Nickel

HudBay Minerals posted some big gains in its fourth-quarter and year-end financials, the Toronto-based miner reported on Wednesday. Net earnings in Q4 2010 more than tripled to $24.5 million, compared to $7.2 million in the fourth quarter of 2009. Year-end numbers were also impressive, with net earnings of $73 million — a 475% increase over 2009 after adjusting for gains on the sale of investments, the company stated.

New York Times says that Malaysia is placing a big bet on rare earth metals: As many as 2,500 construction workers will […]

Franconia shareholders have approved an agreement whereby Duluth will acquire all of the outstanding common shares of Franconia, and Franconia will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of Duluth. Franconia's assets are expected to be rolled into Twin Metals Minnesota LLC, a Duluth (60%) and Antofagasta plc (40%) joint venture.

Ucore Rare Metals Inc. (TSX-V:UCU) announced the first NI 43-101 compliant independent resource estimate for the company's 100%-owned Bokan Mountain rare earth element (REE) project in southeastern Alaska. The resource estimate was prepared by Aurora Geosciences Ltd. ("Aurora") of Yellowknife, NWT which recommends that the deposit merits additional drilling, metallurgical research and economic investigation.

The head of China's largest metals trader has called for government efforts to consolidate the rare earth industry and nurture competitive domestic firms in the sector. Zhou Zhongshu, president of China Minmetals, said that the difficulties facing China's rare earth industry mainly come from the fact that local authorities, owners of rare earth mines, tend to issue mining licenses to local firms.

On Tuesday the Ontario Superior Court of Justice dismissed Inspiration Mining Corporation’s court application against URSA Major Minerals. Inspiration sought to reverse […]

Bellzone Mining announced on Tuesday that it had completed a US$133 million placement of 102 million ordinary shares. Canaccord Genuity Limited was the lead manager. Bellzone, an AIM-listed company, is developing two iron ore and nickel/copper assets in Guinea, West Africa. The Kalia iron deposit, a 50mtpa iron ore operation, is the company's flagship project.

Pele Mountain Resources has released an NI 43-101 resource estimate for its Eco Ridge uranium and rare earths project in Elliott Lake, […]

Canadian mining and energy company Sherritt is expecting production declines in Cuba in 2011, Cuba Standard reported: Sherritt, Cuba’s largest foreign investor, […]