Russia has agreed to develop an Iranian zinc deposit that is among the largest in the world in a deal involving an Iranian bank that faces international sanctions, the Russian business newspaper Kommersant reported on Tuesday. The agreement to develop

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwire - Sept. 20, 2011) - Prophecy Platinum Corp. ("Prophecy Platinum" or the "Company") (TSX VENTURE:NKL)(OTCQX:PNIKF)(FRANKFURT:P94P) reports that as a result of a review by the British Columbia Securities Commission (BCSC), it is issuing the following news release to clarify, retract, restate and update certain of its previously issued technical reports, investor relations presentations and disclosures on its website www.prophecyplat.com.

ST. JOHN'S, NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR--(Marketwire - Sept. 20, 2011) - Altius Minerals Corporation (TSX:ALS) ("Altius") and Century Iron Mines Corporation (TSX:FER) ("Century") are pleased to announce that they have signed a principal agreement and a royalty agreement (together, the "Agreements") covering four of Altius' regional iron ore projects in the Labrador Trough: Astray, Grenville, Menihek and Schefferville. Under the Agreements, Century will acquire a 100% interest in the four projects for exploration expenditures of $7 million per project and the issuance of 5 million Century shares cumulatively over a 5-year period. Altius will retain a 1% to 4% sliding scale Gross Sales Royalty ("GSR") on the properties as well as additional consideration of "bonus" Century shares as National Instrument 43-101 compliant iron ore resources are defined above various thresholds.

Diamond producer De Beers expects global demand growth for rough diamonds to set a new record this year on the exceptionally strong performance of its key US market and robust demand in China and India, the head of the company’s distribution arm said. Despite global volatility and concerns that the global economy is sliding towards another financial crisis, demand for diamonds was unlikely to be badly impacted because of its safe-haven appeal, Diamond Trading Co (DTC) Chief Executive Varda Shine told Reuters in an interview on Monday.

Gold investment demand in China is likely to top a record 200 metric tons this year, the World Gold Council said. The country’s investment demand surged 70 percent in 2010 to an all-time high of 187 tons, said Albert Cheng, the Far East managing director at the World Gold Council. China’s “investment demand has picked up exponentially,” Cheng said yesterday in an interview in Montreal. “The financial crisis has triggered people to be cautious of anything they don’t understand,” boosting demand for bullion as an alternative asset.

Australia cut its forecast for coking coal production in fiscal 2012 as recovery from natural disasters takes longer than expected but lifted its projection for iron ore production a touch.

Astur Gold's Salave gold project in northern Spain got a boost last week when National Bank initiated coverage on the Vancouver-based junior explorer.

The Indian state of Goa is looking to technology as a way to prevent the illegal transport of iron ore. The Times of India reports that the Goa government is examining the possibility of installing radio frequency identification (RFID) tags on mining trucks to track the vehicle's movement carrying iron ore, as a part of the measures to curb transportation of illegal iron ore in the state.

(Reuters) - Shares of Canadian base metal miners tumbled on Monday as copper prices slid to their lowest level this year on economic jitters and the lingering threat of a Greek default.