A World of Mining Special – Part 1 of 2 This is a story about Eira Thomas, dubbed the “Queen of Diamonds” for her role leading the geologists who discovered the kimberlite pipes that became the Diavik diamond mine. Diavik, Canada’s second diamond mine, produced 1.9 million carats of the sparkling stones in the fourth quarter… Continue Reading

Lumina Copper on Tuesday announced a preliminary economic assessment that gives the Taca Taca project in Salta, Argentina a net present value of $2.1 billion, assuming a discount rate of 8% and $2.75/lb copper, and after-tax internal rate of return of 17.2%. The assessment includes substantial gold and molybdenum at assumed prices of $1,200/oz Au… Continue Reading

A steady lift of supply from Australia and a moderation in demand growth from China will put pressure on the number one steelmaking input over the next three to five years, analysts say. “Prices will slump as much as 34 percent to $90 a ton by the end of December, according to the median of… Continue Reading

The “make fast cash flipping houses” ads are back in force, construction is resurgent, consumers are walking around with shopping bags again, “mom & pop investors” are raising their 401k contributions, and US equities have healed their financial crisis wounds, rising to all-time highs. Animal spirits are also on the rise. You can see it.… Continue Reading

Even by the standards of China’s rough and tumble breed of entrepreneurs, billionaire Liu Han’s brushes with death mark him out. After dodging a hitman’s bullets in 1997, which led to the execution of a rival tycoon and two of his relatives almost a decade later, Liu, 47, finds himself ensnared in more killings. This… Continue Reading

“Japanese scientists have found vast reserves of rare earth metals on the Pacific seabed that can be mined cheaply, a discovery that may break the Chinese monopoly on a crucial raw material needed in hi-tech industries and advanced weapons systems.” Article: Ambrose Evans-Pritchard, The Telegraph

As a technical analyst my job isn’t to focus on fundamentals or to look into a crystal ball to determine which fundamental catalysts might be just around the corner. Rather, it is to analyze price action and figure out what the market may be signalling could happen. More importantly, it is to accurately gauge risk… Continue Reading

Source: Bloomberg

No-rail advantage puts Oceanic’s Hopes Advance project before Asian steelmakers for potential partnership. Iron ore is the key ingredient used to make steel. The majority of the seaborne trade, that is, iron to be shipped to other countries, goes to China. An oligopoly exists today whereby China is forced to rely on Big 3 producers… Continue Reading

In James Dines’ interview with King World News on Friday, the eccentric economist forecasted serious hyperinflation brought on by soaring gold and silver prices — unless Americans wake up and do something about it. On Friday, advocating his new 48-page “2013 Annual Forecast,” legendary forecaster James Dines detailed his predictions on the economic crisis, the… Continue Reading

Wuhan Iron and Steel (Group) Corp, China’s fourth-largest steelmaker by output, said it will boost investment in overseas iron ore mines and plans to achieve 100 percent iron ore self-sufficiency in three to five years. Wisco, the parent company of Shanghai listed Wuhan Iron and Steel, wants to abandon itsheavy reliance on imported iron ore,… Continue Reading

With special thanks to Odgers Berndston, global leaders in executive search, for supporting this production. Click here to launch the video in Youtube, or scroll to the bottom of this article. The Atascosa Ranch is walking distance from the US/Mexico border, just outside of Nogales, Arizona. It’s owned by Dave Lowell, an affable 84-year-old man… Continue Reading

Gold bulls have to be concerned after this week’s poor performance by the yellow metal in the face of enormous gains for equities. Gold continues to make lower highs as it trends lower within a well defined downtrending channel as seen below: Click to enlarge While the daily chart certainly doesn’t look pretty, the long… Continue Reading

May the best of 2012 be the worst of 2013 2012 was both a challenging (to put it mildly) year for junior mining stocks and a great opportunity to pick up high-quality names at bargain prices. I hope you managed to take advantage of some of those sales. Sandstorm Gold, the first company that I… Continue Reading

Heirs of Mao’s Comrades Rise as New Capitalist Nobility. Bloomberg Who is the Canadian linked with 11 reverse-merger failures? Globe and Mail