Lucara gets $69 million from first diamond sale, amid tough market conditions

A protest against London 2012 sponsor Rio Tinto (LON & NTSE:RIO), which has supplied the metal to make the Olympic and Paralympic medals, welcomed the company’s shareholders this morning in Brisbane, Australia, where the annual meeting of the company’s board was taking place.

Africa's largest gold miner AngloGold Ashanti (NYSE:AU) posted first-quarter earnings Thursday of $429 million, which more than double the same period last year, despite a drop in production on the year.

African Barrick Gold (LON:ABG) shares rose 6% today as the miner announced its board has approved a $185 million expansion at Bulyanhulu, its underground gold mine in Tanzania.

BHP Billiton (NYSE:BHP) added to market rumors that its nickel business is not relevant for the miner anymore by announcing yesterday it had merged the stainless steel materials unit with another struggling division: aluminum.

Rio Tinto, the world's third largest miner behind BHP Billiton and Vale, is bullish on the demand for commodities despite renewed volatility in Europe and the risk of financial contagion.

Except for Ginia of course, the only child who is not suing Gina for control of the family trust.

A proposal by Imperial Metals to develop the Red Chris mine in northern BC is not sitting well with a local First Nation.

Trading barbs over the allocation of resource revenues is a blood sport in Canada, and the latest contenders are newly minted NDP leader Thomas Mulcair and Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall.

Gold is now down almost 17% from its all-time record high of $1,911.60 an ounce set on September 6 last year.