Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas, may be yet again running for President, but he has not abandoned his quest for an independent audit of U.S. gold reserves. A hearing is scheduled this Thursday before Paul's House Subcommittee on Domestic Monetary Policy and Technology on Paul's bill demanding an audit of all gold in the United States.

Ringbolt Ventures Ltd. (TSX VENTURE:RBV)(OTCQX:RNGTF)(FRANKFURT:3OZ) has commenced drilling on its Lisbon Valley Potash Project in Utah. The planned drilling program is to test the potash and salt horizons on one of its state leases. The state lease is located on section 36, township 29.5 south and range 25 east. The drill plan is to use reverse circulation drilling to the top of salt bed 5 at an approximate depth of 2,800 feet where there is a reported historical assay of 18.5% K2O and then core drill the potash bed. Cane Creek Mine’s Solar Evaporation Ponds. Image by Ringbolt Ventures Ltd.

Environmental groups in Quebec are calling for an end to asbestos mining, the Montreal Gazette is reporting: Nature Québec, the Société pour Vaincre la Pollution, and Pour que le Quebec ait meilleure mine say asbestos should not be mined because is too dangerous for human health. Asbestos is banned in over 50 countries and is strictly controlled in Canada. Hundreds of workers exposed to asbestos have been diagnosed with lung disease, with many dying an early and painful death. One asbestos victim, Canadian Conservative MP Chuck Strahl, has called on the government to stop exporting asbestos, which is still used in building materials.

Environment Canada has been criticized for excluding statistics indicating a substantial rise in overall pollution from the oilsands sector from 2008 to 2009 in its inventory report, while including numbers suggesting the industry was making progress

Ever tried buying a car without an inspection? Or having only the engine examined but not the brakes? If so, you'd be playing a game of chance if the car had some rather expensive upcoming maintenance bills. Turns out for investors wanting to put their cash on the oilsands, it's currently not possible to have the full picture on oilsands liabilities Image is from Endleez at Wikipedia.

Last week John Chadwick visited the Stillwater palladium/platinum mine near Nye, Montana, USA. Here two Kiruna Electric trucks from GIA/ABB were recently commissioned. The trucks are hauling from lower level production on a dedicated ramp, below the shaft bottom. Shaft deepening and a conveyor ramp were considered as alternatives, but this trolley assisted truck option was chosen as the best for this mine.

On Tuesday Zambia's Finance Minister mocked Zimbabwe and South Africa for planning to forcibly raise government stakes in foreign mines, saying "the Zambian miner in 1970s was a happier miner than a miner during the period of state ownership of the mines.” Under Zimbabwe's on-again off-again indigenization policy mining companies were granted until the beginning of June to submit proposals about transferring majority ownership to locals while there are growing calls within the ruling party in South Africa to move ahead with nationalization as called for in the country's Freedom Charter.

According to local paper the Duluth News Tribune, P&H Mining Equipment is to close its main Minnesota Iron Range offices in Mountain Iron, Buhl and Hibbing after construction of a new $16 million, 82,000 ft2 building off US Highway 53 on the town of Virginia’s north side. Read more

Caterpillar has announced plans to significantly increase its manufacturing capabilities and capacity for hydraulic excavators at a new facility in Victoria,Texas. Read more