EDMONTON, Oct. 28, 2011 /CNW/ - Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers (NYSE and TSX: RBA), the world's largest industrial auctioneer, attracted more than 5,200 on-site and online bidders from 37 countries to a two-day CA$60 million (US$60 million) unreserved public auction in Edmonton, Alberta on October 26 - 27, 2011. More than 2,100 people (42%) bid online in real time at www.rbauction.com, purchasing almost CA$16 million (US$16 million) of equipment (26%). Among the equipment sold: a 2007 Caterpillar D7R XR series II crawler tractor that sold for CA$380,000 (US$383,000) to an on-site buyer from Grande Prairie, AB and a 2009 Western Star 4900SA tri-drive vacuum truck that sold for CA$300,000 (US$302,000) to an on-site buyer from Medicine Hat, AB.

Ongoing labour unrest at Freeport-McMorran's Grasberg mine in Indonesia has forced the American company to declare force majeure. The announcement made Wednesday effectively allows Freeport to stop shipments from its gold and copper mine so that it can avoid liability on existing customer orders. About 8,000 workers — a third of the mine's workforce — have been on strike since September 15th and earlier this month vowed to shut down the mine if hourly wages of $1.50 are not upped 8-fold. The strike recently turned ugly with reports of sabotage and injuries.

TORONTO, CANADA--(Marketwire - Oct. 27, 2011) -

The capacity shortfalls challenging many sectors of the mining industry may see faster relief and cleaner, more efficient operations. GE Energy (NYSE: GE) and Foster Wheeler Chile, a subsidiary of Foster Wheeler AG, a global engineering, procurement and construction company with projects throughout the world, are working together to help companies in the mining industry in South America address these challenges. The two companies today announced a portfolio of mining infrastructure solutions that can deliver energy, processing systems, water management and waste management from their combined mining expertise, technologies, engineering and onsite services.

A presentation made to the Zimbabwean parliament on Thursday details the secrecy, corruption and human rights abuses that accompany mining activities in the Marange alluvial diamond fields. Hundreds were killed and thousands of local miners were driven off claims when the army seized control of the area in 2008 and most observers believe an international ban on these gems are being widely flouted. The report alleges that in contrast to the official $200 million, as much as $2.8 billion – equal to all other tax revenues – found its way into a parallel government via the army, police, prisons and intelligence agencies which all have 'permits' to mine there.

As Occupy Wall Street protesters continue to linger around town squares across North America and Europe, precious metals commentator Peter Schiff wades into the maelstrom.

Cliffs Natural Resources vaulted to a record third quarter from a springboard of high iron ore prices combined with higher sales from its Bloom Lake operation, the company announced today. Cliffs posted a 59% increase in revenues from the same period last year, bringing in $2.1 billion. The company more than doubled (+110%) its net income in Q3 to $820 million, despite taking a $17.5 million net loss from the idling of its renewaFUEL biomass production facility in Michigan. Despite the sunny financial picture, Cliffs indicated that clouds are looming on the horizon in the markets for its principal commodities, iron ore and coal. Image of Cliffs Northshore Mine, Copyright © 2011 Cliffs Natural Resources Inc.

Mining Weekly reports De Beers is going all out to create 5,000 non-mining jobs in Namaqualand over the next five years as it exits a region on the South African west coast where it has mined for the past 90 years. Projects include a wind farm, abalone culturing for export to China where it is a highly prized delicacy, a prison warden training facility and a joint venture with sister company Anglogold for undersea gold mining. The company has recently come under fire over plans to sell the properties including two towns to a much smaller outfit that will have to take responsibility for rehabilitation over a 970 square km area pockmarked by open pits.

Newmont Mining Corporation (NYSE: NEM) ("Newmont" or the "Company") today reported consolidated revenue of $2.7 billion for the third quarter of 2011 and $7.6 billion year-to-date, as well as operating cash flow of $1.3 billion for the third quarter of 2011 and $2.7 billion year-to-date.