Ecometals Limited (the "Company") (TSX VENTURE:EC)(BERLIN:GDQ)(FRANKFURT:GDQ) - The Company is pleased to announce that it has received the Environmental License from the Ministry of the Environment for advanced exploration for its Rio Zarza project in Zamora, Ecuador. The Environmental License encompasses the Rio Zarza and Valle del Inca I licenses and authorizes advanced exploration activities as per the Company's Environmental Impact Study which includes, but is not limited to, diamond drilling.

The relocation of the mining giant's sales and marketing arm's headquarters to the Botswana capital could lead to around $6 billion flowing though the country’s banking system, compared to the $2 billion or so the country earns from rough sales at the moment.

"We thank shareholders for their support during this unnecessary proxy contest, which has been challenging, costly and disruptive for Baja," said John Greenslade, President and CEO of Baja. "We also caution that strong shareholder support may again be needed at the upcoming Annual General Meeting."

President Ollanta Humala’s administration wants the the South American nation's highest court to throw out an ordinance by the region of Cajamarca banning work on the $4.8 billion copper-gold project.

Contract gold dropped almost $40 an ounce in a matter of minutes in lunchtime trade after comments from the US Federal Reserve that seemed to preclude any chance of another round of monetary easing.

Mexican silver miner, First Majestic, announced a friendly acquisition of Silvermex Resources for Can$175 million.

Acid sprays, gassings, venomous snakes, and lightning strikes are just some of the risks faced by Queensland miners atop the threat of mine collapse and violent explosions.

The U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) filed a lawsuit against Canada's Royal Bank (TSX:RY) yesterday, saying it engaged in hundreds of millions of dollars in sham futures trades to reap tax benefits on its holdings of company stocks.

The profit margin for diamonds is a far cry from 70% enjoyed by the mining giants' iron ore divisions.