Shares in Africa-focused Globe Metals and Mining shot up on Monday after it released positive rare earth exploration results. Chinese state-owned firm East China Minerals Exploration and Development Bureau last month became the largest shareholder in Globe when it bought a 53.7 per cent stake.

Monument Mining made $15 million in gross revenues in the first three months of 2011, having sold 10,704 ounces of gold at an average price of $1404/oz. The Vancouver-based gold explorer, which owns two gold properties in Malaysia, said it is on target to exceed 40,000 ounces of gold this year, the company's first year of commercial production. Image by Monument Mining Limited

Two separate Wall Street reports gave fertilizer producers a boost on Tuesday. Investment bank Citigroup upgraded its recommendations for the two top producers Mosaic and Potash Corp. of Saskatchewan to buy citing strong global agricultural fundamentals and reduced Chinese exports. In a separate opinion Barron's magazine over the weekend said Mosaic's stock is worth a look as potash prices are predicted to rise throughout the year thanks to depleted inventories and consolidation among Russian producers.

Shares of top Canadian uranium producer Cameco (CCO.TO: Quote) slipped as much as 4.4 percent on Monday, after Germany said that it plans to shut all its nuclear reactors by 2022. The move to shut down its nuclear program comes just nine months after Berlin announced an extension to the lifespan of its plants by an average 12 years.

Although there was no apparent news driving it, Ethiopian Potash's (TSX-V: FED) shareprice leapt by as much as 20 percent Monday, up from 75 to 90 cents on strong volume. The push upwards may come from investors in anticipation of drilling results from Ethiopian Potash's Danakil property, where it reports an inferred resource of 128 million tonne @ 21 percent potash.

Australian Mining: At 15 years of age, Nigeria-born Bukayo Taiwo has become the youngest ever student to enrol at Curtin University’s West Australian School of Mines (WASM).

Taiwo enrolled at Murdoch college and graduated at 15, paving the way for her to enrol to study for a Bachelor of Engineering/Commerce at WASM.

She says she is excited to begin studying for her long-term goal of working as an engineer in the mining industry.

Black Iron reported initial assay results from its ongoing confirmation ("twin hole") and metallurgical diamond drill program at the Company's Shymanivske Iron Ore Project in Ukraine. The Company is encouraged by the results of the initial two holes highlighted by 20342-T that intersected 164 meters grading 32.1% iron, including 83 meters grading 33.8% iron. Matt Simpson, President and Chief Executive Officer of Black Iron, commented, "As anticipated, the assay results from the first two twin holes align well with the historical drilling logs for the Project."

Iberian Minerals Corp. (TSX VENTURE:IZN) today announced that it has determined to exercise its right to purchase from Trafigura Beheer B.V. its 45.96% net profit interest in Compania Minera Condestable S.A. ("Condestable"), which is the subsidiary through which Iberian holds its approximately 98.73% interest in the Condestable Mine. In accordance with the terms of the CMC Purchase Agreement, Iberian retained the option to purchase the NPI from Trafigura at any time until June 30, 2011 in consideration of the payment of US$60,000,000 (the "NPI Buy-out").

America West Resources, Inc. (OTCBB: AWSR), a domestic compliant coal producer with mining operations in Central Utah, today announced that it has successfully completed mine development and commenced full production at Horizon Coal Mine, located in Carbon County about 120 miles southeast of Salt Lake City, Utah. It is estimated that there is more than 16 million recoverable tons of high quality, thermal coal reserves under lease at the Horizon Mine. Over the past 36 months, America West has focused on implementing a mine development strategy utilizing a room and pillar mining approach to excavating coal deposits from the 1,640 acre mining leasehold.