African Potash (LON:AFPO) is continuing to make significant progress in becoming a fertiliser trading firm.
Having lined up a number of deals to sell companies in the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) it has concluded pricing negotiations with one of them.
In other potash news, Sirius Minerals (LON:SXX, OTCQX:SRUXY) has received prequalification status from Infrastructure UK, a branch of the UK Treasury, for the second phase of its York Potash project.
While not a source of funding, endorsement of the project through an IUK qualification and guarantee will aid raising the finance required for the scheme.
Staying in the UK, Alba Minerals (LON:ALBA) has agreed a deal to increase its stake in the Horse Hill project, in south east England.
Through a deal with privately owned Angus Energy, Alba will acquire an additional 5% of the Horse Hill Development company (HHDL) to increase its interest to 15%, and it also has secured an option over a further 5% of HHDL.
Meanwhile, Wolf Minerals (LON:WLFE) took operational control of its new tungsten and tin mine at Hemerdon, near Plymouth, after the completion of commissioning this week.
Outside the UK, Metminco (LON:MNC) has responded to changed economic circumstances in the mining sector with a new plan to develop its Los Calatos copper project in Peru.
An initial study was completed in July, but that work has been improved upon in an optimisation study which delivered a 57% increase in the project’s net present value (NPV) to US$447mln.
From South America to South Africa, and Goldplat’s (LON:GDP) efforts to improve production and efficiency at its gold recovery operation in South Africa took another step forward today as the company announced the commissioning of a new mill in mid-September.
Elsewhere, two out of the three core elements of Caledonia Mining’s (LON:CMCL, TSE:CAL) plans to improve output at its flagship Blanket gold mine in Zimbabwe are now in place.
Also in Zimbabwe, Sable Mining (LON:SBLM) signed an early stage agreement over a huge new coal-fired power plant.
In other coal news, Oracle Coalfields (LON:ORCP) is negotiating the details of engineering contracts for its 600 MW mine-mouth power plant project in Pakistan, with talks also now underway on debt financing.
In diamond-related news, Firestone Diamonds (LON:FDI) said it remains on track for first production from its Liqhobong mine during the fourth quarter of 2016, revealing it has received its first draw-down of US$7.6 million under the financing facility with Absa bank.
Meanwhile, diamond discovery firm Golden Saint Resources (LON:GSR) made significant progress in the first half of the year, despite the challenges of the Ebola outbreak.
In other precious stones, coloured gemstones miner and marketer Gemfields (LON:GEM) won plaudits in the City for a resource upgrade at emerald mine Kagem.
The total amount at the mine in Zambia, 75% owned by Gemfields, is now estimated at 1.8bn carats (ct) worth of emeralds and beryl.
Sticking with the precious theme, Mexican metal miner Arian Silver Corporation (LON:AGQ, TSXV:AGQ) said it has taken a step towards securing up to US$10mln of extra funding.
In other precious metal news, Anglo Asian Mining (LON:AAZ) revealed improving financials in the first half thanks to robust gold production from the Gedabek mine in Azerbaijan.
Hummingbird Resources (LON:HUM) says its Yanfolila gold mine is a perfect project to bring into production in the current tricky market conditions.
Jubilee Platinum (LON:JLP) has struck a new agreement, which will see it speed up the commissioning of its ASA tailings dam processing facility and gain earlier cash flows.
In other news, Savannah Resources (LON:SAV) revealed it has identified new high grade copper mineralisation at the Aarja prospect, part of Block 4 in Oman.
Kibo Mining (LON:KIBO) and Metal Tiger (LON:MTR) revealed today the Pinewood uranium joint venture had kicked off and they see a positive shift in the uranium space.
Finally, Ortac Resources (LON:OTC) is confident drilling work by its partner in Eritrea will confirm at least one new VMS style mineralisation system.