Former BP boss is Glencore Xstrata’s new chairman

One of the Polish miners institutional investors called on the copper producer to hand back its entire 2010 profit of $1.6bn as a dividend

Alacer Gold Corp is pleased to announce that production at the Çöpler Gold Mine in Turkey is ramping up smoothly. Initial recovery rates from the run-of-mine heap leach ores are very encouraging. Çöpler produced first gold as announced on December 22, 2010. Gold production at Çöpler was 512 ounces in December 2010 and 8,590 ounces in January 2011. In February 2011 production is expected to be approximately 9,000 ounces.

The Polish miners beat market expectations announcing a strong fourth quarter on the back of surging metal prices and said it expects to see 2011 net profit jump to a record 8.35bn zlotys Poland's KGHM (KGHM.WA: Quote) almost doubled its fourth-quarter

Silvercorp announced on Thursday that it received a positive preliminary assessment for its Silvertip silver-lead-zinc project in northern British Columbia. Silvercorp's stock was up 4% on the TSX on Friday. The report prepared by Golder Associates favoured a small mine and mill operating seasonally at 500 tonne per day or 72,000 tonne per year. "The initial capital cost of the project is estimated to be $US49 million with sustaining capital costs over the remaining mine life (21 years) estimated at $US54.2 million. The payback period is estimated at 4 years for the base case and 2 years for the upside case after reaching commercial production."

The Association for Mineral Exploration British Columbia said on Wednesday that the agreement to compensate the miners for development work in the Flathead River basin are too low. "AME BC remains appalled by the lack of due process in reaching a timely and fair compensation agreement for the taking of mineral titles in the Flathead", stated Gavin C. Dirom, President & CEO of AME BC in a press release.

Barrick Gold reported on Thursday that net income in the fourth quarter was up 57% to US$947 million or 95 cents a share, a record result for the world's-largest gold miner. In the same quarter in 2009, Barrick reported US$604 million net income or 61 cents a share. The company produced 1.7 million ounces of gold at a total cash cost of $486 per ounce. Gold production in 2011 is expected to be similar to 2010.

Swedish mining equipment manufacturer Atlas Copco has received one of its biggest ever orders from the world’s largest primary silver miner.

Indonesia’s chief economic minister said a group of Russian investors plan to invest $3bn in a nickel smelter on Halmahera island with […]

Colorado-based Connors Drilling and sister company, Sanderson Drilling of Western Australia have purchased the assets of the Surface Diamond Division of Swick Mining Services (ASX: SWK) of Australia.