The Philippine Department of Environment and Natural Resources will finance the university education of geologists and mining professionals to counter the steady decline of these professions in the workforce, reports Inquirer News.

“The past years saw a steady decline in geologists and mining and metallurgical engineers in the MGB for two reasons—their recruitment by the private sector or their going abroad which offers bigger salaries, and a halt in DENR’s recruitments because of the rationalization program,” [Environment Secretary Ramon] Paje said.

GIW Industries, the leader in the design, manufacture and application of heavy-duty, centrifugal slurry pumps, announced that global talc producer Mondo Minerals has installed GIW's High Volume Froth (HVF) pump at its talc processing plant in Outokumpu, Finland. During the pump's first month of operations, the plant was able to stabilize the flotation process and eliminate a safety hazard.

Canadian-based gold producer Monument Mining Limited (TSX-V: MMY) informed it busted a gold stealing syndicate at the Selinsing Gold Mine in Malaysia.

In a brief and low profile announcement, BHP Billiton said last week that it was replacing its Aluminum President, Jon Dudas, giving no reason for his sudden departure, nor a timeframe for his replacement.

The Canadian Association Against Impunity (CAAI), which represents several human rights groups and non-governmental organizations, filed today a last-minute plea at the Supreme Court against Canadian miner Anvil Mining Limited (TSX:AVM), on behalf of the victims of a 2004 massacre in Congo.

American Vanadium Corp. (AVC - TSX Venture), ("American Vanadium" or the "Company")announces it has signed a licensing agreement with Battelle for use of a mixed acid electrolyte technology developed at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory ("PNNL") that increases the energy density and operating temperature range of vanadium redox flow batteries. Additionally, as part of a separate agreement, PNNL will independently evaluate the development of American Vanadium's electrolyte, to be produced from its Gibellini Project in Nevada.

A legal clash between Brazilian mining giant Vale (NYX:VALE) and Australia's Aquila Resources (ASX: AQA) has taken a step towards resolution this morning after the companies announced they’ve reached an agreement on coal shipments from their co-owned Isaac Plains mine in Queensland.

A 1,000gm gold bar with a tungsten core was bought by a scrap dealer in the United Kingdom, reports ABC Bullion.

Gold is being amassed largely on the fears that the global currency system is flawed, and bears also believe American and Chinese economies are headed for another fall. However, there is a deep economic imbalance that is rapidly being righted that can result in a lot of prosperity for all.