VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwire - Jan. 27, 2012) - Ivanhoe Mines (TSX:IVN)(NYSE:IVN)(NASDAQ:IVN) Deputy Chairman Peter Meredith said today he expected the company's 14-member Board of Directors will continue to maintain a majority of independent directors, in accordance with the December 8, 2010, Heads of Agreement signed by Ivanhoe Mines and Rio Tinto.

Cliffs Natural Resources Inc., a US iron ore and coal producer, is anticipating lower prices and volumes of iron ore shipped in the fourth quarter.

RBC Capital Markets forecasts copper demand growth of 3.6% in 2011, 5.5% in 2012, 5.6% in 2013, and trend growth of approximately 4.0% in 2014 and 2015.

With confirmation of the discovery of two strategic minerals, vanadium and graphite, Energizer Resources says it "is now well positioned to move forward to mine development"

Wealth-X reports that Perth, one of the world's most isolated capitals, ranks as Australia's fourth most popular destination for the country's super rich, and Perth is climbing the rankings.

Anglo-American in its increasingly acrimonious fight with Codelco on Thursday had to defend itself against what it termed "the criminal accusation" made by the president of the Federation of Copper Workers in Chile who sits on the Chile’s state-owned copper giant board.

Fortuna Silver Mines boosted production by close to a third last year at its Mexico and Peru silver mines.

The federal government disassociated itself on Thursday from an embarrassing official policy paper that said the country’s independent energy regulator, now studying a controversial oil pipeline, is in fact a government ally.

Gem Diamonds on Thursday reported record annual production at its flagship Letšeng mine in Lesotho and continued to polish its reputation as the world’s richest source of exceptionally large diamonds, but prices per carat fell 23% compared to a year ago.