A proposed uranium mine in Virginia is attracting its share of proponents and detractors. The state has upheld a ban on uranium mining since 1982, but the ban is being reconsidered in light of a proposal by Virginia Uranium Mining to extract 119 million pounds of the nuclear fuel from what would be the world's seventh-largest uranium deposit. On Thursday a day-long forum was held to weigh arguments on either side of whether the private company should be allowed to (mostly underground) mine the Coles Hills deposit.

Junior zinc producer Canadian Zinc (TSE:CZN) reported a $5.3 million loss in the third quarter, which it attributed to higher exploration expenses and losses in the value of its shares in a Fijian mine.

Mid-tier gold producer IAMGOLD (TSE:IMG) has purchased a 14% stake in Colombia Crest Gold Corp. (CVE:CLB) for $3.4 million. Stock in Colombia Crest Gold shot up 9.43% on the news. The private placement follows IAMGOLD's earlier investments in Tolima Gold Corp., a junior miner, and Bellhaven Copper & Gold (CVE:BHV).

The cash at the world's top six mining companies is estimated to top out at $144 billion by end 2013 and M&A activity this year is already up 67% over 2010. The gold sector has been leading the frenzy and the stock market is where they will be looking to find additional ounces.

It seems that Guatemala's poor will go to extreme lengths for the chance to find valuable precious metals. The Associated Press reports that hundreds of people regularly search for jewelry and scraps of metal among the trash that spills from a drainage tunnel into Guatemala City's main landfill: Every day, about 300 hike to the bottom of the ravine and wade into the water in search of rings and bracelets made of silver or gold. The water sifts and carries away the lighter garbage, leaving heavy metals on the stream bed.

Chuck Frey, marketing manager for VISTA Training Inc., explains how Suncor Energy used VISTA to improve the training curriculum of their haul truck operators.

A key element in the success of this training program is that it was extended to include the truck mentors — the critical link in the transfer of knowledge from the learning lab to the real-world environment of the haul truck. Suncor made a major investment in developing its mentors by taking them through the entire training program, providing them with coaching skills and tools, and by providing a forum where they could share their concerns and discuss how to overcome obstacles encountered during field training.

India's largest business group is considering making a bid for New Hope Corp. (ASX:NHC) in what could be the largest coal deal since Alpha Natural Resources (NYSE:ANR) bought Massey Energy in January for around $7 billion. According to Bloomberg, citing sources familiar with the plan, the acquisition would involve a joint bid between Tata Steel and Tata Power for Queensland-based New Hope which is valued at $A4.9 billion. Indian steelmakers and power plants are struggling to secure coal to run their plants in the face of supply shortages.

IBTimes Gold put together a list (with photos) of the world's 10 largest gold mines based on production data. Without giving away the results, IBTimes Gold says despite some difference of opinion, the Grasberg mine in Indonesia tops the list as world #1.

Top management and eight shareholders who control 73.9% of the outstanding shares of TSX-Venture listed Sino Vanadium on Friday announced that they are taking the tiny firm private. The company first listed in June 2009. The share tripled on Friday to 21c and 108,200 shares changed hands compared to the usual 1,000. The company is offering 27c to shareholders who turn in their shares over the next month, so some investors appear to be cashing in early. Sino Vanadium owns 100% of a project in China's Shaanxi Province in the feasibility stage which it says could produce 14% of world vanadium supply.