Talks between the Ecuadorian government and Kinross Gold have stalled over the country's largest mine, Fruta del Norte.

Hecla Mining reported the largest resource calculation in company history today with 148 million ounces of silver reserves and 281 million ounces of resources. The silver numbers represented a 4% increase in reserves and a 13% bump in resources. Hecla also noted a 33% increase in gold resources to 597,600 ounces, while lead and zinc increased a respective 21% and 26%.

With the mining skills shortage and the Australian Government's Regional Migration Agreement, more foreign workers are moving to the Northern Territory to meet the demand, reports Australian Mining.

NT Minister for business and employment Delia Lawrie said in a statement the NT was set to experience huge growth and demand for workers was outstripping local supply. "While we are investing heavily in local training, it is still not enough to meet demand in a competitive Australian labour market," she said. “This RMA will act as a pressure valve for the local economy, helping businesses experiencing a shortage of staff to find workers when none can be sourced locally.”

Caterpillar Inc. CAT -0.65% announced today it has selected land near Athens, Georgia, as the location for a new facility that will build small track-type tractors and mini hydraulic excavators. The state-of-the-art, one-million-square-foot-facility is expected to directly employ 1,400 people once it is fully operational.

Canadian miner giant Teck Resources (TSX:TCK.B) has priced a $1 billion, two-part bond deal featuring seven-year and 30-year maturities in the U.S. credit markets, announced late Thursday.

London-based giant miner Anglo American PLC (LON:AAL) announced today record $13.3-billion 2011 earnings, a 23% increase in underlying earnings a share and a 14% increase in annual operating profits to $11.1 billion.

Canadian gold producer Agnico-Eagle Mines reported a $604 million loss in the fourth quarter after writing down its Meadowbank mine in Nunavut, northern Canada.

Arizona congressman Paul Gosar (R-Flagstaff), during a hearing today on the Department of the Interior's 2013 budget, took the opportunity to question Interior Secretary Ken Salazar on his department's opposition to a bill clearing the way for the proposed Resolution Copper mine near Superior, Arizona.

Xstrata, one of the world's largest thermal coal exporters, announced today that it has completed the sale of two Mpumalanga collieries to black economic-empowered (BEE) group Imbawula, for an unrevealed sum.