MarketWatch quotes  Nomura economist Zhiwei Zhang as saying:  "Overall, economic conditions are getting weaker at a fast pace. The slowdown is happening faster than the government expected."

Caledonia, worth $57 million on the TSX, is up 35% so far this year and ten times the usual volume of 131,000 shares changed hands on Monday.

Goldcorp. Inc. (TSX:G) says development will continue as planned on the $3.9-billion El Morro copper and gold project unless Chile's supreme court upholds a decision that rescinds its environmental permit.

Great Panther is pleased to report revenues for the year ended December 31, 2011 of $57.8 million, representing a 37% increase over 2010. The Company's gross profit or earnings from mining operations increased by 64% to $26.9 million for 2011, and net earnings increased 8% to $11.5 million. The Company also increased working capital to $53.8 million at December 31, 2011, from $18.8 million at the end of the prior year.

Several small earthquakes that affected the northwest region of the United States during 2011 were probably caused by hydraulic fracturing or "fracking,” concludes the latest report by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR), which regulates the oil and gas industry in the country.

The Kentucky Coal Academy and Workforce Solutions of Southeast Kentucky Community & Technical College are offering a free eight-week coal mining course in Cumberland, Kentucky, for miners to improve their skills, reports Kentucky.com. "It provides state-of-the-art training at no cost to the participant," [director of the Kentucky Coal Academy Murrel] Dixon said. "It should be of particular interest now because of current mine lay-offs. This is a good time for coal miners to come out, undergo quality technical training that will not only make them efficient in the mining industry, but in other areas."

The Zimbabwe Chamber of Mines (ZCM) President, Winston Chitando, says that Zimbabwe needs more women enrolling in mine training to balance the currently male-dominated industry, reports The Zimbabwean.

The Zimbabwe School of Mines says it is also making efforts to mainstream women in mining through trained-based affirmative action. "In particular, the institute has opened traditionally male-dominated technical careers such as mining engineering, geology and mineral processing to women with the aim to increase their participation in the mining sector," a senior official said.

On Thursday, the vice-chancellor of Eduardo Mondlane University in Mozambique announced three new courses on mining and oil exploration, and several new Master's programs, reports Club of Mozambique.

Vice-chancellor Orlando Quilambo said that Eduardo Mondlane University would this year teach courses in Cartography and Geological Surveying, Applied Geology, and Oil Engineering. “We signed a deal with an oil exploration company for joint training of around 200 students in this area by 2015,” Quilambo explained.

Mining companies in Peru invested US$7.2 billion in 2011, 77% more than in 2010, Mines and Energy Ministry (MEM) reports.