Cliffs Natural Resources vaulted to a record third quarter from a springboard of high iron ore prices combined with higher sales from its Bloom Lake operation, the company announced today. Cliffs posted a 59% increase in revenues from the same period last year, bringing in $2.1 billion. The company more than doubled (+110%) its net income in Q3 to $820 million, despite taking a $17.5 million net loss from the idling of its renewaFUEL biomass production facility in Michigan. Despite the sunny financial picture, Cliffs indicated that clouds are looming on the horizon in the markets for its principal commodities, iron ore and coal. Image of Cliffs Northshore Mine, Copyright © 2011 Cliffs Natural Resources Inc.

Mining Weekly reports De Beers is going all out to create 5,000 non-mining jobs in Namaqualand over the next five years as it exits a region on the South African west coast where it has mined for the past 90 years. Projects include a wind farm, abalone culturing for export to China where it is a highly prized delicacy, a prison warden training facility and a joint venture with sister company Anglogold for undersea gold mining. The company has recently come under fire over plans to sell the properties including two towns to a much smaller outfit that will have to take responsibility for rehabilitation over a 970 square km area pockmarked by open pits.

Newmont Mining Corporation (NYSE: NEM) ("Newmont" or the "Company") today reported consolidated revenue of $2.7 billion for the third quarter of 2011 and $7.6 billion year-to-date, as well as operating cash flow of $1.3 billion for the third quarter of 2011 and $2.7 billion year-to-date.

Teck Resources (TSE:TCK.B) posted strong third-quarter earnings and rewarded shareholders with a 33% dividend increase. However, the Vancouver-based diversified mining company also lowered its 2011 guidance for copper and coking coal, its principle export commodities. Coal sales volume was lowered to 22.2 to 23 million tonnes (from 23.5 to 24.5 million) due to weakening steel markets. Teck blamed problems at its Quebrada Blanca operation in Chile for lower than expected copper volumes; 2011 copper sales guidance was lowered to 320,000 tonnes from 330,000 to 340,000t. The company had a record quarter, increasing its third-quarter revenues to $3.4 billion from the same period in 2010 — a 40% increase. Adjusted earnings were $742 million compared to $452 million in Q3 of last year.

After a more than 3% jump in the first half hour following stellar financial results, investors quickly tempered their optimism about the world's largest potash miner and by midday Potash Corp was back in the red. You don't have to look too hard to find reasons for the scepticism.

Today's 4Girls2 Professional Pathways showcase in Northwest Australia's Overlander Hotel will give local young women the opportunity to speak to female Xstrata Mount Isa Mines employees about careers for women in mining, The North West Star reports.

The event, hosted by the Queensland Minerals and Energy Academy (QMEA), Office for Women and Xstrata Mount Isa Mines, will introduce local girls to career options in the resources sector. Focusing primarily on geology, environmental and engineering careers, the event will include interactive sessions where students will solve practical problems with the help of Xstrata mentors.

After sensing that Europe's economic tailspin may have been halted, the markets and commodities opened higher. The S&P/TSX Composite index was up 2%, and the Dow Jones-UBS Commodity Index was up 1.59%. Spot gold was largely unchanged from yesterday's price at $1725/oz. Oil was up sharply. ICE North Sea Brent crude was up three percent to $112.23 a barrel, and the Dow Jones U.S. Oil & Gas Index was up 2.45%

Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan Inc. (NYSE:POT) doubled its third quarter earnings, reporting 94 cents per share or $826 million compared to 38 cents per share or $343 million a year ago. The company's stock opened 2.3% higher at $50.65 a share. During the first the first nine-months of 2011, the company's earnings have doubled from $1.39 per share during the same period last year to $2.73 per share today. The company said demand was strong from both North American and international customers.

A coal mine project in Alaska that could have negative impacts on salmon spawning will be allowed to push ahead. Alaska Dispatch reports that the state government has denied a petition to declare land within a drainage system in the Upper Cook Inlet unsuitable for coal mining: The petition sought to block in particular a strip mine project planned on Alaska Mental Health Lands Trust land by Delaware-based PacRim Coal LP, whose plan calls for the destruction of 11 miles of a tributary which Alaska Fish and Game has deemed significant habitat for spawning Cook Inlet salmon.