Chinese coal miners discover a 300 million-year-old forest preserved in a layer of ash
Chinese coal miners discovered a botanical Pompeii, a 298 million year old forest well-preserved in ash from a sudden volcanic eruption.
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Grizzly finds potash in Alberta, investors find somewhere else to put their money
On much heavier volumes than usual Grizzly Discoveries shed 3c or 6.52% by midday Tuesday. Before the market open the Edmonton-based company announced a potash discovery near Medicine Hat in Alberta Canada that wasn't as exciting as investors had clearly hoped – drilling yielded potash grades up to 31.1% K2O, but only over 0.3 metres.
Concerned Canadian unions say BC government is leaving coal in China’s hands
In unveiling Canada’s British Columbia’s job-creation strategy last September, the Premier Christy Clark said the government planed to capitalize on high demand for minerals, especially in Asia, by opening up eight new mines in the next four years and expanding nine more by 2015.
Canadian ‘mining watchdog’ spent $1.1M taxpayer dollars and has nothing to show for it
A Canadian mining watchdog created by the Conservative government has yet to mediate a single case despite costing taxpayers $1.1 million over the last two years.
A new kind of hyperinflation: Zimbabwe hikes mining fees by as much as 8,000%
The Zimbabwe Chamber of Mines says the government's hike of pre-exploration fees for the majority of minerals – by as much as 8,000% – together with increased royalty rates will cripple the industry.
Elemental to Raise $1.7 Billion Next Year to Mine Potash
Elemental Minerals Ltd. (ELM), owner of a potash project in the Republic of Congo, plans to raise about $1.7 billion next year to develop production by 2015, Chief Executive Officer Iain Macpherson said.
The Sinopec File
Pollution, bribes, more. Nikiforuk pries open the record of China's oil giant, business partner for Northern Gateway pipeline, The Tyee reports.
Who’re you calling dirty? Canada says would take Europe to WTO over oil sands
Canada is upset about an EU energy panel's plans for a green ranking of fuels that would rank Alberta's heavy oil as the globe's most polluting and effectively ban the import of oil sands crude into the bloc.
South Africa develops Qualification for Health and Safety Advisor
The South Africa Mining Qualifications Authority is developing a general Occupational Health and Safety Advisor qualification, the first in an anticipated succession of qualifications for safety professionals, reports Sheqafrica.
The draft Occupational Safety Curriculum for Safety Representatives and Safety Practitioners (Advisors) is circulated among work group members. The MQA acts as a mining sector education and training authority, or mining Seta, and may appoint a training assessor, named assessment quality partner (AQP), on 6 March 2012. The SA Mining Qualifications Authority (MQA) had applied to the QCTO to be a Development Quality Partner (DQP) in establishing mining safety qualifications. The process requires high levels of resources, expertise, and the cost of hosting volunteer drafters.