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Stillwater Mining Moves Ahead with Additional PGM Resource Development
Stillwater Mining is proceeding with two mine resource delineation and development projects along the Stillwater Complex at its mining operations in southern Montana. Both projects lie within the boundaries of existing mining permits, and each will initially be serviced from existing mine infrastructure. The Graham Creek project will probe the Stillwater Complex immediately to the west of the company’s East Boulder mine, while the Blitz project will undertake a similar task to the east of its Stillwater mine. Based on indications from historical surface delineation drilling in these areas, the company views both projects as having a high probability of significantly adding to its..... read
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Taseko’s Prosperity Project Denied Development Approval
Taseko Mines reported on November 2 Canada’s Federal Minister of Environment had withheld authorization for the company to proceed with its Prosperity open-pit gold-copper mine project, "as proposed," 125 km southwest of Williams Lake, British Columbia. "Once the company has had the opportunity to fully evaluate and understand the process whereby the federal government came to that conclusion, contrary to the Provincial government decision, we will be in a better position to evaluate our options," the Taseko statement said.... read more
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Nevada Copper Initiates Pumpkin Hollow DFS
Nevada Copper has initiated a definitive feasibility study (DFS) of its Pumpkin Hollow copper project, 8 miles southeast of Yerington, Nevada. Tetra Tech is leading the study, and other consultants may be included in specialist roles for DFS oversight. Nevada Copper based its decision to proceed to a DFS on the success of its delineation drilling program and substantial progress made in feasibility-related engineering studies. The DFS will evaluate alternative project development options that.... read
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WORLD - Latin America |
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Ventana Reports Positive Scoping Study for La Bodega, Receives Unsolicited Bid
On November 8, Vancouver-based Ventana Gold Corp. released the results of an initial, independent, NI 43-101 compliant mineral resource estimate and scoping study for its 100%-owned La Bodega gold project in northern Columbia. Subsequently, on November 17, the company reported Brazil’s EBX Group, which currently holds about a 20% interest in Ventana, had announced its intention to proceed with an unsolicited bid for all of Ventana’s shares…… read
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Inmet Awards Major Contract for Cobre Panama Development
Inmet Mining, through its subsidiary Minera Panama SA, has awarded a contract for engineering, procurement and construction management services for its Cobre Panama project to a joint venture led by SNC-Lavalin Group (70%), with partners GyM SA (15%) and Techint International Construction Corp. (15%), to provide basic engineering for the project. The initial phase of the contract covers basic engineering for all facilities except the power plant and is expected to require about a year to complete. The power plant is being developed under a separate agreement with GDF Suez Central America…. read more
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WORLD - Australasia |
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Two-pronged Approach for NSW’s Mineral Hill Restart
Kimberley Metals has decided to adopt a dual track approach to re-development of the Mineral Hill mine in western New South Wales in order to minimize the time to initial production which is targeted for mid-2011. The dual track approach will see simultaneous development of the Pearse openpit gold/silver mine and the Parkers Hill underground copper mine. Ore from both mines will be processed at the existing Mineral hill process plant, for which refurbishment is well under…. read
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Xstrata Expanding George Fisher Production
Xstrata Zinc is proceeding with an A$274- million expansion of its George Fisher underground mine in Mount Isa, Queensland, following receipt of approvals from the Xstrata plc Executive Committee and the government of Queensland. The expansion will increase the mine’s production rate from 3.5 million mt/y to 4.5 million mt/y and will create jobs for an additional 250 contractors during construction and 120 permanent employees in mine operations. The project is scheduled to be on line by mid-2013. The George Fisher expansion involves the development of a second …. read
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Cameco Will Supply Uranium to China Guangdong Nuclear
Cameco announced in late November 2010 it signed an agreement with China Guangdong Nuclear Power Holding Co., Ltd. (CGNPC) to supply 29 million lb of uranium concentrate to CGNPC under a long-term agreement through 2025. CGNPC currently operates three nuclear power stations in China, has 14 nuclear additional units under construction (more than 17,000 MW of nuclear capacity), and is commencing preliminary work on another nine units. The company expects to have more than 50,000 MW on line by 2020….
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Ma’aden and Alcoa Advance Ras az Zawr Aluminum Project
Ma’aden, the Saudi Arabian mining company, and Alcoa have poured the first concrete for the Middle East’s first fully integrated aluminum smelter and food-grade can-sheet rolling mill at Ras az Zawr in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia. The construction landmark came in late October 2010, 10 months after the two companies signed agreements to establish the project. First production from the smelter and rolling mill is scheduled for early 2013. Initially, the smelter will produce 740,000 mt/y of primary metal. The rolling mill will…. read
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Xstrata Expanding Lion Ferrochrome Smelter in South Africa
Xstrata plc has approved development of the second phase of its Lion ferrochrome complex near Steelpoort in Mpumalanga province, South Africa. The expansion will involve construction and commissioning of a 360,000-mt/y capacity smelter and will increase the Xstrata-Merafe chrome venture’s total ferrochrome capacity to more that 2.3 million mt/y. In announcing the expansion, Xstrata said the Lion project had met all of the …. read more
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Freeport, DRC Wrap Up Tenke Fungurume Contract Review
The government of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Freeport- McMoRan Copper & Gold announced on October 22 successful conclusion of a prolonged review of Tenke Fungurume Mining’s (TFM) contracts. TFM was owned 57.75% by Freeport, 25.75% by Lundin Mining and 17.5% by the DRC state mining company, Gécamines. Following the review, TFM’s key fiscal terms will continue to apply, including a 30% income tax rate, 2% mining royalty rate and 1% export fee. TFM agreed to several additional ……
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Work Continues to Extinguish Fire at Pike River
Miners are placing a temporary seal on the Pike River portal after 29 miners perished in a series of mine explosions, the first of which occurred on November 19, 2010. The current plan is to use a Gorniczy Agregat Gasniczy (GAG) jet engine to inject inert gas into the mine to extinguish the mine fire. A fourth, significant explosion occurred at Pike River on November 28. No one was injured. This explosion follows a less violent third explosion on 26th and appears to have been stronger than the second explosion that occurred on the 24th …. read more
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Blankenship Announces Retirement
Don Blankenship, the embattled Massey Energy chairman and CEO, announced his plans to retire in early December. Baxter F. Phillips Jr., president of Massey Energy, will succeed Blankenship as CEO. Blankenship has led Massey Energy as Chairman and CEO since 1992, and he’s been with the company since 1982. "After almost three decades at Massey it is time for me to move on," Blankenship said. An outspoken U.S. coal industry executive, Blankenship routinely went toe-to-toe with environmental activists and organized labor. He used his clout (and his money) to affect change in regional politics …. read more
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Thiess Secures Indian Coal Project
Thiess won a $5.5 billion mine development and coal mining contract in India. The company will develop and operate the greenfield Pakri Barwadih coal mine for NTPC Ltd. which is a Government of India enterprise and the nation’s largest electricity generator. This contract is one of the largest ever awarded by NTPC. Pakri Barwadih will be the first of six mines NTPC intends to develop to provide low cost coal for its power stations. Thiess will execute the project through its 90% owned Indian joint venture company Thiess Minecs. The other 10% is held by…. read
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Sundance Resources Ltd. has appointed Giulio Casello managing director and CEO.
Linc Energy Ltd. has appointed Brook Burke company secretary. Current company secretary Craig Ricato has been appointed an executive director of the company. The company also appointed Oliver Yates acting chairman. Brian Johnson recently retired from the position.
Normet has appointed Andreas Enzler vice president of business development and marketing. He will be based in Switzerland. Normet Canada Ltd. has appointed Steve Archer general manager.
Superior Industries has appointed Tom Hesse conveyor components territory manager in Canada.
Topcon Positioning Systems has appointed Jason Killpack director of strategic partnerships.
