Avalon Rare Metals is now Avalon Advanced Materials

While the harmful effects of the slumping global economy over junior miners are nothing new, companies that have seen their value down on the TSX Venture Exchange this year and so experienced more difficulties raising cash, may soon see a few glimmers of hope.

A document obtained from Environment Canada confirmed Monday what scientists from the University of Alberta published in 2010: that there is mounting evidence of contaminants in the snow and even in precipitation close to oil sands facilities.

Australian gold company Northern Star Resources (ASX:NST) is offering a $200,000 bonus to any oncologist willing to spend two years close to the mine area providing radiation therapy to children with cancer.

Mining executives have given a clear indication that they plan to slash capital spending and reduce supply in order to improve shareholder returns at the expense of consumers.

As rumors fly that leading Western economies have exhausted their gold hoards, China has become the world's biggest gold producer while also discretely accumulating bullion reserves.

The CEO of AngloGold Ashanti said the company is considering the creation of separate regional entities in South Africa, Colombia and Australia via the spin-off of assets in order to enhance shareholder value and better compete against local rivals such as Newcrest Mining.

Canadian scientists claim that silver nano-particles could be used to fashion a super-prophylactic capable of killing the HIV and herpes viruses as well as other STD's.

The center of the global diamond-polishing industry in India will shut for around three weeks during the Hindu Diwali vacation.

An immense chessboard-like grid which mysteriously appeared in the deserts of China's Xinjiang province several years ago could be the result of exploratory surveys for nickel.