Alberta is poised to become a major player in Canadian mining, says The Mining Association of Canada. The Edmonton Sun reports that half of the country's $140 billion in mining activity over the next five years will be centred in Alberta, with 12 projects slated for development by 2016:

Pro-and anti-mining forces are clashing once again over a proposed copper-gold mine in northern BC. On Monday Taseko Mines, the proponent of the New Prosperity mining project, said it has started legal action against people it alleges have obstructed preparations at the minesite. In response, the Tsilhqot’in Nation filed an injunction against the company "to halt its plans for extensive road-building, drilling, excavation of test pits, and timber clearing in support of its unprecedented and controversial resubmitted bid for approval of its soundly rejected Prosperity Mine project," the Tsilhqot’in, which represents six First Nations, stated in a press release.

BHP Billiton (NYSE:BHP) says it plans to spend about $4.5 billion on developing shale gas assets in 2012. Earlier this year, BHP, the world's largest mining company, spent nearly $17 billion buying Petrohawk Energy and Chesapeake Energy with the aim of doubling petroleum production over the next five years. The Financial Post reports: “This is going to be a gamechanger around the world and for BHP Billiton not to be part of it would be irresponsible,” BHP petroleum chief executive Michael Yeager said in slides prepared for an investor presentation to allay concerns about the company’s push into shale gas. BHP said it plans to spend around $5.5 billion a year by 2015, about a billion more than previous estimates, and around $6.5 billion a year in 2020 on U.S. shale.

Yesterday's announcement by Australian PM Julia Gillard to consider lifting the ban on uranium sales to India is raising eyebrows at one of the country's largest iron ore producers. News.com.au reports Fortescue Metals (ASX:FMG) chief executive Neville Power questioning whether the proposed sales would benefit BHP's Olympic Dam uranium mine in South Australia: "You would wonder," Power said yesterday at Fortescue's Port Headlands wharf in Western Australia.

In an article published on BNWnews.ca focussing on potash industry developments in the wake of continuing high prices and record food demand, Western Potash, with arguably the world’s most advanced ‘independent’ potash project, is highlighted as a company getting a lot of attention from potential state-funded buyers.

The Alberta oilsands and Bakken oil fields in North Dakota put on a good show 278 km above earth. Ken Paulman, writing for Midwest Energy News, conducted some cartographic detective work on a video that went viral, a time-lapse video of the earth's surface shot from the International Space Station.

Klondex Mines Ltd. (TSX: KDX) ("Klondex Mines" or the "Company") announced today that it has entered into an agreement with a syndicate of underwriters lead by GMP Securities L.P. and including Mackie Research Capital Corporation, Jones, Gable & Company Ltd. and Fraser Mackenzie Limited (the "Underwriters"), pursuant to which the Underwriters have agreed to purchase 8,400,000 units (the "Units") of the Company, at a price of C$2.50 per Unit (the "Offering Price") for aggregate gross proceeds to Klondex Mines of C$21,000,000.00 (the "Offering").

Uranium Resources, a Texas-based in-situ uranium miner, says that cost increased in 3Q due to challenging drilling conditions and higher equipment costs. "This resulted in fewer than desired drilled holes and about two additional months of exploration time,” said Don Ewigleben, President and CEO of Uranium Resources in a statement. Operating expenses were $133,753 for 3Q compared with $67,260 in 2010. The overall loss from operations was $2,827,097, down from $3,730,998 a year ago when the company had a $1.37 million provision for a legal settlement.

TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - Nov. 15, 2011) - Dia Bras Exploration Inc. (TSX VENTURE:DIB) ("Dia Bras" or the "Company") is pleased to report that exploration drilling from the surface at Promontorio mine (Figure 1: http://diabras.com/files/media/a20ec_figure1.pdf) combined with underground channel and bulk samples from drifting in the Promontorio mine continue to identify wide zones of disseminated silver mineralization, confirming the discovery of a new zone with large tonnage potential.