This Congo project could supply the world with lithium

China Mining United Fund plans to establish a collaborative China/Africa equity fund to pursue minority stakes in gold, iron-ore and metal companies in Africa and other parts of the world, and which could raise $2 billion in investment capital.

The most deep-pocketed shopper among the 150 or so boutiques in Khartoum’s gold district is the Sudanese central bank.

First Quantum Minerals has announced it has temporarily suspended normal operations at its Guelb Moghrein copper-gold mine in Mauritania due to illegal strike action by some unionized employees.

New oil reserves could also create new centres of power and in the context of a general oil rush in Central and East Africa, the lack of clearly defined borders, especially in the Great Lakes region, poses significant risk for maintaining regional stability.

Sunday Times reports (paywall) that BHP Billiton, which is shedding its non-core operations, is looking for a buyer for its Mount Nimba iron ore project in Guinea.

With gold, silver, and their miners’ stocks drifting listlessly near correction lows, the sentiment in precious-metals land is even more pessimistic than usual.

Brazilian billionaire André Esteves has teamed up with Roger Agnelli, kicked out of iron ore giant Vale by government shareholders last year, to create their own mining company with an initial investment of $520 million.

South Africa’s Chamber of Mines said Friday it will set up a special CEO “elimination of fatalities team” in an effort to bring down the number of deaths at the local mines.

South Africa's gold output continues to fall, dropping a further 2.9% in May. The last time the country's mines produced this little, the nation was still ruled by the Queen of England.