The Argyle diamond mine, long a dominant force in the global diamond market saw production drop 14% year on year during the last quarter of 2011.

In what is likely to be upbeat year for Australian mining M&A, some large Asian and U.S. companies are ready to bet on the country's coal, iron ore and uranium assets to meet booming demand for power.

Miner Fortescue Metals shipped a record 14.77 million tonnes of iron ore in the December quarter.

The Porto Sudeste tunnel project in Brazil features a 20.5 m wide tunnel and will accommodate four conveyor lines to become one of the widest tunnels of its type globally.

The market for iron ore is likely to soften this year but industry leaders Rio Tinto and BHP Billiton are not pulling in production, betting that the slowdown in steelmaking is temporary.

Mercator Minerals (TSE:ML) rose 5.5% today after announcing record production from its Mineral Park Mine in Arizona.

Iamgold (TSE:IMG) stock was down Monday despite announcing strong fourth-quarter production results.

Canada’s Quadra FNX Mining Ltd. (QUX-T15.30----%), which has signed a deal to be bought by a Polish government-backed miner, said Monday its production was down slightly in the fourth quarter, as compared to the previous three months.

HALIFAX, NOVA SCOTIA--(Marketwire - Jan. 16, 2012) - Ucore Rare Metals Inc (TSX VENTURE:UCU)(OTCQX:UURAF) is pleased to announce results of reconnaissance sampling on the Company's extensive alluvial rare earths (REE) and tin multi-metal property holdings in the Ray Mountains area of central Alaska