Fortescue Metals was up 5% Monday on rumours that Canadian coal and copper/zinc miner Teck Resources is making a play for the third-largest iron ore producer in Australia.

An Indian conglomerate is planning to build Queensland's biggest coal mine near Rockhampton in the state's central region, including a new town, runway, railway and port facilities.

Although some Asian firms have found creative ways of doing business with Iran, European iron ore traders and shipping companies are shying away completely from transacting with the country as US-led sanctions start to have an impact.

The Philippines is taking a cue from South Africa, Australia and Zambia, all recent examples of government attempts to extract more revenues from their mining sectors and add more controls.

Anglo Platinum, the world's number one platinum producer, suffered more than 80 safety-related work stoppages including 12 fatalities, that resulted in lower output and a drop in profits of over 60% in 2011.

Canadian Zinc Corp., the company developing a new zinc mine in the Northwest Territories, announced a major share purchase by a Chinese investor today.

Canada Lithium Corp. (TSX: CLQ) (OTCQX: CLQMF) is pleased to announce that The Bank of Nova Scotia (“Scotiabank”) and Caterpillar Financial (“CAT”) have provided credit-approved commitments to Canada Lithium Corp. to provide a C$75-million, five-year debt facility to finance Canada Lithium’s Québec Lithium open pit mine and process plant near Val d’Or, Québec.

Members of the fire brigade from Century Mine in Beallsville, Ohio put Rend Lake College's state-of-the-art fire fighter training facility to the test last week, with various scenarios in the mock underground mine as well as on the surface, reports the Benton Evening News.

“It is invaluable for us to ensure safe, realistic and effective training,” said Terry Wilkerson, RLC Applied Science and Technology Division chair. “This was a significant day for our mining program. Today, with the first of many successful live fire training sessions, we made the industry aware that we are the training facility in the Illinois Coal Basin, the next hotbed for the coal industry.”

Mining companies in Australia are considering to fly foreign workers directly to their operations as the country, particularly the north-east state of Queensland, struggles to fill massive job shortages, reports local media outlet Adelaide Now.