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.

TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - Nov. 15, 2011) - Frontier Rare Earths Limited (TSX:FRO)(TSX:FRO.WT) is pleased to provide an update on operational progress at its Zandkopsdrift rare earth element project in South Africa and related corporate activities. "We are very encouraged by the progress of work on the preliminary economic assessment for our flagship Zandkopsdrift project, and expect to announce the results early next year," said Mr. James Kenny, President and CEO of Frontier Rare Earths. "We believe that the PEA will clearly demonstrate the significant economic potential of Zandkopsdrift and this will leave Frontier well positioned to become one of the major producers of rare earths globally commencing in 2015."

TransCanada Corp. (TSE:TRP), the company behind the $7 billion Keystone XL pipeline project, has reached a deal with the state of Nebraska to reroute the proposed pipeline around an environmentally sensitive aquifer. The decision was announced late Monday at a news conference from the Nebraska state legislature. A bill was earlier introduced that would divert the pipeline away from the ecologically sensitive Sandhills area. Under the deal reached today, and to be voted on Tuesday, the state will pay for studies to find a new route to avoid the Ogallala aquifer which provides water for millions of people in the area.

The Australian uranium mining industry has a sympathetic ear in Prime Minister Julia Gillard. Gillard announced she will push for the ALP to dump its ban on uranium sales to India, at its national conference next month, Adelaide Now reports: Ms Gillard will ask the ALP's national conference to overturn long-standing party policy that allows uranium to be sold only to nations who have signed up to the nuclear non-proliferation treaty.

The critical component in any conveyor transfer point is an effective sealing system. The seal should be located where the material is being loaded and continue to where it becomes stable. This is the last position to effectively control spillage and dust.

A Chinese mine manager who smeared coal on his face to appear to be trapped in a mine where 34 workers died has been detained by police, MailOnline reported: "After the accident, Qi (Guming) 'rushed down the shaft and smeared coal on his face to pretend he had escaped from underground,' the newspaper said. 'On Sunday the public security authority confirmed that Qi did not go down the shaft on that day, and made false claims to the rescue command office.'"

The price of iron ore spiked to a one-month high today, with benchmark Australian iron ore rising to $140 a tonne. FT (sub required) reports that Chinese steelmakers, which halted purchases last month amid concerns about an economic slowdown and tight credit conditions, are able to obtain import financing. That, combined with higher steel prices, is boosting iron ore prices.

Japan's top nickel producer, Sumitomo Metal Mining Co., is predicting a glut in the supply of the metal. Bloomberg reports a global nickel surplus may soar in 2012 to the highest in four years as Europe’s debt crisis and a sluggish U.S. economy cuts demand: Supply will likely exceed demand by 54,000 metric tons in 2012, the biggest surplus since 2008, said Toru Higo, Sumitomo Metal Mining Co.’s general manager of nickel sales and raw materials. Demand outstripped supply by 63,000 tons last year, the first deficit since 2006, before moving to a surplus of 11,000 tons this year, Higo said.