Bloomberg's weekly survey of gold traders shows they are the most bullish since November 11 with 16 out of 23 predicting that the precious metal will gain this week after investors up their holdings of bullion backed funds to a record $131 billion.

Serial mega-mine developer Robert Friedland said in early February that Ivanplats will be developing the Kamoa mine in the DRC, Africa’s largest copper project that will have a lifespan that can be “measured in generations as opposed to decades.”

Anglesey Mining said that its 33% owned associate Labrador Iron Mines has raised CAD 71.6 million to finance the development of its iron ore projects in Canada.

Genwal Resources Inc., a Murray Energy Corp. subsidiary, has pleaded guilty to two misdemeanors to settle a federal investigation into the August 2007 fatalities at its Crandall Canyon coal mine in Utah.

After a volatile trading day which saw gold move within a $40 range, the precious metal ended the week firmly above the $1,700 an ounce level.

Molycorp's mould-breaking deal with Neo Material Technologies sent its shares rocketing in New York on Friday and some industry observers say the tie-up creates a vertically integrated company that will transform the industry. Others see REE prices continuing to drop with some already down 70% and China's grip on the market undiminished – exports could double this year and domestic production continues to ramp up.

Reliance Resources on Friday issued an update in relation to the recently announced Indonesian Government Regulation No. 24 of 2012, regarding foreign ownership of mining projects after its share price took an 11% knock.

Coal-reliant Poland on Friday vetoed European Union efforts to move further towards a low carbon economy, pitting itself against the rest of the 27-member bloc.

South Africa took a step closer on Thursday to create a standalone mining company that will take charge of the government's role in the country's rich resources and with ambitions of becoming involved in the continent's mining sector.