London-listed Churchill Mining Plc is threatening Indonesia to seek international arbitration, saying that the company was unlawfully deprived of a US$1.8 billion coal discovery in the jungles of Borneo Island. The East Kutai project is a huge resource with a JORC compliant estimate of 2.7 billion tonnes of coal, acquired by Churchill in 2007 through an acquisition of a 75% stake in Indonesian group Ridlatama.

U.K.-listed London Mining PLC said Friday it has started production of high grade iron ore from its Sierra Leone Marampa project and expects to ship its first iron ore later this month.

Expert from Cornell University, said that authorities should wait for results of the several ongoing studies on health and environmental dangers of fracking before granting rights to mining companies. In a talk given last night in New Brunswick, Canada, Dr. Ingraffea, said that one of the biggest problems of fracking is the failure of wells, which allowes methane gas to escape, polluting drinking water and entering the atmosphere.

The environmental impacts of what would be the Northwest Territories' fourth diamond mine are being studied in Yellowknife, the capital.

Rio Tinto has given the green light to an additional US$2.7 billion capital investment to modernize its aluminium smelter in Kitimat, British Columbia. This new investment will allow for completion of the US$3.3 billion project in 2014.

Kenya is set to join the league of gold-producing nations following the granting of the first mining lease to UK company Goldplat.

Rockland Minerals Corp has completed the definitive agreement for the Blue Lake copper-nickel-platinum group metals project.

Gold hit a 2-week high on Thursday as gains in equities and the euro prompted buying from speculators after major central banks took coordinated action to prevent the euro-zone debt crisis from igniting a global economic meltdown.

More than 150 internationally known writers and artists are urging Mexican President Felipe Calderon to cancel mining concessions in an area of northern Mexico considered sacred ground by the Huichol Indians.