Acacia Mining ends earn-in deal with Sarama in Burkina Faso

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwire - Sept. 7, 2011) - ("Stronghold" or the "Company") (TSX VENTURE:Z) The Company is pleased to announce that it has entered into a Letter of Intent with Mowasi Gold Corp. ("Mowasi") whereby Stronghold has agreed to acquire a ninety-five (95%) interest in the 23 prospecting permits medium scale and 8 mining permits medium scale (collectively the "Concessions") in which Mowasi has an exclusive interest and which are contiguous to the Company's Eagle Mountain Project in Guyana under the following terms and conditions:

African Barrick Gold, which has four gold mines in Africa's fourth largest gold producer Tanzania, said on Wednesday it was planning to cross-list on the country's bourse by the end of this year.

Barrick Gold Corporation (NYSE:ABX)(TSX:ABX) announced today that it has made two significant gold discoveries on the Company's 100%-owned Cortez property in Nevada(1). These two discoveries, known as Red Hill and Goldrush, are located on highly prospective ground, six kilometers southeast of the Cortez Hills mine and 24 kilometers southeast of the Pipeline mine. Based on the results of wide spaced drilling, the Company has outlined two zones of gold mineralization along a seven kilometer long trend.

Zimbabwe said on Tuesday it could prosecute or cancel the mining licence of Zimplats, the local unit of Impala Platinum, for failing to agree to transfer majority ownership to local blacks, piling pressure on the firm to strike a deal. However, Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment Minister Saviour Kasukuwere, who is leading the drive to increase Zimbabweans' control of the economy, said Harare had reached an agreement with Rio Tinto's Murowa mine and a deal was "imminent" for Aquarius' Mimosa mine. The deals with Rio and Acquarius put the squeeze on Zimplats' parent, the world's number two platinum producer, which risks losing its concessions to others, especially the Chinese, who are favoured by President Robert Mugabe.

Wits Gold wishes to announce that Turgis Consulting (Pty) Ltd (Turgis) has been appointed to complete a pre-feasibility study over the Company's advanced DBM Project in the southern Free State goldfield. This follows the announcement of positive scoping study results at the DBM Project on 23 June 2011. The initiation of a seven diamond borehole drilling programme for pre-feasibility purposes commenced in July 2011 and is on schedule to be completed during September 2011.

Allana Potash Corp. (TSX VENTURE:AAA) ("Allana"or the "Company"), is pleased to announce that it has awarded a Feasibility Study contract to ERCOSPLAN Ingenieurgesellschaft Geotechnik und Bergbau ("ERCOSPLAN") for its Ethiopian Potash Project. ERCOSPLAN has been involved in Allana's Ethiopian Potash project since 2008 and completed an updated National Instrument 43-101 ("NI 43-101") compliant resource estimate for the property in June 2011. ERCOSPLAN is a widely recognized world leader in potash exploration techniques and potash mining and processing. In addition to Allana, ERCOSPLAN's clients include some of the largest potash exploration companies and potash producers in the world.

Rio Tinto Group and Anglo American Plc (AAL), which together own about three-quarters of Palabora Mining Co., said they plan to sell their entire holdings in the South African miner as it no longer fits their investment objectives. Palabora’s main asset, a mine that produces copper and magnetite, “is no longer of a sufficient scale” for either Rio or Anglo, and a sale process for their stakes has started, the companies said today. Rio holds about 58 percent of Palabora and London-based Anglo almost 17 percent. Their combined holding is valued at about $700 million based on the closing price of Palabora stock in Johannesburg trading today. Image of copper spools at Palabora mine, courtesy of Rio Tinto

Steel Guru reports that Liberia is poised to reap the rewards of its mineral riches once again, with the first shipment of iron ore produced since the end of its decades long civil war expected later this year, and gold production due to resume in as soon as six months.

The DRC's Ambassador to Belgium says the country wants to ramp up diamond production and become a "continental hub" for the precious stones. In an interview with Rapaport Magazine, Henry Mova said the country could become an entrepot for Africa-sourced diamonds. His comments were made following the graduation of 15 Congolese citizens from the International Gemological Institute’s (IGI) School of Gemology in Antwerp.