturer reported net income of $162 million for the second quarter of 2011, or $1.52 per share, compared to $120 million, or $1.15 per share, for the same period last year. Second quarter bookings were up 46% to $1.5 billion, while net sales jumped 19%. "We had another outstanding quarter, reaching record levels of performance in order bookings, shipments, operating profit margins and earnings per share,” said Mike Sutherlin, President and Chief Executive Officer. Sutherlin pointed to Joy Global's recent $1 billion acquisition of LeTourneau Technologies as an important complement to its rope shovel capability, by expanding into the wheel loader and drilling products markets. Image by Joy Global Inc.

Rio Tinto and Chinalco will be positioning their drills in Mainland China, the two companies announced today, in a new exploration joint venture to operate under the name Chinalco Rio Tinto Exploration Co. Ltd. (CRTX). According to a press release issued by Rio Tinto, the primary focus of CRTX will be copper exploration, with coal and potash to be considered later.

Canadian potash producers are ramping up production targets in anticipation of increasing demand for the mineral, as farmers buy more fertilizer to boost crop yields. On Wednesday Saskatchewan Potash Corp. said it will squeeze an additional 5 million metric tonnes of potash capacity from its existing mines, according to company CFO Wayne Brownlee, speaking at an investor conference in Toronto.

Monument Mining made $15 million in gross revenues in the first three months of 2011, having sold 10,704 ounces of gold at an average price of $1404/oz. The Vancouver-based gold explorer, which owns two gold properties in Malaysia, said it is on target to exceed 40,000 ounces of gold this year, the company's first year of commercial production. Image by Monument Mining Limited

Lundin Mining has abandoned its plans to sell, saying the bids did not fully value the company, according to a story reported in Bloomberg News. The decision also means CEO Phil Wright will resign; senior vice president of corporate development Paul Conibear will serve as interim CEO. The bids “did not adequately value the company or its assets,” Lundin said in a statement. “The best way to create shareholder value is to continue to manage and develop the company’s quality assets and to actively seek growth opportunities.”

Cavico Corp. (Nasdaq:CAVO) a major infrastructure construction, infrastructure investment, and natural resources conglomerate based in Vietnam, announce that Prime Minster Nguyen Tan Dung has approved its proposal for a project to construct a vertical coal mine shaft in Vietnam. Read more

Atlas Copco added the new QAC1250, its first 1MW generating unit, to the current QAC range in response to interest from the rental and power generation markets. Read more

ABB has recently agreed to acquire Mincom to broaden its software portfolio and establish the Group as a leader in enterprise asset management (EAM) software and services. ABB is acquiring the Brisbane, Australia-based company from Francisco Partners, a private equity group that invests in technology businesses, for an undisclosed sum. Read more

Putzmeister has reached an agreement with GHH and Mine Master for the distribution and service of drilling jumbos, bolting rigs and load haul dumpers to complement the company's shotcreting equipment for tunnelling. The cooperation between the companies will start with Putzmeister distributing and marketing GHH and Mine Master machines in the Spanish market, possibly leading to global cooperation. Read more

AMEC announced today that it has agreed to buy MACTEC, a leading US engineering and environmental services company, from its private equity and other individual shareholders for a cash consideration of US$280 million. Completion is subject to regulatory approval and is expected by the end of June 2011. Read more

The new Cat MineStar System builds on existing Cat mining technologies and adds new capabilities to create a comprehensive mine operations and equipment management system. The system is configurable and scalable to enable mine managers to define the size and scope that best serve the needs of the mine. Read more

In separate transactions announced in April 2011, Molycorp reported it had acquired a 90.023% controlling stake in AS Silmet, an Estonia-based rare metal and rare earth metal producer, and a 100% interest in Santoku America, Inc., a leading producer of high-purity rare earth alloys and metals based in Arizona. The Silmet transaction was valued at about $89 million; the Santoku America transaction was valued at $17.5 million. Silmet has changed its name to AS Molycorp Silmet. Santoku America has been renamed Molycorp Metals and Alloys, Inc. Read more