Nickel

Baja Mining Corp. (TSX:BAJ) is pleased to announce the commencement of surface mining activities at its 70% owned Boleo copper-cobalt-zinc project ("Boleo"), located near Santa Rosalia, Baja California Sur, Mexico. Beginning in the week commencing May 2, 2011, the Company's surface mining team completed an initial machine operator training program and commenced mining activities to develop the surface facilities and underground mining portals that are scheduled for operation later this year.

The Company recorded first quarter earnings of $168 million or $0.88 per share (basic) compared to earnings of $55 million or $0.55 per share for the previous year. The higher earnings in the current quarter were driven by a $134 million pre-tax gain on the disposition of Gold Wheaton shares, higher average copper prices and the inclusion of the Sudbury operations following the merger with FNX. These factors were partially offset by lower sales volumes at Robinson and Carlota. Adjusted earnings for the first quarter totalled $51.8 million or $0.27 per share (basic) compared to $55.3 million or $0.56 per share (basic) for the previous year.

IAMGOLD Corporation (TSX:IMG)(NYSE:IAG) today announced the results of an independently prepared NI 43-101 compliant preliminary economic assessment ("PEA") on the company's wholly-owned Niobec niobium mine in the province of Quebec, Canada. The PEA shows a significant increase in the measured, indicated and inferred mineral resource estimates at Niobec with the potential for a significant production expansion. The PEA examined the impact of changing the existing underground mine to an alternative bulk mining method. IAMGOLD technical personnel then compared the economics of the open pit scenario and a block caving scenario. The work done on the PEA and the study will be advanced in a 2011 pre-feasibility study to confirm the potential upside of Niobec.

No word yet from China's Jinchuan Group as to whether the company is officially in the market for Canada's Lundin Mining. Canadian media reports claim a consortium headed by Jinchuan, which includes sovereign wealth fund China Investment Corp., was planning a takeover bid for the Canadian base metals miner.

True North Gems Inc. (the "Company") (TSX VENTURE:TGX) announces that it has completed the second tranche of its previously announced and oversubscribed non-brokered private placement. The second closing is for proceeds of $615,000. The Company issued 6,150,000 units at a price of $0.10 per unit. Each unit is comprised of one common share and one half non-transferable common share purchase warrant, each warrant exercisable for one additional common share for a period of two years at a price of $0.15 per share for year one, and $0.20 per share for year two. Two finders received finders' fees of in the aggregate $21,500 in cash and 215,000 finders' warrants in connection with the closing of this second tranche, each finders' warrant exercisable for one common share for a period of two years at a price of $0.12 per share.

Quantum Rare Earth Developments Corp. (TSX-V:QRE) is pleased to announce the filing of an NI 43-101 resource report on the Elk Creek Carbonatite project in Nebraska. The report specifically deals with the core Niobium zone, and does not reflect results of any of the Rare Earth Element zones also located on the property. The report, prepared by Wardrop, A Tetra Tech Company ("Wardrop") will be available on SEDAR and the Company's website shortly. Image by Quantum Rare Earth Developments Corp.

Sherritt's Q1 earnings rose 116% over the same quarter a year ago. The company reported net earnings on Thursday of $63.6 million or 22 cents a share. A year ago, the company reported only $29.4 million in net earnings or 10 cents a share. The company's sales volumes were up slightly. Sherritt's sales volumes of nickel, reported in thounsands of pounds, was 9,438 in 2011 and 9,392 in 2010, less than a one per cent increase.

Japan's imports of rare earths from China rose 40 percent in March from the previous month, Ministry of Finance data showed, with some observers saying demand is so far unaffected by last month's devastating quake though the outlook remains murky.

First Nickel Inc. (“First Nickel” or the “Company”) (TSX:FNI) is pleased to provide an update on its Lockerby Depth Project and its […]