Rio revisits Saskatchewan’s potash scene
Rio Tinto (RIO-N) is investing back into potash, after selling its potash interests in Canada and Argentina to Vale (VALE-N) for US$850 million in 2009 to help pay off its debt during the 2008-09 recession.
Canada
Commentary: Resource Development and Indigenous Peoples – Finding the path to co-operation
The following is an edited portion of a speech given in Toronto in early September by Assembly of First Nations National Chief Shawn Atleo at a joint luncheon of the Law Society of Upper Canada and the Indigenous Bar Association. For the full…
Venture falls to 13-month low during Sept. 19-23
Vancouver – The S&P TSX Venture Exchange Index lost a dismal 216.77 points during the Sept. 19-23 period, falling to a 13-month low at 1,534.18 points. The index declined on all five days as European debt worries and slower-than-expected…
8 new mines to open in BC by 2015 – but which ones are they?
Vancouver – British Columbia’s new premiere, Christy Clark, unveiled a new jobs plan for the province on Sept. 22. Long on rhetoric and short on details, the plan is titled, “Canada Starts Here,” a coy reference to how B.C. is both Canada’s…
Takeover bid for Hathor becomes heated
Cameco’s (CCO-T, CCJ-N) hostile takeover bid for Hathor Exploration (HAT-T) turned uglier when the uranium producer slammed the credibility of the junior’s preliminary economic assessment (PEA) for its Roughrider deposit in northern…
Niobec stake could be cash cow for Iamgold
Iamgold (IMG-T, IAG-N) made it clear back in June that it was looking to monetize 10% to 20% of its Niobec niobium mine in the near term, but the recent sale of a 15% stake in a Brazilian niobium producer to a Chinese consortium has set tongues…
From hard hats to fundraising
Two of the 33 Chilean miners have put on their fundraising hats to promote the upcoming National Folkloric Ballet of Chile (BAFONA) tour across Canada.
Fronteer ex O’Dea raising $20M for Blue Gold Mining
Fresh from the $2.3-billion sale of his Nevada-focused explorer Fronteer Gold in February, Vancouver-based Mark O’Dea has announced plans to raise up to $20 million for his new company, Blue Gold Mining (BGX-V).
Northgate’s Australian mines underperform
Analysts remain mixed over AuRico Gold’s (AUQ-T) $1.46-billion, all-share takeover bid for gold miner Northgate Minerals (NGX-T), with some believing the 60% premium AuRico has agreed to pay is too rich for Northgate and its prized…
Teck to make big investments in B.C. operations
Vancouver – Looking to boost internal growth, Teck Resources (TCK.B-T, TCK-N) plans to ramp up production at its western Canadian coal operations and make significant upgrades to two processing facilities in British Columbia.
Exploration Orbite hits another milestone
Montreal-based junior Exploration Orbite (ORT.A-V) has been given the go-ahead to extract a large bulk sample of up to 3,000 tonnes of aluminous clay over the next year from its Grande-Vallee claystone deposit in Quebec.
Expect more M&A in the gold space, despite ‘slim pickings’
In a presentation, Minefinders (MFL-T, MFN-X) president and CEO Mark Bailey summed up the spirit of this year’s Denver Gold Forum – a place where the lobbying and meetings continue…