The week ended with a suggestion from Peel Hunt that investing in mining small caps could reap dividends.
In the broker's view, neither purchasing managers index (PMI) data nor import or inventory data yet suggests metals prices are likely to rise further without meaningful supply interruptions, but that does not mean there are no stocks in the sector that are worth backing.
At the small-caps end of the sector Peel Hunt likes copper producer Central Asia Metals Ltd (LON:CAML), which appears to have missed out in the sector rally, and Anglo Pacific Group PLC (LON:APF, TSE:APY), the base metals and bulk materials royalties firm.
Meanwhile, Rare Earth Minerals plc (LON:REM OTC: REMMY) is set to add Australia to its growing portfolio of lithium deposits.
REM, which already has stakes in sizeable lithium prospects in Mexico and the Czech Republic, will pay C$300,000 through a share subscription for a 15.5% stake in Toronto-listed MacArthur Minerals.
MacArthur has applied for ten prospective lithium exploration licences covering 946sq km in the Pilgangoora district, the Eastern Pilbara, and the Mid-West region of Western Australia.
Meanwhile, mining is expected to kick off next week under the Grants Patch tribute deal, underscoring the firm's new direction and strategy, said AIM firm Keras Resources PLC (LON:KRS).
A first blast has been completed at the Anomaly 22 project in Western Australia, 30km north of Kalgoorlie with a view to obtaining a 10,000 tonne bulk sample to confirm grade and continuity.
Keras reiterated that first revenues in the second quarter of 2016 are firmly on track.
Aureus Mining Inc (LON:AUE TSX:AUE) produced 4,500 ounces of gold at the New Liberty mine in the first two weeks of March and in line with February's total.
Gold production for the calendar year to date now totals 19,200oz.
Commercial production was declared at the mine in Liberia on March 1 and since then production has been stable with recovery levels in excess of 90%.
Metal Tiger plc takes up Russia gold tailings option
The money will help Metal Tiger pay for the take-up of its option over the Semenovsky gold tailings joint venture
Metal Tiger plc (LON:MTR) this week received £269,000 in additional funds from warrant exercises over two days.
The warrants had been issued at prices of 1.6p and 1.8p.
The money will help Metal Tiger pay for the take-up of its option over the Semenovsky gold tailings joint venture in Russia with Eurasia Mining (LON:EUA).
Shares in Rambler Metals and Mining (LON:RMM, CVE:RAB) surged on Tuesday in London as it revealed its processing facility at Nugget Pond may be set for further action.
The miner has inked a non-binding letter of intent (LOI) with Benton Resources (CVE:BEX) and its partner Nordmin over potentially toll milling gold-rich concentrate from the pair's Cape Ray deposits.
Rambler's chief executive Norman Williams said: "The Cape Ray region holds great potential for future gold discoveries and Benton has a proven track record in exploration and discovery.
To potash, and the long-awaited definitive feasibility study (DFS) for Sirius Minerals PLC's (LON:SXX) York Potash Project in North Yorkshire issued this week underscored the site's “world class” potential.
The report says its net present value of the asset today is US$15bn using a 10% discount rate.
This figure rises to US$27bn once the mine is up and running. The after-tax internal rate of return is put at 26%.
The operation has the potential to generate underlying earnings (EBITDA) of US$1-3bn a year, depending on volumes and price.
Horizonte Minerals PLC's (LON:HZM) deal last year with titan Glencore (LON:GLEN) to buy the adjacent nickel project to Araguaia was a 'game changer', boss Jeremy Martin said this week.
And the focus in the first half of 2016 will be to integrate the two sites.
"...this includes updating the combined mineral resource estimate with the phase 4 drilling completed in 2015, an updated process flow sheet with the data and results from the pilot programme and updated capital costings which will all flow into an updated pre-feasibility study."
The company boss said last year had been productive, despite the backdrop of highly challenging commodities prices.