Gold

Explor Resources Inc. (TSX VENTURE:EXS) (PINK SHEETS:EXSFF) (FRANKFURT:E1H) is pleased to announce the beginning of a 30,000 meter drilling program on the Timmins Porcupine West Property. ROUYN-NORANDA, CANADA--(Marketwire - Oct. 4, 2011) - Explor Resources Inc. (TSX VENTURE:EXS) (PINK SHEETS:EXSFF) (FRANKFURT:E1H) is pleased to announce the beginning of a 30,000 meter drilling program on the Timmins Porcupine West Property...

A Chinese company has made another bid to secure iron ore and other metals beyond its borders. On Tuesday Hanlong Mining said it will buy Perth-based Sundance Resources for US$1.57 billion. AFP reported that Hanlong will acquire Sundance through a scheme of arrangement, after lifting its offer to 57 cents cash per share from 50 cents back in July.

A statement put out by Ivanhoe Mines and partner Rio Tinto on Monday saying it has formally informed the Mongolian government it won't renegotiate the terms of the Oyu Tolgoi investment did not have the desired effect and the share was beaten down 6.6% on Monday. The counter’s losses began after rumours – now confirmed – surfaced that the Mongolian government is rethinking a 2009 deal that gave Ivanhoe Mines and Rio Tinto a 66% stake in Oyu Tolgoi and that it now wants half of the $6 billion gold and copper project.

An illegal work stoppage at La Arena Gold Oxide Mine has been resolved and mining operations have resumed, Rio Alto Mining (CVE:RIO) said on its website today.

Olympus Pacific Minerals TSX:OYM, ASX:OYM has formed a joint venture with Abra Mining & Industrial Corporation (AMIC) and other companies to develop the Capcapo gold project in the Philippines.

December gold added $35 or 2.2% to trade at $1,657.10 an ounce in noon dealings in New York on Monday regaining a sliver of the ground lost during September, the worst month for the precious metal since the start of the 2008 recession. September was a particularly volatile period for gold. Early on the metal hit an intraday record of $1,923.10 only to shed 17% over the course of the month. Today's dealings are also in sharp contrast to a week ago: in Asian trade on Monday September 26 bullion plunged $130 within a few hours, a move which many gold bugs are now saying had nothing to do with fundamentals but was intended to send a message.

The Hang Seng Index was down 4.38% and S&P/ASX 200 slid 2.78% over fears of euro zone contagion and the risk another recession may be looming. Gold is up and at $1657/oz. It closed last week at $1624/oz. Hang Seng was also hit by worries about the casinos in Macua. There is less credit available from China, which may dampen revenue from gambling.

Late last week Ivanhoe Mines (TSX:IVN)(NYSE:IVN)(NASDAQ:IVN) and Rio Tinto received a letter from a representative of the Mongolian Cabinet inviting the companies to discuss potential changes to the Oyu Tolgoi Investment Agreement. The changes related to the conditions under which the Mongolian Government may negotiate with Ivanhoe Mines to acquire, on mutually agreed terms, an additional 16% interest in the project and the application of a sliding-scale royalty to the project. In response to this letter, Ivanhoe Mines and Rio Tinto have formally advised the Mongolian government that the companies are not prepared to renegotiate the investment agreement.

SBS World News Australia reports that Bouganville copper mine, one of the world's largest deposits of copper, could open if past combatants could be fairly compensated. The report also alleges new complicity in the conflict that cost the lives of around 15,000 to 20,000 people. The open pit mine was established in Papua New Guinea in the early 1970s by Bougainville Copper Limited, a subsidiary of Rio Tinto. While operating, it accounted for 20% of the country's national budget.