Cameco (TSX:CCO) (NYSE:CCJ) announced today that it has increased its all-cash offer to acquire all of the outstanding shares of Hathor Exploration Limited to $4.50 per share, which values the fully diluted share capital of Hathor at approximately $625 million.1 Cameco's increased offer will expire at 12:01 a.m. (Vancouver time) on November 29, 2011, unless further extended or withdrawn. "Cameco's increased offer to Hathor shareholders provides an attractive premium over Rio Tinto's offer and makes sense for Cameco given our unique position in the Athabasca Basin," said Tim Gitzel, president and CEO of Cameco.

Overall construction at Oyu Tolgoi continues to advance on budget and reached a 54.4% level of completion at the end of Q3'11. Key elements of the project, including the concentrator complex, primary crusher and tailings-thickening ponds, remain ahead of schedule. Total capital invested in the project to the end of Q3'11 was approximately $3.2 billion. Facilities required for first ore production in mid-2012 remain on schedule and commercial production is expected to commence in the first half of 2013.

Working as a mining machine operator is the fifth deadliest occupation in the U.S., just above policing but less dangerous than fishing or farming. In August the U.S. Bureau of Labor released a compilation of occupations with highest fatality rates. Fishing had the highest fatality rate in 2010 with 116 deaths per 100,000 full-time workers, while mining machine operators suffered 23 fatalities, or 38.7 deaths per 100,000 full-time workers. The fatality rate for police and sheriff's patrol officers was 18.

NPR profiles Elko Nevada, a town that is located besides Barrick's Goldstrike Mine and doesn't quite believe its good luck. Many residents are still planning for an end to the gold boom; meanwhile the mine keeps throwing off more money and more jobs, and the residents take advantage while they can. Barrick Gold (NYSE:ABX) has plans to hire thousands of more workers, ranging from engineers to mechanics

Construction and mining equipment manufacturer Caterpillar, Inc. (CAT: News ) said Thursday it will offer to acquire Chinese equipment maker ERA Mining Machinery Ltd. for about 6.9 billion billion Hong Kong dollars or $887 million in order to expand market share and modernize its operations in China, where mine modernization will continue to drive demand for equipment.

The Economic Times reports gold and diamond jewellery sales across India fell by 25-30% in grammage terms during Diwali due to rising gold prices and a noticeable shift to coins and bars, said a leading industry body which represents 300 000 jewellers. India is world's number one gold jewellery market and the sales figures can be seen as a setback for the industry. In August the World Gold Council said despite a higher gold price, Indian demand grew 38% during Q2 2011 compared to the same period of 2010 and will continue to expand for the rest of the year.

The Chinese General Administration of Customs reported that the country's iron ore and concentrates imports were 49.94 million tonnes in October, down 17.5% from 60.57 million tonnes in September 2011. The spot price for iron ore arriving at China’s Tianjin port increased to $134.40 a tonne last week from $116.90, the lowest in almost two years, on Oct. 28. Most analysts believe do not expect prices to return to the historic highs above $180 seen just two months ago thanks to the volume-driven market strategy of the big three producers and China's plans to increase its domestic supply by 40% over the next four years and up its investment in mines abroad.

Chile will draw on all options at its disposal, including suing for damages, to defend the interests of state-owned Codelco in its fight with Anglo American, President Sebastián Piñera told the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum on Saturday. Earlier Codelco's chief Diego Hernandez said in a press interview the looming legal battle with Anglo could take three to four years to be resolved. The state-owned copper giant is putting together a crack team of lawyers and financial advisers from Chile and New York to fight Anglo's attempt to block it from exercising an option to buy half of Anglo's Chilean copper assets for $6 billion. Anglo last week sold 24.5% to Mitsubishi for $5.4 billion.

Australia's Minister for Resources, Martin Ferguson, has rejected reports in the Indian press that the carbon tax and mineral resources rent tax will deter foreign investment as it pushes up the price coal imported from Australia. Australia's controversial carbon pricing scheme passed parliament last week. The laws – fiercely opposed by the country's mining sector which says it will lead to more than 20 mine closures and cost thousands of jobs – will force Australia's top 500 polluting companies to pay a tax of $24.50/tonne on carbon emissions from July 2012.