BY BRIAN WAWN, PROJECT MONITOR

The big iron ore players in Australia (Rio Tinto, BHP Billiton and Fortescue Metals Group) continue to expand in their heartland, the Pilbara region of Western Australia.

BY BRIAN WAWN, PROJECT MONITOR

Last week, Glencore Xstrata announced that it is abandoning plans to develop a new coal port at Balaclava Island, north of Gladstone in Queensland. Weak thermal-coal prices are a major reason for this.

BY BRIAN WAWN, PROJECT MONITOR

Gold prices have fallen sharply this month, currently standing at around US$1,410 per ounce. Gold projects are correspondingly in for a rough ride.

BY BRIAN WAWN, PROJECT MONITOR

Mining companies like rising commodity prices.

BY BRIAN WAWN, PROJECT MONITOR

In the view of US global-warming campaigner, James Hansen, “coal-fired power plants are factories of death”.

BY BRIAN WAWN, PROJECT MONITOR

“Gold has an undeniable magic” declares the World Gold Council, an industry body.