Qatar's sovereign investment fund, the second largest shareholder in Xstrata PLC (LON:XTA) with 12% of equity, confirmed Monday it is looking positively at the company's planned merger with Glencore International (LON:GLEN).

The Highland Group, a leading global business consulting firm, today announced the formal establishment of its Americas Mining Practice.

Wednesday, November 7 @ 10:00 am EST in Becancour, (QC) Canada. Unprecedented offering of late model & new construction and mine equipment. Featuring: 2008 Terex HC230 crawler crane; (2) Cat 1450kw gensets (never used); 100-man mine camp; service trucks; tankers & trailers; wire & cable, bulk stores, etc. Online bidding at bidspotter.com. Sale conducted by TCL Asset Group Inc. & Maynards Industries.

Brazilian giant miner Vale (NYSE: VALE) is about to close a $500 million loan agreement with the Inter-American Development Bank (IADB) for its Rio Colorado potash project in Mendoza, Argentina.

In addition to its importance for human civilization as an industrial metal, copper also plays a vital role in the human immune system as a killer of foreign microbes.

A survey of Queensland's coal miners reveals that new royalty hikes have compelled many to pursue cost cuts and implement worker retrenchments.

The death of a Chinese gold miner in Ghana as well as the arrest of over 90 of his compatriots and colleagues has triggered a strong response from Beijing.

Anglo America's (NYSE:AAL) Kumba Iron Ore announced on Monday that it had fired almost 300 workers in South Africa for participating in an illegal strike and commandeering millions in company equipment.

Brazil is slated to produce 820 million tonne of iron ore in 2016, a more than 60% jump from today's levels. How will Chinese demand keep up?