Mining News: DIAMOND

Details Released on Severance Pay for Former Zales Execs

Zale’s former chief executive officer, Neal Goldberg, will receive $600,000 in severance pay, according to JCK Online. William Acevedo, the company's former chief stores officer, will receive severance pay of $337,500.

Former Debswana Head Nchindo Found Dead

Louis Goodwill Nchindo, the former head of Debswana, has been found dead four days after his disappearance, his family said Thursday. Nchindo, who had been facing corruption charges, was found 65 feet away from his pick-up truck at Masedi Farms in Botswana.

Namakwa Signs deal with Andre Messika

South African diamond mining company Namakwa Diamonds Limited has signed an agreement with polished diamond wholesaler Andre Messika, the company announced Thursday. Messika will source “suitable diamonds” from Namakwa’s mining and buying channel and Namakwa will have access to Messika’s manufacturing expertise and retail networks.

Blue Nile Q4 Sales Revived, Ends Year with Little Growth

Blue Nile, Inc. posted a strong rise in fourth quarter net sales, rising 20 percent to $102.9 million. Annual results were less celebratory, nearly flat at $302.1 million, an increase of 2.3 percent over fiscal 2008.

Dull times for diamonds

LONDON, Feb 11 - Diamond mining group De Beers reported tough times for diamonds on Thursday, reporting a switch into loss and a capital increase, but said sales in China were robust and overall business was picking up. The British-South African mining

De Beers taps shareholders for $1 billion after rough year

De Beers SA, the world's largest producer of rough diamonds, Thursday said its three shareholders have agreed to invest $1 billion so that it can cut debt and strengthen its balance sheet after a year in which gem output slumped 49% in response to weak

De Beers swings to FY loss

JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) ? Diamond giant De Beers on Thursday reported an underlying loss of $220-million for the 2009 financial year, compared with profit of $515-million in 2008, with the global recession hitting the diamond sector hard. The

IDEX Online Research: The Key Facts on Diamond Engagement Rings

Based on our data, we’ve found that prices are steady for diamonds used in engagement rings. IDEX Online Research is going to tell you why.

Namakwa Diamonds signs deal with Andre Messika

unior miner Namakwa Diamonds has signed a cooperation agreement with the operating company of Andre Messika, a diamantiare based in Paris and Tel Aviv. The Aim-listed Namakwa would assist Andre Messika to secure greater access to a regular supply of

China Issues Indictments for Rio Tinto Employees

Four Rio Tinto employees based in China have been indicted and are to face trial in a Shanghai court, the company announced Thursdays. A trial date has not yet been set for the employees, who were arrested on suspicion of illegally obtaining commercial secrets and bribery and have been held in custody since July 5, 2009.

Belgium Rough Trade Sizzles in January, Leaps 168%

If any further evidence was needed of a turnaround in the rough diamond market, the Belgium trading figures from January supply them with clarity. Rough diamond exports soared 168.4 percent compared to January 2009.

Anglo invests $450m into De Beers

[miningmx.com] -- ANGLO American will invest $450m in diamond group De Beers, which is issuing $1bn worth of equity to secure banking facilities and grow the world's largest supplier of rough diamonds. The decision follows this week's R12.5bn rights

AGREEMENT WITH ANDRE MESSIKA - NAMAKWA DIAMONDS LIMITED

Namakwa Diamonds announced that it has signed a co-operation agreement with B.L.I.D International, the operating company of the Andre Messika Group. Pursuant to the Agreement Namakwa will gain access to Andre Messika's manufacturing expertise and retail networks, whilst Andre Messika will use Namakwa to source suitable diamonds from its mining and buying channels which are specifically tailored to client demand.

PILBARA PROJECT MICRODIAMOND RESULTS - FLINDERS MINES LIMITED

Flinders Mines announced that a microdiamond has been found in a gravel sample from Pilbara iron ore project area, Western Australia. This was a gravel sample from tenement E47/1560, and was taken from drainage works to investigate a circular, possible volcanic pipe feature visible in aerial photographs. Five new microdiamond counts have been received from the Eurelia area. Four of the samples were taken along the diamondiferous Eurelia K3 trend and one along the Bel Forest K7-K4 trend. The highest microdiamond count was from sample 100148, which yielded 63 microdiamonds from a 20 kilogram sample.

JewelersAlert.com Launches Debt Collection Service

A licensed debt collector service created to serve the U. S. diamond and jewelry trade has been launched by JewelersAlert.com. The Jewelers Alert Collection Corporation (JACC) already has trademarked the slogan: “A debtor’s worst nightmare.”

Rio Tinto Diamonds Posts $68 Million Loss

A 46.4 percent drop in Rio Tinto’s diamond sales resulted in a $68 million loss for the company in 2009, the miner reported Thursday. Sales dropped to $450 million and production was reduced by 33 percent to 14.026 million carats for the full year.

AGTA Fair Draws in More Buyers

The 2010 AGTA GemFair™ saw a 7 percent increase in buyer traffic over the 2009 show, the American Gem Trade Association (AGTA) reported Wednesday. A total of 8176 registered buyers attended the event, which was held February 2-7 at the Tucson Convention Center in Tuscon, Arizonza.

De Beers 2009 Sales $3.84 Billion, ‘Cautiously Optimistic’ for 2010

As was expected, diamond giant De Beers S.A. posted a sharp drop in income in 2009. Rough diamond sales by the Diamond Trading Company (DTC) totaled $3.23 billion, 45.5 percent below last year’s $5.93 billion. Annual diamond production was 24.6 million carats, 49 percent below 2008.

Diamond Talks Should Not Undermine DTCB - De Beers

Botswana will not necessarily derive better value from its diamond by breaking the Diamond Trading Company Botswana (DTCB) monopoly when negotiations resume for a new diamond sales agreement. The existing sales agreement which compels Debswana to sell

CIBJO Diamond Commission Calls for Joint Nomenclature on Synthetic Diamonds

The Diamond Commission of The World Jewellery Confederation (CIBJO) has reiterated the need for an industry-wide agreement on nomenclature that distinguishes between natural and lab-made diamonds. The Commission made the call in its annual report, published Wednesday.

Belgium Polished Diamond Trade $1.38B in January

Belgium’s gross polished diamond exports totaled $647.76 million in January, a 16.1 percent year-over-year increase. Imports of $736.64 million worth of goods reflected a 12.2 percent increase compared to January 2009. Net imports left the trading center with surplus of $88.89 million worth of goods, propelled by large returns from the U.S.

U.S. E-Commerce Spending Rises 3% in Q4 2009

Online retail spending reached $39 billion in the fourth quarter 2009, up 3 percent versus 2008, comScore announced Tuesday. The fourth quarter increase marks a return to positive growth after four consecutive quarters of year-over-year declines.

STAR PREFEASIBILITY STUDY - SHORE GOLD INC.

Shore Gold announced the results of the combined Prefeasibility Study on the Star - Orion South Kimberlites, which includes the Star diamond project. Highlights includes a total diamond production of 35 million carats over a 20 year Life of Mine, with a NPV of $1.3 billion (using a 7% discount rate) for an IRR of 16% before taxes and royalties and an after-taxes and royalties NPV of $786 million with an IRR of 13.5%. Pre-production capital cost of $1.6 billion with a total capital cost of $2.5 billion.

Executive Changes at Damas Amid Restructuring

Damas International Ltd. announced the appointment of Chief Financial Officer Sanjay Kalsi as interim acting chief executive, one of a number of management changes for the Dubai-based jeweler. The company is trying to revive investor confidence and its financial strength after a series of “unauthorized transactions” of about $165 million.

Hearts on Fire Cuts 120 Retailers

Hearts on Fire will close underperforming accounts in more than 120 retail stores, the diamond company announced Tuesday. The company is closing the accounts in an attempt "to consolidate and strengthen its family of independent retail jewelers."

Rising Prices, Less Exploration, Push Up BHPD Diamond Earnings

A sharp rise in rough diamond prices in the first half of the fiscal year pushed up BHP Billiton’s revenues from its diamonds and specialty products segment by 23.9 percent to $566 million, the company reported Wednesday. Pre-tax earnings leaped 115.2 percent to $170 million in the six month period.

Zale Hires Turnaround Investment Firm Peter J. Solomon

Zale Corp. announced that it has hired Peter J. Solomon Company, an independent investment banking advisory firm to the retail industry, to advise the embattled jewelry retailer. Zale did not provide details on what services it will solicit from the investment firm, which provides services in mergers and acquisitions, restructurings and financing advisory.

Wall St higher on Greece hopes as commodities lead (Reuters)

Wall St higher on Greece hopes as commodities lead By Rodrigo Campos NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stocks rose on Tuesday, led by commodity-related stocks, as speculation Greece would get help from the European Union to cut the country's deficit weakened the

First Quantum's Zambia copper mine hit by outage

Copper production at Zambia's Kansanshi Mining Ltd., owned by Canada's First Quantum Minerals FM.TO, ground to a halt following a major power outage, the company and state power utility Zesco said on Tuesday. Zesco said a major power supply line feeding

Spot Gold rallies past $1,074, hits$1,079 high as Dollar eases

FXstreet.com - Spot gold has broken upwards from the current week's trading range, rallying about $17 on the day from Asian opening levels around $1,062, to break above $1,073/74 resistance and hit session high at $1,079 as risk appetite improved w

Allegheny Technologies (ATI) NewsBite - ATI Rises on New Contracts

Allegheny Technologies (NYSE: ATI) opened at $41.63. So far today, the stock has hit a low of $41.63 and a high of $42.87. ATI is now trading at $42.64, up $1.94 (4.77%). Over the last 52 weeks the stock has ranged from a low of $16.92 to a high of

London Metal Exchange to establish LME Asia

The London Metal Exchange is to create LME Asia, opening its first overseas office in Singapore in April this year. The LME has 26 category one and two members with offices in Singapore and is looking to more closely engage with these members and other

TSX rises on Greece rescue hopes, commodities

Toronto’s main stock index gained more than 1 percent Tuesday, supported by firm oil and gold prices and speculation that a rescue plan was in the works for Greece’s debt problems. Global stock markets were boosted by speculation that a special

Commodities Are Poor Inflation and Currency Hedges

Some things just seem so obvious to everyone that they're accepted without further examination. Take the role of "commodities" as hedges against either inflation or dollar depreciation. First, let’s stipulate there's really no such thing as

Wall St higher on Greece hopes as commodities lead

NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stocks rose on Tuesday, led by commodity-related stocks, as speculation Greece would get help from the European Union to cut the country's deficit weakened the U.S. dollar, lifting prices of oil and basic materials. Earnings

American Sierra Gold Corp. Reopens Access to High-Grade Gold Run Vein at Discovery Day Project

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Superior School District awarded for energy cuts

Public Service Commission Chair Eric Callisto and Wisconsin Department of Commerce Secretary Dick Leinenkugel took a tour of Northern Lights Elementary School to see how technology is helping the district offset rising energy costs. Things like high

'There's a lot of coal at Stockton'

Solid Energy chief executive Don Elder says its Stockton mine which was expected to produce coal for 3-5 years when he first became boss, now "very possibly" had a 20 year-plus extended lifetime. Elder said the state-owned coalminer was confident about

Xstrata's profit dips 41 pct to $2.77bn for 2009

AFP GENEVA Anglo-Swiss mining group Xstrata on Monday reported a 41 percent drop in its annual profit in 2009 and pinned its hopes on a renewed boom in commodities demand in China and other emerging economies. Xstrata chief Mick Davis predicted that

US coal stores fall 1.8 pct for week - Genscape

HOUSTON, Feb 9 (Reuters) - Coal stockpiles at U.S. power plants fell 1.8 percent this week but remained 10.9 percent greater than the same week last year, Genscape said Tuesday. U.S. generators, which rely on coal to fuel about half of U.S. electricity

Peristaltic Dosing Pump Deployed in London Health Spa

Although only introduced last year, the Verderflex Aura peristaltic dosing pump is already making waves. This model is ideal for low-flow, high-pressure dosing applications and the facilities that are already benefiting from its introduction include

German Chamber Filter Press Manufacturer Uses Verderflex Industrial Hose Pump

The benefits of using a UK-manufactured Verderflex peristaltic pump to remove yeast from fermented wine are manifold. This peristaltic pump is self priming, dry running, provides constant flow to the filter press at increasing pressure and requires

Verderflex Receives ISO 9001:2008 Qualification

Verderflex has considerable manufacturing aptitude and its Basildon factory exemplifies the company’s ability to design and manufacture special tube pumps. Its application knowledge and production investment provides a unique resource for OEMs and

Western Coal Q3 profit drops to $24 million

VANCOUVER, B.C. - Western Coal Corp. (TSX:WTN) says its quarterly profit fell to $24 million or nine cents per diluted share in the three months ended Dec. 31. That's down from a profit of $62.5 million or 29 cents per diluted share in the year-earlier

Endeavour Silver Acquires Option to Purchase San Sebastian Silver-Gold Properties in Jalisco State, Mexico

Endeavour Silver Corp. (TSX: EDR)(TSX: EDR.WT)(NYSE Amex: EXK)(DBFrankfurt: EJD) announces that it has acquired an option to purchase the San Sebastian silver-gold properties in Jalisco State, Mexico from IMMSA (Grupo Mexico), one of the largest mining

European shares end flat, Greece jitters weigh

LONDON, Feb 9 (Reuters) - European shares ended flat on Tuesday, giving up earlier gains with investors wary of the debt problems in Greece and other peripheral euro zone economies. The FTSEurofirst 300 index of leading European shares provisionally

Starfield Resources and Apollo Gold Corporation Under Current Evaluation

(BAYSTREET NEWSWIRE via COMTEX News Network) -- Equedia.com and Equedia Weekly provides research on the top Canadian companies with a focus on TSX and TSX Venture stocks. Equedia is currently researching and evaluating the prospects of Starfield

Gobimin invests in Balikun coal project in China

Mr. Felipe Tan reports GOBIMIN INVESTS IN BALIKUN COAL PROJECT IN XINJIANG, CHINA Gobimin Inc. has entered into an agreement (the SP agreement) with an existing shareholder of Fortune Aspect Limited (Project Holdco) to acquire 49-per-cent equity stake in

Gold steady but risk weighs

Tokyo - Gold prices steadied above $1 060 on Tuesday, but sentiment continued to be hurt by worries over fiscal stability in Europe, curbing appetite for riskier assets such as commodities. The market's recovery from three-month lows hit last week has

Recent Weakness May Provide an Attractive Entry Point for Investors Looking at Commodities

NEW YORK, Feb. 9 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Recent heightened levels of uncertainty have highlighted the need for diversification and may continue to drive investors in search of alternative asset classes, including commodities. Andrew Karsh, Co-Lead