Gold prices unlikely to settle as Iraq tensions escalate

A copper mine proposed for southern Arizona is stuck in limbo while federal regulatory agencies decide whether to grant the mining company a permit. Canadian Business said Monday that Rosemont Copper is waiting for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to grant or deny a permit for the mine, located on a mix of private and public land in the Santa Rita Mountains some 30 miles southeast of Tucson.

Platts reported that Israel Chemicals (TLV:ICL) will supply potash to an Indian company for eight months.

Santa Fe Gold Corporation SFEG 0.00% today reported its Summit silver-gold mine in southwestern New Mexico is on track to ramp up production in Q4 2011. At the targeted production rate of 400 tons per day, output is expected to increase by 400% from current levels. Image by Santa Fe Gold Corporation

Shares of North American base metal miners tumbled on Monday along with the price of copper, zinc, and nickel after the downgrade of the U.S. credit rating by S&P amplified fears of a global economic slowdown.

After the S&P downgrade announced Friday evening, North American markets opened Monday and tumbled. The Australian stock market, measured by the S&P/ASX 200, finished the day down 2.91%, while the S&P/TSX composite was down 3.4% in morning trading to 11,796, its lowest level since August 2010. Gold breached $1,710 an ounces before settling back to $1,700/oz.

Rio Tinto and Mitsubishi are being pressured to offer a special dividend to seal a $1.49 billion attempt to mop up the shares of 150-year-old Hunter Valley miner Coal & Allied that they don't already own. The pair, which already have a combined 85.91 per cent stake in the target, made an indicative offer of $122 a share to Coal & Allied's independent directors on the weekend.

Harmony Gold Mining Company Limited (Harmony) is pleased to announce that it has reached a mutually acceptable settlement with the lead plaintiff in the class action filed against it in the United States (US) District Court for the Southern District of New York in May 2008. The settlement requires final approval from the court on or after a hearing scheduled for the 10th of November 2011 and no assurance can be given that the settlement will ultimately be approved.

Gold priced in Canadian dollars hit a record C$1,686.00 an ounce on Monday as a shock downgrade of the U.S. credit rating late on Friday sparked a rush among investors into assets seen as lower risk, and as euro zone debt concerns simmered.

AngloGold Ashanti is struggling after a big drop, and the prognosis is bleak in the eyes of one trader.