The future of about 160 workers at BK11 diamond mine in Botswana is in the balance after UK-based owner, Firestone Diamonds (LON:FDI), suspended operations yesterday.

Rubicon crosses key threshold towards building its Phoenix gold project in the Red Lake district through a financing that has pulled in enough cash to cover estimated CAPEX in full.

Copper output in Chile, the world's largest copper producer, tumbled 7.6% in the last 12 months to 396,341 metric tons, the National Statistics Institute (INE), a government statistics agency, announced this morning.

The Chilean government has launched an innovative employment program that aims to allow more women to work within the mining industry. The program will be launched in the northern regions of Tarapaca, Atacama and Coquimbo to begin with and then spread to other regions later in the year.

As Canadian exports of iron ore and uranium to China continue to increase dramatically, Beijing will benefit from higher-quality ore and diversification of supply sources, predicts economist Patricia Mohr in the latest Scotiabank’s Commodity Price Index.

Silver’s gains for 2012 now stands at over 30% while gold added more than 180/oz in January and February. The last time the Dow closed above 13,000 was in May 2008.

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Lindsay's comments come despite forecasts of supply outstripping demand by at least 350,000 tonnes (some analysts put the figure as high as 539,000 tonnes) this year further putting pressure on prices.

Should the supermajors join the new platform it would mark the latest shift in the global iron ore business which has been completely transformed in less than a decade.