Nickel

Namibia Rare Earths (TSX: NRE) is pleased to announce that a 6,000 meter diamond drilling program has started with two drill rigs focused on the delineation of a first mineral resource from Area 4 on the Lofdal Rare Earth Project in northwestern Namibia. Concurrent with the drilling program, an induced polarization geophysical survey will be undertaken over prospective extensions of the favourable heavy rare earth-enriched structure emanating from Area 4. The drilling program is scheduled to be completed by the end of April with delivery of the NI 43-101 compliant mineral resource report in the third quarter of 2012.

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwire - Jan. 18, 2012) - Baja Mining (TSX:BAJ)(OTCQX:BAJFF) today announced that its 70 per cent-owned Mexican subsidiary, Minera y Metalurgica del Boleo S.A de C.V. (MMB) drew a further US$ 100 million on January 17, 2012, the third draw on its senior debt facilities to date.

Canada’s Quadra FNX Mining Ltd. (QUX-T15.30----%), which has signed a deal to be bought by a Polish government-backed miner, said Monday its production was down slightly in the fourth quarter, as compared to the previous three months.

HALIFAX, NOVA SCOTIA--(Marketwire - Jan. 16, 2012) - Ucore Rare Metals Inc (TSX VENTURE:UCU)(OTCQX:UURAF) is pleased to announce results of reconnaissance sampling on the Company's extensive alluvial rare earths (REE) and tin multi-metal property holdings in the Ray Mountains area of central Alaska

The metals lobby group is gearing up to meet with the European commission at the end of January to persuade it to grant the sector full exemption from the indirect carbon costs embedded in electricity prices.

Elissa Resources ("Elissa" or the "Company") (TSX VENTURE:ELI)(OTCQX:ELSRF)(PINKSHEETS:ELSRF) reports that drilling has commenced at its 100%- owned Thor heavy and light rare earth element (REE) project in Nevada. Multiple diamond core drill holes will initially target the Lopez Trend, a 1.6-mile (2.6-km) long REE-bearing monazite structure that is coincident with a prominent magnetic anomaly.

The Globe and Mail reports that Canadian one- and two-dollar coins, known as "loonies" and "toonies", will this spring be made from steel, replacing the more expensive nickel they are currently made from:

Reuters reports the London Metal Exchange has been approached by several   potential bidders and will consider takeover proposals in late February according to its CEO. The LME handles some 80% of global trade in metals futures and a takeover will help the the 134-year old trading floor to compete against rapidly-expanding Asian metal trading hubs.

German mining and commodity group Deutsche Rohstoff AG said on Wednesday it will develop mining operations in east Germany to exploit estimated deposits of 38,000 tonnes of rare earths.