The environmental impacts of what would be the Northwest Territories' fourth diamond mine are being studied in Yellowknife, the capital.

Rio Tinto has given the green light to an additional US$2.7 billion capital investment to modernize its aluminium smelter in Kitimat, British Columbia. This new investment will allow for completion of the US$3.3 billion project in 2014.

Kenya is set to join the league of gold-producing nations following the granting of the first mining lease to UK company Goldplat.

Gold hit a 2-week high on Thursday as gains in equities and the euro prompted buying from speculators after major central banks took coordinated action to prevent the euro-zone debt crisis from igniting a global economic meltdown.

More than 150 internationally known writers and artists are urging Mexican President Felipe Calderon to cancel mining concessions in an area of northern Mexico considered sacred ground by the Huichol Indians.

Northland Resources S.A. (NAU.TO) is nearly 5% higher today at $1.29 a share after local officials in Narvik, Norway, approved a construction permit allowing the company to begin work on a new iron ore terminal on the Barents Sea coast.

Kalahari Minerals (LON:KAH) and Extract Resources (ASX:EXT) were both up slightly today after the companies announced they have received a mining licence for their Husab uranium project in Namibia. London-listed Kalahari has a 42.7% stake in Extract. Kalahari said in a press release that the mine lease, valid for 25 years, will allow the project to move into production and establish Husab as one of the three largest uranium mines in the world. The company states the mine would produce 15 million pounds of U3O8 per year through open-pit mining. The deposit has a resource estimate of 500 million pounds U3O8.

Canadian manufacturer's confidence is plunging, says Export Development Canada in a survey released today. EDC’s Trade Confidence Index (TCI), a semi-annual survey of Canadian exporters and investors, declined by an overall 12 per cent since the spring of 2011.

Large miners, such as Rio Tinto and BHP, are looking to enter the potash business, or expand existing operations, as they look for increased demand from developing nations such China, India and Brazil.