RANKED: Top 10 lowest cost gold mines on the globe

According to an Ipsos Apoyo poll, President Ollanta Humala's Cabinet shuffle following fierce protests against Newmont Mining's Conga project lifted his approval rating as it rose to 54% in January.

The Wall Street Journal reports Peru on Friday announced a programme of social and infrastructure investments in its poor Cajamarca region aimed at winning over local protesters who have brought to halt Newmont Mining's $4.8 billion Conga project over environmental concerns.

Bloomberg reports Chile's state-owned firm Codelco, the world's largest copper producer, plans to invest $5 billion in 2012 on capital projects, more than twice the $2.3 billion it allocated last year. Also on Friday a Santiago court blocked Anglos from selling any more shares in its Sur subsidiary while it battles Codelco over an option to acquire 49% of its Chile operations.

Reuters reports spot iron ore was trading close to seven-week highs after a cyclone closed down the world's largest export terminal in Australia and heavy rains in three Brazilian states halted Vale's shipments.

Chile’s state-owned copper giant on Tuesday turned the screws further on Anglo-American in its bitter fight over a 49% stake in Anglo-American Sur, one of the world's richest copper deposits.

GOLDCORP INC. (TSX: G, NYSE: GG) today announced 2011 gold production and provided production and cash cost guidance for 2012 and the five-year period ending 2016.

As protests against the $4.8 billion Conga project in Peru resumed this week, Newmont Mining Corporation (NYSE: NEM) has put together a strategic document outlining its community investment projects related to the gold-copper project.

Solitario Exploration & Royalty (TSE:SLR) said today that its drilling results at its Bongará zinc joint venture project in Peru were "outstanding".