Inmet Mining Corporation (TSX:IMN) has launched a $1 billion senior unsecured notes offering as part of a total finance plan for the $6.18 billion copper/gold/molybdenum project Cobre Panama.

The new China Beijing Metals Exchange (CBMX), the country’s first physical iron ore trading platform is set to debut Tuesday, with the major producers of the commodity BHP Billiton (NYSE:RIO), Vale (NYSE:VALE), Rio Tinto (NYSE:RIO) as members.

Miningmx.com reports April has seen the lowest number of mining fatalities ever in South Africa, according to figures released by mines minister Susan Shabangu.

A takeover of the 134-year old LME – responsible for 80% of the global metals futures trade – is expected to become official this week amid talk of manipulation and distorted pricing in the copper market. Some traders are fingering Swiss giant Glencore while others believe China has managed to corner the market.

Authorities in Kazakhstan, a former Soviet republic of 16.7 million people, are especially wary of labor unrest in single-industry towns after a months-long dispute involving sacked oil workers last year erupted into the country's worst violence in decades.

Rio Tinto chief executive Tom Albanese has moved to assure Australian investors that the miner will not over-commit its expansion spending to iron ore but news from London highlights the difficulty the company may face responding to various pressures.

Wagers on copper increased sevenfold to 15,582, as prices slumped 2.7 percent, the first weekly drop in three. Bullish gold bets climbed 7.9 percent to 116,061, a four-week high.

"I think gold is a great thing to sew into your garments if you're a Jewish family in Vienna in 1939, but I think civilized people don't buy gold. They invest in productive businesses."

Vancouver's First Point Minerals served notice of arbitration on Cliffs on Saturday because the iron and coal giant refuses to hand over crucial information about the tiny explorer's Decar project, set to become the world's first commercial nickel-iron alloy mine, effectively naturally-occurring 'stainless steel'. BlackRock, an asset manager with more than $3 trillion in assets picked up a stake in First Point two months ago.