News

Noranda (NRD-T) says a chemical leak that shut down a plant at a Quebec zinc refinery, 30 km west of Montreal, did not harm local residents or affect production.

The Las Cristinas project in southeastern Venezuela is more economically viable than previously believed, according to a revised feasibility study by Crystallex International (KRY-T) and SNC Lavalin Engineers & Constructors.

Pittsburgh-based Alcoa (AA-N) will shed 140 jobs by year-end by closing an automotive parts plant in Northwood, Ohio. The aluminum giant cited “excess capacity” at the facility as the reason for the closure.

Vancouver — NovaGold (NG-T) has tabled a positive scoping study of its Galore Creek copper-gold-silver project in northwestern British Columbia, while confirming additional mineralization through drilling.

Proposed changes in Honduran mining regulations have prompted Defiance Mining (DM-T) to drop its option on the Zopilote gold property, in the western department of Santa Barbara.

Iron miner Cleveland-Cliffs (CLF-N) says workers at four operations it manages have ratified 4-year labour agreements that call for a 9% wage increase over the course of the deals. The contracts expire Sept. 1, 2008.

Drilling has begun at Yamba Lake, near Yellowknife, N.W.T., where SouthernEra Resources (SUF-T) is hunting for diamonds.

Independent metallurgical studies have confirmed positive results for the treatment of copper ore from the Mirador deposit in Ecuador.