U.S.

New lawsuit to reverse Grand Canyon uranium mining ban

Canadian mining company Quaterra Alaska and county supervisors in northern Arizona have filed a lawsuit against the US government, aiming to reverse a federal 20-year closure of one million acres of uranium-rich public lands located near the Grand Canyon.

U.S. Defense Department undervaluing importance of rare earths for national security: report

The U.S. Defense Department needs to realize the dangerous consequences a potential lack of domestic rare earths may have on the U.S. weapon industry, suggests a latest study by the Congress released last week.

8% drop in U.S. polished diamond imports

U.S. diamond traders and buyers imported less diamonds in February and increased their exports during the month. At the same time, the focus is shifting to higher value goods.

U.S. mining regulator tightens coal mines safety rules

As families and friends of dead miners mark the second anniversary of the Upper Big Branch Mine disaster in West Virginia on April 5, the U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration announced it would issue its final set of rules for inspecting underground coal mines on Friday.

Japan urges dialogue with China on rare earths

Japan, the world’s main importer of rare earths, has requested international assistance for alternatives, conservation, diversification and recycling and to continue dialogue with China to secure stable global supply

New EPA regulations are the latest attempt to shutter America’s coal industry

The following statement was released today by the American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity President and CEO Steve Miller in response to the EPA’s proposed New Source Performance Standards for greenhouse gas emissions.

Two new pipelines to compete with Keystone XL

U.S.-based Enterprise Products Partners LP (NYSE:EPD) and Canadian Enbridge Inc. (NYSE/TSX:ENB) are shaping up as the main competitors for TransCanada Corp’s Keystone XL, as the two companies announced they will build new pipelines that will move as much as 850,000 barrels of crude oil a day from Canada to refineries along the Gulf Coast by mid-2014.

Poll: Alternative energy loses support

Support for development of fuel sources such as wind and solar power has diminished in the United States during the past year, a survey found.

Commodity prices drive TSX up, while Wall Street opened mixed

The Toronto Stock Exchange opened this morning moderately higher as commodity prices increased driven mainly by traders’ hopes of a U.S. housing market in recovery mode.

Gem-quality white diamonds created in laboratory

A Florida-based company says it has created high-quality, colorless, lab-created diamonds. Diamond industry representatives are debating whether this is a “game changer” in how colorless diamonds are sourced and priced.

U.S., Japan and the E.U. dispute China’s decision on rare earths at the WTO

The U.S., Japan and the European Union have filed an official complaint at the World Trade Organization this morning, urging the body to take actions against China’s restrictions on these metals. President Obama warned China that it would not be allowed to gain a competitive advantage in world trade by "skirting the rules."

U.S. net polished diamond imports +4% in January

U.S. net polished diamond imports increased in January this year when compared to January 2011 as well as when compared month-over-month to December 2011.

Fracking "probable cause" of Ohio earthquakes in 2011

Several small earthquakes that affected the northwest region of the United States during 2011 were probably caused by hydraulic fracturing or "fracking,” concludes the latest report by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR), which regulates the oil and gas industry in the country.

Crandall Canyon victims' families call plea bargain deal ‘a slap in the face'

"I can't believe what the [U.S. Attorney] did. We are emotional and at a loss for words. I wish they had not done anything. It would have been better than this"– victim's sister Gayle McDonald.

Decent diamond demand at BaselWorld, fancies sought after

“Good, but not great,” “Okay, but not outstanding.” These are the impressions heard repeatedly while walking around the diamond booths at BaselWorld.

Even with zero experience there's a place you can instantly find a job paying $120,000

BHP gets $US5.25billion in five-part bond deal

Despite persisting tightness in global money markets, mining multinational BHP Billiton (NYSE:BHP) has raised the third-biggest amount this year, selling a $5.25-billion five-part global bond to the US securities market.

NovaGold to spin-out Ambler Project into NovaCopper

NovaGold Resources Inc. (TSX:NG)(NYSE Amex:NG) provided an update on the previously announced spin-out transaction of NovaCopper, a wholly-owned subsidiary, which holds NovaGold’s interest in the Ambler project located in Alaska, U.S.

U.S. mineral values are up in 2011

The value of mineral production in the United States increased by 12 percent in 2011 from that of 2010, suggesting that the nonfuel minerals industries, particularly metals, continued to recover from the economic recession that began in December 2007 and lasted well into 2009.

EPA says metals mining still largest U.S. toxic releases generator

Despite U.S. hardrock mining's efforts to limit pollution, naturally occurring substances in minerals and metals still deliver a serious blow to its overall ranking in EPA's TRI data.

U.S. conflict mineral crackdown backfiring in the DRC – UN

U.S. House set to kill Keystone-linked bill

Is the US rally sustainable?

This week, the financial media celebrated as the Dow closed above the 12,000 mark for the first time since June 19th, 2008.

Zinc, cobalt grabbing some ‘green’ traction

Zinc and cobalt often fall into that esoteric metals category called byproduct, meaning they are generally an afterthought for miners who are keen at getting at, say, nickel or copper deposits. Still, both metals are being increasingly targeted for their use in growing markets, such as rechargeable batteries for electric cars.