There was a lot of news to cheer about this week in the mining world.
Starting with Xtract Resources (LON:XTR) which found another small but “significant" concentration of gold near the surface at its Chepica mine.
The find could contain approximately 1,000oz to a depth of 25 metres (m), worth about US$1mln at current prices.
In other gold news, Patagonia Gold (LON:PGD) has uncovered bonanza grades of gold and silver at its Cap-Oeste project in Argentina, similar in style to its nearby COSE deposit.
The miner is in-fill drilling at Cap-Oeste to boost its oxide resources and said four of the five holes intersected COSE style mineralisation within a sub-vertical shoot.
Similarly, Gold miner Orosur Mining (LON:OMI, TSE:OMI) said a new resource estimate for the San Gregorio Deeps development project in Uruguay improves previous figures and it has started planning for an initial underground operation.
SG Deeps aims to tap into resources under and adjacent to the historical San Gregorio deposit and today's estimate is based on around 3,000 metres of drilling undertaken during the third quarter of this year.
Meanwhile, Caledonia Mining (LON:CMCL) expects the benefits of expanding the Blanket gold mine in Zimbabwe to be seen in higher production and earnings from 2016.
Production from the 49% owned Blanket dipped to 9,960 ounces (10,241 oz) in the first quarter, in line with its targets.
Elsewhere, ECR Minerals (LON:ECR) is contemplating a collaboration with Esperanza Resources that could satisfy the gold processing needs of its SLM project in Argentina.
Lastly in gold, Mariana Resources’ (LON:MARL) Hot Maden gold/copper prospect may have significant value even if it proves to be only a small deposit, according to Northland Capital.
Speaking of copper, Kalimantan Gold (LON:KLG) said three of the four drill holes on the Beruang Kanan copper project in Indonesia had unearthed high-grades of the metal, some of it near surface.
The results from one of the holes revealed three distinct mineralised sections.
In other drilling news, Metals of Africa (ASX:MTA) has started a 5,000 metre drill program to define a maiden near-surface JORC Resource at the Montepuez Central Project in Mozambique that is expected to be closely watched.
Meanwhile, Regency Mines (LON:RGM) is set for work to kick off again at the Jebel Abyad phospate block in Sudan as it advances the project towards drill testing.
A team led by the firm's geologists will spend two weeks on-site carrying out exploration, working alongside Sudan's Geological Survey.
A cheer might go up at Fox Marble's (LON:FOX) annual general meeting (AGM) when completion of the firm's factory building is announced.
The plant, construction which had been delayed by unseasonably poor weather, will enable the quarry owner to ramp up marble production and will improve margins significantly.
Elsewhere, higher graphite grades at StratMin Resources’ (LON:STGR) Loharano mine will lift the whole project’s profitability, according to managing director Manoli Yannaghas.
The company said grades in excess of 94% carbon were achieved in its latest eight day trial at the site.
In diamond news, Golden Saint Resources (LON:GSR) has recovered more diamonds from its alluvial operations in Sierra Leone.
At Tongo, six stones ranging from 2.77 carats to 0.325 carats have been recovered to take the total recovered to date to 12.8 grams.
To nickel and Horizonte Minerals (LON:HZM, TSE:HZM) outlined several positives in its first quarter as it made "strong progress" advancing the Araguaia project in north central Brazil.
Finally, Aurasian Minerals (LON:AUM) moved a step closer to unlocking the mineral wealth of Laos in Southeast Asia as it unveiled a new joint venture, sending shares in the company rocketing.
The tie-up is with Lao investment company Sahamit Phattana and the new group will undertake exploration in the country.