Wildcatters of the prairies get big boost from Alberta oil cuts

The Montreal Gazette interviews Gevorg Mkhitaryan, owner of a small diamond polishing operation, who was part of a group of about 60 Armenian diamond cutters and polishers brought to the Northwest Territories to work in Canada's Yellowknife’s nascent diamond processing industry.

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.

No injuries or damage to company assets, but all production activities are halted until power is restored.

With its massive production potential, northern Saskatchewan is securing its seat as one of the best locations in the world to mine gold.

Golden Dory Resources says it is increasing its stake in the Gabbro Lake iron ore deposit in Canada's Labrador Trough.

McEwen Mining (TSX and NYSE:MUX) President and CEO Rob McEwen on Thursday cautioned shareholders that recent energy-industry expropriation and Argentina government policy decrees augured negatively for its San José silver/gold mine and other development projects.

Despite paying the highest wages – average $40.42/hour vs a $25/hour across sectors – the mining industry faces an uphill struggle filling more than 100,000 new positions by 2021.

A 52-year-old man detained in a dry cell at a police station in Windsor, Ont., while they wait for him to give up a $20,000 diamond, has finally passed the stone. He is accused of swallowing the diamond last week.

Mexican miner Timmins Gold (TSX:TMM) has lost 22% for the year and hit a 52-week low of $1.58 after reporting Q1 on Tuesday.