Gold up on Ukraine tensions, but gains pared

Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan Inc. (NYSE:POT) doubled its third quarter earnings, reporting 94 cents per share or $826 million compared to 38 cents per share or $343 million a year ago. The company's stock opened 2.3% higher at $50.65 a share. During the first the first nine-months of 2011, the company's earnings have doubled from $1.39 per share during the same period last year to $2.73 per share today. The company said demand was strong from both North American and international customers.

A coal mine project in Alaska that could have negative impacts on salmon spawning will be allowed to push ahead. Alaska Dispatch reports that the state government has denied a petition to declare land within a drainage system in the Upper Cook Inlet unsuitable for coal mining: The petition sought to block in particular a strip mine project planned on Alaska Mental Health Lands Trust land by Delaware-based PacRim Coal LP, whose plan calls for the destruction of 11 miles of a tributary which Alaska Fish and Game has deemed significant habitat for spawning Cook Inlet salmon.

Leading surface and underground drill manufacturer, Sandvik, held a dedicated Mining Forum in Johannesburg, South Africa from October 11-13. The theme was 'Mastering Surface Drilling and Blasting.' Hosted by Sandvik and supported by mining explosives major AEL and drill monitoring and guidance company Thunderbird Pacific, the event aimed to provide a different experience than traditional seminars.

In a move that seems certain to slow foreign investment, the government of Argentinian President Fernandez de Kirchner has passed a law requiring oil, gas and mining companies to repatriate future export revenue. The Vancouver Sun reports: "President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, in her first move since being re-elected Oct. 23, changed a 2002 decree requiring companies such as Repsol YPF SA, Total SA, Petroleo Brasileiro SA and Pan American Energy LLC to to keep at least 30 percent of their export revenue in the country." Effective immediately, resource companies will have to repatriate (convert into pesos) all of their export revenues.

Vancouver-based Goldcorp on Wednesday reported record third-quarter net income on an adjusted, non-GAAP basis of $459 million or $0.57 per share from $244 million or $0.33 per share in the third quarter last year. Revenues for the quarter grew 48% to $1.31 billion from $885 million in 2010 on gold sales of 571,500 ounces. Average realized gold price surged 39% over 2010 to $1,719 per ounce. Cash costs at Goldcorp now amount to $258 per ounce on a by-product basis and $551 per ounce on a co-product basis.

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwire - Oct. 26, 2011) - Teck Resources Limited (TSX: TCK.A and TCK.B, NYSE: TCK) announced today that it will pay an eligible dividend of $0.40 per share on its outstanding Class A common shares and Class B subordinate voting shares on January 3, 2012, to shareholders of record at the close of business on December 15, 2011. This represents a 33 percent increase from the previous dividend.

Washington lawmakers yesterday approved a bill to approve a land exchange clearing the way for what would be North America’s largest copper […]

The US state department's anonymous leak to the media on Tuesday lowering expectations about a decision on Keystone this year should not come as a surprise to anyone following Barack Obama's poll numbers or the increasing bitterness on the left about his perceived closeness to industry.

Potash royalties took centre stage yesterday night in a lively debate between Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall and Dwain Lingenfelter, the leader of the province's NDP. Saskatchewan is in the midst of an election campaign with voters going to the polls on November 7. Lingenfelter went on the offensive, attacking the potash industry for what he says are unfair royalties. The NDP would tax an extra five cents of every dollar of potash sales, and use up to $700 million in extra potash revenues to fund their platform. "That's our strategy. To move (the royalty) from a nickel on the dollar, do the review and get at least 10 cents on the dollar. I don't think that's asking too much," " said Lingenfelter.