Rural communities in Australia’s mineral-rich states are unhappy about the many working girls following highly-paid miners into their small towns and motel and hotel owners are kicking out prostitutes using their rooms to ply their trade.

AP reports that the Obama administration is ignoring intense lobbying from the mining industry and political opponents on the right and will formally ban new uranium mining on 1 million acres around the Grand Canyon on Monday. Miners who registered thousands of claims during the final Bush years remain free to push ahead with new projects.

Teck Resources Ltd. (TSX:TCK.A) announced today that it will acquire its oilsands partner SilverBirch Energy Corp. (TSXV:SBE) for over C$435 million.

Morrison Park Advisors ("MPA") is pleased to announce that it is expanding its mining sector presence with the appointment of Stephen Altmann as Managing Director. Previously a CEO-level mining executive and investment banker, Steve will work with MPA's team of seasoned professionals in providing high quality strategic, corporate and financial advisory services to companies in the mining sector.

China’s Minmetals Resources Ltd has, once again, extended its $1.3 billion takeover offer for Africa-focused copper miner Anvil Mining Ltd (TSX:AVM) to Feb. 16. This is the third time that Minmetals offer has been extended since the deal got the go ahead by the Australian Foreign Investment Review Board, last October.

London copper fell early Monday as concerns over slowing growth in the euro zone strengthened the U.S. dollar, making commodities priced in the unit more expensive in other currencies.

After witnessing a 150 per cent rise in prices since the nutrient-based subsidy (NBS) scheme was introduced in April 2010, potash fertilisers might turn dearer again in the coming days, even as the industry has said it may not raise prices for at least three months.

Canadian mineral explorer Continental Nickel Ltd (CNI) is set to start mining the mineral in southern Tanzania following positive exploration results.

The Obama Administration is expected to announce Monday a moratorium on uranium mining on a million acres near the Grand Canyon, The New York Times is reporting.