Argentina expects $29B in mining investments in 2019

Brazilian mining company Vale has pushed out Chief Executive Roger Agnelli under heavy government pressure and is in discussions to replace him with an executive from within, local media reported on Sunday. President Dilma Rousseff has used the government's influence as a key Vale (VALE5.SA: Quote) shareholder to insist the company remove Agnelli following years of accusations it was not doing enough to bolster Brazil's economic development.

Global No. 1 copper producer Chile's Codelco said Friday its 2010 output dipped but should be steady this year, and expects strong Chinese demand, Japan's recovery after a natural disaster, as well as new uses to stoke demand. Codelco said profits surged 47 percent to $5.8 billion in 2010, with a rise in copper prices to record highs more than compensating for a 0.8 percent fall in production from 2009 to 1.688 million tonnes. [ID:nN08136598]

Gold Fields (GFIJ.J: Quote), the world's fourth-largest listed gold miner, said on Tuesday it had offered to buy out the remaining shares of its Peruvian unit to boost the group's total production of the precious metal.

Canada's AuRo Resources agreed to buy two mines and a majority stake in a third mine in Colombia from Minerales Del Puerto for up to $1.3 million and not exceeding 6.5 million shares.

Newstrike Capital Inc. (TSX-V:NES) said drilling continues to intercept and expand on the gold discovery at the company's 100%-owned Ana Paula Project, Guerrero Gold Belt (GGB), Mexico. Step-out drilling continues to intercept multiple mineralized intervals in all drill holes completed to date, and has expanded the area of mineralization to 700 by 1100 meters.

Canada's Greystar Resources Ltd (GSL.TO) said on Friday it was not abandoning its Angostura gold project in Colombia and would present plans to change the mine to underground from open pit.

Minera Andes (MAI.TO: Quote) said on Thursday it plans to spin out its Los Azules copper project in Argentina into a new publicly traded company. The Toronto-based exploration company said the move will let it unlock value from Los Azules and allow it to focus on developing its San Jose gold-copper project, which is located in the vicinity of Goldcorp's (G.TO: Quote) recently acquired Cerro Negro project in Argentina.

Great Panther Silver increased its profits by one third over last year, the TSX and NYSE-listed company reported on Wednesday. Revenues were $42.2 million in 2010, a 33% increase over the previous year. Fourth-quarter profits were $13.8 million, up 40% from the same period in 2009.

Capstone Mining made a dramatic move into the black last year, earning a US$72.6 million profit compared to a loss of $18.3 million in 2009. Revenues grew from $250 million in 2009 to $310 million last year. The Vancouver-based company had US$192.4 million in the bank at the end of the year, up from $118.4 million the year previously.