MINING.COM Staff Writer

Coal mining shares rose on Thursday amid uncertainty over the future of nuclear power as Japan races to avert a meltdown at a power plant crippled by last week's earthquake and tsunami, Reuters reported: In afternoon trading on the New York Stock Exchange, Consol Energy (CNX.N) was up 4.9 percent at $54.96 and Alpha Natural Resources (ANR.N) rose 4.3 percent to $55.17. Peabody Energy (BTU.N) was 3.6 percent higher at $70.05, Massey Energy (MEE.N) was up 3.9 percent at $63.18 and Arch Coal (ACI.N) was 2.2 percent higher at $34.91.

Lundin Mining Corp. (TSX:LUN) says an assessment of its Aguablanca mine suggests full operations will likely restart in 2012 after a shutdown in December due to heavy rains, according to a report in The Brandon Sun: The base metals miner says it plans to spend the year preparing the mine to guarantee the operation's viability and safety after an assessment at the nickel mine in Spain.