MINING.COM Staff Writer

The Sydney Morning Herald reports Fortis Mining chiefs Jitto Arulampalam and Frank Cannavo are clearly hoping to repeat history by moving into the boardroom of another exploration hopeful, Great Western Exploration. The duo have not only taken control of the board, but brought along some of their favourite Hong Kong backers from would-be Kazakhstan potash miner Fortis - Madam Cheung Kwai Lan, and Team Lucky.

Nasdaq reports farmers want so much fertilizer to meet demand for agricultural products that potash producers are raising their prices on an almost constant basis now. Back in January 2010, German potash producer K+S was charging 285 euros – roughly $407 – per ton of potash. As of now, bulk clients are buying potash at 363 euros or $520 per ton, a 27% net increase over the last 18 months.

Investment site Motley Fool says gold stocks such as Newmont, Goldcorp and Freeport-McMoRan are trading as though gold has lost its luster entirely and slipped back below $1,250 per ounce and that this latest bout of weakness in the gold mining shares – occurring when quality producers are awash in record cash flow and cozy profit margins – has yielded valuations remarkably depressed.