Miner plans on flying Mexico gold to Canada to duck US tariffs

Dow Jones reports Argentina's Mendoza Province has lifted its suspension of the multibillion dollar Rio Colorado potash mine project being developed by Brazilian mining company Vale SA. Mendoza's Environmental Secretariat has allowed Vale to move forward with the mine after the company agreed to submit reports on its local hiring and procurement practices to the local authorities, the provincial government said in a statement.

A five-hour gun battle between Mexican marines and a drug gang in Mexico's principal silver mining state close to Fresnillo, left 15 dead raising more concerns about mine security in the area.

Southern Silver Exploration reported today that it has increased its previously announced private placement (see news release NR-07-11) and now plans to issue up to 23,530,000 units in a non-brokered private placement at a price of $0.17 per unit to raise $4,000,100. Each unit will now consist of one common share and one whole share purchase warrant. Each warrant will be exercisable to purchase one additional common share for a period of two years at an exercise price of $0.22 per share.

Mexican mining production rose 22% in April from the year-ago month, led by a big jump in output of copper, the National Statistics Institute, or Inegi, said Thursday. Copper production rose 77% to 32,324 metric tons.

The Chilean Federation of Copper Workers announced a strike for July 11 to oppose plans to privatize the state-owned National Copper Company (Codelco). The management of Codelco, the biggest copper producer in the world, is preparing for privatization, said Raimundo Espinoza, a leader of the workers' federation, FTC.

Bloomberg reports Vale SA, the world’s largest iron-ore miner, cut its target for 2015 output by 10%. The Rio de Janeiro-based company expects to produce 469 million metric tons a year of the steelmaking ingredient by that time, compared with an Oct. 28 forecast of 522 million tons, it said today in an e-mailed statement. No more details were given. Chief Executive Officer Murilo Ferreira, who replaced Roger Agnelli this year after the Brazilian government criticized Vale’s strategy, is cutting targets amid concern raw materials demand in China will slow as the country boosts interest rates to combat quickening inflation. The benchmark Standard & Poor’s GSCI commodity index is heading for a second monthly drop.

Outotec has agreed with Samarco Mineração S.A. on a turnkey delivery of the world's largest iron ore pelletizing plant in Brazil. The contract value is approximately EUR 200 million, which will be booked in Outotec's second quarter order intake. In addition, the contract includes local EUR 100 million purchases performed on behalf of the customer. Some 90% of the services and supplies for the project will be delivered from Brazil. Image by Outotec

Timmins Gold Corp. reported an annual net profit of $11.5m for 2011, the first year of commercial operations of its San Francisco gold project in Mexico. The nine cent a share profit on revenues of $84.3m reported Thursday compared with a net loss of $8.6m last year when the company's income was zero. The company expects to average annual gold production of approximately 100,000 ounces at base case life of mine cash costs of US$489 per ounce. Timmins moved to the Toronto main board in March where it is worth some $137m.

Candente Copper Corp. (TSE:DNT) updates on the status of the entirely owned Cañariaco Norte Copper Project in Northern Peru.