This issue, International Mining Project News reports on some of the world’s great undeveloped (as yet) projects. For instance,  feasibility work at the Fruta del Norte (FDN) gold project located in southeast Ecuador, which is one of the largest and highest grade undeveloped gold projects in the world.

“One of the highest grade VMS deposits discovered anywhere in the world in the past three decades,” is a description of the Monty copper gold deposit in Western Australia. Its maiden resource is discussed in this issue.

One of the world’s great historic goldfields, the Kolar Gold Fields in India, could be making a comeback. And there is news of Excellon Resources, Mexico’s highest grade silver producer. There is Denison Mines’ very high grade Wheeler River uranium project.

This issue also reports on the following – with great detail in the report. Contact [email protected] for subscription details and news of the half price deal to attend on of Whittle Consulting’s MONEY MINING & SUSTAINABILITY SEMINARS around the world.

There are the ups and downs of the Adani coal project in Queensland, Australia; Tigers Realm’s coal activities in Russia and Pan African Resources has assumed effective control of Uitkomst Colliery.

Explaurum announces results from the initial metallurgical test work program on the company’s Tampia gold project in Western Australia.

Rutile‐rich resources defined by Strandline Resources at 100% owned Tanga South project in Tanzania.

Asiamet Resources has results of a PEA completed on its Beruang Kanan Main (BKM) copper deposit in Kalimantan, Indonesia.

Peregrine Diamonds reports the outcome of the 2015 Chidliak resource development program for the CH-6 kimberlite pipe at its 100% owned Chidliak diamond project, Nunavut, Canada.

In rare earths, Commerce Resources Corp has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with NorFalco Sales, a division of Glencore Canada. There is an ongoing prefeasibility study on the Ashram deposit in Nunavik, north-east Quebec. And  Hastings Technology Metals announces the results of the financial analysis for the PFS of the Yangibana project in Australia.

Alecto Minerals, the Africa-focussed gold and base metal exploration and development company, has positive results from a feasibility study (FS) on its wholly-owned Matala gold project in Zambia. This project will be a more detailed article in the magazine soon.

Erdene Resource Development Corp has signed financing agreements with Sandstorm Gold Ltd that provide total consideration of C$2.5 million to Erdene to advance exploration and development programs on the company’s gold projects in southwest Mongolia.

SNC-Lavalin has been awarded a contract by Minesa, a subsidiary of Mubadala Development Co PJSC, to provide a prefeasibility study for the Soto Norte project, a new greenfield gold mine and processing facility located in Colombia.

Sandfire Resources has reported a maiden JORC 2012 compliant Indicated and Inferred Mineral Resource for the Monty copper-gold deposit, located within the Springfield project in WA, 10km east of Sandfire’s DeGrussa copper-gold mine.

Dalradian Resources reports details of its recently commenced test stoping program in support of its ongoing feasibility study on the Curraghinalt gold deposit in Northern Ireland.

In an oversubscribed placement, Australian strategic metals company, Pilbara Minerals has raised A$85 million (before costs). The proceeds, together with Pilbara’s existing cash reserves of A$12 million, will boost Pilbara’s cash to approximately A$106 million (after capital raising costs), putting the company in a very strong position to rapidly advance the Pilgangoora lithium-tantalum project through to production.

True North Gems is progressing well with construction of the Aappaluttoq ruby mine, southwest Greenland.

Victoria Gold Corp has started a feasibility study update for the fully permitted Eagle gold project, Yukon.

Aquila Resources, advancing the gold and zinc-rich Back Forty project in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, has completed comprehensive and integrated metallurgical test work that indicates improved recoveries and the potential for increased production of Back Forty’s two primary metals, gold and zinc.

Altura Mining announces the results of the feasibility study completed on the Pilgangoora lithium project in Western Australia’s Pilbara region.

Carbine Resources has appointed an experienced mining executive team who will drive development of the Mount Morgan gold and copper project in Queensland, Australia.

Almonty Industries has closed the second tranche of a non-brokered private placement which it will use to fund ongoing engineering work at Almonty Korea Tungsten’s Sangdong project.

Condor Gold aims to fully permit Mina La India (gold) in Nicaragua.

Centerra Gold’s wholly-owned Turkish subsidiary Öksüt Madencilik Sanayi ve Ticaret (OMAS) has entered into a project financing term loan facility for its Öksüt gold project in Turkey.

Noricum Gold, a European focused base and precious metals resource development company, has completed its drill program focused on outcropping gold mineralisation at the Kvemo Bolnisi target, which is located within the 851 km2 Bolnisi copper-gold project in Georgia.

Ivanhoe Mines and its joint-venture partner Zijin Mining are preparing to accelerate a planned infill drilling program on the Kakula discovery area at their Kamoa copper project, in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), beginning in May 2016.

Euromax Resources has entered into a term sheet for an investment of up to $30 million and a strategic alliance with CC Mining S.A. (CCM) which is related to Consolidated Contractors Co Group (CCC Group), in respect of certain construction activities for the Ilovica project in Macedonia.

Under the Term Sheet signed between CCM and Euromax, it is envisaged that CCM (or another affiliated or legal entity related to CCM) will provide financing to Euromax of up to $30 million in three tranches for the funding and development of Ilovica copper/gold project in Macedonia.

Endeavour Mining’s 90%-owned Houndé gold project in Burkina Faso has entered the construction phase. The project is expected to deliver average production of 190,000 oz/y over a 10-year mine life at an AISC of $709/oz, based on current reserves. The project is an open pit mine with a 3.0 Mt/y gravity circuit/ CIL plant. Also in Burkina Faso, Roxgold’s construction program is approximately 84% complete at the high grade Yaramoko gold project, located in the Houndé greenstone region.  True Gold Mining achieved first production at the Karma gold mine in Burkina Faso on April 11, 2016, a few weeks following the start of leaching of ore.

Saudi Arabian Mining Co (Maaden) announces the beginning of commercial production at Ad Duwayhi mine of its wholly-owned subsidiary Maaden Gold and Base Metals Co.

Nevsun Resources provides an update on the Bisha zinc expansion project and monetising precious metal stockpiles, two key objectives for 2016.

Tahoe Resources reported that, following the completion of its business combination with Lake Shore Gold Corp, the company has emerged as a new leader in the precious metals sector with a well-diversified, Americas-based operating platform, a strong balance sheet and an attractive growth profile. Tahoe’s asset base is anchored by the large-scale, high-grade Escobal silver mine in Guatemala and also includes low-cost, growing gold operations in Peru and the Timmins Gold Camp of Northern Ontario.

Encanto Potash Corp has finalised important terms for its Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Metals and Minerals Trading Company of India (MMTC).

Alcoa World Alumina and Chemicals has secured multiple bauxite supply contracts valued at more than $350 million over the next two years. Under the contracts, the company will supply bauxite to external customers from three of its global mines as it continues to successfully build its third-party bauxite business. The new contracts cover customers in China, Europe and Brazil.

Polymetal International is acquiring Orion Minerals, the holding company for the Komarovskoye gold deposit in the Republic of Kazakhstan.

Mining has commenced at the Mt Marion lithium project, Australia.

Graphex Mining Ltd has lodged a prospectus inviting investors to subscribe for new shares under an initial public offer of Graphex shares. Graphex is a new wholly-owned subsidiary of IMX Resources which, upon completion of the asset restructure announced on 21 December 2015, will own and operate the Tanzanian Chilalo graphite project.

Probe Metals and Adventure Gold have entered into a definitive agreement to combine their respective companies by way of a plan of arrangement.

Laramide Resources will acquire Uranium Resources’ wholly owned subsidiary Hydro Resources which holds the Churchrock and Crownpoint properties in New Mexico, USA.

There is the new company Bluebird Merchant Ventures, a Philippine focused resource company involved in the trading of copper concentrates and with an investment in a Philippine gold project.