The continued surge in the gold price amid financial market turmoil is seeing a dramatic shift in the pattern of gold buying and selling at the world's central banks. The Globe and Mail reports that after two decades of being net sellers of gold, central banks are now buying gold at a record pace reflecting deep concerns about the viability of the US dollar and the euro as stores of value: Official net purchases of gold exploded in the third quarter, totalling 148.8 tonnes, more than double the entire amount of government buying in 2010, the World Gold Council, a London-based industry association, said in a new report Thursday. “We are seeing what now looks like unprecedented levels of central bank buying,” said Marcus Grubb, managing director, investment, at the Gold Council. “We do believe this is a long-term trend. This is not just short-term, tactical buying.”

Production was halted temporarily at Hecla Mining's Lucky Friday silver mine due to an accident involving two contractors who were constructing an underground rock bin. The company said the accident occurred Thursday during construction of the #4 Shaft at the mine in northern Idaho.

Global miner Anglo American has risked its future in the world's largest copper producing nation by denying Chile's state-owned Codelco a 49 percent stake in its Sur unit, said Diego Hernandez, Codelco's chief executive on Thursday. Miguel Angel Durán, president of Anglo American’s Chilean operations, told a Chilean newspaper that the company wants to sit down with Codelco, the Chilean state mining company, and find a way to avoid years of litigation over Anglo’s Chilean assets. The copper giant is putting together a crack team of lawyers and financial advisers from Chile and New York to fight Anglo’s attempt to block it from exercising an option to buy half of Anglo’s Chilean copper assets for $6 billion. Anglo early in November sold 24.5% to Mitsubishi for $5.4 billion.

TORONTO, Nov. 18, 2011 /CNW/ - Great Lakes Nickel Limited ("GLN" or the Corporation") is pleased to announce that it signed an agreement today with Rio Tinto Exploration Canada Inc. ("RTEC") regarding an option by RTEC to acquire a 100% undivided interest in certain mining properties located in Pardee Township, Ontario (the "Pardee Property"). The basic terms of the agreement are that RTEC may exercise the option upon paying $5,500,000 to the Corporation over the course of seven (7) years, at which time it will grant the Corporation a 2% net smelter returns royalty.

South Africa's Lesedi Drilling and Mining Contracting Company focusses on employee safety and educating staff, and they believe this positions Lesedi ahead of its competitors, they report in today's press release.

"Safety has to be a culture in which people instinctively act in a safe way," notes the Lesedi website. "That can only happen if the top and middle management of the company live, breathe and champion safe working practices all the time and the people operating machinery are properly trained."

Marketwatch reports China’s leading market for precious metals trading increased its silver margin requirements Friday to a fresh high amid heightened volatility in precious metals. The Shanghai Gold Exchange lifted silver margin requirements to 18% of a contract’s value, up from 15% previously, according to data provided by ScotiaMocca, the metals unit of Scotia Capital. In morning trade in New York silver for December delivery was up 1.2% at $31.90 an ounce after retreating in East Asia and recovering from a 7% tumble on Thursday. Yesterday a Reuters poll predicted silver at $50/oz at the end of next year, exceeding the $48.61 record high set in April.

Aurico announced on Friday open pit pre-production development has commenced at its Young-Davidson project after the company completed the first open pit blast on Thursday. Commissioning of the Young-Davidson mine project remains on schedule with the first gold pour anticipated for the end of March 2012. The 100%-owned Young-Davidson gold mine in northern Ontario is expected to produce 200,000 ounces per year by 2015. AuRico Gold has projects in Canada, Mexico and Australia and five operating properties including the Ocampo mine in Chihuahua State, the El Chanate mine in Sonora State, the El Cubo mine in Guanajuato State, as well as the Fosterville and Stawell gold mines in Victoria, Australia.

A major expansion to an existing coal mining operation near historic Bryce Canyon National Park is getting a frosty reception in tourism-friendly Utah, reports Steel Guru. Alton Coal Development LLC and partner Kane Mining want to expand their reserves at the Coal Hollow Mine — Utah's only coal strip-mine — just one year after the mine opened. The expansion to more than 3500 acres requires the approval of the US Bureau of Land Management. But opponents are already lining up against the proposal, with one online petition signed by over 21,000 people.

Wind turbine manufacturers are scrambling to find alternatives to a key element used in direct-drive permanent magnet generators (PMGs), thanks to skyrocketing prices and diminishing supplies of crucial rare earths. China currently provides 94% of the world's rare earths, including neodymium and dysprosium, which are used in the magnets for direct-drive wind turbine motors. However, the Chinese government has put new restrictions on rare-earth mining that have resulted in lower supply levels, according to a report from research firm Roskill Information Services (RIS).