As copper producers from Freeport-McMoRan to BHP Billiton ponder what to do with the windfall from surging prices, First Quantum Minerals has no such dilemma.

Unlike most of its peers, First Quantum’s copper sales are fully hedged – at an expected average price of $2.37/lb for the second half of the year. That means it’s largely watching from the sidelines as the metal surges above $2.90/lb for the first time in more than two years.

Canadian base metals producer Nevsun Resources this week announced a strategic update on its capital allocation plans, allotting extra capital to its Eritrea-based Bisha zinc/copper/gold operation and delaying the timetable to deliver the Serbia-based Timok prefeasibility study (PFS) to the first quarter of 2018.

Previously scheduled for delivery in September, the PFS will now be preceded by an updated preliminary economic assessment in October this year, which will help with risk mitigation, the company advised.

A small Canadian miner has set out to lead the way into petrolithium production, combining oil for conventional vehicles with lithium for electric vehicles (EV) produced from oilfield waste water.

Shares in MGX Minerals have doubled this year as investors seek exposure to the predicted electric vehicle revolution that many of the conventional resource firms do not provide.

Indigenous leader Grace Daniels thought the prospect of iron ore mining in the pristine Gulf of Carpentaria had disappeared. But a new company thinks the climate is right to revive a failed project, and that has her worried.

Increased mining royalties and a new mining agency, combined with generally clearer and more consistent regulations is expected to provide an overall boost to the long-term outlook of Brazil’s resources industry, a recent report by Fitch Group affiliated market analyst BMI Research stated.
The recent developments are expected to boost investor sentiment and facilitate project development.

Queensland has warned multinational miners Anglo American and Glencore about dust levels in their coal mines and has said that operations that fail to comply with legislation will be closed.

In a rare move, Queensland Mines Minister Anthony Lynham named the two companies in Parliament on Thursday evening.

ST. PAUL, Minn.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–PolyMet Mining Corp. (“PolyMet” or the “Company”) TSX: POM; NYSE AMERICAN: PLM – reports that the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources today released six draft water appropriation permits for public review and comment. These are the first of several major permits required to build and operate the NorthMet copper-nickel-precious metals project in northeastern Minnesota. The individual water appropriation permits are needed to use or withdraw water from a su

Diversified miner Vedanta Resources’ Zinc International subsidiary has committed more than 80% of the $400-million capital expenditure for the first phase of the Gamsberg zinc project, in the Northern Cape. The first phase of the Gasmberg project is expected to have a mine life of 13 years, replacing the production lost by the closure of the Lisheen mine, in Ireland, and restoring Zinc International’s volumes to more than 300 000 t/y.

Base metals developer Ironbark Zinc is continuing to work towards securing Chinese funding for a large potential zinc mine – the Citronen base metals project, in Greenland.
Ironbark, which is listed in Australia, is working with China Nonferrous Metal Industry’s Foreign Engineering and Construction Company (NFC) to access Chinese funding for the project.

Ratings agency Standard and Poor’s (S&P’s) has given global mining company Anglo American a stable outlook, raising its long- and short-term corporate credit ratings to BBB-/A-3 from BB+/B. The agency also raised Anglo American’s long-term South Africa national scale rating to zaAAA from zaAA+, and affirmed the short-term national scale rating of zaA-1+.

Russian aluminium giant Rusal said tycoon Mikhail Prokhorov has agreed to sell around a 7% stake to billionaire Viktor Vekselberg for $503.9-million, concluding lengthy negotiations over a sale.

Prokhorov, a minority shareholder in Hong Kong-listed Rusal, had been in talks to sell a 12% stake in the company to Vekselberg since last year but talks stalled in February.

Ratings agency Standard and Poor’s (S&P’s) has given global mining company Anglo American a stable outlook, raising its long- and short-term corporate credit ratings to BBB-/A-3 from BB+/B. The agency also raised Anglo American’s long-term South Africa national scale rating to zaAAA from zaAA+, and affirmed the short-term national scale rating of zaA-1+.

ASX-listed junior Oro Verde has resumed exploration control at the Topacio gold project, in Nicaragua, after gold major Newcrest Mining withdrew from the project.

Oro Verde stated on Friday that the partnership with Newcrest over the past two years had significantly advanced the project and that the company had many new targets to follow up.

Safeguard duties of 12% have been officially placed on hot-rolled coil (HRC) and plate entering South Africa following publication of the August 11 Government Gazette, which amends schedule two of the Customs and Excise Act. The safeguard duties have been signed by Finance Minister Malusi Gigaba and will be imposed in addition to the 10% duties already governing the products.

The world’s biggest miners’ determination to muscle into the burgeoning  battery market stepped up a notch with  Rio Tinto Group reporting breakthroughs in cracking the technology needed to unlock its giant lithium project in Serbia that could meet 10% of global demand. Tests at a research facility in a converted shipping container in Australia have successfully produced lithium products from samples from the Jadar deposit, the company said Friday. It’s aiming to bring the mine in Serbia into production as soon as 2023 to tap soaring demand for the metal used in batteries for electric vehicles and power storage.

SPOKANE, Wash.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Gold Reserve Inc. (TSX.V: GRZ) (OTCQX: GDRZF) (“Gold Reserve” or the “Company”) is pleased to announce that on August 10, 2017 it completed its previously announced redemption of its outstanding senior notes. The Company also announces that it has received the scheduled August payment of US$29.5 million under the terms of the Settlement Agreement with Venezuela. Also, on August 10, 2017 the Company shares commenced quotation on the OTCQX System which will give r

TORONTO–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Almonty Industries Inc. (“Almonty” or the “Company”) (TSXV: AII): NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES Almonty Industries Inc. (“Almonty” or the “Company”) (TSXV: AII) announces that it has entered into a subscription agreement with Mr. Lewis Black, Almonty’s Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President, pursuant to which Mr. Black will subscribe for 21,175,000 common shares (“Common Shares”) of the Company at a price

Continuing to build on its position as a low-cost gold producer with a clear growth strategy, Russia-based Polyus delivered consistent production in the half year ended June 30, achieving a 12% year-on-year increase to 938 000 oz. The company – Russia’s largest gold producer – attributed this output growth to higher production volumes at its Olimpiada and Verninskoye operations. Polyus also saw a significant 29% year-on-year increase in volumes of ore mined, to 17.8-million tonnes, as a result of mining volumes growth at the Olimpiada and Kuranakh operations and the start of full-scale mining activity at Natalka.

HILLIARD, Ohio–(BUSINESS WIRE)–ADS Celebrates Grand Opening of New Missouri Plant

Spurred on by high-grade intercepts at the McGregor and Celtic Tiger prospects at the Kildare project, explorer Zinc of Ireland on Friday announced the start of a Phase 3 drilling programme.
The first hole, 006, of the programme is focusing on the McGregor prospect, where ZMI is seeking to extend mineralisation along strike and eastwards of the “spectacular” intercept in hole 003 that was announced in June. The hole returned 3.25 m at 12.7% zinc and 0.8% lead from 396.53 m, including 7.69 m at 17.2% zinc and 1% lead from 401.33 m.

SRK Consulting has recommended that a prefeasibility or feasibility study be undertaken to determine if the mineral resource at the Zandfontein upper group two tailings storage facility (TSF) at Eastern Platinum’s (Eastplats’) Crocodile River Mine (CRM) can be mined economically in the current market environment. SRK completed a mineral resource estimate for the TSF, which includes a total measured and indicated mineral resource of about 13.68-million tons, containing 535 520 oz of platinum, palladium and rhodium at an average grade of 1.218 g/t, 3 404 oz of gold at an average grade of 0.008 g/t and 2.83-million tons of chromium oxide at an average grade of 20.72%.

Queensland’s Environment and Heritage Protection (EHP) department has fined Indian conglomerate Adani A$12 190 for an authorised stormwater release from its coal handling facility at Abbot Point during Cyclone Debbie, in March.
The EHP charges that Abbot Point Bulk Coal (APB) had released storm water from the terminal containing suspended solids of 806 mg a litre, which exceeded the solid limit of 100 mg a litre stipulated in the temporary emissions licence granted during the high rainfall period.

Base metals explorer Aeon Metals on Friday said it had agreed to place 39.2-million shares at 14c each to sophisticated and institutional investors to raise A$5.5-million before costs.
“The Aeon board is very happy to broaden the share register with a good mix of domestic and international long-term resource focused institution investors along with new and existing sophisticated investors,” a statement to the ASX reads.

TORONTO–(BUSINESS WIRE)–$TMMFF #HopeBay–TMAC Resources Inc. (TSX:TMR) (“TMAC” or the “Company”) is filing its Second Quarter 2017 Financial Statements and Management’s Discussion & Analysis for the period ended June 30, 2017. The documents may be found on the Company’s website at www.tmacresources.com or, once filed, on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Please read this news release in conjunction with these documents. Dr. Catharine Farrow, Chief Executive Officer of TMAC, stated, “We are pleased with our mining o

VERNAL, Utah–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Superior Drilling Products, Inc.(NYSE American) reports $0.01 earnings per diluted share for the Second Quarter 2017.

DARIEN, Conn.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Genesee & Wyoming Reports Traffic for July 2017

Diversified miner Exxaro Resources expects to report headline earnings per share (HEPS) of 795c to 925c for the six months to June 30. This compares with HEPS of 309c for the six months to June 30, 2016.

Terence ELECTRICITY Eskom given 30 days to meet Nersa requirements for 2018 tariff application The National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) has refused Eskom’s request to deviate from key aspects of the multiyear price determination (MYPD) methodology, as well as the minimum information requirements for a tariff application (MIRTA) and has given the utility until the end of August to ensure that its revenue application for 2018/19 is compliant.

MANILA, Philippines–(BUSINESS WIRE)–#AGnP–AG&P to build and operate the landmark LNG receiving terminal in South Sulawesi.

Nasdaq- and LSE-listed Afarak Group has delivered another robust second quarter driven by continued higher ferrochrome prices and strong market fundamentals. This followed a positive start to the new financial year after Arafak achieved the highest quarterly gains in the company’s history during the first quarter.

Mining contractor Mastermyne has been awarded a roadway development contract at coal miner Whitehaven’s Narrabri mine, using place change methodology.
Mastermyne will manage the project and supply personnel to execute works under the contract. The company said on Friday that the 18-month project, which would start in October, would employ about 55 full time people and would generate revenue of A$33-million.

TSX- and Aim-listed Avesoro Resources has achieved positive earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (Ebitda) for the second consecutive quarter. Ebitda reached $900 000 for the quarter ended June 30, after the company achieved positive Ebitda for the first time during the first quarter of the year, when it reported a $17-million improvement on the prior quarter to $500 000.

Gold prices held steady after touching their highest in over two months on Friday and were on track for a weekly gain, buoyed as rising tensions between the United States and North Korea triggered safe-haven buying. “Much of the rally (in gold) is because of the increased safe-haven demand,” said OCBC Bank analyst Barnabas Gan.

China has hit the halfway point towards meeting it target of cutting coal mining capacity by 800-million tonnes a year by the end-2020, the state planner said on Friday. Tackling industrial and mining overcapacity has been a priority for Beijing to make China’s economy more efficient and environmental friendly, and in its five-year plan for the 2016 to 2020 period, the government set a goal to reduce its coal production capacity by that amount.

There is a dire need for alternative, sustainable cheap processes to treat mining-impacted water (MIW) and acid mine drainage (AMD), says State-owned research organisation Mintek senior scientist Tamsyn Grewar, who calls for support for irrigation as a preferred reuse activity for the treated MIW that is available in South Africa. The extent to which MIW could benefit the agriculture industry and also provide potable supplies was highlighted at the yearly Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (SAIMM) Water 2017 Conference, held from July 10 to 11 at Emperors Palace, east of Johannesburg. The event was hosted by the SAIMM and the Mine Metallurgical Managers Association.