Iamgold denies Rosebel mine halt, continues ramping up operations

The Peruvian government confirmed it will end Monday a state of emergency imposed in early July in the country’s northern region, where violent protests against Newmont Mining's (NYSE:NEM) controversial $4.8 billion Conga project left five dead and dozens injured.

Colombia’s energy and mining minister Federico Renjifo, who assumed the position on Thursday, said he is aware he’ll face difficult times as analysts are predicting a slowdown in demand for the country’s commodities in coming years, but he said he’ll make sure the sector remains competitive and attractive to foreign investors.

Newmont Mining's (NYSE:NEM) $4.8 billion copper-gold project in Cajamarca Peru remains as one of the company’s priorities, but further development will be done on a very measured basis, told MINING.com the company’s head of communications, Omar Jabara.

Qatar’s sovereign wealth fund has publicly said Friday it will vote against the mooted $70 billion merger between Glencore (LON:GLEN) and Xstrata (LON:XTA), which sent shares of both the Swiss commodity trader and the coal giant down the slope Thursday in London.

Close to 100 soldiers and officers of the Mexican Army and Federal and state police agencies broke through a peaceful protest taking place in front of the La Platosa mine, owned by a subsidiary of Canadian Excellon Resources, Inc. (TSX:EXN), according to a news flash by Mining Watch.

Canadian Gran Colombia Gold Corp. (TSX:GCM), the largest underground gold and silver producer in the South American country, announced that senior managers and members of the board of directors have purchased a combined 380,000 common shares of the company.

Shares in Canadian silver junior Aurcana (TSX:AUN) leapt 12% to CND$1.05 after the company announced a radically updated estimate for resources in its La Negra Mine in Mexico.

Shares of Eco Oro Minerals Corp. (TSX:EOM) plunged over 50% on Tuesday to $94 cents in early trade after Colombia’s national mining agency scrapped most of its concession on environmental grounds.

The president of Venezuela's national mining chamber (Camiven), Luis Rojas, called the country leader Hugo Chavez to boost the local gold industry, as bullion production levels are close to historic lows.