Brazilian multinational diversified metals and mining corporation Vale SA ‒ the world’s biggest iron-ore producer and second-largest mining company ‒ says it has recommenced the transport of coal from its Moatize mine in the north-western province of Tete in Mozambique.

Some miners at Anglo American Platinum Ltd. (AMS) plan to strike should the world’s biggest producer of the metal not drop by tomorrow a proposal to cut as many as 6,000 jobs. The shares fell to the lowest since August 2005.

TSX and JSE-listed Rockwell Diamonds Incorporated ‒ focused on creating a growth-oriented, mid-tier diamond mining and development company ‒ says its Wouterspan mine in South Africa has indicated positive economics ‒ sufficient to take the project to the detailed design stage.

Plans for a strike over retrenchments at Anglo American Platinum (Amplats) have been suspended, according to the workers' committee, and miners reported for duty this morning despite earlier calls for a strike by some union leaders.

ASX-listed and Australian-based Tawana Resources ‒ which has reinvented itself from a Southern African diamond explorer into a Liberian-focused iron ore and gold explorer ‒ is undertaking a strategic review of potential financing and partnership options to advance development of its Mofe Creek iron ore project in Liberia.

Confusion reigns over Lonmin plc’s mining operations at Marikana, 120km north-west of Johannesburg in South Africa, with Lonmin saying this morning that 83% of employees have returned to work, and an AMCU official saying three hours later that Anglo Platinum miners would stop work from this evening over proposed job cuts.

Striking workers at the Lonmin platinum mine in Marikana, in the north-west province of South Africa, have resolved to return to work immediately, ending a two-day strike at the mine.

AIM and JSE-listed nickel exploration and development company African Eagle Resources plc ‒ struggling to raise funding for further development of its assets, mainly in Tanzania ‒ has announced that it is cutting back on expenditure prior to restructuring and re-organisation of its exploration activities.

Workers at Lonmin plc ‒ the world’s third-largest platinum producer ‒ have continued their wildcat strike for a second day, raising concerns that the bitter turf war between rival unions could escalate into anarchy and violence.

Canadian-based international mining and minerals company First Quantum Minerals Limited is well on track towards completion of its US$2.4 billion Sentinel copper mine at Kalumbila, in the north-western Province of Zambia.

In another blow to the South African mining industry, AngloGold Ashanti ‒ the world's third-largest bullion producer ‒ is set to also shed jobs as it prepares to roll out its mechanisation programme.

Glencore Xstrata plc, the biggest exporter of coal for power stations, says its first-quarter copper production has risen 18% as a result of gains at its mines in Africa.

Lonmin plc ‒ the third-largest platinum producer ‒ has raised its full-year forecast for output after a return to profit in the first half in the wake of an increase in sales.

AngloGold Ashanti ‒ the world's third-largest bullion producer ‒ reported a near six-fold jump in first-quarter earnings as the company’s operations recovered from a wave of illegal strikes late last year.

The Chamber of Mines of Zimbabwe (CMZ) holds its annual general meeting this week as the country’s focus shifts to the capital intensive sector ahead of the forthcoming general elections.

Anglo American Platinum Limited (Amplats) ‒ the world’s biggest producer of the precious metal ‒ has sought to appease government anger by scaling back planned job losses at its South African mines to about 6,000, less than half of the 14,000 originally planned.