(Reuters) - Shares of Canadian base metal miners tumbled on Monday as copper prices slid to their lowest level this year on economic jitters and the lingering threat of a Greek default.

Reuters reports BHP Billiton will face work stoppages at all its Queensland, Australia coal mine operations next week ahead of an employee vote on a contract, a workers union said on Monday. The world's largest miner has reached an impasse with the Construction Forestry Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU) over wages and job security provisions; the union approved work stoppages at mines operated by the BHP Billiton- Mitsubishi Alliance (BMA) in June.

With the price of silver near 30-year highs, analysts and investors are beginning to question the underperformance of silver mining and streaming stocks.

Stillwater Mining Company (TSX:SWC.U) is offering $300 million in senior notes to help fund its acquisition of Peregrine Metals Ltd., the company announced today. Stillwater, the only platinum and palladium producer in the U.S., bought Peregrine Metals in July for US$487.1 million.

The Mining Industry Skills Centre in Australia has launched the Accelerated Skilling Hubs to train workers quickly to fill skills shortages, Australian Mining reports.

According to the Skills Centre, it developed ASH on the premise of exploring a Silicon Valley model; creating a hub of expertise, training and technology to advance the industry. It will utilise gaming technologies, simulation techniques and automation to quickly skills workers in a ‘centre of excellence’ environment which can be located regionally or in a capital centre.

Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers (NYSE and TSX: RBA), the world's largest industrial auctioneer (www.rbauction.com), attracted more than 2,600 on-site and online bidders to back-to-back unreserved public auctions in Brisbane and Geelong, Australia last week, selling AU$59 million (US$60 million) of equipment and trucks.

Agnico Eagle Mines (TSE:AEM) announced on Monday that it had acquired Grayd Resources (CVE:GYD) for $275 million. Grayd is a junior exploration and development company with gold and silver projects in Mexico. Agnico said the offer price of $2.80 per Grayd share represents a premium of 65.7% to the volume weighted average price of Grayd shares on the TSX Venture Exchange for the 20-day period ended September 16, 2011.

Acadian Mining (TSX:ADA) shares were up 32% in mid-day trading on Monday after the company announced strong drill results from its Fifteen Mile Stream gold project in Nova Scotia, Canada.

Premier Christy Clark announced on Monday a $15-million contribution for a $90-million road rail utility corridor project, phase one of a planned $300-million development at the Port of Prince Rupert. The $90-million Road Rail Utility Corridor Project will expand Ridley Island's terminal capacity to help meet growing demand from Asia for Canada's natural resources. The project includes construction of new inbound and outbound rail lines and the extension of on-site rail and utilities. The BC government says that the investment will create over 570 direct construction jobs over the life of the project and will further provide up to 4,000 operational jobs after all construction is complete.