Rio Tinto weighs stake in closed Papua New Guinea copper mine

Canadian-based exploration and development company Colossus Minerals was trading lower in a lacklustre Toronto market on Friday after announcing it had raised $75 million in a bought deal. Colossus is active the mineral-rich Carajas region of Para State, Brazil where it is advancing the Serra Pelada project into production. Billed as one of the highest grade gold and platinum group metals deposits in the world, the area was host to the largest precious metals rush in Latin American history from 1980 to 1986.

Inptrepid Potash (NYSE:IPI) said its prices were higher but its produdction was lower during its third quarter. The company was also forced to find new customers due to a severe drought in Texas. Announcing results on Thursday, the company believes that it produced between 165,000 and 175,000 tons of potash and sold between 185,000 and 195,000 tons of potash. Production, which was in-line with expectations, was hampered due to a scheduled shut-down for annual maintenance work at the East mine and plant near Carlsbad, New Mexico. Also, the Moab, Utah mine completed its summer evaporation season and commenced harvest in mid-September.

Ironback Zinc (ASX:IBG) announced on Thursday that Glencore International (LON:GLEN) will help the company with a US$50 million funding facility to advance […]

Quadra FNX Mining Ltd. ("Quadra FNX" or the "Company") (TSX:QUX) announces that consolidated payable production for the three months ended September 30 increased 9% compared to Q2 2011 and 30% compared to Q1 2011 and totaled 60 million pounds of copper, 26 thousand ounces of total precious metals ("TPMs") and 3 million pounds of nickel. Paul Blythe, President & CEO comments; "This is our strongest quarter since 2009, driven by Robinson and continuing strong performance from our Sudbury operations. We are seeing continuing and significant improvements in production at Robinson. The various measures that we have taken are delivering increased flexibility and productivity.

Quadra FNX Mining Ltd. ("Quadra FNX" or the "Company") (TSX:QUX) and Xstrata Nickel have signed a term sheet to utilize the Craig mine shaft and related underground infrastructure to further develop and operate the Levack mine, including the Morrison deposit. All amounts are in US dollars. Quadra FNX expects that the use of Xstrata Nickel's Craig infrastructure will significantly improve the operational flexibility of the Morrison deposit and provide additional mining and drill access in the lower portions of this high grade ore body. The additional development and improved efficiency is expected to have a positive impact on production.

Fox Business reports global number one miner BHP Billiton plans to create a new, more transparent system for pricing iron ore called Global Ore by the end of the year or early next year, the chief executive of the company's Ferrous and Coal division said Thursday. BHP, Vale and Rio Tinto control nearly 70% of the 1 billion tonne annual iron ore seaborne trade and dominate price talks. The pricing of iron ore which have shifted from secretive negotiations and annual contracts over the last couple of years to prices linked to the spot market constitutes a “true revolution” say analysts. Firm demand from China's construction sector and a drop off in India's exports have been behind the strength in spot iron ore prices which, at above $170 a tonne, have trebled from late 2008. In August results for BHP Billiton showed its iron ore division accounted for the bulk of its record $22 billion in profits.

FT reports in 2010 the market loved palladium. It was the best-performing precious metal. But, as Barclays Capital points out in a note, 2011 has seen palladium fall off its pedestal. At about $600 an ounce it has shed 25% since the start of the year. Industrial demand – the primary factor determining prices – for platinum and palladium took a severe knock from the Japanese earthquake and tsunami disaster in March but supply disruptions and falling grades in South Africa, the world’s number one miner of the two metals, and ongoing political turmoil in Zimbabwe, the country with the second largest deposits, could provide a floor for the price.

Rio Tinto, the world’s second- largest mining company, said third-quarter iron ore output and coking coal production reached record highs after recovering from disruptions caused by flooding in Australia earlier in the year and continued strong demand from Asia. Iron ore production increased to just shy of 50 million metric tons and hard coking coal production was 55% higher than the second quarter. Analysts say iron ore prices may climb above $200 a ton on the back of supply shortages while metallurgical coal have been trading at record highs of $330 during 2011.

St. Louis Business Journal reports Peabody Energy on Thursday received clearance from the Ministry of Commerce of the People’s Republic of China to proceed with its and ArcelorMittal’s $4.7 billion takeover bid for Macarthur Coal Ltd. in Australia. The Macurthur deal is good news for the US giant after it recently lost out on a chance to co-develop the world’s largest deposit of high-quality coking coal. Miners are scrambling for coal assets and coal for power-generation has averaged about $130/tonne this year from less than $100 in 2010 while metallurgical coal has been trading at record levels of $330/tonne.