Grab samples deliver strong copper grades at Aurania’s Ecuador concession

Mining in northern British Columbia received a shot in the arm on Monday. The College of New Caledonia will purchase heavy-haul truck and front-end loader simulators to provide virtual training for a total of 50 students each year, as part of the Mining Industry Certificate Program. The program will train students for employment as heavy equipment operators in surface mining operations located in northern B.C.

Altius Minerals made a profit of $69.3 million, or $2.38 per share, in the three months ending January 31 — the Canadian iron ore producer's third quarter. That compares to a $102,000 loss in the same period last year. Quarterly revenues were 1.1 million versus $912,000 for the previous year's Q3. Altius also gained $84.6 million after transferring its 100% interest in the Kami iron ore property to Alderon Resources Corp. in exchange for 32.3 million shares of Alderon.

Canadian gold miner White Tiger Gold Inc. has offered 0.40 of its share for each Century Mining share. The offer values Century at about C$1.82 a share -- more than three times the stock's Friday closing, according to Reuters: White Tiger's operations are mainly in Russia, including the Savkino and the Nasedkino project, while Century Mining's primary asset is the Lamaque gold mine in Quebec. The boards of both companies support the deal and White Tiger shareholders will own about 39 percent of the company.

Exploration Orbite (TSX VENTURE:ORT.A) is pleased to announce that it has successfully produced its first ton of high purity alumina and has done so ahead of schedule and on budget. This first ton was produced at the company's pilot facility in Cap-Chat, QC, using the company's patented process that marks an important technological quantum step forward. "Producing our first ton of high purity alumina is a major breakthrough for Orbite because it proves definitely that the innovative process we have developed is viable and suited to large scale production. It brings us that much closer to a new metallurgical alumina production facility and a high purity alumina production facility with very high added value"

Metalex Ventures (TSX:MTX) recovered a 0.72 carat white diamond from its James Bay lowlands project in Quebec — a joint venture between Metalex and Arctic Star Diamond Corp. (TSX:ADD). The B.C.-based company made the announcement on Friday among its latest drill results from the 9.3-hectare U2 kimberlite pipe. The discovery was made on the third of 11 drill holes, and Metalex indicated another 0.72-carat stone has been recovered from the fourth hole.

Strategic Metals Ltd. (TSX VENTURE:SMD) (“Strategic”) is pleased to announce the closing of the Can$16.25 million private placement announced on February 23, […]

Denison Mines reported 1,442,000 pounds of uranium oxide and 2,347,000 pounds of vanadium blackflake last year. The company had originally forecast 1.6 million pounds U3O8 and 2.8 million pounds of vanadium production for 2010. Production for the fourth-quarter totaled 234,000 pounds of uranium oxide and 391,000 pounds of vanadium.

As unrest in Libya, Saudi Arabia and other Middle Eastern countries continues to put pressure on the price of oil, the head of Imperial Oil Ltd. is backing a multi-billion-dollar expansion project to bring Canadian oilsands crude to U.S. markets. The Wall Street Journal reports: A pipeline project that's pending U.S. approval is necessary to ensure the reliability and security of oil supplies to the world's largest oil consumer, the head of Imperial Oil Ltd. (IMO) said. Imperial Oil is a Canadian company majority owned by Irving, Texas-based Exxon Mobil Corp. (XOM), the world's largest publicly traded oil company.

For the second time this year, police have been called to the scene of a mining-related death in Timmins, Ontario. According to a report in The Timmins Times, a 57-year-old man died Thursday morning in an accident at Goldcorp's Hoyle Pond gold mine in Timmins. Paramedics were dispatched to the Hoyle Pond Mine just before the noon hour today in response to a 9-1-1 call that a miner suffered a serious injury after being struck by a piece of heavy equipment underground near the 1400 level.