Russia to engage with investors on mineral law (22/12/09)

Russian miners are hoping the country's strict investment laws in relation to strategic mineral fields will be relaxed by the end of the month.

Igor Artemyev, Head of the Federal Anti-Monopoly Agency, said: "The prime minister has ordered that the changes to foreign investment laws be discussed with investors, both Russian and foreign, prior to being passed by the government."

The legislation changes relate to Law 57, which is designed to government foreign investment in Russia.

Japan's JOGMEC inks 3rd S.Africa platinum exploration deal (06/01/10)

Japan Oil, Gas and Metals National Corporation (JOGMEC) has secured investment in another platinum exploration project in South Africa.

The firm has agreed a deal worth $3.5 million over four years with Stellex Platinum and three other companies about the possibility of assuming a 35 per cent stake in the Stellex North pgm project.

"A fair wind blows in particular after the credit crisis. Exploration companies, many based in Canada and Australia, are having a hard time to find financial assistance to do their business," a JOGMEC spokesman told Reuters.

The area of interest for Stellex - which also has two other similar agreements - is rumoured to be the Stella layered intrusion, which is located approximately 300km west of Johannesburg.

Platinum Australia says $3,5m Japan deal to fund Africa exploration projects (08/01/10)

Platinum Australia, the company which owns 49 per cent of Stellex, has confirmed that it will provide JOGMEC with the necessary funding for the exploration programme.

"We are pleased to have entered into this agreement with a partner of the status of JOGMEC, which is a company charged with securing a stable supply of natural resources for the country," commented Managing Director John Lewins.

Stellex North covers a strike length of 26km of the Kraaipan Greenstone belt.

Anglo Platinum selects JMP tool for laboratory data analysis (12/01/10)

Anglo Platinum has been using a special technology tool to aid its attempts to assess data collected during its exploration projects, ITWeb reports.

The SAS JMP data visualisation tool, which was developed by Octopus, allows the company to analyse drill samples to look for platinum, palladium, rhodium and gold.

Anglo, which is the world's largest platinum producer, currently drills between 600km and 700km of boreholes per year, according to the news provider.

Stillwater Mining Company Announces Full Year 2009 Production and Pricing Statistics (12/01/10)

Stillwater Mining Company has revealed that its total primary and secondary development underground footages were 34 per cent ahead of plan in 2009.

The American platinum and palladium producer announced that, within this total, capitalised development footages exceeded expectations by 27 per cent.

In addition, Stillwater noted that it is currently adding a new sampling facility for recycled materials at its smelter in Columbus.

The company's latest financial results also confirmed that 529,900 oz of pgms were produced last year, which was almost 15,000 oz higher than expected.

Canadian Arrow reports more significant platinum group mineralization on fourth nickel-copper target (19/01/10)

Finally, Canadian Arrow Mines has reported significant pgm mineralisation at its Emmons project.

Drilling at the site - which is the fourth of six targets being explored by the company - revealed three holes intercepting nickel-copper sulphides and notable pgm presence.

The main success was witnessed at hole EM-09-04, which intercepted 0.21 per cent Ni, 0.62 per cent Cu, 0.62 g/t pgm plus Au and 4.4 g/t Ag over a 2.1m interval.

Mineralisation was found to be contained in a gabbro-pyroxenite intrusive host, similar to the Double E ultramafic intrusion also discovered by the company in recent weeks at the site.

"The previous surface sample results and historical work at Emmons are further enhanced by these drill results," said President Kim Tyler.

"We look forward to applying this new knowledge to our exploration models as we continue to explore and develop our regional projects."

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