The Chinese government has approved a raft of new infrastructure and rail projects this week in a concerted effort to boost its slowing economy.

Rio Tinto (ASX:RIO) has teamed up with Sydney's University of New South Wales to create the world's first virtual mine for the purpose of teaching block caving

Matterhorn Asset Management's Egon von Greyerz claims fund managers and investors are shifting from gold ETF's to physical gold, and that the "move in gold and silver has barely started."

Diversified mining giant Rio Tinto has announced major job cuts at aluminum operations in both Australia and New Zealand.

Australian trade minister Craig Emerson has said Chinese demand will continue to give support to the country's mining boom despite declines in export prices.

Disputes between China and Japan over offshore territory have proceeded a step further with both countries competing for exploratory licenses to large swathes of the Pacific Ocean floor.

Global X Funds, the New York based provider of exchange traded funds, launched Thursday the Global X Junior Miners ETF (NYSE Arca: JUNR), the firts platform that provides access to junior mining companies globally.

Platinum miner Lonmin's (LON:JSE) has signed an agreement to end a nearly four-week platinum-mine strike and return to Marikana mine by Monday, but key parties didn't participate, undermining the government-backed attempt put an end to a violent labour dispute that has left 44 people dead.

The creative department at Visual Capitalist has come up with another infographic on gold. In this, the last of a three-part series, they show us how gold is used across the globe.