These photos will show you just how big a Russian diamond mine can be

Shares in NioGold Mining (TSX-V:NOX) are up 3.28% today on brisk mid-day trading, after the company announced promising drill results from its Marban Block property, located in the Abitibi region of Quebec, Canada. Highlights from 10 new drill holes at the Marban deposit include an intersection at depth of 7.0 grams of gold per tonne (g/t Au) over 10.9 metres (MB-08-053ext) and shallow intersections obtained at the west end of the deposit of 5.9 g/t Au over 15.7 metres (MB-11-195) and 906.2 g/t Au over 2.6 metres (MB-11-198). Map by NioGold Mining Corp.

Mining investments could reach $2.8 billion in the Philippines this year if Chinese investors proceed with plans to jointly develop mining projects in the country, a senior mining official said Tuesday. There is a good chance that an initial target of $1.4 billion could be doubled if Chinese investors follow through in the last quarter on investments they have expressed interest in, Mines and Geosciences Bureau director Leo Jasareno said.

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwire - Sept. 13, 2011) - ATAC Resources Ltd. (TSX VENTURE:ATC) is pleased to announce the final 2011 drill results from its Ocelot silver-lead-zinc discovery. The Ocelot is located within the Rau Trend in the western portion of ATAC's 100% owned Rackla Gold Project in the Keno Hill Mining District, Canada's second largest primary silver producer. The 2011 diamond drilling program consisted of 19 holes totaling 3784.75 m. The first five holes returned encouraging results near surface (see news release dated June 13, 2011).

Vista Gold (AMEX:VGZ) had no comment on why its share price jumped on Monday. Shares were up from $3.70 on Friday to $4.41 by the end of Monday, a 19% gain. "Vista Gold Corp. ("Vista" or the "Company") (TSX & NYSE Amex Equities: VGZ) announced today that as a result of unusual market activity in the Company's common shares on September 12, 2011, the NYSE Amex contacted the Company in accordance with the NYSE Amex's usual practice and requested that the Company issue a public statement regarding the unusual market activity. The Company states that its policy is not to comment on unusual market activity," said the company in a news release.

COLORADO SPRINGS, CO--(Marketwire - Sep 13, 2011) - Gold Resource Corporation (NYSE Amex: GORO) extends high-grade Arista deposit mineralization outside of the deposit's previously drilled mineralized envelope including 7.6 meters of 9.92 grams per tonne (0.32 oz/tonne) gold and 129 grams per tonne (4.15 oz/tonne) silver. In addition, confirmation drill returns include 5 meters of 20.28 grams per tonne (.65 oz/tonne) gold and 559 grams per tonne (17 oz/tonne) silver. Gold Resource Corporation is a low-cost gold producer with operations in southern Mexico. The Company has returned over $24.6 million to shareholders in monthly dividends since declaring commercial production July 1, 2010.

After the market close on Monday Oilsands Quest announced it is cancelling a $60 million rights offer that only two weeks ago it extended for a second time. The embattled firm's shares spiked higher 22% to 25c, five cents above the offer price, in after-hours dealings following the news. Oilsands Quest said it was working with a third party on a deal that would "change the company's financial position and funding requirements," but has not ruled out a new rights offer. Investors in the AMEX-listed firm have been on a bumpy ride. The stock is down some 70% from its January highs of 64c and gained 63% in a single day after Saskatchewan granted the company 15-year leases, the first in the province. But recent investors can feel smug about the fact that they did not buy into the junior during the frothy 2006 market – the counter hit a peak of $7.76 in March that year.

Ag Journal reports it’s been a hot summer, but the fertilizer market is even hotter, and that has farmers worried about whether they will be able to get what they need at a price they can afford. According to the Economic Research Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, fertilizer prices in 2011 are expected to exceed the previous year by 24 percent. Back in May, the price of phosphate was 31 percent higher compared with the same quarter the previous year, and the price of potash was 20 percent higher. Typically fertilizer prices move higher from August to December, which explains why stocks in big fertilizer manufacturers tend to gain 15 percent, on average, during that period.

Chinese business leaders have warned of an investment strike over a decision by Treasurer Wayne Swan to impose a two-stage foreign approval process for resource exploration and mining.

London copper prices rose 1.3% to $8,869.50 a tonne n Tuesday on reports that China could bolster Italy's flagging economy by buying its bonds. In the previous session, copper – considered a good indicator of economic activity – was dragged to a one-month low after Chile’s Codelco, the world’s largest producer, said some of its clients in the United States and Europe have asked to cancel orders. Italy has asked China to make "significant" purchases of Italian debt, the Financial Times reported on its website on Monday, saying that the chairman of China Investment Corp, headed up a delegation to Rome last week. Meanwhile Greek workers threatened to sabotage a new property tax, a last-ditch effort by the government to please international lenders and the US treasury secretary flies to Poland to meet with EU finance ministers on the Greek crisis.