Following the approval by Wesizwe shareholders in March 2011 of the total mine development financing solution offered by the Chinese consortium of Jinchuan, CAD Fund and Micawber, TWP Projects, a Basil Read Group company, has submitted a full EPCM proposal to the company for the new twin vertical shafts (the Main and Ventilation Shafts), a new plant and all surface infrastructure at its Frischgewaagd-Ledig Complex near Rustenburg, South Africa.

Sandvik Mining and Construction has signed a major materials handling contract with a major mining company in Latin America. The contract value exceeds SEK1,200 million and will be executed and contribute to SMC business during the years 2011 until 2013.

Crown Solutions, a Veolia Water Solutions & Technologies company, is to supply the initial equipment for a new Water Treatment Plant (WTP) to Coeur Palmarejo in Mexico. The Palmarejo mine is an operating silver-gold mine in the […]

The Alice Springs-based Lhere Artepe Group has acquired 51% of the CDE Group, taking indigenous ownership of the Australian mining and civil works contracting group to 84%. CDE’s current activities include providing services to Fortescue Metals Group’s Christmas Creek iron ore mine in Western Australia through the Downer EDI contracting group, and to Xstrata for the McArthur River zinc mine in the Northern Territory.

The head of the world's largest and oldest drilling services company says spending on mineral exploration will hit a record pace in 2011 and grow even more in 2012. The Financial Post reports from PDAC: And as CEO Craig Kipp is quick to point out in an interview, that is a great space to be in these days. According to a published forecast he uses, global exploration spending will reach a record US$14-billion this year. And if that sounds like a lot, a whopping US$19-billion is expected in 2012. “The outlook’s pretty good,” Mr. Kipp said in a rather big understatement. He thinks we are starting a three-year run of extremely elevated drilling activity. Mining companies have plenty of cash to burn and are having trouble finding good acquisitions, so it makes sense to spend it on drilling, he said.

Joy Global Inc.'s fiscal first-quarter earnings rose 34%, but the mining-equipment company's sales and profit were lower than expected, partly because of flooding in Australia that disrupted mine operations. According to a report in The Wall Street Journal, Chief Executive Mike Sutherlin said a 20-25% increase in steel prices will be offset by higher equipment prices. "We're looking at higher input prices," Mr. Sutherlin said during a conference call Wednesday with analysts. "I don't think it's a significant, unmanageable risk though." The Milwaukee -based company's profits and orders for new equipment and service have been improving in recent quarters on rising prices for mined commodities, such as coal, iron ore and copper.

In October 2010 the Chinese government shut down 1,611 illegal coal mines in an effort to improve an industry whose working conditions have been described as harsh, dangerous, and often fatal. Last year in China more than 2,600 people died in mining-related accidents, including explosions, floodings and cave-ins, although fatalities have decreased in recent years due to increased safety inspections and the government shuttering illegal mines.

Swedish mining equipment manufacturer Atlas Copco has received one of its biggest ever orders from the world's largest primary silver miner.

Colorado-based Connors Drilling and sister company, Sanderson Drilling of Western Australia have purchased the assets of the Surface Diamond Division of Swick Mining Services (ASX: SWK) of Australia.