Recent developments are rapidly stacking the odds against Alberta oil sands: the oil price has fallen 20% in one month, the gap between US crude and world prices hit a record on Wednesday above $24, the premium syncrude enjoyed in recent months is melting away and Canadian heavy oil's discount to US crude has widened to $15. The question now is how many of the $100 billion of oil sands projects in various stages of development will be completed or run at a profit when Canadian crude only attracts $60-$70 a barrel and could go lower. Sky-rocketing labour and equipment costs and a rising loonie could well turn out to be the proverbial last straw.

Rio Tinto has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Jindal Steel and Power Limited (JSPL) to take the next step in global commercialisation of the HIsmelt technology to be used in a fully integrated steel making facility.

The lawyer who acquitted the geologist at the centre of the Bre-X scandal is facing a disciplinary hearing in Toronto for his conduct during the trial, which happened a decade ago. The Law Society of Upper Canada accuses Joe Groia of professional conduct for "incivility" during the trial, The Globe and Mail reported on Thursday: Mr. Groia, 56, criticized in previous court judgments for using “petulant invective” and “guerillia theatre” in the Bre-X trial, faces anything from a reprimand to the revocation of his licence if a three-member Law Society panel finds he violated the profession's rules.

B2Gold reported results from its operations for the second quarter ended June 30, 2011. Highlights were adjusted net earnings of $22.0 million ($0.07 per share); record cash flow from operations of $28.8 million ($0.09 per share); and an increase of cash and cash equivalents to $78.9 million at quarter end.

Nautilus Minerals announced on Thursday that they were granted offshore exploration licences in Fiji. The Fijian Government has granted the company 14 special prospecting licences, covering a total of approximately 60,000 km2. The territory is considered highly prospective, having been the subject of marine research by Japanese, French and other scientific cruises in the late 1980s and early 1990s. The licences each have an initial term of two years.

New Earth Potash announced the closing of a non-brokered private placement successfully completed largely due to the efforts of PowerOne Capital Markets Limited. The private placement consisted of 21,575,000 units at a price of 25 cents per unit for aggregate gross proceeds of $5,393,750. Each unit consists of one common share of the company and one-half of one common share purchase warrant.

The Web documentary "Welcome to Pine Point" by combining video, photographs, text, music and narration and then blurring the boundaries among them, pushes storytelling and documentary filmmaking into new territory. "Welcome to Pine Point" is the story of a small lead and zinc mining town in Canada's Northwest Territories that physically disappeared from the map after the mines closed in 1988. The first buildings were erected in 1952 and at its peak it had 1,200 inhabitants.

Revett Minerals announced on Thursday record quarterly revenues of $18.8 million, a 102% increase compared to the same period last year. The Company also increased its cash and cash equivalents on hand at the end of the second quarter to $14.7 million from $8.8 million at the beginning of the year. For the three months ended June 30, 2011 the Company had net income of $7.9 million or $0.23 per share. These record results are due to higher metal prices, significantly improved metal grades, and higher metallurgical and operating efficiencies.

Investors aren't the only ones rushing to profit from the booming value of gold. Refiners, who buy scrap gold from dealers and private owners, say they are also seeing an upsurge in activity. "It is great for business," says Terry Hanlon, director of the