Australia’s mining jobs running dry as sector growth slow

Gold Hedge reports that a German newspaper is telling its readers that it's time to buy gold. Bild Zeitung, is Germany’s biggest- selling newspaper, is the best-selling newspaper outside Japan and has the sixth-largest circulation worldwide. Bild encouraged German people to invest in gold as the global debt crisis continues to deteriorate and cause turmoil in global markets.

South Africa's gold output fell 5.7 percent in volume terms in June while total mineral production fell 0.7 percent compared with the same month a year earlier, data showed on Thursday.

Oceanic Iron Ore Corp. announced the latest set of results is based on twinned drill holes in the Castle Mountain, Zone 4, and Bay Zone "F" grids of the Hopes Advance Area. Further results from these grids as well as Zone 2, Iron Valley and additional Bay Zone grids are expected to be reported in the coming weeks, as will results from targeted "step-out" drill holes which have been completed.

Xstrata has approved the commencement of an AUD47 million (USD50 million) pre-feasibility study into the development of a large multi-commodity open pit mine on the existing Xstrata Mount Isa Mines footprint. In a joint statement, Xstrata Zinc Australia Chief Operating Officer Brian Hearne and Xstrata Copper North Queensland Chief Operating Officer Steve de Kruijff said the development of a large scale zinc-lead-copper pit has the potential to extend the life of the combined operations to beyond 2060.

Hecla Mining CEO Phil Baker Tuesday predicted the higher the gold price goes, the more small investor interest in silver will increase.

Predictably in tandem with the BSE and the NSE which appreciated by 273 and 88 points respectively the pencil ingot prices recoiled at all centres.

MSN reports that nickel shot up in India to Rs 990.50 per kg in futures trade.

CNBC News reported that Indiaès demand for gold has not been stalled by rising metal prices.

Imperial Oil  and Exxon Mobil Corp  said on Monday they have revised plans to ship massive pieces of oil sands equipment on US highways through Idaho and Montana after legal challenges and protests forced delays. The two companies have spent months battling conservationists and residents along the Clearwater and Lochsa rivers in an attempt to move the two-lane-wide 'megaloads'. They will now try to dismantle the shipments and move them in smaller loads on bigger highways at a cost of some $70 million and the possibility of further delays for their $11 billion Kearl oil sands project.