October 14, 2011

With ‘Global Ore’ BHP enters new age of iron

Fox Business reports global number one miner BHP Billiton plans to create a new, more transparent system for pricing iron ore called Global Ore by the end of the year…

October 13, 2011

Rio rocks: iron ore output now tops half a million tonnes a day

Rio Tinto, the world’s second- largest mining company, said third-quarter iron ore output and coking coal production reached record highs after recovering from disruptions caused by flooding in Australia earlier…

October 10, 2011

BHP set for the mother of all digs as $30 billion Olympic Dam expansion is approved

Australia on Monday gave environmental approval for BHP Billiton to expand its Olympic Dam mine but set more than 100 environmental conditions on the uranium, copper and gold project. The…

October 10, 2011

De Beers sets up synthetic diamond VC office in Silicon Valley

Venturebeat reports De Beers has set up investment offices in Silicon Valley to find and fund synthetic diamond startups through the investment arm of a subsidiary Element Six. Element Six…

October 9, 2011

Pyrrhic victory for Mugabe as Rio Tinto gives up control of tiny diamond mine, but likely drops $200 million expansion

News reports on Saturday say Rio Tinto's Zimbabwe subsidiary Murowa Diamonds has ceded 51% of its equity to comply with a new law that requires Zimbabweans to own the majority…

October 8, 2011

Why will there be a BHP buy-back?

Australia's retail investor portal Switzer answers these questions: I own BHP Billiton shares and I have heard there will be a buy-back. What is it? Why are they doing it?…

October 7, 2011

Strikers vow Grasberg shutdown if hourly $1.50 is not upped 8-fold

Workers at Freeport's Grasberg – one of the world's largest gold and copper mines – in the remote Indonesian province of West Papua vowed Friday to paralyse production, as their…

October 7, 2011

Rio Tinto gets on board with Virgin Australia

Virgin Australia has won part of Rio Tinto’s global contract for air travel services.

October 6, 2011

Ivanhoe gains 13% after Mongolia backs down on Oyu Tolgoi

Shares of Ivanhoe Mines (TSE:IVN) and Rio Tinto (ASX:RIO) both gained today on news that Mongolia has backtracked on a demand for a greater share of the massive Oyu Tolgoi…

October 6, 2011

Is Newmont Mining a refuge for investors?

Newmont Mining (NYSE:NEM) is one of the largest gold (NYSE:GLD) producers in the world. It is the only gold producer included in the S&P 500 (NYSE:SPY) and Fortune 500.