MINING.COM

Iron ore, check; Indian companies now looking to bid on Afghan copper, gold deposits

After achieving a toe-hold in Afghanistan with the award of a major iron ore contract, Indian companies are turning their attention to the troubled country's copper and gold reserves.

Andrew Topf | February 9, 2012 | 9:37 pm

Be careful what you wish for Ron Paul. What a world on the gold standard may look like

CNBC's Mark Koba on Thursday has a critical look at US presidential candidate Ron Paul's ideal world – one without a Federal Reserve and a return to the gold standard.

Frik Els | February 9, 2012 | 8:35 pm

Japanese firms to enter the lithium industry in Chile

Japanese companies such as Samsung, Toyota, Mitsubishi and Sumitomo are evaluating the recently opened option to tap into the lithium industry in Chile, local newspaper Diario Financiero published on Thursday.

Cecilia Jamasmie | February 9, 2012 | 8:14 pm

Southern Copper delays $1 billion mine opening in Peru

Record annual earnings of more than $2 billion released today by key global copper producer Southern Copper Corp (NYSE:SCCO), were overshadowed by the company’s decision of pushing back the beginning of its operation at the $1 billion Tia Maria project until 2015.

Cecilia Jamasmie | February 9, 2012 | 6:04 pm

Canada gets more than just pandas in black and white as Harper signs China uranium deal

Canada’s nuclear-energy industry generates some $6.6 billion in annual revenue, $1.2 billion in exports each year and employs roughly 31,000 people according to Harper's office.

Frik Els | February 9, 2012 | 3:37 pm

BHP Billiton expects “significant increase” in copper production at Escondida mine in Chile

BHP Billiton (NYSE: BHP), the world’s largest mining company, expects to increase production at its Escondida copper mine in Chile to over 1.3Mt/y in the 2015 financial year, said CEO Marius Kloppers yesterday in a webcast to discuss fiscal H1 results.

Cecilia Jamasmie | February 9, 2012 | 3:13 pm