MetalBulletin is tagging stories related to unrest in the Middle East and North Africa so readers can assess possible impacts on the mining sector.

The Associated Press reports that Kate Middleton’s ancestors worked in England’s coal pits: Her great-grandfather left coal country nearly a century ago […]

Romios Gold Resources announced that a 2010 mapping project from the British Columbia Geological Survey confirmed Romios' previous claims that the Dirk property mineralization is analogous to and may be as large as the Galore Creek project. Samples collected by Romios from the Dirk property produced numerous anomalous values including a 3.0 metre chip sample of 6.21% Cu, 0.57 g/t Au, and 44.1 g/t Ag. The BCGS also reports values up to 21 ppb platinum and 64 ppb palladium from samples that they collected from the Dirk property.

Market capitalisation for miners on the TSX and TSX Venture rose from Can$325 billion in 2009 to $467 billion in 2010, according to a study released by Ernst & Young on Wednesday. The study also found that the mining sector raised $17.7 billion through IPOs and private placements, eclipsing the oil and gas industry which only managed $11.3 billion. The study also found that there were 52 mining initial public offerings on the TSX and TSX Venture that raised more than $1.3 billion.

Quebec's three-year run as the Fraser Institute's favourite mining jurisdiction ended after Alberta took the top spot. Releasing it's findings on Wednesday, the think tank lauded Alberta's tax policies and clear rules regarding mining. “Alberta’s resource-friendly government, competitive taxation regime, and superior infrastructure render the province a standout for mining investment, not only in Canada but also globally,” said Fred McMahon, coordinator of the survey and the Institute’s vice-president of international policy research.

On Tuesday the Ontario Superior Court of Justice dismissed Inspiration Mining Corporation’s court application against URSA Major Minerals. Inspiration sought to reverse […]

Argonaut Resources NL (ASX:  ARE) announced on Friday results from pre-collar assays from the Alford project (EL3969) on South Australia’s Yorke Peninsula. Highlights from the intercepts were ALDDH10: 78m at 0.62% Cu from 88m. It also included 54m at 0.86% Cu from 88m.

Kazakhmys, the world's 10th largest copper miner, was confident the long-term outlook for copper remained positive as a surge in prices drove its full-year profit higher. Kazakhmys said on Thursday its 2010 earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) rose 59.5 percent to $1.93 billion. According to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S estimates, the average EBITDA forecast stood at $1.86 billion.

Joy Global Inc.'s fiscal first-quarter earnings rose 34%, but the mining-equipment company's sales and profit were lower than expected, partly because of flooding in Australia that disrupted mine operations. According to a report in The Wall Street Journal, Chief Executive Mike Sutherlin said a 20-25% increase in steel prices will be offset by higher equipment prices. "We're looking at higher input prices," Mr. Sutherlin said during a conference call Wednesday with analysts. "I don't think it's a significant, unmanageable risk though." The Milwaukee -based company's profits and orders for new equipment and service have been improving in recent quarters on rising prices for mined commodities, such as coal, iron ore and copper.