Rising mineral prices trigger artisanal and small-scale mining ‘explosion’ — report

A legal clash between Brazilian mining giant Vale (NYX:VALE) and Australia's Aquila Resources (ASX: AQA) has taken a step towards resolution this morning after the companies announced they’ve reached an agreement on coal shipments from their co-owned Isaac Plains mine in Queensland.

Gold is being amassed largely on the fears that the global currency system is flawed, and bears also believe American and Chinese economies are headed for another fall. However, there is a deep economic imbalance that is rapidly being righted that can result in a lot of prosperity for all.

While the long-closed and suppressed country of Myanmar holds elections and starts to haltingly open up, Jim Rogers says the country has an amazing potential, similar to China when it first undertook its economic revival.

London-listed diamond junior Botswana Diamonds (LON:BOD) forecasts a cheerful future for the diamond market, despite it sliding into the red in the six months to the end of December with a pre-tax loss of over US$327,000.

In its annual ranking of countries in terms of political risks for mining investment, the mineral industry advisory firm Behre Dolbear, has ranked Australia, Canada, Chile, Brazil and Mexico as the top five nations in which to locate mining projects.

Australian miners are setting up in remote outback areas in a land enjoying a resources boom - Chile.

Chinese investors are turning their focus to emerging economies as they look to expand their demand for commodities and switching away from Australia and Canada, which are getting too expensive.

India is hoping to bury the hatchet with its historical rival Pakistan, at least enough for both sides to benefit from a massive iron ore deposit in Afghanistan.

“Sentiment towards gold is as low as it has been for many years, possibly since the rally started. ... For virtually the first time this cycle, buying gold is a contrarian trade.”