Osisko Mining reported on Friday a loss of Can$5.3 million in the first quarter. The company said that the higher loss incurred is due to high administrative costs reflecting the growth in the company's activities, high non-cash charges from the issuance of stock options in the third quarter of 2010 and lower foreign exchange gain. In the same period in 2010 the company reported a loss of $600,000. Sean Roosen, president and CEO of Osisko, said the company achived some significant achievements.

Overall construction of the Oyu Tolgoi Project was 15.1% complete by the end of Q1'11, slightly ahead of the planned 14.8%. Total capital invested in the project by the end of Q1'11 was $1.8 billion. The Oyu Tolgoi Project initially is being developed as an open-pit operation, with the first phase of mining planned to start at the near-surface Southern Oyu deposits, which include Southwest Oyu and Central Oyu. A copper concentrator plant, related facilities and necessary infrastructure that will support an initial throughput of 100,000 tonnes of ore per day are being constructed to process ore scheduled to be mined from the Southern Oyu open pit. Commercial production of copper-gold-silver concentrate is projected to begin in the first half of 2013.

Speculators in gold, silver and copper futures and options sharply cut their net long positions in the week ended May 10. Metal prices sold off during a commodities rout during the period, according to the latest report by the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission.

Aurizon Mines Ltd. notched an $18 million gross profit in the first quarter of 2011, bettering Q1 of 2010 by 43%. The Toronto-listed miner chalked up $14.5 million in cash flow from operations, a 58% increase from the same period last year. The company says its results were positively impacted by rising operating profit margins, and offset by increased exploration at its exploration properties. Revenue from its Casa Berardi operation increased, from $39.8 million in the first quarter of 2010, to $47.2 million in Q1 of 2011, on higher gold prices. Image by Aurizon Mines

The gold-silver ratio (GSR) measures how many ounces of silver one can purchase for an ounce of gold, on a certain date. Reference to the ratio has a long history. One of the first mentions was that upon the death of Alexander the Great, the ratio was 12.5 to 1. During the Roman Empire, the ratio was set at 12. By the late 19th century, the ratio had risen to 15. Interestingly, these historical ratios roughly reflect geologists’ estimates that silver is 17 times more abundant than gold in the earth’s crust. This gives many investors a reason to believe that 17 is the natural balance between these elements, and that eventually the GSR will return to it.

In results released on Friday, Australia’s Paladin Energy showed a 47% increase in production from its Namibian and Malawian operations and record revenues of $208.7m on the back of a 31% increase in sales volumes for the nine months to March. The company said despite the concerns about the nuclear energy market following the tsunami damage to Japan’s Fukushima plant, it believes supply and demand imbalances will only widen in future as more plants, such as the 25 under construction in China, come on stream. Paladin is on an aggressive growth drive. Stage 3 of the expansion of its Langer Heinrich mine that would bring capacity to 5.2m lb is 92% complete and in February 2011 the company announced that it completed its acquisition of the uranium assets of Aurora Energy in Labrador, Canada for C$260.8m.

Aureus Mining announced that it has entered into an underwriting agreement for C$35.1 million with a syndicate of underwriters led by RBC Capital Markets and GMP Securities L.P. and including Clarus Securities Inc., Jennings Capital Inc. and Raymond James Ltd., with respect to its previously announced offering of the company’s common shares. Pursuant to the Offering, the Company will issue 27,000,000 common shares at a price of C$1.30 (c.£0.83) per common share and receive aggregate net proceeds of C$32,994,000.

West Africa focused Bellzone Mining has released an initial resource estimate for its Kalia iron ore project in Guinea. The AIM-listed iron ore and nickel company announced an initial inferred JORC oxide resource of 111 million tonnes, graded at 38% Fe, which would be beneficiated using a standard gravity process to produce 58% Fe fines.

The Directors of Aurelia Resources Limited (ASX:AJU) are pleased to confirm the opening of the company’s Offer Period for an Initial Public Offering (IPO) to raise $3 million, and to undertake a listing on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX). Listing on the ASX is expected before the end of June 2011. Fifteen million shares are being offered at 20 cents per share and the company may accept subscriptions for a further 5 million shares to raise an additional $1 million. Also, a loyalty option, priced at 1 cent will be offered to shareholders after three months on a 1 for 2 basis. The exercise price is 20 cents with an expiry date of 30 April 2014. Image by Aurelia Resources Limited