The FTSE-listed mining sector should be a hotbed for value investors given the recent underperformance, according to broker Jefferies.

Gold miner Ortac Resources offers a significant opportunity for value investors given the recent fall in the share price, says broker Seymour Pierce.

Ortac Resources' significant resource upgrade today to its wholly owned Šturec project in Slovakia means the project could support a larger mining operation than previously thought.

Beacon Hill Resources' quarterly update today, which outlined the company's development into a "significant" Mozambican coal producer, drew positive comments from brokers.

The deal gives Ruukki full control of one of its strongest-performing assets: German ferrochrome-maker Elektrowerk-Weisweiler.  It also provides certainty and transparency for investors and of course Ruukki itself, CEO Thomas Hoyer told Proactive Investors.

Alufer Mining is laying the groundwork for a listing on the junior AIM market that will value the Guinea-focused bauxite specialist at between US$150 and US$200 million.

The Canadian quarrying business now has access to one million tonnes of extra reserves after a power cable was moved at the Quadling Quarry.

Ocean Equities considers Mongolia as one of the last regions where a junior can add a lot of value quickly, and believes Kincora Copper, with its Bronze Fox project, has what it takes to see a strong re-rating in the near future.

Alecto Minerals’ proposed acquisition of a bauxite licence in Guinea creates a mining exploration company with something for almost everyone – including the possibility of near-term, low-cost production and cashflow.

The latest financial results from Mandalay Resources reveal the gold, silver and antimony miner is delivering on its strategy of developing cash generative assets with significant resource upgrade potential.

The buy recommendation and $1.40 price target applied to Base Resources by UK broker Ambrian Partners is more than two-and-a-half times the last traded price of $0.57.

The maiden JORC resource on Ferrex’s Malelane deposit in South Africa kicks off a high impact 12 months for the explorer as it sails full steam ahead towards becoming a producing, cash generating miner next year.

City broker Westhouse this morning repeated its ‘strong buy’ recommendation on Shaft Sinkers, valuing at 170 pence a share, almost triple its current price of 60 pence a share.

Ferrex (LON:FRX) this morning unveiled a maiden inferred resource of 139 million tonnes on its flagship Malelane iron ore project in the Mpumalanga Province of South Africa. The overall grade was 40.1 per cent of calcined iron (CaFe), although 4.9 million tonnes has a grade of 56.7 per cent CaFe and had direct shipping potential.

The company has something that many of its bigger and more illustrious peers lack - the infrastructure to get its product quickly and efficiently to market.

Plant commissioning at the Spanish project is planned to begin in the third quarter 2013 and will see Ormonde become a major European tungsten mining company.

Shaft Sinkers is a company that does exactly what the name suggests. It’s a leader in the very specialist area of sinking underground mine shafts. City broker Arbuthnot reckons the market is missing a trick, given the company's current lowly valuation. So we spoke to chief executive Alon Davidov to find out a little more about the company and the proposition.    

Chairman Justin Lewis says this morning’s definitive feasibility study demonstrates its very strong economics and shows a very good return on investment.

Beacon Hill Resources this morning unveiled its definitive feasibility study on the Minas Moatize, which it said demonstrates the “compelling economics” of the Mozambique coal project.

Shares in Africa focused mine developer Ferrex shot up over 20 per cent today as it revealed positive results from two projects.

Copper Development Corporation is a fully-funded, AIM-listed gem whose efforts in the Philippines don’t really seem to be receiving the market recognition they deserve. Chairman Mitch Alland tells us that CDC is essentially two exciting copper investments in one.  

VANE Minerals’ discovery of copper at its McGhee Peak acreage is a significant milestone but much more work needs to be done, said broker Northland.

The next decade will be all about sweating assets for the world’s major miners, according Citigroup, which this morning gave its long-term assessment of the industry.

The Šturec deposit is part of the group’s flagship Kremnica project which is located in central Slovakia. Ortac today said that a scoping study confirms that it would be a robust and profitable project.

VANE Minerals confirmed this morning that its Wate and Rose uranium projects are unaffected by proposed legislative changes that will see the withdrawal of 1 million acres of federal land in northern Arizona from mining activities.

The discovery of a copper porphyry deposit from one of 22 untested targets in Arizona and New Mexico could transform the valuation of VANE Minerals, according to research published today by Allenby Capital.

Market observers believe 2012 will be a year for the large commodity and base miners rather than their small and medium-sized counterparts.

Wolf Minerals says its proposed new tungsten mine in Devon has passed a major milestone with the arrangement of £55 million of project finance.

Beacon Hill Resources is looking for new properities in Mozambique after its rapid turnaround of Minas Moatize where shipments started this week.