A group of protestors from anti-coal group Quit Coal have staged a dramatic protest in the Australian city of Melbourne today, abseiling down the front of the state parliament building and chaining themselves to its pillars.

The Chinese government has announced it will shut hundreds of small mines this year in an effort to boost safety standards following a colliery accident in Sichuan province which has so far left 45 people dead.

Eight of Barrick Gold's Australian subsidiaries have received fines totaling AUD$127,000 for failure to lodge required documents with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC).

Gina Rinehart could be down AUD$9 billion due to the decline in iron ore prices arriving just as the Australian mining tycoon pursues an expensive new development.

Analysts predict a recovery in the price of iron ore this month following a dive in spot prices below key lower thresholds which has left the shares of major Australian miners languishing in the doldrums.

Over 10,000 of environmentalists took the streets of Raub, in the Malaysian state of Pahang on Sunday, to oppose the use of cyanide at the nearby Bukit Koman gold mine, which they claim has been using the chemical compound to the detriment of their health.

Is the great gold rush over? The price of the precious metal has soared over the last decade, jumping from below $300 (£189) in 2001 to peak at $1,920 (£1,211) in September 2011. But, since then, it has fallen to around $1,660 (£1,047) defying predictions – and the hopes of speculators – that it would continue to hit new peaks during the ongoing financial turmoil.

The Peruvian government confirmed it will end Monday a state of emergency imposed in early July in the country’s northern region, where violent protests against Newmont Mining's (NYSE:NEM) controversial $4.8 billion Conga project left five dead and dozens injured.

South African prosecutors have temporarily withdrawn murder charges against the 270 miners accused Thursday of killing 34 striking colleagues shot dead by police at the platinum miner Lonmin's (LON:JSE) Marikana mine, but warned they could be recharged when inquiries were complete.