Australia produced 266 tonnes of gold in 2010, up 17% on 2009 but not enough to secure it first place as China's output grew to 341 tonnes in the same period. Australia maintained its number two ranking in gold output behind China in 2010

South Africa's president, Jacob Zuma, on Saturday officially launched a state-owned mining company under which he said all state interests in mining would be consolidated

Equinox Minerals Ltd. will make a hostile bid for Lundin Mining prior to the markets opening Monday morning, Vancouver-based Lundin announced in a news release on Sunday. "Lundin is not aware of the terms of the bid. Until Lundin Mining completes its review of the bid, it will not comment on the proposal," the release stated. "The Board of Directors of Lundin will update shareholders from time to time following receipt and consideration of the bid. Shareholders do not need to take any action in response to the bid at this time." The unsolicited takeover attempt could thwart the proposed merger between Lundin and Inmet Mining Corp. made public in January.

De-seasonalised demand for gold is likely to shoot up in India as agriculture income in the country soars. Farmers primed to invest […]

The company behind a large copper-gold mining project in the Phillipine province of South Cotabato is cautiously optimistic that a mining ban imposed last year will be overturned. GMA News reports: A large-scale mining company on Sunday expressed optimism that the South Cotabato provincial government will lift its ban on open-pit mining and allow the $5.2-billion Tampakan copper-gold project to proceed by 2012. Sagittarius Mines, Inc. (SMI) made the statement as its petition to withdraw the ban – which former South Cotabato governor Daisy Fuentes imposed last year – has moved up to the provincial council’s final review. The current governor of South Cotabato, Arthur Pingoy, told Reuters last week that a review of the ban is possible, but with a slim chance it would be overturned.

Production of gold Down Under was at its highest levels since 2003 as miners cashed in on record prices, the Daily Telegraph was reporting on Sunday: Gold output from domestic mines in 2010 lifted by about 17 per cent or 38 tonnes to 266 tonnes or 8.5 million ounces (oz), Melbourne-based industry consultants Surbiton Associates Pty Ltd said in its latest survey of the Australian gold mining industry. "Gold produced from Australian mines in 2010 was worth some AUS$12 billion at the current spot price," Surbiton director Sandra Close said. "Gold remains one of Australia's top export earners."

South African private investment company Ngwenda Gold - which holds extensive gold prospecting rights in South Africa's Free State Province - announced today that its court bid to reverse the hi-jacking' of its identity

Consolidated Thompson's shares dropped two cents to close at $17.11 on Friday after the company announced its shareholders have approved the friendly takeover by Cliffs Natural Resources Inc. Under the deal, made public in mid-January, Cliffs Natural Resources acquired Consolidated Thompson for CDN$4.9 billion (US$4.6 billion) or C$17.27 in cash per common share. The transaction is expected to close in the second quarter.

Fortescue Metals Group has discovered more than one billion tonnes of iron ore in Western Australia's Pilbara and aims to develop it rapidly. Sydney Morning Herald reports: The new project, named Nyidinghu, is about 35 kilometers south of Fortescue's first mine, Cloudbreak, and contained an inferred resource of 1.032 billion tonnes of ore at a grade of 58 per cent iron, the company said.