Sherritt's Q1 earnings rose 116% over the same quarter a year ago. The company reported net earnings on Thursday of $63.6 million or 22 cents a share. A year ago, the company reported only $29.4 million in net earnings or 10 cents a share. The company's sales volumes were up slightly. Sherritt's sales volumes of nickel, reported in thounsands of pounds, was 9,438 in 2011 and 9,392 in 2010, less than a one per cent increase.

Navigator Project Finance is presenting a two-day Excel-based modelling course for mining projects at various locations around Australia: Perth, Sydney and London this summer, and Brisbane and Perth this fall.

Attend this... course if you are involved in the management, development or appraisal of mining projects. It covers the core Excel and Scenario skills required to efficiently and professionally analyse, communicate and update the progress of a mining project. This course is presented by Navigator’s experienced mining project modellers and is focused on how a project finance banker or external party would analyse your project. This knowledge empowers you to create sensitivity and scenario framework that will hold up to the scrutiny of these stakeholders.

Russia's top steelmaker Severstal (CHMF.MM: Quote) said on Thursday its crude steel output rose to 3.65 million tonnes in the first quarter 2011, up 5 percent from the same period last year. However, production was down 5 percent compared with the last quarter 2010, when output reached 3.84 million tonnes.

U.S. silver futures rallied as much as 6 percent and gold reached a record high on Thursday, underpinned by a weakened dollar after the U.S. Federal Reserve signalled no rush to reverse its accommodative monetary policy.

Russia's two main rail lines into Asia and, in particular China, are increasingly overburdened which is causing a headache for metals firms looking to increase exports.

Japan's imports of rare earths from China rose 40 percent in March from the previous month, Ministry of Finance data showed, with some observers saying demand is so far unaffected by last month's devastating quake though the outlook remains murky.

With six drillholes confirming high-grade gold over 250 metres of strike in a recently discovered area at the Black Fox mine in the Timmins district, Canada, Brigus Gold (TSX: BRD) dedicated all drilling resources on site to the new prospect that it's calling the 147 zone. On news of the quickly growing gold zone Brigus' shareprice gained over three percent and was trading at C$1.48 at presstime.

Barrick's Q1 earnings rose 22% to $1.0 billion, up from $820 million a year ago. The company, which released its quarterly financial results on Wednesday, said the rise was due to better than expected production results and higher prices for copper and gold. Barrick's earnings per share were an even $1.00. The total cash cost per ounce of gold is $437 while net cash cost is $308. Barrick said cash costs were ahead of budget due to higher production at its Cortez, Goldstrike and Veladero operations.

Nemaska Exploration reported on Wednesday drill results for its Whabouchi lithium project. Highlights were 53.5 m at 1.81% Li2O, 39.6 m at 1.56% Li2O, 13.5 m at 1.81% Li2O and 17.0 m at 1.71% Li2O. Results were from 10 additional holes from a recently completed drill program. In total, the company has drilled more than 43 holes totalling 8,909 metres.