Editorial: Quebec rises, BC sinks in Fraser Institute survey
Once again we see politics playing one of the biggest roles in jurisdictional rankings for the Fraser Institute’s newly unveiled “Survey of Mining Companies 2014” by Taylor Jackson.
Regulatory Issues
Midas prepares for permitting odyssey at Stibnite in Idaho
VANCOUVER — Junior Midas Gold (TSX: MAX; US-OTC: MDRPF) has invested a lot of time and money in sketching out a promising development scenario at its rebranded Stibnite gold project, 16 km east of Yellow Pine, Idaho. The company’s…
Romarco’s Haile a ‘showcase mine’ in South Carolina
VANCOUVER — Developer Romarco Minerals (TSX: R; US-OTC: RTRAF) believes it can set a positive example for others looking to permit new gold mines in the southern U.S.
Flawed dam design caused Mount Polley spill, panel says
An independent investigation into the tailings pond spill at Imperial Metals’ (TSX: III; US-OTC: IPMLF) Mount Polley gold-copper mine near Likely, B.C., found that a flaw in the dam’s design caused the breach last summer.
AME BC pres: ‘Hang on to your seat’ in next upswing
VANCOUVER — It’s been a tough few years for mineral explorers globally, and the junior markets in B.C. have been especially hard hit by stingy capital markets and industry-wide budget cuts. These circumstances set a rocky stage for…
Editorial: Mount Polley’s feet of clay
The eagerly anticipated final report by the Mount Polley Independent Expert Engineering and Review Panel on the cause of the Aug. 4, 2014, failure of the tailings dam at Imperial Metals’ Mount Polley copper-gold mine in B.C. was delivered…
Seabridge proves permits still attainable for big BC mines
VANCOUVER — It’s shaping up to be a big year for Seabridge Gold (TSX: SEA; NYSE: SA) at its large-scale Kerr-Sulphurets-Mitchell (KSM) gold-copper project, 65 km northwest of Stewart, B.C. In late December the company received a…
Commentary: The Peel watershed decision’s broader implications
This past December, the Yukon Supreme Court handed down an important aboriginal law ruling that has implications for future mining operations in the Yukon. In The First Nation of Nacho Nyak Dun v. Yukon (Government of), 2014 YKSC 69, Yukon…
Petaquilla could lose Molejon mine
Vancouver-based Petaquilla Minerals (TSX: PTQ; OTCBB: PTQMF), operator of the Molejon open-pit gold mine in Panama, is facing scrutiny from Canadian and Panamanian regulators, leading to a possible cancellation of its mining concession.
Rio Tinto’s legal battle with Quebec Innu intensifies
VANCOUVER — Mega-miner Rio Tinto (NYSE: RIO; LSE: RIO) is staring down the barrel of a potentially costly legal battle with a pair of First Nation groups whose traditional Nitassinan territory covers a large part of northeastern Quebec…
Rio Tinto’s legal battle with Quebec Innu intensifies
VANCOUVER — Mega miner Rio Tinto (NYSE: RIO; LON: RIO) is staring down the barrel of a potentially costly legal battle with a pair of First Nation groups whose traditional Nitassinan territory covers a large part of northeastern Quebec…
Silver Wheaton extends silver stream on Pascua-Lama
Given the unchanged prospects at Barrick Gold’s (TSX: ABX; NYSE: ABX) suspended Pascua-Lama gold-silver project in Chile and Argentina, Silver Wheaton (TSX: SLW; NYSE: SLW) has again amended its silver-stream agreement on the asset.