Sirius Minerals PLC (LON:SXX), which is developing a huge potash mine in North Yorkshire, UK, revealed that more of its stage one financing convertible bonds have been exchanged for shares.
The bonds were announced last November and issued at US$200,000 each to raise a massive US$400mln as part of the financing for the project - believed to be the world's largest high-grade known deposit of polyhalite - used as a fertiliser.
BHP Billiton PLC (LON:BLT) has named packaging executive Ken MacKenzie as its next chairman, a tricky job given recent calls from activist investor Elliott Management for the global mining giant to offload its petroleum business and overhaul the board.
MacKenzie, who was considered one of Australia's most successful chief executives in his ten years running Amcor Ltd, will succeed current BHP chairman, Jac Nasser from September.
Bushveld Minerals Limited (LON:BMN) has completed the acquisition of a significant interest in the Uis tin project in Namibia. The group’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Greenhills Resources, has bought a 49.5% stake in Dawnmin Africa, which owns 85% of the project.
The Namibian government owns the remaining shares in Uis, which is one of the largest undeveloped opencast hard rock tin deposits in the world.
Premier African Minerals Limited (LON:PREM) shares rose 5% in early deals on the back of highly encouraging initial testing on material from the group's Zulu Lithium and Tantalum project in Zimbabwe, which underscored the property's big potential.
The findings from German based Dorfner Anzaplan showed that a commercial grade, high quality lithium mineral concentrate could be produced.
Chaarat Gold's (LON:CGH) chief executive Dekel Golan sold 4mln shares at 19.225p per share. Chaarat is developing a gold mine in the Kyrgyz Republic. The sale was for personal reasons, the company said.
Savannah Resources Plc (LON:SAV) has received initial approval for a waste storage facility at its Block 4 and 5 copper projects in Oman utilising an old mine pit from the adjacent Lasail West mine.
David Archer, Savannah’s chief executive, said Oman’s Ministry of Environment and Climate Affairs (MECA) had asked for further studies and test work but it had been given the green light in principle.
Shares in Jubilee Platinum PLC (LON:JLP) soared after the chrome and platinum producer confirmed that its Hernic project is operating at full production rate.
The tailings project in South Africa is now processing 1,900 tonnes each day of chrome and platinum containing feed material, which equates to around 55,000 tonnes per month.
Jubilee added that platinum group metals (PGM) production continues to ramp up in line with the increased production capacity. Approximately 420 ounces of PGM have been delivered to the refinery so far.
Shanta Gold Limited (LON:SHG) turned in revenues of over US$107 mln during the year to December 2016 on production of 87,713 ounces of gold from its New Luika gold mine in Tanzania, up from the US$95.7 mln posted for 2015 on production of just under 82,000 ounces.
The average realised gold price was higher and earnings rose significantly, from US$31.9 in 2015 to US$50.2 mln this time round, while cash generated from operations rose to US$50.1 mln from US$31.8mln).
Hummingbird Resources (LON:HUM) has increased its stake in the under construction Yanfolila gold project in Mali to 80% with the exercise of an option over a further 5% of the equity.
The AIM-listed junior is buying out La Petite Mine d'Or’s interest for US$1mln, plus paying a further US$1mln to acquire its 1% royalty. Both considerations will be paid in shares.