MINING.COM

New wind turbine design may give nuclear and coal a run for its money

NHK World reported that Japanese researchers have created a new design for wind turbines that doubles and even triples the power of conventional models. The wind lense turbines, currently operating at Kyushu University, were developed by Professor Yuji Ohya at the university's Research Institute for Applied Mechanics. A lense fits around the outside of the blades which creates a low pressure region beyond the blades and causes the wind to surge through the turbine increasing the the blades speed and the power generated.

Michael Allan McCrae | September 1, 2011 | 2:18 pm

Rodney Cooper: Bullish on iron ore and copper

Rodney Cooper, a senior mining analyst with Dundee Capital Markets in Toronto, has some rather bullish forecasts for iron ore and copper prices. But given the worldwide economic malaise and a slowdown for China's economic powerhouse, what's his rationale? Cooper talks about his predictions in this exclusive interview with The Gold Report.

The Gold Report | August 31, 2011 | 10:00 pm

Atacama narrows loss on strong iodine prices

Atacama Minerals Corp. (TSX VENTURE:AAM) ("Atacama" or "the Company") is pleased to provide the following report on the financial and operating highlights for the second quarter period ended June 30, 2011. The Company recorded significantly higher gross profits of $1.9 million for the quarter representing a 64% increase over the same period last year. Enjoying a 19% increase in iodine prices and a 15% increase in iodine sales volume, the Company's net loss was narrowed to $117,000 compared to $650,000 in the second quarter of 2010.

Marketwire - Mining and Metals | August 31, 2011 | 9:00 pm

Pan American Goldfields production increase at Cieneguita silver and gold project

VANCOUVER, Aug. 31, 2011 /PRNewswire/ - Pan American Goldfields Ltd (OTCQB:"MXOM") (the "Company") is pleased to report a significant increase in gold and silver production at its Cieneguita, Chihuahua, Mexico, joint venture. The Company's partner at the Cieneguita joint venture is Minera Rio Tinto (MRT), a private Chihuahua based company. Under the joint venture agreement the Company receives 20% of the net operating profits after royalties for material processed through the small-scale operation and mined from the first 15 meters depth of the Cieneguita deposit until December 31st 2012. For all other material processed from the property, the Company's interest is 80% and MRT has a 20% working interest.

WALB 10 | August 31, 2011 | 4:13 pm

Nautilus Minerals to raise $100 million for PNG seafloor project

Nautilus Minerals (TSX:NUS)(AIM:NUS) is to raise approximately US$100 million (C$98.1 million*) through a private placement of common shares to fund the development of its first project, Solwara 1, in the Bismarck Sea of Papua New Guinea. The placing will involve the issue of approximately 39 million shares to a number of investors at a price of CAD$2.52 (US$2.58) per share. Nautilus President and CEO Steve Rogers said the private placement would provide funds for the construction of the seafloor resource production system, which initially will be deployed at Solwara 1 – the company's first deepwater copper and gold project.

Marketwire - Mining and Metals | August 31, 2011 | 3:50 pm

Lithium One defines new zone of high grade lithium-potash brine at Sal de Vida

VANCOUVER, CANADA--(Marketwire - Aug. 31, 2011) - Lithium One Inc. (the "Company") (TSX VENTURE:LI), is pleased to report the delineation of a new zone (the "North Basin") containing thick halite sequences hosting high grade lithium and potassium brine at the Sal de Vida Project at Salar del Hombre Muerto, Argentina. The five core holes in this new discovery report grades averaging 852 mg/L lithium and 10,181 mg/L potassium within the first 55 metres from surface, with no cut-offs applied. The 50 km²North Basin is adjacent to, but geologically separated from, the 170 km²Central Basin where the Company has previously defined an inferred resource¹ of 5.4 million tonnes Lithium Carbonate equivalent and 21 million tonnes potassium chloride equivalent (1,470M m³ at 695 mg/L Li and 7590 mg/L K).

Marketwire - Mining and Metals | August 31, 2011 | 1:00 pm

Iron ore miners call the shots as China steelmakers’ profits melt away

China's 27 largest steel companies saw a 15.7% decrease in the first-half profits from a year earlier for a combined profit of $1.6 billion, according to the Shanghai-based researcher Wind Info, as soaring iron ore costs squeezed margins. The woes of China's steelmakers, which have been switching to cheaper low grade ore to cut costs as prices top $180/tonne, are in stark contrast to profits at miners. Last week results for BHP Billiton showed its iron ore division accounted for the bulk of its record $22 billion in profits. BHP, Vale and Rio Tinto – control nearly 70% of the 1 billion tonne annual iron ore seaborne trade and dominate price talks.

Frik Els | August 30, 2011 | 11:45 pm

Labour disputes permeate copper market

The copper market has been plagued with labour disputes for years, however, this year, strikes have been especially prevalent with workers believing that they are entitled to larger pay cheques and benefits.

TheStreet.com | August 30, 2011 | 10:15 pm

New designs for Cat® D11T and D11T Carrydozer

The Cat® D11, since 1986, has set the standard for machine productivity, durability, reliability, safety and operator convenience in high production dozing applications. The new D11T and D11T CD elevate that standard with design refinements that include Enhanced Auto Shift, Dynamic Inclination Monitor, automatic climate control and available automated ripper control.

MINING.com Editor | August 30, 2011 | 5:13 pm

Nortec (NVT) Signs Agreement for $20.5 Million Option of the LK Project, Finland

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwire - Aug. 30, 2011) - Further to the press release dated July 27, 2011, Nortec Minerals Corp. (TSX VENTURE:NVT)(PINK SHEETS:NMNZF)(FRANKFURT:WMQ) ("Nortec" or the "Company"), is pleased to announce that it has signed an Option and Joint Venture Agreement ("OA") with Otterburn Ventures Inc. (CSNX:OTB) ("Otterburn"). The OA gives Otterburn the option to earn up to an 80% interest in Nortec's Läntinen Koillismaa project, a 100 % owned palladium-platinum–gold–copper-nickel property ("LK Project"), located in north central Finland.

Marketwire - Mining and Metals | August 30, 2011 | 1:00 pm