Mexico’s exploration expenditures are the highest in Latin America, reaching a record high of almost US$1 billion in 2011, says the latest report released by the Metals Economics Group’s (MEG), a think tank based in Halifax, Canada.

BHP Billiton would not be willing to negotiate with the unions on strike at its coal mines in Australia and had said the battle is "likely to get tougher before it's over", an e-mail published by ABC’s PM reveals.

The country's deputy energy and mining minister says the new regulation that changes the rules on foreign ownership of mines applies to all companies and is not aimed specifically at Freeport McMoRan.

Hudbay Minerals (TSE:HBM) rang in the fourth quarter with a $34.3 million profit or 21 cents per share, compared to $7.9 million or seven cents a share at the end of 2010.

VANCOUVER, March 7, 2012 /CNW/ - Extorre Gold Mines Limited (AMEX: XG; TSX: XG; Frankfurt:E1R, "Extorre" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has entered into an agreement pursuant to which Canaccord Genuity Corp. (the "Underwriter"), has offered to purchase, on a bought deal private placement basis, 3,530,000 common shares (the "Shares") of the Company at a price of C$7.10 per Share for total gross proceeds of C$25,063,000 (the "Offering").

ATCO announced on Monday that it has been awarded a multimillion-dollar contract to design, build and operate a 2,586-person turnkey workforce housing lodge for BHP Billiton’s Jansen Potash Project, 100 km north of Regina.

Dr. Guido Bartels, chairman of the Global Smart Grid Federation, told Israeli business publication Globes that an investment in smart meter technology can't be avoided, otherwise electricity prices will skyrocket.

Despite the Ontario government’s efforts to avoid a confrontation between Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug (KI) community members and God's Lake Resources representatives during the world’s leading mining exploration Convention, PDAC, the conflict keeps escalating. Today, KI Chief Donny Morris released a video, shot at Sherman Lake site yesterday, where he is settled to stop any advance from small Canadian mining exploration company God’s Lake Resources (GLR).