House Democrats introduced legislation Tuesday that would require a comprehensive study of the health dangers related to mountaintop removal coal mining. More controversially, the bill would also halt all new mountaintop coal projects until the health study is complete.

The $1.5 billion company currently operates three gold mines: the Mana Mine in Burkina Faso, the Samira Hill Mine in Niger and the Kiniero Mine in Guinea.

Zimbabwe’s Deputy Mines Minister, Gift Chimanikire, confirmed an army-owned company owns 40% of Anjin, one of the most lucrative diamond concessions in the country.

Gem Diamonds said initial production at its Ghaghoo underground mine project in Botswana would be delayed until the first half of 2014 after an accident yesterday resulted in the death of two workers.

Rio Tinto Copper's Chief Executive, Andrew Harding, said the investment will secure low cost copper, gold and molybdenum production for the company in next two decades.

Australia-based Foster Stockbroking said Tuesday that an industry-wide restart would boost global uranium demand by 30 million pounds a year which could act as a catalyst to flagging uranium prices.

Indian firms that have borrowed funds from overseas banks would now have bear a higher burden for discharging their debts. Moreover, the diamond industry is dependent on import of rough diamonds and depreciation of rupee would push up the import cost even when prospects for exports of polished diamond might remain uncertain.

N-SolvCorp, a small Canadian company based in Calgary, claims it has developed a unique technology that will make Alberta's oil sands more profitable and environmentally sound.

The agreement over the Quebec Tres-Or gold project, which covers 6,356 hectares, outlines that Aurizon can earn an initial 50% interest by incurring exploration expenditures totaling $10 million.