Mongolia's massive Oyu Tolgoi copper-gold project is expected to begin production in August 2012, sooner than forecast, said Temuulen Ganzorig, Deputy Director of Erdenes MGL which partners with Ivanhoe Mines and Rio Tinto in developing the site.

Leading Australian headquartered mining contractor, Ausdrill Ltd, has announced a successful major capital raising to raise gross proceeds of A$129.5 million, to be used as growth capital to fund purchases of plant and equipment for projects commencing in the next 12 months or projects which have been tendered for. This mainly includes projects in Africa and Australia.

Commodity prices still could rise in the next few months, but the chances for a sharp correction in the May-June timeframe are rising, said MFGlobal in a research note on Wednesday. "Several variables are converging to suggest that it may be time to take some length off the table," the firm said.

The world copper market could see a supply deficit of half a million tonnes this year and the shortage may extend beyond 2013, Rio Tinto's (RIO.L: Quote) copper unit chief executive, Andrew Harding, said on Wednesday.

Tosca Mining Corp. (TSQ - TSX Venture, TQ4 - FWB), reported today it has completed the due diligence on the Red Hills Moly-Copper Project and has signed a formal agreement to purchase the 100% ownership of all mineral and surface rights of the property. The agreement calls for payments of US$10,900,000 and the issuance of 2.1 million common shares to the sellers of the property over a five year period. The sellers will retain a 2% net smelter return over the Red Hills property.

International Minerals Corporation (TSX: IMZ) (SWISS: IMZ) reports updated mineral reserve and resource estimates for the Pallancata silver mine, Peru, jointly owned by IMZ (40% interest) and Hochschild Mining plc ("Hochschild", 60% interest) based on information supplied by Hochschild, the mine operator, as of December 31, 2010.

Nunavut is attracting the attention of the world's miners like never before, says Scotiabank commodities analyst Patricia Mohr, speaking at a mining summit in the mineral-rich Canadian northern territory. Nunatsiaq Online reports: Pushed by the developing world’s growing hunger for consumer items, civil unrest in many countries, and “random” events like the recent tsunami, earthquake and nuclear power plant disaster in Japan, mining companies around the world are eying Nunavut with far more interest than before.

With gold breaking through $1460 and silver settling well above $39, mid tier and junior gold and silver mining stocks in particular […]

Silver Quest Resources (TSX.V: SQI) (“Silver Quest” or “the Company”) is pleased to report the discovery of a significant gold-in-soil anomaly, referred […]