Bushveld Minerals fined for breaching AIM’s listing rules

TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - Oct. 11, 2011) - IAMGOLD Corporation ("IAMGOLD" or the "Company") (TSX:IMG)(NYSE:IAG) today announced the following for the third quarter of 2011:

• gold production of 222,000 ounces from continuing operations and represents:
  • an increase of 18.1% from the 188,000 ounces produced in the second quarter of 2011;
  • a 13.8% increase from the 195,000 ounces produced in the third quarter of 2010, when Essakane was in the early stages of its production ramp-up; and
• niobium production of 1.2 million kilograms as compared with 1.1 million kilograms produced in the second quarter of 2011 and the third quarter of 2010.

A mining contractor at Aquarius Platinum's Everest Mine is on strike. The strike has been called by the Association of Mining and Construction Unions, which is demanding full organizational rights under the South African Labour Relations Act. The contractors on strike are employees of Murray & Roberts Cementation. "This is a technical dispute between AMCU and MRC, and no demands are being made by AMCU of Aquarius or its subsidiaries," said Aquarius Platinum (ASX:AQP) in a dispute.

Fin24 reports South Africa's gold mining industry is under such cost pressure, owing to gold reserves that are too deep to be mined profitably, that within a decade or two this could mean the end of the industry. That's why there is great excitement about a promising new technology which could make deep underground mining possible and ensure the future of the industry. The world's deepest mine is AngloGold Ashanti’s Mponeng, which extends about 4 km (2.5 miles) underground. To be able to mine much deeper than this, where millions of currently inaccessible – or uneconomic – fine ounces of gold lie, would require a breakthrough. Significantly, AngloGold was recently the first group to herald such a breakthrough with an apparently large degree of certainty.

News reports on Saturday say Rio Tinto's Zimbabwe subsidiary Murowa Diamonds has ceded 51% of its equity to comply with a new law that requires Zimbabweans to own the majority of foreign companies. Rio Tinto says on its website it has completed a feasibility study and received environmental go-ahead to expand Murowa production 8-fold at a cost of $200 million. Saturday's report cast serious doubts on whether the investment, which requires foreign capital, would now be made. It appeared in recent weeks as if Zimbabwe was soft-pedalling the indigenization laws, but Rio Tinto's capitulation has now put pressure on Impala Platinum, struggling to hold onto its $20 billion worth of reserves in the country.

Copper miners in Zambia are joining their counterparts in Indonesia in demanding a rise in pay. The Wall Street Journal reports hundreds of miners at Chinese company Sino Metals downed tools Friday over wage demands.

Reuters reports Zambia has lifted a ban on metal exports just two days after imposing it to sort out revenue collection and increase transparency in Africa's top copper producer, a minerals ministry official said on Thursday. It's good news for the Zambian mining sector – a lengthy suspension could have further pressured mines already dealing with volatile metal prices in recent weeks. Newly elected President Michael Sata has been concerned – analysts say with good reason – about copper exporters misreporting the amount of ore leaving Zambia, and earlier this week suspended export permits, to put new guidelines in place. Cobalt, gold and nickel also fell under the ban and now all export payments need to be routed via the central bank.

Metorex Limited (JNB:MEMTX) reached a new high in quarterly copper output, with production rising by 15% to 15,202 tons. Cobalt output rose by 11% to 942 tons.

A Chinese company has made another bid to secure iron ore and other metals beyond its borders. On Tuesday Hanlong Mining said it will buy Perth-based Sundance Resources for US$1.57 billion. AFP reported that Hanlong will acquire Sundance through a scheme of arrangement, after lifting its offer to 57 cents cash per share from 50 cents back in July.

Vale SA will likely hand over 35% of its Simandou iron ore project to Guinea. The Wall Street Journal (sub required) is reporting that Vale, one of the top three producers of iron ore, is working on an accord whereby the company concedes 35% of the Simandou project to the Guinean government. The accord falls in line with the country' new mining laws, which allow the government to increase its stake in mining projects from 15% to 35%.