Centerra Gold Inc. (TSX:CG) today reported net earnings of $136.6 million or $0.58 per share on revenues of $250.2 million compared to earnings of $123.9 million or $0.53 per common share based on revenues of $255.5 million in the same quarter last year. Image by Centerra Gold

Greystar Resources Ltd. (TSX:GSL)(AIM:GSL) is pleased to announce receipt of a positive scoping stage Preliminary Assessment under National Instrument 43-101 ("Scoping Study") for an underground only operation at its 100%-owned Angostura gold-silver project in northeastern Colombia. Image by Greystar Resources Ltd.

Extract Resources said on Monday it was confident that the Namibian government's proposed policy changes on strategic minerals will not affect its Husab uranium project license. The Namibian government is expected to hold a news conference this week to clarify plans to assign almost all mining and exploration rights to a state-owned company.

No word yet from China's Jinchuan Group as to whether the company is officially in the market for Canada's Lundin Mining. Canadian media reports claim a consortium headed by Jinchuan, which includes sovereign wealth fund China Investment Corp., was planning a takeover bid for the Canadian base metals miner.

BHP Billiton today announced that the partners of Samarco had approved the US$3.5 billion (BHP Billiton share1 US$1.75 billion) Fourth Pellet Plant Project at Samarco (Brazil). The expansion will increase Samarco iron ore pellet production capacity by 8.3 million tonnes to 30.5 million tonnes per annum (100% basis). First pellet production is expected in the first half of calendar year 2014. BHP Billiton President Iron Ore, Ian Ashby, said “Samarco is a low cost supplier of high quality iron ore pellets and over the last several years has been very successful in growing its resource base. This investment builds on its resource and operational strengths and will further improve Samarco’s competitiveness and market position.”

Paladin Energy Ltd. (TSX:PDN)(ASX:PDN) ("Paladin" or the "Company") advises that Wyatt Buck, Executive General Manager – Production will be leaving Paladin in May. He has decided to change direction and depart the uranium sector, taking a senior role with a company focussed on other commodities. We wish Wyatt all the best in his new venture and, on behalf of myself, management and the Board, sincerely thank him for his contribution and dedication over the past 5 years during a time of great growth for the Company.

Hydro had underlying earnings before financial items and tax (EBIT) of NOK 1,448 million in the first quarter, up from NOK 588 million in the fourth quarter. Higher realized aluminium prices and premiums, higher volumes and lower operating costs lifted underlying results for the quarter.

True North Gems Inc. (the "Company") (TSX VENTURE:TGX) announces that it has completed the second tranche of its previously announced and oversubscribed non-brokered private placement. The second closing is for proceeds of $615,000. The Company issued 6,150,000 units at a price of $0.10 per unit. Each unit is comprised of one common share and one half non-transferable common share purchase warrant, each warrant exercisable for one additional common share for a period of two years at a price of $0.15 per share for year one, and $0.20 per share for year two. Two finders received finders' fees of in the aggregate $21,500 in cash and 215,000 finders' warrants in connection with the closing of this second tranche, each finders' warrant exercisable for one common share for a period of two years at a price of $0.12 per share.

Petaquilla Minerals Ltd. (TSX:PTQ)(OTCBB:PTQMF)(FRANKFURT:P7Z) (the "Company") today announced the planned expansion of its production system at its Molejon gold mine facility, located in Panama, by increasing grinding and processing capacity in addition to its on-going construction of a heap leach operation. The new production improvements, when fully implemented, are expected to generate an additional monthly recovery of 7,200 gold ounces. Now at the final stages of implementation, the installation of a third drum scrubber will significantly improve the processing of clays. The additional installation of a new horizontal Carbon-in-Column circuit ("CIC") will increase by 80% the gold adsorption capacity and improve the efficiency of the gold recovery from the milling system as well as from the future heap leach operations. The combined efficiency of the new hydraulic capacity and CIC circuit will translate, as from the third calendar quarter of current 2011, into an increase in production of 1,000tpd and approximately 1,200 ounces of gold, monthly.