World’s No. 4 iron ore miner wants to diversify its portfolio

Miner Anglo American stuck to its production targets on Thursday despite a first quarter that saw floods and heavy rains hampering output, with coal output from its Australian operations down by over a third. Anglo, the world's fifth-biggest diversified miner, is the latest operator to detail the impact of freak weather across its operations. Image by Jam343.

Brazilian steelmaker CSN (CSNA3.SA: Quote)(SID.N: Quote) struck a deal to sell its 19.9 percent stake in Australian coal miner Riversdale to mining giant Rio Tinto for A$780 million ($830 million), according to a securities filing. Sao Paulo-based CSN, Brazil's largest diversified steelmaking group, sold 47.29 million Riversdale shares at a price of A$16.50 each, the filing said. The shares (RIV.AX: Quote) closed little changed at A$16.50 in Sydney on Wednesday.

Ivanhoe Australia Ltd (ASX & TSX: IVA), controlled by North American-based Ivanhoe Mines, today put out what it quaintly described as a clarification of its position on Exco Resources Ltd (ASX: EXS) selling the Cloncurry copper project to Xstrata Copper. Ivanhoe, which is Exco's major shareholder made it clear it was not supporting the sale, pointing out that the company's chief executive Peter Reeve, as a director of Exco, excused himself from the deliberation of this transaction.

Dampier Gold Limited (ASX:DAU) is pleased to announce the results of recently completed resource estimates for the K1 and K2-K3 deposits located within the company’s 100%-owned Plutonic Dome project. These updated estimates continue Dampier’s methodical review of previous models generated for the significant gold deposits within the Plutonic Dome project area. The new resource estimates are based on drilling completed by the previous owners and by Dampier in 2010 and incorporates updated interpretations of the mineralization. Image by Dampier Gold

Talison Lithium Limited ("Talison") (TSX:TLH) announces its preliminary production and sales results for the three and nine months ended March 31, 2011 from its Greenbushes lithium operations in Western Australia (the "Greenbushes Lithium Operations").For the three months ended March 31, 2011, production increased 33%, and sales increased 74% over the three months ended March 31, 2010.

Seven days after putting Regent Pacific on notice that it should not withdraw its takeover offer, Regent informed BC Iron yesterday that it had entered into a binding mandate letter with Standard Chartered Bank of Hong Kong and Westpac Banking Corporation for $US155 million debt finance. BC Iron said Regent has now advised it will change its recommendation to its shareholders to vote in favour of the acquisition of all BC Iron shares.

The heavy rains that have kept much of N. Australia waterlogged for months have also resulted in the suspension of one of […]

Australian copper and gold miner Oz Minerals said on Thursday it is on track to achieve its forecast gold output of more than 185,000 ounces despite a 23 percent drop in first-quarter output. "While total gold production was lower this quarter, higher grades expected in the second and third quarters are expected to see production achieve forecast levels for the year of 185,000+ oz of gold," the company said in its quarterly production report.

Australian coal miner Whitehaven Coal said a formal process to find a bidder for the company was nearing a conclusion and interested parties have completed due diligence. Whitehaven said on Wednesday it was in was in talks with the parties to decide which proposal, if any, would be recommended by its board