Chinese citizens continue to buy gold in record volumes with October the fourth successive record month for imports via Hong Kong

An arbitrator has ruled that a "poison pill" rights plan erected by Ivanhoe to try and stop a Rio Tinto takeover, does not apply to the latter, leaving Ivanhoe vulnerable to a takeover next year.

A study released Monday by researchers at Duke University will add fuel to the fire of groups opposed to mountaintop mining in the Appalachian region of the United States.

Environmental and community groups opposed to a nickel and copper mine being constructed in Michigan's Upper Peninsula aren't giving up the fight.

Natural Resources Minister Joe Oliver says Canada's environmental review process takes too long and it should be streamlined so it doesn't last any longer than two years. Oliver made the statement in announcing federal approval for French oil giant Total's Joslyn North oilsands mine project 65 kilometres northwest of Fort McMurray, Alta.

Toyota Tsusho Corp., the trading company of the Asia’s largest automaker, will help accelerate production of rare-earth metals for Canadian mining company Matamec Explorations Inc. and buy all the output from its Kipawa mine.

Precious metals took a beating in the markets on Monday, with gold and silver falling in inverse relation to a 1% rise in the US dollar. Gold for February delivery crashed $52.60 to $1664.20 an ounce at Comex in New York. Silver sunk $1.20 to $31.05/oz.

Lundin Mining (TSE:LUN) said Monday that higher grades of ore and a ramp up of production is expected to boost zinc and copper production in 2013 and 2014.

Environmentalists and academics alike welcomed the latest report by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which confirms a link between hydraulic fracturing for natural gas —or fracking— to groundwater contamination.