Lundin Gold to step up exploration in Ecuador after securing $30m in financing

Up to 1.5 million carats worth of diamonds are being auctioned this week by companies allowed to mine the controversial Marange diamond fields in Zimbabwe.

The Haig Inlet Iron Ore Project contains 230 million tonnes of iron ore at 35.17% iron, a new resource estimate shows.

Rubicon Minerals stocks were diving this morning (TSE:RMX) (AMEX:RBY) close to 5 per cent as the Canadian company said Monday that it has agreed to a $200.9 million bought deal financing, with funds to be used for the development of its Phoenix gold project in Red Lake, Ontario.

Statistics Canada reported Friday that of the jobs created in January 65% were in Alberta.

Sunshine Oilsands, a Calgary-based oil explorer backed by Chinese state-owned enterprises, has delayed the launch of a planned up to $700 million initial public offering in Hong Kong which would have been the biggest in Asia this year.

The Mosaic Company (NYSE: MOS) has announced a reduction of up to 20 percent in planned potash production from February through May 2012.

Stornoway Diamond Corp. (TSX:SWY) will make it a priority during 2012 to obtain all the permitting and financing needed to get its northern Quebec Renard Project in construction by mid-2013, according to company officials.

Imperial Oil is spending $2 billion to expand its Cold Lake insitu oilsands operation in northeastern Alberta.

American-based heavy equipment maker Caterpillar (NYSE:CAT) through its subsidiary Electro-Motive Canada (EMC), said today that it is closing EMC's locomotive production operations at its London, Ontario plant, after several months of unsuccessful contract negotiations with the Canadian Auto Workers union.