Top global miner BHP Billiton has moved into the feasibility study stage of preparing a long-awaited expansion of the Olympic Dam copper and uranium mine in South Australia.

Leighton Holdings subsidiaries Thiess and Leighton Contractors have announced three important new contracts. Thiess has secured a $166 million contract to provide bulk earth works and selected infrastructure for BHP Billiton Iron Ore’s Jimblebar mine near Newman in Western Australia.

Lundin Mining and Inmet Mining late Tuesday called it a day regarding their proposed friendly merger with a kindly farewell: "We continue to think very highly of each other's assets and wish each other well."

A Chinese TV station last week reported ‘through the roof’ gold demand which was leading to a shortage of supplies for fabrication.

According to the multi-year deal, Agnico-Eagle would get an option to own up to a 70% stake in Mranda Gold’s Alaska Gold […]

Rosa Elbira Coc Ich and ten other indigenous Mayan Q’eqchi’ women filed a lawsuit today against Canadian mining companies HMI Nickel, and […]

Global gold miner AngloGold Ashanti reported record earnings in 2010, and credited higher gold prices for the stellar results. In a suite of reports released today, the South Africa-based company said it earned US$787 million last year, up from $708 million in 2009. Revenues were up 41%, from $3.916 billion in 2009 to $5.514 billion in 2010. Image by AngloGold Ashanti

Strait Gold Corporation (TSX-V:SRD), is pleased to report final assay results from a 2000-metre drill program at its Alicia copper-gold project in southern Peru. Highlights include: - 134.0 metres of 0.29% copper, 0.03 grams per tonne (g/t) gold in hole ALC11-16, including 9.75 metres of 1.27% copper, 0.07 g/t gold and 0.032% molybdenite; and, - 18.5 metres of 1.25% copper, 0.15g/t gold, 13.3 g/t silver and 0.012% molybdenite in ALC11-17. Image from Strait Gold Corporation

Global miner Rio Tinto lowered the acceptance condition on its A$3.9 billion ($4 billion) offer for Riversdale Mining on Tuesday after entering into talks with Brazil's CSN , a major Riversdale shareholder.