Zinc

An expansion of one of the world's largest open pit copper mine received an important boost Monday after Utah regulators signed off on a permit allowing increased emissions from dust. Kennecott Utah Copper can now begin to actively pursue almost two dozen other permits that are needed for the mine's expansion, including approvals for the conversion of a coal-fired power plant to natural gas.

The Micronutrient Initiative (MI) and Teck Resources Limited (Teck) announced today they are joining hands in a new partnership to develop and sustain zinc treatment programs to help save children's lives.

Viking Minerals commenced the review of pre-drilling and geological mapping of its South Dolly Varden gold / copper claims in Elko County, Nevada. This mapping is to facilitate a resolution of the zones of mineralization outlined by the surface geochem and rock samples and the 3,000 foot delineated coincident Induced Polarization (IP) anomaly with the intersection of the diamond drill core holes.

Minera Andes announced drill assay results from the January – May 2011 drill program and a development update for the 100% owned Los Azules Copper Project, in San Juan Province, Argentina. Highlights from the recent drilling include a step-out drill hole, located approximately 250 meters west of the resource that returned 0.50% copper over 269 meters, including 0.95% copper over 45 meters. Infill drilling was generally in line with expectations, for example intersecting 0.66% copper over 395 meters and 0.63% copper over 237 meters.

Former Arizona congressman Richard Renzi must face public corruption charges over allegations that he coerced a mining company into buying land from one of his former business partners, a U.S. appeals court ruled on Thursday. Renzi was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2002.

Western Copper Corporation (TSX:WRN)(NYSE Amex:WRN) announced that its Board of Directors has unanimously approved a proposal to undertake a spin-out transaction that would reorganize the business and capital structure of the company into three separate public companies to allow Western Copper to focus on the development of its flagship Casino copper/gold/silver/molybdenum project.

Data out this week show the likes of Goldman Sachs and JP Morgan raking in record revenues of almost $1bn/month in commodity and other trading revenue. A recent study of mining mergers and acquisitions shows the proportion of financial firms – as opposed to other miners – taking over resource companies had increased fourfold. And perhaps the most significant indication that US banking practices honed in the property markets have arrived in minerals is news that star metals traders now command pay as high as $3 million/year.

Colibri Resource Corporation reports final results from a 2400 meter drill program at the Ramard silver project, in Sonora, Mexico. The Ramard property consists of over 4000 hectares of mineral concessions located 100 km north of the city of Hermosillo, Sonora, wholly owned by Colibri's Mexican subsidiary, Minera Halcones. The Ramard property contains numerous historical artisanal silver mine workings.

Ivanhoe Mines' Chief Executive Officer Robert Friedland announced today that the company expects to receive US$502 million from Rio Tinto later today following Rio Tinto's decision to exercise all remaining share-purchase warrants that it holds in Ivanhoe Mines.