Rio Alto Mining Limited (TSX-V:RIO) is pleased to announce the first gold pour at the La Arena gold oxide mine in north-central Peru on May 6. The mining rate at La Arena is building up to a nameplate level of 10,000 tonnes per day of ore to pad with commercial production expected during Q3, 2011. Management is targeting gold production of approximately 75,000 ounces for 2011.

Taipei Times reports: Brazilian mining giant Vale opened a new US$1.7 billion coal mine in Mozambique yesterday, tapping the southern African country’s thermal and coking coal reserves of about 23 billion tonnes. Vale plans to start production in July and export 1 million tonnes of coal from the US$1.7 billion project this year, ramping up production to 11 million tonnes in a few years — and, local officials hope, boosting Mozambique’s current economic growth of 6.5 percent.

Thompson Creek Metals Company Inc. announced financial results for the three months ended March 31, 2011, prepared in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles ("US GAAP"). All dollar amounts are in U.S. dollars unless otherwise indicated. Financial Highlights: Revenue for the quarter ended March 31, 2011 was $206.7 million, up 62% from $127.8 million for the first quarter of 2010. Image by Thompson Creek Metals

Silver Wheaton Corp. ("Silver Wheaton" or the "Company") (TSX:SLW)(NYSE: SLW) is pleased to announce that its Board of Directors has declared its second quarterly cash dividend payment for 2011 of US$0.03 per common share. The quarterly dividend will be paid to holders of record of its common shares as of the close of business on June 20, 2011, and will be distributed on or about June 30, 2011. The Company's dividend qualifies as an 'eligible dividend' for Canadian income tax purposes.

Teck Resources Limited (TSX: TCK.A and TCK.B, NYSE: TCK) announced today that employees at its Fording River operation in southeastern British Columbia have ratified a new five-year agreement, replacing an agreement which expired on April 30, 2011. "Our discussions with the union were very productive and we are pleased to have reached a new five-year collective agreement at our Fording River operation," said Bill Fleming, Vice President, Operations and Engineering.

The Republic reports that Massey Energy will stop production at Randolph Mine in West Virginia mine for three days to retrain workers after the operation was cited for a string of serious MSHA safety violations. "We were disappointed in the results of last week's MSHA inspection and I ordered this stand down to reinforce safe mining practices and provide additional training in safety, ventilation and the requirements of our mine plan," Massey Chief Executive Baxter Phillips said in a statement.

De Beers announced that it will sell the Namaqualand diamond mine in South Africa to Trans Hex for 225 million Rand ($33.5 million). The sale joins a number of low producing diamond mines the company has sold in South Africa in the past few years. No details about the transaction were made available, and it’s not clear if this is a cash-only agreement. The timeline of the agreement is not known either, though in the past the approval of the South African government was needed, which may determine the ownership transfer.

Following the approval by Wesizwe shareholders in March 2011 of the total mine development financing solution offered by the Chinese consortium of Jinchuan, CAD Fund and Micawber, TWP Projects, a Basil Read Group company, has submitted a full EPCM proposal to the company for the new twin vertical shafts (the Main and Ventilation Shafts), a new plant and all surface infrastructure at its Frischgewaagd-Ledig Complex near Rustenburg, South Africa.

Sandvik Mining and Construction has signed a major materials handling contract with a major mining company in Latin America. The contract value exceeds SEK1,200 million and will be executed and contribute to SMC business during the years 2011 until 2013.