Congo authorities seized 435 kilos (957 pounds) of gold and $6.5 million in cash in smashing a plot to smuggle the haul abroad from the country's anarchic east, officials said on Saturday. The Democratic Republic of Congo's state prosecutor said five people including an American and two French citizens, as well as an impounded, U.S.-registered Gulfstream jet, had been released after a $3 million fine was paid.

Western Copper (WRN.TO) has begun engineering studies to determine whether it can modify plans that pushed regulators to reject its request for a water use license at its Carmacks copper project in Canada's Yukon Territory. A recent court ruling in the northwestern territory upheld the Yukon Water Board's decision to reject Western Copper's plans, forcing the exploration company to go back to the drawing board.

Global No. 1 copper producer Chile's Codelco said Friday its 2010 output dipped but should be steady this year, and expects strong Chinese demand, Japan's recovery after a natural disaster, as well as new uses to stoke demand. Codelco said profits surged 47 percent to $5.8 billion in 2010, with a rise in copper prices to record highs more than compensating for a 0.8 percent fall in production from 2009 to 1.688 million tonnes. [ID:nN08136598]

Silver Quest Resources (TSX-V:SQI) has entered into an agreement with The Yukon Cornelius Syndicate, a staking syndicate whose members are at arm's length to the company, to acquire a 100% interest in 80 quartz mineral claims (YCS Claims) located in the White Gold District, 135 km south of Dawson City, Yukon.

Rambler Metals and Mining PLC (TSX-V:RAB)(AIM:RMM) said it intends to raise approximately £10 million, before expenses, through a placing of 27,777,778 ordinary shares at 36 pence each (approximately CDN$0.57 per share).

According to RBC Capital Markets, when ArcelorMittal reports mining assets separately, AM Mining could rank as the fifth largest iron ore producer […]

Four miners have been killed in an accident at Vedanta’s Nchanga copper mine in Zambia. They were working on a new section […]

Alberta - Online heavy equipment operator training is available from Vista Training at a reasonable cost, according to the company. Thanks to the Internet, access is convenient - whenever (on demand at any time) and wherever (remote sites or those in populated areas).

Each of the lessons is about an hour long and focuses on common tasks in the mine, says Vista. They feature integrated tests to gauge how much knowledge trainees are retaining. At the end of each program, a personalized certificate of completion can be printed.

Following the success of its launch last year, the Engineering Council and Professional Engineering Institutions (PEIs) will once again be exhibiting together on the Professional Development Hub at The National Engineering & Construction Recruitment Exhibition (NECR) at the NEC, Birmingham on 6 & 7 May 2011.

The Professional Development Hub will cover more engineering disciplines for the May exhibition, with a greater number of PEIs taking part. This means that there will be an increased number of representatives on hand to advise visitors about their professional development options, including information about institution membership and professional registration.