London's only listed graphite production and exploration company, StratMin Global Resources (LON:STGR), has reported further success in its on-going exploration programme.
The company has not only discovered potentially lucrative new areas of mineralisation, it has made significant headway on the production side in quality control in the plant feed, providing processing and efficiency improvements.
It was not the only big news from the mining world on Monday, as Copper producer Central Asia Metals (LON:CAML) got the green light from the state authorities meaning it can kick off an expansion at its Kounrad recovery project in Kazakhstan.
The approval allows it to exploit the copper contained in the Western dumps, said the firm, which also revealed a record monthly production of the red metal in October.
Similarly, miner Vast Resources (LON:VAST) hopes to start production at its Baita Plai mine in Romania early next year after thrashing out an agreement with the state mining company.
Elsewhere in the sector, coloured gems specialist Gemfields (LON:GEM) achieved record revenues for lower quality stones at its recent emeralds auction in Jaipur, India.
Auction revenues clocked in at US$19.2mln, with a new record level for a designated lower quality auction of US$4.32 per carat.
IronRidge Resources (LON:IRR) has discovered high-grade canga type iron-ore mineralisation at its Tchibanga project in Gabon, West Africa.
A 300% increase in indicated resources at Rare Earth Minerals' (LON:REM) Sonora lithium project in northern Mexico exceeded all expectations, the firm revealed.
Regency Mines (LON:RGM) put its increased loss for the year to end June down to an impairment of the value in its investment in Direct Nickel by £3.4mln as it seeks to maximise value from its assets.
Alecto Minerals (LON:ALO) has acquired the historic Matala and Dunrobin Gold Mines in Zambia for a total possible consideration of just shy of £2mln.
Meanwhile, outside of Pfizer’s deal with Allergan, there was a lot of news in the pharma space.
Summit Therapeutics (LON:SUMM NASDAQ:SMMT) has reported ‘outstanding’ results in the phase II trial of ridinilazole, its new C.difficile (CDI) treatment.
During the trial, the new oral antibiotic significantly outperformed vancomycin, the current standard prescription, which was the primary objective said Summit.
Meanwhile, Deltex Medical (LON:DEMG) has signed up two new US hospitals for its blood flow monitoring technology to take the total to fifteen.
In management news, diagnostics group Akers Biosciences (LON:AKR, NASDAQ:AKER) is taking on an industry veteran with almost 30 years’ experience as chief executive.
In the boardroom, green technology group APC Technology (LON:APC) said director Andrew Shortis had agreed to step down from the board with immediate effect.
Tern (LON:TERN), the technology investor, said Alan Howarth had been hired as a non-executive directorwith immediate effect.
In oil news, Nostra Terra Oil & Gas (LON:NTOG) is looking forward to the tricky oil price environment providing it with juicy acquisition opportunities.
The USA and Egypt-focused oil and gas explorer and producer was in optimistic mood, as well it might be after reporting third quarter production that more than tripled from a year earlier.
Rockhopper Exploration (LON:RKH) and Falkland Oil & Gas (LON:FOGL) have announced the start of drilling on a well in the Falkland Islands.
Independent Resources (LON:IRG) will look for more acquisitions of assets from companies in distress due to the weak oil price.
Trinidad & Tobago-focused Trinity Exploration and Production (LON:TRIN) has been granted a further extension to the moratorium on its debt repayments.
In the tech space, Kalibrate Technologies (LON:KLBT) was given a boost after BP extended its relationship with the AIM-listed firm.
The oil major, which has thousands of petrol forecourts around the world, has been using Kalibrate’s Strategic Location Solutions package to pinpoint the most profitable sites for its next generation of fuelling stations.
Elsewhere, Intellectual property (IP) specialist Tekcapital (LON:TEK) has received confirmation of its patent for its novel food baking technology.
Licensed from the University of Arkansas, the Crackle-baked process can make baked food taste like fried but reduces the fat content by 60%.
Finally, European Wealth Group (LON:EWG) has reached a deal to buy private broker Xcap Nominees for an undisclosed fee.
Cheshire-based firm Xcap will add some £30mln in assets to European Wealth's Manchester office, the company said.