Gold and titanium nanowires restore vision in blind mice

Copper demand in China, the world's main consumer of the red metal, is expected to rebound in the second half of 2012, despite the uncertain outlook for Europe, the head of Xstrata PLC's copper division said.

In what it seems a move towards exiting the aluminum wire business, diversified miner Rio Tinto (LON & NYSE:RIO) announced it is selling its U.S.-based wire and cable business Alcan Cable to American company General Cable (NYSE: BGC) for $185 million.

Gold demand in China may surge as much as 30 percent this year as rising incomes boost consumption, helping the country topple as the world's largest bullion market on an annual basis, according to the World Gold Council.

India could have trouble closing a shortfall in the supply of coal, after the world's largest coal company pulled out of a consortium to help India buy overseas coal reserves, The Economic Times reports.

Chinese authorities added 10,680 tonnes to the country's export allowance this week but it is something of a meaningless exercise because during the first quarter China only exported 26.3% of the initial quota.

Michael Pascoe, writing for the Sydney Morning Herald, hits on a little-reported theme gleaned from remarks by BHP Billiton chairman Jac Nasser this week in Sydney.

China won’t meet its carbon and energy intensity targets unless dramatic changes to its electricity grid are applied, says a study by U.S.-based Energy Transition Research Institute.

According to a new report from Pike Research, worldwide investment by the mining industry on renewable energy and energy conservation will reach approximately $8.4 billion by 2016 and nearly $20 billion by 2020.

Mongolia is capping foreign investment in certain industries, including mining, in an attempt to keep profits inside the mineral-rich nation's borders.