Lonmin turns first profit in four years ahead of Sibanye takeover

Zimbabwe's mines minister on Thursday told delegates at a conference in the capital Harare that the government has received 400 applications from companies interested in mining diamonds, despite an international ban on the export of gems from the rich Chiadzwa alluvial fields. The news comes as Zimbabwe appears to scale back its ambition to force foreign miners to hand over majority ownership with the minister saying the country would not suspend any mining permits and that exceptions may be made to the so-called indigenization laws.

Anvil Mining (TSE:AVM), a copper miner based in the central Africa, tamped down speculation that it may be acquired for $1 billion. Australian Finance Review reported that it was in serious discussion with a Chinese firm about some sort of business tie up. Last month, Anvil announced that it started a strategic review process and the company had formed a special transaction committee to ". . . review and consider the value maximizing alternatives available to the Corporation. BMO Capital Markets has been retained to assist in this regard," said the company in a statement.

The British Geological Survey (BGS) on Wednesday published the latest list of the 52 elements, minerals and metals most at risk of supply disruption because global production is concentrated in a few countries, many with unstable governments. Surprisingly rare earths used in green technology and defence do not top the list but comes in at number five. Antimony, extracted mainly from stibnite (pictured), widely used for fireproofing is most at risk. The platinum group metals (auto catalysts) hold the second spot while niobium used in touch screens and scanners and tungsten for cutting tools are also at risk of supply disruption as a result of increased competition among the world's growing economies, political instability, resource nationalism, along with events such as strikes and accidents. China is the number one producer of 50% of the 52 chemicals on the list and produces 75% of the world's antimony.

PERTH, WESTERN AUSTRALIA--(Marketwire - Sept. 12, 2011) - Paladin Energy Ltd ("Paladin" or "the Company") (TSX:PDN) (ASX:PDN)wishes to note that the Company's Board of Directors advise that financial close has been reached under the Langer Heinrich Project Finance Facility ("Facility"), and Paladin has submitted a drawdown notice for US$127.2M.

TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - Sept. 8, 2011) - Auryx Gold Corp. ("Auryx" or the "Company") (TSX:AYX)(NSX:AYX) is pleased to announce the discovery of two distinct zones of massive iron-oxides ("Fe-oxides") overlying and peripheral to the Otjikoto gold deposit. Both zones occur at and near surface and have been named the Main Magnetite Zone ("MMZ") and the Magnetite 1 Zone ("M1Z"). Geophysical work suggests the Fe-oxide mineralization has a potential strike length of 6km. Please follow the link to view a plan view of the magnetic anomaly:http://auryxgold.com/projects/otjikoto_drill_program/mag_anomalies/

Guinea's parliament adopted a new mining code that more than doubles the share the West African state can take in mining projects to 35 percent and toughens procedures for acquiring development permits, the government said on Saturday.

HudBay Minerals (TSX: HBM)(NYSE: HBM) announced on Friday that it had completed the sale of the Fenix ferro-nickel project in Guatemala to the […]

Market research house BMI has over the past quarter made an upwards revision to its forecast for Zambian copper output for this year, increasing it to 913 000 t, up from 877,000 t.

SASKATOON, SASKATCHEWAN--(Marketwire - Sept. 8, 2011) - Great Western Minerals Group (TSX VENTURE:GWG) (OTCQX:GWMGF) ("GWMG") is pleased to announce the selection of Drillcorp Africa (Pty) Ltd. ("Drillcorp") as the drill contractor for the upcoming exploration and resource evaluation program at the Company's Steenkampskraal Rare Earth Element ("REE") project in South Africa.