MINING.COM MINUTE: Biggest stories of the week

The more than 2,000 people who gathered in Ulaanbaatar's Freedom Square claimed foreign companies have exploited Mongolia's mineral wealth, which accounts for 94% of the nation's exports.

Lockheed lands $480m customer for aircraft combining power of helicopter, airplane and hovercraft dramatically altering mining and exploration economics.

Net profit for 2015 dropped by almost 30% to $261 million (1.7 billion yuan) from the previous year's $353 million.

Rio sells around 30% of its Argyle pink diamonds into Japan.

About $2.5 billion of the total write-down was on its stake in Chilean copper mining and smelting company Anglo American Sur.

The U.S. trade deficit with China reached record proportions in 2015.

The gem is set to fetch between $30 and $35 million, which would make it the most expensive diamond ever sold at an auction in Asia.

About $1 billion of the total write-down was due to copper projects in Chile and revisions to the long-term price outlook.

With cash in hand and a goal of doubling gold output in the next five years, Japanese heavyweight Sumitomo is looking to acquire gold assets—and Viscount Mining Corp. could be a prime target.