A treasure of gold, jewelry and diamonds worth over $24 billion by some estimates has been unearthed from the vaults of a temple in India. Image is from YouTube news report on the same story.

ProSep announced it was awarded $1.8 million in new contracts to supply a produced water treatment system for installation on a deepwater Gulf of Mexico facility and crude dehydration equipment for two oil sands facilities located in Alberta, Canada.

Dow Jones reports Argentina's Mendoza Province has lifted its suspension of the multibillion dollar Rio Colorado potash mine project being developed by Brazilian mining company Vale SA. Mendoza's Environmental Secretariat has allowed Vale to move forward with the mine after the company agreed to submit reports on its local hiring and procurement practices to the local authorities, the provincial government said in a statement.

IC Potash, which hopes to build a potash mine in New Mexico, on Tuesday said a study it paid consultants UK-based CRU Strategies to conduct on its Ochoa project found “excellent market potential” for future production of sulphate of potash (SOP).

The Yorkshire Post reports Sirius Minerals has started a concept study at its York Potash project, paving the way for mining to begin at the UK’s only seam of potash. Sirius has secured mineral rights for 631 sq km of land between Whitby and Scarborough with plans to open a new potash mine and create up to 5,000 jobs. Sirius is about to start drilling two temporary boreholes in the North York Moors National Park. Once it gets an idea of what the potash seam looks like under the ground it can plan where to site the mine.

Quebec's first diamond mine took another step forward today, with the launch of the federal environment assessment process, The Montreal Gazette reports: The Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency is accepting public comment on the project, along with suggestions of environmental issues that should be considered in the comprehensive study of the project. Image of the Renard project, by Stornoway Diamond Corp.

Canada's biggest precious metals stocks were up an average 5.5% in late afternoon trade on Tuesday led by Endeavour Silver and Silvercorp Metals which both added around 12%. First Majestic Silver was up 9% and Silver Wheaton 6%. The index with an average market capitalization of US$7.7bn was outperforming a lacklustre broader market with bellwethers Barrick and Goldcorp also making substantial gains. Weak economic news from Europe, lingering concerns about the Greek debt crisis and media reports that China may raise interest rates have lured investors back to precious metals.

Powerscreen, one of the world’s leading providers of mobile crushing, screening and washing equipment, will be showcasing and demonstrating its latest products at the Steinexpo Exhibition taking place in Homberg/Ohm, Niederofleiden, Germany, from 31st August – 3rd September on stand A5. Read more

A new report by Global Data on the top 2011 oil and gas investment destinations claims as much as 22% of the world's undiscovered and technically recoverable oil and gas could lie within Arctic territories. Oil and mineral wealth coupled with the opening of new shipping routes are transforming cities and towns in the region. Apart from the Arctic and Canada's oil sands where new projects could up current production of 1.7m bpd by another 2.7m bpd, new discoveries in Ghana, Uganda and other parts of Africa which remain largely unexplored are also attracting billions in investment from foreign oil and gas companies.