$20bn Rio Tinto-Guinea deal on Simandou close

Gold reached a fresh record high on Thursday as investors continue to seek for the metal as a refuge after Moody's placed US top-notch credit rating on review for a downgrade and hints of QE3 from the Fed. The yellow metal has also been supported by ongoing concerns over the euro zone debt crisis that deepened after Fitch downgraded Greece rating to CCC on Wednesday.

CONSOL Energy Inc. (NYSE: CNX), updates on second quarter 2011 operations. From the release: "CONSOL Energy's Coal Division reports total coal production of 15.4 million tons for the quarter, including 1.4 million tons of low-vol metallurgical coal

Diamond miner and retailer Harry Winston posted a 4 percent rise in ore processed in the second quarter, helped by the recovery of higher grades, and the company will hold three rough diamond sales by the end of July.

Silvercorp Metals Inc. has achieved record silver production and record sales for the first quarter of fiscal 2012. Highlights

• Record revenues of $69.7-million (U.S.), representing a 90-per-cent increase compared with the same quarter of fiscal 2011;
• Record silver production of 1.6 million ounces, up 15 per cent from the same period a year ago;
• Gold production of 1,390 ounces, a 30-per-cent increase compared with the same period last year.

President Obama was asked about oil sands at an energy town hall today in Pennsylvania. He said it was a “good thing” to get oil from friendly and stable countries such as Canada, but said he would not pre-judge the State Department permit process for the proposed Keystone XL pipeline from Alberta to the Gulf Coast.

Industrial action at BHP Billiton Limited's (ASX:BHP) Queensland mines is heating up as workers fight for more job security and pay rises. According to Fairfax Media more than 400 BHP workers have started strikes at the global miner’s coking coal mines after failed talks between the company and its employees.

Thousands of workers at one of the world’s biggest gold and copper mines started returning to work Wednesday, ending a nearly two-week strike that brought operations to a standstill. Union chief Sudiro, who goes by only one name, said the decision was made after Freeport-McMoRan’s management agreed to reinstate six fired labor leaders and reopen negotiations about wages and benefits on July 20.

Rio Tinto has awarded $45 million in new railway signalling and communications contracts to international rail infrastructure group Ansaldo STS.

Mining equipment maker Joy Global, Inc. (JOYG: News ) is close to acquiring Chinese coal-mining equipment maker International Mining Machinery Ltd. (ICMHF.PK), according to Bloomberg on Wednesday.