Mining giants warned Australia on Wednesday that its planned carbon-reduction scheme could cost the industry as much as $25 billion through 2020, cut coal production by a third and send investment in that sector tumbling 13 percent. "Australia is walking the plank," Seamus French, who runs the coal division of miner Anglo-American Plc , told a conference, a day after the Australian government's climate-change adviser suggested how carbon emissions should be taxed.

The world's biggest consumer of steel is ready to raise the stakes. Steel demand in China is expected to rise by around 25% by the year 2015, to a huge 750 million metric tonnes. To ensure an adequate supply position, China is set to create three iron ore mining groups, with an output capacity of 100 million tonnes each. Six other groups with a capacity of 30 million tonnes are to be cobbled together to ensure steady supplies. Iron ore is the principal raw material used to make steel.

Shares in Africa-focused Globe Metals and Mining shot up on Monday after it released positive rare earth exploration results. Chinese state-owned firm East China Minerals Exploration and Development Bureau last month became the largest shareholder in Globe when it bought a 53.7 per cent stake.

Monument Mining made $15 million in gross revenues in the first three months of 2011, having sold 10,704 ounces of gold at an average price of $1404/oz. The Vancouver-based gold explorer, which owns two gold properties in Malaysia, said it is on target to exceed 40,000 ounces of gold this year, the company's first year of commercial production. Image by Monument Mining Limited

Two separate Wall Street reports gave fertilizer producers a boost on Tuesday. Investment bank Citigroup upgraded its recommendations for the two top producers Mosaic and Potash Corp. of Saskatchewan to buy citing strong global agricultural fundamentals and reduced Chinese exports. In a separate opinion Barron's magazine over the weekend said Mosaic's stock is worth a look as potash prices are predicted to rise throughout the year thanks to depleted inventories and consolidation among Russian producers.

Shares of top Canadian uranium producer Cameco (CCO.TO: Quote) slipped as much as 4.4 percent on Monday, after Germany said that it plans to shut all its nuclear reactors by 2022. The move to shut down its nuclear program comes just nine months after Berlin announced an extension to the lifespan of its plants by an average 12 years.

Although there was no apparent news driving it, Ethiopian Potash's (TSX-V: FED) shareprice leapt by as much as 20 percent Monday, up from 75 to 90 cents on strong volume. The push upwards may come from investors in anticipation of drilling results from Ethiopian Potash's Danakil property, where it reports an inferred resource of 128 million tonne @ 21 percent potash.

Australian Mining: At 15 years of age, Nigeria-born Bukayo Taiwo has become the youngest ever student to enrol at Curtin University’s West Australian School of Mines (WASM).

Taiwo enrolled at Murdoch college and graduated at 15, paving the way for her to enrol to study for a Bachelor of Engineering/Commerce at WASM.

She says she is excited to begin studying for her long-term goal of working as an engineer in the mining industry.

Black Iron reported initial assay results from its ongoing confirmation ("twin hole") and metallurgical diamond drill program at the Company's Shymanivske Iron Ore Project in Ukraine. The Company is encouraged by the results of the initial two holes highlighted by 20342-T that intersected 164 meters grading 32.1% iron, including 83 meters grading 33.8% iron. Matt Simpson, President and Chief Executive Officer of Black Iron, commented, "As anticipated, the assay results from the first two twin holes align well with the historical drilling logs for the Project."