Robots could now be in charge of mill reline process

Mexico, the world’s largest silver producer, is expected to become the next source of “mega” gold projects as experts predict its bullion production will increase considerably in the next five years.

Brazilian tycoon Eike Batista just got richer. CCX, a division of the billionaire’s EBX Group energy arm MPX, announced it has completed a study of coal reserves in the San Juan underground mines in Colombia, discovering a 672 million tons reserve, the fifth largest coal deposit in the world.

Baja Mining stock was up 10% today after the embattled junior miner announced its CEO has resigned.

Mining giant Vale (NYSE:VALE) is having second thoughts about going ahead with its $4 billion Apolo iron ore project in southeast Brazil, which may be affected by the federal government's decision to create a nature reserve in the area.

Malaysian News Agency Bernama.com reports that a huge iron ore mine in Bolivia may be doomed as a result of conflicts between the proponent and the Bolivian government.

With huge investments in Peruvian copper, Chinalco Mining, a division of the giant Aluminum Corp of China, follows another Chinese state-owned miner to the Hong Kong market to raise money.

Australian junior Elemental Minerals (ASX, TSX: ELM), which is developing a potash project in the Republic of Congo, announced it has increased measured and indicated resources at its Kola deposit by 265% to just under one billion tons.

Chile’s copper export revenue fell 8% to about $3.6 billion in April 2012, compared to the same period last year, when it was lifted by high prices of the commodity, the country’s Central Bank informed today.

Canadian miner Baja Mining Corp (TSX:BAJ) said on Monday it won’t be able to continue with its copper/cobalt/zinc project in Mexico beyond mid-June, unless it finds a way to fund cost overruns quickly.