The United Nations' Security Council on Thursday extended the sanctions imposed on Côte d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast) for another year, including exports of rough diamonds.

Yonhap reported that South Korea will pursue 5 energy and infrastructure development projects in Venezuela worth USD 11.1 billion that could open new business opportunities for local companies in the South American country.

Labor shortages in the mining industry may constrain future gold output and have bullish implications for prices, said HSBC, a London based multinational bank, in a commodity research note.

ArcelorMittal today announces that a scoping study has identified the potential to utilize ArcelorMittal Mines Canada’s existing infrastructure system and to increase annual production of iron-ore concentrate to 30 million tonnes per annum.

RareMetalBlog reports the Russian government has begun creating the conditions needed for an active resumption of rare earth production- the rationale being increased domestic demand for high-tech industry and the spectre of more export restrictions by China.

Scott Wright of Zeal Intelligence made some illuminating comments this week in his post about the dwindling supply of gold.

While the precious metals sector has consolidated and struggled to find a bottom, an important development has taken place. First, let's harken back to 2007-2008.

“There is a new level of prices for iron ore globally,” Tito Martins, Vale CFO tells analysts in a conference call Friday.

Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives by mining companies operating in emerging markets in South America, Africa and Asia have become a crucial part of doing business as “above-ground risks are quickly gaining equal footing to traditional geological and engineering considerations for mining projects.”