South Africa’s platinum mining firms, top union end ‘titanic battle’ as they seal wage deal

The first two months of 2015 failed miserably to dispel gloomy market conditions affecting the global mining industry, according to a study published Wednesday.

From South America to Africa, mining companies are throwing all that and more at communities to quiet growing opposition to controversial projects.

In 2014, nine out of top 10 gold producers achieved significant reductions in all-in sustaining production costs, but average cash margin fell victim to bearish gold price.

Iron ore fell to a new 7-year low on Tuesday, but Guinea is pressing ahead with the auction of north Simandou, the richest undeveloped deposit in the world.

Zimbabwe’s diamond industry will soon be controlled by one firm as the country’s major diamond mining companies have agreed to merge.

Board proposes to give shareholders one share in the $12bn spin-off company for every BHP share owned, but the whole process comes with hefty fees.

The gem, discovered a decade ago at one of De Beers mines in South Africa, is one of just five diamonds over 100 carats and of comparable quality to have been offered at an auction.

Fresh from $137m Burkina Faso acquisition, Montreal-based gold miner adds to investor cheer with strong operational performance in West Africa.

Freddy Bonjour, covered in yellow dust from head to toe, stands exhausted after a day using his bare hands and a shovel to dig for gold in eastern Central African Republic.