China's insatiable demand for commodities has prompted a tripling in the price of mining truck tyres, making them more expensive than a Mercedes sportscar. Prices for tyres about 3.5 meters wide used on the Caterpillar trucks that haul iron ore and coal have touched $93,500 on the spot market, according to Leighton Holdings, a contractor for mining companies including BHP Billiton. Prices rose as high as $140,000 in 2008.

The Street reports that Copper's supply versus demand curve shows that the metal is likely to shine in the near future.

Candente Copper Corp. (TSE:DNT) updates on the status of the entirely owned Cañariaco Norte Copper Project in Northern Peru.

Most Australians have never heard her name, but WA's biggest diamond producer hopes Hong Kong celebrity Louisa So Yuk Wa will help launch it into one of the world's fastest-growing jewellery markets.

Canpotex Limited (Canpotex) today signed a contract with Sinofert Holdings Limited (Sinofert) to supply 630,000 tonnes of potash during the second half of calendar 2011 at price levels which reflect an approximate $70.00 per tonne increase above the first half China price level.

A Vancouver-based company is behind Mongolia’s first shipment of coal to the Republic of Buryatia in the Russian Federation. On Wednesday, Prophecy Coal (TSX-V:PCY) said it had shipped 650 tonnes, or 10 wagons worth, of coal from the company’s Ulaan Ovoo mine in Mongolia to an energy company in southeastern Russia.

SW Radio Africa reports the seemingly unilateral decision by the chairman of the international diamond trade watchdog to allow Zimbabwe to resume diamond exports has been rejected by among others the United States, Canada and Israel. Some members of the industry body want to keep a ban on exports of Zimbabwe's diamonds which could potentially be worth $2bn/year and include a vast stockpile built up during international sanctions, because of ongoing smuggling out of the rich Chiadzwa fields and reports of sustained human rights abuses there.

The Dar es Salaam Citizen reports Tanzanite One Mining, the dominant miner of the rare gemstone only found in the foothills of Mount Kilimanjaro, has been ordered to increase the minimum wage for its employees from Sh180,000 to Sh350,000 per month (roughly US$215) as directed by the government. London-listed Tanzanite One has returned to profitability as prices for the gems which usually follow that of rough diamonds improve post-recession and is embarking on an expansion strategy, acquiring an Australian sapphire project earlier in June and reshuffling its board.

The new School of Mines at Laurentian University will be offering an executive MBA in mining, and hopes to develop specialized programs aimed at the industry's existing professionals, says Michael Lesher, director of mining initiatives, to the Sudbury Star.

"We've already been doing many of the things that mining schools have. We've got one of the top mineral exploration programs in the world, one of the best mining engineering programs in the world, and we do environmental restoration like nobody's business," he said. "We (also) want to develop programs in mining-related occupational health and safety and offer programs on aboriginal consultation as it relates to potential new mining communities up north."