Investors do not need to travel the world to make money in gold mining stocks. Nevada has world-class geology, infrastructure and a mine-friendly legal system without the substantial risks of international resource development.

"Owners of the illegal gold mines were recruiting children aged below 16 years to do casual labour on the mines contrary to the law."

Given Chinese officials' penchant for painting rosy economic pictures, it is something of a big deal when a state-backed institution such as the China Iron and Steel Association makes such a bearish call.

London's Sunday Times reports Anglo American is close to a deal to hand over a share in the Los Bronces copper project to Chile's Codelco at "a discount of several billion dollars" some time this week. If the report is correct it would provide further ammunition to those calling for Anglo CEO Cynthia Carroll's head.

The Lonmin violence is "a strike by the poor against the state and the haves" says analyst.

Alrosa announced this week that it sold rough diamonds to the Russian state gem repository Gokhran for the first time in three years.

The actual strike isn’t a deterrent to investors. But certainly the inability to get it under control will be of concern, particularly as this is now the third platinum mine that has seen conflict resulting in deaths this year.

Glasenberg’s determination to continue with the offer as originally planned comes amid growing signs that Xstrata is more confident of its position on a stand-alone basis.

The restart of iron ore mining in Karnataka amid multi-year low prices for the commodity is not seen to impact the global seaborne trade in the near-term.