Firstenergy Corp. (FE)

[pplatte9]

Raytec Metals Options More Iron Ore in Ontario

By Doug Hadfield

It may not be the sexiest of metals to investors, but iron is also arguably one of the most important. That was the message of Brian Thurston, President of Raytec Metals Corp. (TSX.V: RAY) in a recent interview with Resourcex.com. The junior exploration company has turned its focus from uranium in the Athabasca Basin to iron ore in Ontario and South America.

“The young juniors that have moved to iron ore in Canada are doing very well,” Thurston observed. “Sure, it’s not as sexy as gold, but iron is a hot commodity. Since 2004 its price has more than doubled. In 2007 it was predicted for an almost 10% increase again and we’re looking for another more than 25% gain in 2008.”

Although iron happens to be the second most abundant metal in the earth’s crust (after aluminium), it is increasingly difficult to meet demand for the metal. Demand for iron grows at approximately 10% per annum, driven principally by growth in both developing and Western countries including China, Japan, Korea, the US and EU.

Meanwhile, the world’s big three producers – CVRD, Rio Tinto, and BHP Billiton – are finding it increasingly difficult to keep production in line with global demand. The result has been price increases completely out of proportion with historical averages. Based on a 2007 TEX report, prices for iron ore pellets have risen from $30 per Dry Metric Tonne (DMT) in 2002 to over $70/DMT in 2007 (based on Eastern Canadian Pellet Price with 64% iron content).

According to a 2007 report from Lehman Brothers, the contract price of iron ore has risen in each of the past five years to a record even as China boosted steel output. Prices will gain another 50 percent this year on massive demand from China, the investment bank stated.

Raytec announced its first iron ore acquisition on November 29, 2007, and at the time of writing was about to announce another two, for a total of three iron ore properties in Ontario.

The first project in its portfolio is the El Sol Historic Iron Ore Project, which is located in the Red Lake Mining District of Ontario.

Extensive drilling and metallurgical testing were conducted on El Sol between 1956 and 1957. Airborne and ground magnetic surveys defined two large parallel magnetic anomalies, with the "A" zone measuring in excess of 4 km in length and the "B" zone measuring in excess of 2 km in strike length.

A total of 67 diamond drill holes totalling 10,363 meters were drilled on these two zones, identifying a historic resource of 312 million tons grading 32.4% iron to a depth of 300 meters. Two holes were drilled below the 300-meter (984 feet) level and showed no significant changes in grade, the company stated.

Additionally, “From knowledge of similar iron formations in the area, notably at Central Patricia Gold Mines Ltd. where mining for gold in iron formation was carried to a depth of 1220m (4,000 feet), it may be inferred that similar depths may be encountered at El Sol.”

Now the company plans to do magnetic surveys and start drilling as soon as possible to move the historic resource calculations into an updated, increased and NI 43-101 compliant resource.

“There is very little field work needed on this property before we can get a drill on there and see what we have. Since it’s already been drilled we’re just going in there to prove up what we know and see what we can add to it.”

Although Raytec is focussed on iron ore, it was an attraction to uranium that saw them move into the junior exploration business in the first place. In early 2007, Raytec Metals Corp. (TSX.V: RAY) jumped onto the Athabasca Basin uranium scene with a newly formed team and a package of 17 uranium claims in the Athabasca Basin.

“The uranium plays got us into the market and a change of business,” Thurston explained. “We feel very strongly about our uranium JVs. We’ve got the Key Lake West and East properties, which are very promising. Any one of those could be a company maker. Plus we’ve got Triex in there, and they’ve got a lot of really competent people on their team and they’ve got the exploration capital, so we’re happy with that in their hands.”

[mhlld]

China to block BHP's Rio bid
2007-12-24
Hong Kong - China has sanctioned state-owned companies to examine three possible strategies to block BHP Billiton's proposed takeover of mining giant Rio Tinto, a report said on Monday.
Citing unnamed sources, the South China Morning Post reported strategies include forming a domestic consortium to bid for Rio Tinto, a joint bid by domestic and foreign firms, or purchasing Rio shares on the open market.

"(Companies) have approval from the State Council to go ahead and get actively involved," one source was quoted as saying.

China International Capital Corp (CICC) and Bank of China International have been retained by the government in an overall advisory role, the report said.

Earlier this month, China's largest steel company Baosteel called on the Australian government to intervene and prevent BHP Billiton from taking over rival miner Rio Tinto.

China fears a merger between BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto would lead to further sharp price increases in raw materials, particularly iron ore, which the country desperately needs to fuel its double-digit economic growth.

Sources said Baosteel approached Japan's Nippon Steel and South Korea's Posco Steel about a consortium but nothing came of the effort. The Chinese company has previously denied that it planned to make a bid.

The newspaper also said China's sovereign fund was expected to provide some financing for any mainland bid but would not lead a transaction out of fears of a political backlash.

Rio Tinto last month rejected fellow miner Anglo-Australian BHP Billiton's $142bn offer, saying it significantly undervalues the company.

British authorities have set a deadline of February 6 for BHP Billiton, the world's biggest miner, to state whether it still intends to make an offer for Rio Tinto.

- Sapa-AFP

http://www.mweb.co.za//finance/?p=FinanceNewsArticle&i=796914

[johnlw]

Labrador Iron Mines to list on TSX Nov. 27

2007-11-27 07:22 MT - News Release

Mr. John Kearney reports

LABRADOR IRON MINES HOLDINGS LIMITED ANNOUNCES FILING OF FINAL PROSPECTUS, APPROVAL OF LISTING ON TORONTO STOCK EXCHANGE UNDER THE TICKER SYMBOL - "LIR"

Labrador Iron Mines Holdings Ltd.'s final prospectus, in connection with the proposed initial public offering of units of the company, has been filed with, and receipted by, the securities regulatory authorities in each of the provinces of Canada, except for Quebec, and the Toronto Stock Exchange has conditionally approved the listing of the company's common shares and common share purchase warrants.

The company has agreed with Canaccord Capital Corp., as agent, to offer 11,473,000 units at a price of $4 per unit. Each unit consists of one common share and one-half of one common share purchase warrant, each whole warrant exercisable to purchase one additional common share at a price of $5 per share at any time prior to 24 months from the closing of the offering. The offering is expected to close on or about Dec. 3, 2007.

The company's shares and warrants have been conditionally approved for listing on the Toronto Stock Exchange and are expected to commence trading on an if-as-and-when-issued basis on Nov. 27, 2007.

The stock ticker symbols on the TSX are as follows.

Common shares: LIR

Warrants: LIR.WT

In addition, the company has granted Canaccord an overallotment option, exercisable for a period of 30 days following the closing of the offering, to purchase up to an additional 15 per cent of the number of units issued pursuant to the offering at a price of $4 per unit.

The final prospectus is available on SEDAR. Copies of the final prospectus may also be obtained from Canaccord by contacting Amy Patel, Canaccord Capital, 416-869-7368.

We seek Safe Harbor.

[johnlw]

Baffinland participation right with Mitsubishi expires

2007-10-19 07:11 MT - News Release

Mr. Gordon McCreary reports

BAFFINLAND ANNOUNCES MITSUBISHI'S PARTICIPATION RIGHT EXPIRES

Baffinland Iron Mines Corp.'s participation right offered to Mitsubishi Corporation's under its agreement with Mitsubishi dated Dec. 22, 2005, has expired.

Under the terms of the agreement, in order to have maintained its participation right, Mitsubishi was required to participate in the company's most recent securities offering of flow-through and non-flow-through shares, such that after giving effect to its participation, Mitsubishi would have held 5 per cent or more of the outstanding shares.

"With the completion of Baffinland's definitive feasibility study anticipated in December, 2007, and Mitsubishi's interest in further investment upon receipt of the DFS, Mitsubishi elected to not participate in our most recent private placement," said Gordon A. McCreary, president and chief executive officer of Baffinland. "Mitsubishi's investment perspective is of a long-term nature and we are looking forward to discussing its long-term investment objectives following the release of our DFS."

"Despite losing the participation right, Mitsubishi's supportive position as Baffinland's strategic investor will not change and we will remain strongly interested in our further involvement in Baffinland in the future. We will be looking forward to discussing the next opportunity of equity financing upon receiving the definitive feasibility study in the near future," said Iwao Toide, general manager, iron ore business unit of Mitsubishi.

We seek Safe Harbor.

[johnlw]

Cons Thompson Iron Mines to list on TSX Sept. 25

2007-09-21 17:31 MT - New Listing

TSX bulletin 2007-1352

An application has been granted for the original listing in the mining category of 88,987,417 common shares, of which 80,047,452 common shares are issued and outstanding, and 8,939,965 common shares are reserved for issuance.

The common shares of the company will be listed and posted for trading at the open on Tuesday, Sept. 25, 2007.

The company is subject to the reporting requirements of Section 501 of the Toronto Stock Exchange company manual.

Symbol: CLM

Cusip No.: 210206 10 8

Trading currency: Canadian dollars

Temporary market-maker: W.D. Latimer Co. Ltd.

Other markets: The common shares of the company have been listed for trading on the TSX Venture Exchange since Aug. 28, 2000, under the stock symbol CLM.

The common shares of the company will be delisted from TSX-V on Sept. 24, 2007, upon commencement of trading on the TSX.

Incorporation: The company was originally incorporated under the name Thompson-Lundmark Gold Mines Ltd. under the laws of Canada pursuant to the Companies Act, 1934 on Aug. 31, 1938. By articles of continuance effective Nov. 19, 1980, the company was continued under the Canada Business Corporations Act (CBCA). By certificate of amendment effective Aug. 21, 2006, the company changed its name from Consolidated Thompson-Lundmark Gold Mines to Consolidated Thompson Iron Mines Ltd.

Fiscal year-end: June 30

Nature of business: The company is a junior mineral exploration and development company principally engaged in the exploration of iron ore. The company's principal mineral property is the Bloom Lake iron ore deposit property located in the Normanville township, Duplessis county, Province of Quebec.

Transfer agent and registrar: Equity Transfer & Trust Co. at its principal office in Toronto

Dividends: The company does not anticipate paying dividends in the foreseeable future.

Recent financing: On June 21, 2007, the company completed a private placement of 42.11 million common shares for total gross proceeds of $200,022,500.

[johnlw]

BIM is another one bouncing off its 200 day.


Baffinland Iron Mines Corp (C-BIM) - In the News

FP says financial innocence hits Baffinland, others

2007-08-20 08:27 ET - In the News
Shares issued 79,836,525
BIM Close 2007-08-17 C$ 2.84

Also In the News (C-IVN) Ivanhoe Mines Ltd
Also In the News (C-JEC) Jura Energy Corp
Also In the News (C-NGD) New Gold Inc
Also In the News (C-RDV) Redcorp Ventures Ltd

The Financial Post reports in its Saturday edition that this latest market meltdown has taught Canadians about a security many of them knew nothing about -- short-term, asset-backed commercial paper. The Post's Peter Koven writes in the past couple of days, a number of companies have declared exposure to asset-backed commercial paper through products offered by Coventree Inc. The most exposed are junior resource firms. Most juniors probably know little about structured financial products. Their expertise is geology and engineering. Baffinland Iron Mines said Friday more than 95 per cent of its cash is tied up in Coventree-sponsored funds. It joins a list that includes New Gold, Redcorp Ventures, Jura Energy and Robert Friedland's Ivanhoe Mines. Baffinland, New Gold and Redcorp all bought the products because they were given recommendations by financial advisers. Coventree's asset-backed commercial paper securities had spotless credit ratings. However, it does not take a genuis to figure out that putting 95 per cent of your cash into one company's securities, as Baffinland did, is a bad idea. Companies may want to devote more detail to the "use-of-proceeds" section in the prospectus in the future.

[Tackler]

Look For Cooperation On Iron Ore Project

http://www.alibaba.com/manufacturer/15035288/Look_For_Cooperation_On_Iron_Ore_Project.html

Post Date: Jun 11, 2007
Expiry date: Jul 11, 2007
Detailed Selling Lead Description

IBIC Ghana Ltd. needed buyers of iron ores.
Country of origin is Nigeria.
Port of loading is Onne port, Port-Harcour, Nigeria.

[Tackler]

Advanced Explorations signs MOU with A Better Search

2007-06-14 09:11 MT - News Release

Mr. John Gingerich reports

ADVANCED EXPLORATIONS INC. ANNOUNCES UPDATE ON ACTIVITIES

Advanced Explorations Inc. has completed establishment of a 40-man exploration camp on the iron ore project in Roche Bay, Nunavut. The company has mobilized two drills to site and the contractor (Boart Longyear) is expected to have the first drill coring by the end of this week and the second drill early next week. The company objective is to complete a minimum of 15,000 metres of drilling before the end of the exploration season.

The company is also in the process of tendering contracts to extend the environmental baseline studies started last year and conduct further bathymetric studies of Foxe basin. The company will also undertake additional metallurgical work and initiate a number of engineering studies to better understand potential development costs.

The company has also signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) in which AEI has entered into a partnership and option agreement with A Better Search Inc. to pursue iron ore opportunities in Quebec.

The company has a four-month exclusive period to review all Better Search's holdings to identify projects to option. In addition, Better Search will collaborate with AEI during the next 12 months to identify other iron ore projects to acquire. As part of the option and collaboration agreement, the company will pay Better Search 200,000 common shares of the company and $25,000. For each project of merit optioned from Better Search during the four-month exclusive period, the company will provide an additional 300,000 shares and $150,000. No additional compensation will be provided to Better Search for claims/projects acquired under the collaboration agreement. The MOU is subject to TSX approval.

Furthermore, the company has successfully listed on the Frankfurt, Germany, stock exchange under the symbol AE6.

[Tackler]

Advanced Explorations changes business to magnetite

2007-06-01 14:52 MT - Reorganization

The TSX Venture Exchange has accepted for filing the company's change of business, which involves the company's acquisition by the company of a 50.1-per-cent interest in certain leases (the Roche Bay magnetite project) near Roche Bay, on the eastern Melville peninsula, within the district of Franklin, Nunavut territory, from Roche Bay PLC pursuant to an option agreement between the Advanced and Roche Bay dated Jan. 29, 2007, as amended.

Under the agreement, Roche Bay will receive $250,000 within five days following acceptance of the transaction by the exchange and AEI will issue rights to Roche Bay as to eight million rights at an exercise price of 35 cents per right upon exchange approval, two million rights at an exercise price of 60 cents per right upon completion of 15,000 metres of drilling, and finally two million rights at an exercise price of $1.00 per right upon the completion of both:

1. a total of 30,000 metres of drilling;
2. an NI 43-101-compliant prefeasibility study based on an envisioned minimum six-million-tonne-per-year mining operation containing a resource estimate of at least 750 million tonnes on iron ore in the total among the measured and indicated categories.

Each right will entitle the holder to purchase one common share of the issuer within a period of three years after the date of issue.

In addition, finder's fees are payable to the following arm's-length parties:

1. 48,206 shares issued to 834689 Ontario Ltd.;
2. 96,413 shares issued to John Moses.

No insider or pro group participation.

[johnlw]

Consolidated Thompson Iron Mines Ltd (C-CLM) - News Release

Cons Thompson Iron to acquire 71.4% of Wabush JV

2007-06-06 11:22 ET - News Release
Shares issued 37,557,452
CLM Close 2007-06-05 C$ 5.10

Mr. Richard Quesnel reports

CONSOLIDATED THOMPSON ANNOUNCES PURCHASE OF MAJORITY INTEREST IN WABUSH MINES JOINT VENTURE

Consolidated Thompson Iron Mines Ltd. has entered into an agreement with Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. and Stelco Inc. to acquire a 71.4-per-cent interest in the Wabush Mines joint venture for a purchase price of $64.3-million (U.S.) plus 3.0 million common share purchase warrants. Each common share purchase warrant will entitle the holder thereof to acquire one CLM common share for a period of two years from issue at a price of $5.10 (Canadian) which is the closing price of the common shares of CLM on June 5, 2007. The boards of directors of each of Cleveland-Cliffs and Stelco have conditionally accepted this offer, subject to the purchase option of Dofasco Inc. discussed below. In connection with the acquisition and assuming that Dofasco does not exercise its purchase option, CLM will enter into an offtake arrangement with Cleveland-Cliffs and Stelco from closing until December, 2009, in respect of a portion of their pro rata share of the 4.8 million tonnes committed annual Wabush Mines pellet production. CLM is currently in discussions with other international offtake partners and it is confident that definitive agreements can be reached in the near term.

The Wabush Mines joint venture consists of integrated assets including the Scully iron ore mine, Point-Noire pelletizing facilities, harbour and port facilities at Sept-Iles, integrated railway facilities, and other related assets situated near Wabush, in Newfoundland and Labrador and Quebec. Current annual capacity of Wabush Mines is approximately 4.8 million metric tonnes of pellets.

The transaction, if accepted, would be beneficial to all parties. CLM would continue to develop Bloom Lake with a number of operational and financial benefits, including:

* Transforming CLM into an integrated producer immediately;
* Improving development timeline of Bloom Lake;
* Establishing offtake relationships;
* Operational synergies between Wabush and Bloom Lake;
* Strong financial accretion from year one.

Assuming completion of the acquisition, CLM would upgrade the milling facilities at Wabush to produce high-quality iron ore concentrate from the Bloom Lake iron ore deposit and the Scully mine at a rate exceeding 8.0 million tonnes per year. CLM would also upgrade the pelletizing facilities at Pointe Noire to process part of this concentrate and produce high-quality pellets in excess of 5.0 million tonnes per year.

CLM's development of Bloom Lake is advancing with the commencement of production now targeted for the first quarter of 2009. CLM believes that the close proximity, extensive infrastructure of the Wabush Mines assets and experienced work force will accelerate the development of the Bloom Lake deposit through the use of shared facilities, access to transportation and port facilities as well as streamline permitting requirements.

Commenting on the proposed acquisition, Richard Quesnel, president and chief executive officer of CLM, said: "While a stand-alone Bloom Lake project is extremely financially robust as evidenced by the results of our recent seven million tonnes per year feasibility study and the signing of a memorandum of understanding with a major China-based trading company for the long-term supply of iron ore concentrate; the proposed acquisition offers CLM the opportunity to have an integrated operation with immediate financial results and substantial operational synergies. As a result, we are very confident that this acquisition would represent immediate added value to our shareholders."

Bruce Humphrey, chairman of CLM, stated: "Since entering into discussions with the owners of Wabush Mines in late 2006, we have had the opportunity to perform extensive due diligence, including technical and engineering reviews as well as consultation with the governments of Newfoundland and Labrador and Quebec and the employees of Wabush Mines. This potential acquisition combined with an expansion at Bloom Lake would generate sustainable development in the area, benefit our regional economies and enhance shareholder value."

Completion of the acquisition is subject to a number of conditions, including receipt of requisite regulatory approval, including without limitation, the acceptance of the TSX Venture Exchange and the execution of definitive agreements. Completion of the acquisition is conditioned upon a 90-day purchase option that may be exercised by Dofasco Inc., a subsidiary of Mittal Steel Company NV, the remaining partner of the Wabush Mines joint venture. If Dofasco exercises this purchase option, the acquisition will not occur. Otherwise, closing is expected to occur shortly after the waiver or expiry of the purchase option. Cleveland-Cliffs and Stelco have granted CLM exclusivity rights with respect to the Wabush Mines joint venture assets during the term of the agreement except for any third party in respect of discussions or negotiations to acquire all shares or assets of Cleveland-Cliffs or Stelco.

Orion Securities Inc. is acting as financial adviser to Consolidated Thompson. Cassels Brock & Blackwell LLP is acting a legal adviser to Consolidated Thompson.

We seek Safe Harbor.

[Tackler]

Too late lol

[johnlw]

NAU
Tell us more

[johnlw]

Nope CLM went.

dunno about PLL

[Tackler]

NAU ...

[Tackler]

The quintessential IRON stock? CNQ symbol IRON

Cuervo closes $2.5-million public offering

2007-05-30 09:34 MT - News Release

Mr. John Siriunas reports

CUERVO RESOURCES INC. ANNOUNCES COMPLETION OF INITIAL PUBLIC OFFERING

Cuervo Resources Inc. has completed its initial public offering of units consisting of common shares and common share purchase warrants and the common shares of the company have commenced trading on the Canadian Trading and Quotation System as of the opening of trading on May 30, 2007.

Cuervo is focused on the exploration for iron ore in Peru and currently holds a 100-per-cent interest in over 7,000 hectares of prospective mineral exploration lands in that country through its wholly owned subsidiary, Minera Cuervo S.A.C. The focus of exploration work in the immediate future will be on the company's Cerro Ccopane property located 65 kilometres south of Cuzco, or 600 kilometres southeast of Lima.

The offering was fully subscribed for five million units at 50 cents per unit for gross proceeds of $2.5-million. Each unit consisted of one common share and one common share purchase warrant. Each warrant can be exercised to acquire one additional common share at a price of 75 cents per share for 24 months from the closing date, subject to earlier acceleration upon the occurrence of certain specified events. Subsequent to the offering, the company has 21,103,000 shares outstanding (31,706,000 fully diluted).

Jones, Gable & Company Limited acted as agent to the company in connection with the offering.

[Tackler]

You still got CLM? nice.
So where's the undiscovered Iron stock?
and what about Arc's PLL?

[johnlw]

[johnlw]

Baffinland Iron appoints Charter to board

2007-05-30 14:22 ET - News Release
Shares issued 63,894,020
BIM Close 2007-05-29 C$ 2.61

Mr. Gordon McCreary reports

BAFFINLAND EXPANDS BOARD WITH THE ADDITION OF DONALD CHARTER

Donald Charter has joined Baffinland Iron Mines Corp.'s board of directors.

Mr. Charter is a senior executive with over 20 years of experience in the capital markets and mining industry. He practised securities law for 13 years with a major Toronto law firm and was executive vice-president of Dundee Corp. for 10 years, as well as chairman and chief executive officer of Dundee Securities Corp.

A graduate of McGill University, Mr. Charter holds a BA (honours, economics) and an LLB. He has considerable public company board experience and currently sits on the boards of a number of public companies, including Iamgold Corp., Glencairn Gold Corp., Lundin Mining Corp., Dundee Real Estate Investment Trust and Great Plains Exploration Inc.

"We are pleased to have Don Charter, an experienced business leader, join our board of directors and we look forward to his valued contribution," said Gordon A. McCreary, president and chief executive officer.

[johnlw]

Things warming up in iron land?

[sumisu]

Adriana Resources [ADI.V]

Large Iron Property described on company web site:

http://www.adrianaresources.com/s/LacOtelnuk.asp

I-Hub site:

http://www.investorshub.com/boards/board.asp?board_id=8213

[johnlw]

OUCH!

Consolidated Thompson Decides Not to Proceed With the Wabush Transaction After Due Diligence and Announces Update Conference Call for Wednesday, Jan 17th at 11 AM E.S.T.

CCNMATTHEWS

Consolidated Thompson Iron Mines Limited

January 16, 2007 - 10:54:25 AM

Consolidated Thompson Decides Not to Proceed With the Wabush Transaction After
Due Diligence and Announces Update Conference Call for Wednesday, Jan 17th at
11 AM E.S.T.


TORONTO, ONTARIO--(CCNMatthews - Jan. 16, 2007) - Consolidated Thompson Iron
Mines Limited (TSX VENTURE:CLM) announces that the previously announced
exclusivity period relating to a possible transaction with Wabush Mines has
expired and an agreement has not been reached. Discussions regarding a
transaction may continue, however Consolidated has no reason to believe that
such a transaction can or will be completed.

After an extensive due diligence process, Consolidated Thompson could not be
satisfied with the due diligence and the potential liabilities and has
therefore decided not to make a formal offer on Wabush. The Company has
concluded that it is more advantageous to our shareholders to consider an
expansion of Bloom Lake.

To discuss the above developments with Management, a conference call has been
scheduled as follows:



CONFERENCE CALL SCHEDULED FOR WEDNESAY, JAN 17TH AT 11 AM
EASTERN STANDARD TIME

CONFERENCE CALL DETAILS:
------------------------
LOCAL CALLERS: 416-695-6130
NORTH AMERICAN CALLERS: 1-800-769-8320
INTERNATIONAL CALLERS:[phone]



Bloom Lake Expansion

As part of optimization studies for the development of Bloom Lake,
Consolidated Thompson has completed the preliminary engineering on an
expansion from a production rate of 5 million tonnes of iron concentrate per
year to 7 million tonnes of iron ore concentrate per year and has commissioned
BBA Engineering to conduct a pre-feasibility level study on this option. The
Company is optimistic that such an option could significantly improve project
economics for Bloom Lake on a stand alone basis.

"The recent 9.5 % price increase on iron ore concentrate and the continued
positive outlook going forward for iron ore would make the move from 5 to 7
million tonnes extremely attractive. It may be possible to increase the
capacity, subject to confirmation by BBA Engineering, with no incremental risk
and still meet the timelines we have set for the original project." said
Richard Quesnel, Consolidated Thompson's President and Chief Executive
Officer.

Consolidated will continue to fast track the development of the Bloom Lake
project, and has proceeded to order long lead time equipment which would allow
the Company to step up to 7 millions tonnes of annual production if the
economics warrant.

About Consolidated Thompson

Consolidated Thompson is an exploration and development company, with
approximately 33.4 million shares outstanding and trades on the TSX Venture
exchange under the symbol CLM. The April 2006 completion of a positive
feasibility study on the Bloom Lake Deposit coupled with recent significant
financing, demonstrates the company's ability to develop the project. The
feasibility study was completed by BBA Engineering, Montreal and was authored
by Mr. Andre Allaire, Eng and Mr. Patrice Live, Eng both qualified persons as
defined in National Instrument 43-101. A copy of the report is available at
www.sedar.com.

The Bloom Lake Iron Ore deposit is located in Normanville Township, Duplessis
County, Province of Quebec, on the south end of the Labrador trough,
approximately 400 km north of Sept-Iles. The Bloom Lake deposit is situated
approximately 10 km north of the Mount-Wright iron mining operation of Quebec
Cartier Mining Company.

Statements in this release that are not historical facts are "forward-looking
statements" within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation
Reform Act of 1995. Readers are cautioned that any such statements are not
guarantees of future performance and those actual developments or results may
vary materially from those in these "forward-looking statements. The Company
cautions investors that the projections for increases to the Indicated
Resources are based on Inferred Resources. There is no certainty that these
projections will be added to the Indicated Resources or that they will be
economically viable.


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:

Consolidated Thompson Iron Mines Limited Richard Quesnel President (514)
249-6320

Consolidated Thompson Iron Mines Limited Julian Bharti Business Development
Manager [phone] Email: [e-mail] Website:
www.consolidatedthompson.com

THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE HAS NOT REVIEWED AND DOES NOT ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY
FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE.

[johnlw]

Globe/WSJ say Inco buyer, China set iron-ore price

2006-12-22 05:47 ET - In the News

The Globe and Mail reports in its Friday edition that Inco buyer CVRD has agreed with China's Shanghai Baosteel Group on a 9.5-per-cent increase in the price of iron ore. The Wall Street Journal reports inside The Globe the move likely sets a global benchmark for 2007 price increases at the higher end of market expectations. A 9.5-per-cent increase is smaller than those of recent years. Iron ore is an important steelmaking ingredient. Baosteel is one of the largest steelmakers in China. Baosteel acted as lead negotiator for the entire Chinese Steel industry. The 9.5-per-cent increase for ore shipped from Brazil to China starting in May, 2007, lifts the price of iron ore fines to about 44.47 (U.S.) per tonne. In the third quarter of this year, CVRD sold iron ore for an average price of $40.61 (U.S.) per tonne, not including shipping costs. China expects to import about 354 million tonnes of iron ore in 2007, up 11 per cent from 2006. CVRD spokeswoman Fatima Cristina noted the agreement covers only one type of iron ore, iron-ore fines, and not iron-ore pellets, another kind that can sometimes vary in price from fines. Inco stock closed off five Canadian cents at 85.69 (Canadian) in Toronto Thursday.

[Arctec]

China’s iron ore consumption growth rate declining
By: Dorothy Kosich
Posted: '14-DEC-06 08:00' GMT © Mineweb 1997-2006



RENO, NV (Mineweb.com) --The world’s largest producer and consumer of steel, China, may be buying less iron ore from foreign suppliers including due to increased domestic production.

Meanwhile, critical iron ore price negotiations have commenced as analysts predict a moderate price increase in 2007, despite China’s strong objection to last year’s 19% price increase.

The official Chinese government news agency Xinhua reported that customs figure show the nation’s iron ore imports dropped 1.3% year-on-year to 21.97 million tons in October, a 22% decrease from September 2006 imports. While total imports from January to October 2006 rose 21.7% to 269 million tons over the previous year, the rate of increase was the slowest in recent years.

Domestic production rose substantially in the first nine months of 2006 with large mine production increasing 37.7% over the same period of the previous year for a total of 406 million tons. This, in turn, decreased China’s dependence on overseas suppliers. Industry consultants Mysteel predicted that domestically mined iron ore will continue to command a larger share of the Chinese market.

India exported 46.75 million tons of iron ore to China during the first nine months of this year, capturing 26.56% of the total Chinese market. However, the world’s largest iron ore miners, including Rio Tinto, BHP Billiton and CVRD, are considered likely to demand a price increase based on tight supplies and unquenchable demand.

Mysteel Deputy Manager Jia Liangqun predicted that the iron ore price will increase 3% to 5% next year as China replenishes its iron ore stocks.

[sumisu]

Adriana Closes $990,000 Private Placement; Amends Otelnuk Option Agreement

Tuesday November 28, 4:15 pm ET

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(CCNMatthews - Nov. 28, 2006) - Adriana Resources Inc. (the "Company") (TSX VENTURE:ADI - News) announces it has closed a non-brokered private placement for proceeds of $990,000. The private placement consisted of 1,100,000 flow through shares priced at $0.90 per share. The shares are subject to a hold period expiring March 27, 2007. No warrants were issued and no finder's fee was paid in connection with the financing. Proceeds of the financing will be used for continued exploration of the Company's mineral properties in Nunavut and Quebec.

The Company has also executed a Letter Agreement to the Option Agreement between the Company and Bedford Resource Partners Inc. ("Bedford") originally announced on December 2, 2005 and an Amendment Agreement originally announced on August 4, 2006. The Company has agreed, subject to regulatory approval, to issue 194,800 common shares to the property vendor for the first years advance royalty payment of $150,000 at a deemed price of $0.77 per share. The Company and Bedford are working together to explore and develop the Lac Otelnuk Iron Property. Copies of the agreements can be found on www.sedar.com.

About Adriana Resources Inc.

Adriana Resources Inc. is a mineral exploration and development company with advanced and early staged mineral projects in Canada and Finland. The individuals comprising Adriana's Board have an impressive record in their previous associations in identifying and successfully developing mineral deposits through to production.

ON BEHALF OF ADRIANA RESOURCES INC.

Michael J. Beley, President

The TSX Venture Exchange has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy of this release.

Contact:
Robert Ferguson
Adriana Resources Inc.
[phone] or Toll Free: 1-877-629-0150

Ali Sinawi
Adriana Resources Inc.
[phone] or Toll Free: 1-877-629-0150
[phone] (FAX)
Website: www.adrianaresources.com


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Source: Adriana Resources Inc

[johnlw]

Cons Thompson signs Wabush mines agreement

2006-11-22 09:49 ET - News Release

Mr. Richard Quesnel reports

CONSOLIDATED THOMSON ENTERS INTO EXCLUSIVITY AGREEMENT WITH THE OWNERS OF WABUSH MINES

Consolidated Thompson Iron Mines Ltd. today entered into an agreement with the current equity owners of Wabush mines, consisting of various subsidiary companies of Stelco Inc., Dofasco Inc. and Cleveland Cliffs Inc.

This agreement provides for a period of exclusivity in which Consolidated will complete a due diligence review of the Wabush assets, and explore synergies that may exist between Wabush mines assets and the consolidated assets currently under development at Bloom Lake.

The exclusivity period extends to Jan. 12, 2007.

We seek Safe Harbor.

[sumisu]

IMPORTANT READ ON COMMODITIES

http://www.financialsense.com/captain/log.html

[Arctec]

Not doing anything for their share price.

[sumisu]

Iron Ore Down Under

By Andrew K. Burger

16 Oct 2006 at 11:26 AM EDT

DAMMAM, Saudi Arabia (ResourceInvestor.com) -- With a 19% per tonne price increase for 2006 piled on top of last year’s record-setting 72% increase, and with Asian, particularly Chinese, demand for steel still going strong, it’s hard to imagine better conditions for iron ore producers and explorers. Industry giants, such as BHP Billiton [NYSE:BHP], Brazil’s CVRD [NYSE:RIO] and Rio Tinto [NYSE:RTP], as well as smaller producers, have been posting record-setting earnings, and interest in their shares has risen in tandem.

All this has led to a no-holds barred push to ramp up development and production schedules, as well as locate promising new prospects. Constraining the acceleration are the high cost of fossil fuels and a dearth of skilled labour. It is also contributing to a rush of currents and cross-currents to do with the other principal means of acquiring producing assets: mergers and acquisitions.

A case in point is Australia, the world’s largest iron ore exporter, whose iron ore market has been a hotbed of exploration, production and mergers and acquisitions activity.

Iron Ore Bonanza

“Driven by the increasing dominance of the blast furnace in world steelmaking, iron ore mine expansion plans are being accelerated, new capacity is being brought on stream, and producer companies are pushing to extract benefits from industry consolidation and cost improvement programmes,” according to Sydney-based AME Mineral Economics’ “Iron Ore 2006” cost analysis report.

The report “shows how the industry is responding to an unparalleled demand surge and to a new global business environment characterized by record prices, stratospheric ocean freight rates, and a weaker U.S. dollar,” according to AME information.

“Although the industry’s giants – CVRD, Rio Tinto and BHP Billiton –have fast-tracked new projects to feed China’s insatiable demand, they continue to report being sold out well into the future. And the big three alone have a combined production in 2004 of more than 450Mt-- this accounts for roughly 35% of world production!” the authors state. A May 2006 Wall Street Journal article puts the three companies’ market share at 75%.

Australia’s iron ore community, which includes a host of smaller iron ore producers and explorers looking to capitalise on the good times, has been rife with news and rumours of industry consolidation for some time now. Mining executives, analysts and investment bankers have been very busy assessing the lay of the land and prospects for merging with, or acquiring, another producer as the fastest and cheapest route to growing assets, revenues, and profits. As long as demand, and hence prices, don’t collapse, industry consolidation looks likely to remain in the cards.

Western Plains & Southern

Accounting for more than 90% of Australia’s estimated reserves, the state of Western Australia has been a crucible of iron ore mining activity and mergers and acquisitions. Prominent among the latter is fast-growing Mt.Gibson’s [ASX:MGX] ongoing attempt to acquire Aztec Resources. [ASX:AZR]. Among the latest news in this ongoing hostile bid was the extension, to Oct. 27, of its A$280 million (US$211 million), 1:3 stock swap for control of Aztec.

More recently, and elsewhere in Australia, Southern Iron Pty. Ltd., which is being acquired by Western Plains Gold Ltd. [ASX:WPG], Oct. 10 announced that it had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with China Kingdom International Group Co. Ltd.

China Kingdom is a vertically integrated conglomerate focused on international trade, investment and financial services, along the lines of CITIC. It has ties to the JiuQuan Iron and Steel Plant, one of China’s largest producers, and supplies iron ore to the Baotou Stell Plant, Shijiazhuang and AnShan stell plants. The company is also a major shareholder in Shanxi Iron and Stell Co. Ltd., which has a 3 million tonnes per annum steelmaking capacity.

If a 45-day due diligence process proves favorable, China Kingdom has agreed to take an A$5 million (US$3.7 million) equity interest in Southern Iron or WPG, as well as a joint venture interest in Southern’s Peculiar Knob iron ore project in South Australia. Included is a loan of up to A$30 million (US$22.6 million) for development of a direct shipping iron ore mine and China Kingdom being granted an option to purchase the majority of the ore mined at Peculiar Knob on a take-or-pay basis with terms favourable to WPG.

Peculiar Knob was estimated in 1997 to contain an inferred resource of 14 million tonnes of haemetite mineralization at an average grade of 63.2% iron with low levels of impurities, mainly phosphorous, at 0.02%.

WPG shareholders at an extraordinary general meeting on Oct. 26 are set to consider and approve or disapprove of the Southern Iron acquisition, along with other matters. These include management’s plans to initiate a drilling programme shortly thereafter, which aims to upgrade the status of Peculiar Knob’s inferred resources to the measured and indicated categories, to explore for additional mineable ore at depth and to obtain metallurgical and geotechnical data for use in mine design studies, according to information released through the Australian Stock Exchange.

Southern is also exploring and developing the Hawks Nest property, which reportedly contains two large and promising iron ore prospects: Kestrel (magnetite) and Buzzard (haemetite), with an indicated and inferred resource of 6.7 million tonnes at a 60% grade.

A Three-Way Play

Meanwhile, jockeying for position and the favour of shareholders continues between the managements at Mt. Gibson Iron Ore and Aztec Resources. Given recent developments at its potential 4 million tonne plus potential Koolan Island iron ore property, Aztec’s management has claimed that Mt. Gibson’s bid is opportunistic and undervalued.

It appears that most shareholders agree, or at least are willing to hold out and wait for further developments. With Mt. Gibson’s Oct. 6 voting deadline having passed without it garnering anywhere near its initially stipulated 90% of shares Mt. Gibson has extended its 3:1 stock swap offer to Oct. 27.

Outside of the nearly 32% stake granted by Cambrian Resources, Aztec’s largest shareholder, Mt. Gibson, as of October 11, now has tenders for 33.5% of Aztec’s issued and fully paid shares. Management has called into question Aztec management’s skills, citing recent comments by an Ernst & Young accountant that question whether Aztec has enough cash to survive past the end of the month.

Aztec management responded that an A$100 million (US$75 million) bank facility will be in place by month’s end. It also recently secured an A$65 lease for mobile mining equipment with Japan’s Komatsu and announced that it is accelerating Koolan’s development schedule, with production commencing any day now, a year ahead of initial plans.

It also previously raised more than $84 million in equity and signed an off-take agreement with China’s CITIC Group and Marubeni, the Japanese trading house.

In any takeover bid, it’s worthwhile noting the interests of incumbent management. “If Mt. Gibson’s bid was to succeed, “As I understand it, the bidder has indicated that two of the Directors be retained with [Chairman Ian] Burston becoming a NED of Mt. Gibson and Peter Bilbe [Aztec’s managing director] the chief operating officer of the group,” Tim Barker, resources analyst and portfolio manager at Australia’s BT Financial Group, told RI.

“It is unclear what will happen to other personnel although there would appear to be little in the way of direct rationalisation benefits outside of the head office, suggesting that concurrent development of the two companies’ ore bodies will require the continuation of current personnel outside of Perth,” he added.

From Barker’s perspective, “Aztec has certainly picked up a following of larger institutional shareholders but not exclusively so. The Chairman has a wide following in the market from his numerous appointments at other companies so I would expect a reasonable retail component as well,” he said.

“At the end of the day shareholders will take notice of both sides and make a decision as they see fit. However, the lack of board endorsement must be taken into account despite the apparent approval of the major shareholder to the deal. In the end the ability to receive roll-over relief from capital gains tax if the bidder accepts less than the required level may have some impact on the desirability of the offer to some shareholders.”

[Tackler]

Palladon securing China sales for Iron Mountain

2006-10-11 10:14 ET - News Release

Mr. Donald Foot Jr. reports

PALLADON VENTURES: IRON MOUNTAIN PROJECT UPDATE

Palladon Ventures Ltd. has provided the following update on the status of developments at the Iron Mountain project near Cedar City, Utah.

Business model

Phase one of operations at Iron Mountain will be the mining, processing and direct shipment of magnetite iron ore concentrates. The company intends to mine the Comstock/Mountain Lion open pit and process iron ore by crushing, grinding and upgrading by magnetic separation to a 68-per-cent iron concentrate. Iron concentrates will be shipped by rail and sold FOB at a west coast port. The company is focused on developing sales channels for iron concentrates in the Asian steel industry.

Progress to date

A processing plant has been designed and engineering is under way to build a concentrator with an initial annual production capacity of two million metric tonnes. Metallurgical design and testwork, process flow diagrams, and ball mill foundation drawings have been completed. The refurbishment of a ball mill purchased in April, 2006, is scheduled for completion by the end of November, and the company continues to optimize engineering and economic parameters for mineral processing. The following is a summary of current project status.

Rail and port

Authorization has been granted by the United States Surface Transportation Board for the operation of the newly named Iron Bull Railroad, the 14-mile short line running between the Iron Mountain mine site and interchange tracks in Iron Springs, Utah. Mike Root and the Albany Eastern Railroad have also been authorized as the operator of the Iron Bull Railroad. Palladon Iron Corp. is the lessee. Construction of interchange tracks at Iron Springs was completed in April, 2006.

Geology

Throughout the summer of 2006, the company's geology department continued to analyze historic drilling data on the Comstock/Mountain Lion iron mine, which contains a current iron resource of 33,233,554 tons grading 47 per cent iron (Fe) (see news release in Stockwatch dated June 27, 2006). Drilling data generated through 1995 were compiled for a preliminary 3-D block model of the Comstock/Mountain Lion orebody. The drill data were based on logs from 438 historic holes drilled by the Columbia Iron Mining Co., U.S. Steel and Geneva Steel. The company will use the findings of this study to guide future drilling and exploration work on the property.

Water rights

Palladon has verified that its 2,000 acre-feet of water rights are secure and in good standing with the State of Utah. The property has sufficient water resources for functions such as drilling, processing, tailings disposal and dust control.

Other studies

Studies performed over the last 18 months also include reviews on historic exploration and engineering data, metallurgical studies, historic drilling studies, mine modelling studies, a rail transport and port loading study, operating and capital cost studies, and iron ore, and cement industry market studies. The company also confirmed permitting status for the resumption of mining activities.

Revised work schedule

In May of 2006, the company outlined a series of development milestones for the construction of production facilities at the Comstock/Mountain Lion iron mine. Although significant progress has been made in engineering and logistics, the company has not mobilized for project construction in accordance with that schedule as anticipated, due to pending financing requirements. Consequently, the company is revising its schedule for pouring concrete and the start of plant construction. Over the summer, the company continued its work at making final arrangements for port and rail agreements, and for the execution of a sales contract with steel companies in China. Upon the completion of the major port, rail and sales agreements, the company will then finalize financial arrangements and will advance with plant construction.

Don Foot, chief executive officer of Palladon Ventures, stated: "The time it has taken to finalize the financing of the processing plant has allowed us to improve the economics of the process through further development of the flowsheet and securing of more favourable routing and costing for transportation. In a robust minerals market, timelines can be difficult to predict, but we have continued to move forward on every aspect of this project in anticipation of completion upon funding."

[johnlw]

CLM
Another house doing a big cross today.

20060929 - Trades for V:CLM 
  
 Ex  Time                       Price    Change    Volume   Buyer                 Seller                Markers 
  
 V   20060929 13:58:39           2.40      0.00      4600   11 Orion              2 RBC                 K 
 V   20060929 13:58:33           2.40      0.00     75000   11 Orion              2 RBC                 K 
 V   20060929 13:58:26           2.40      0.00     25000   11 Orion              2 RBC                 K 
 V   20060929 13:58:22           2.40      0.00     25000   11 Orion              2 RBC                 K 
 V   20060929 13:48:47           2.40      0.00      1300   11 Orion              85 Scotia             K 
 V   20060929 13:30:27           2.40      0.00     23700   11 Orion              1 Anonymous           K 
 V   20060929 13:30:22           2.40      0.00     25000   11 Orion              1 Anonymous           K 
 V   20060929 13:30:08           2.40      0.00      1000   11 Orion              1 Anonymous           K 
 V   20060929 13:29:43           2.40      0.00      2000   79 CIBC               1 Anonymous           K 
 V   20060929 12:43:30           2.40      0.00     30000   11 Orion              2 RBC                 K 
 V   20060929 12:43:17           2.40      0.00     10000   11 Orion              2 RBC                 K 
 V   20060929 12:43:11           2.40      0.00      8500   11 Orion              2 RBC                 K 
 V   20060929 12:32:46           2.40      0.00      1500   7 TD Sec              2 RBC                 K 
 V   20060929 10:51:18           2.40      0.00   1000000   11 Orion              6 Union               K 
 V   20060929 10:51:18           2.40      0.00      5000   74 GMP                6 Union               K 
 V   20060929 10:37:46           2.35      0.00        46   36 Latimer            33 Canaccord          E 
 V   20060929 09:37:11           2.40      0.00    196700   74 GMP                74 GMP                 
 V   20060929 09:57:53           2.40      0.00    150000   74 GMP                74 GMP                K 
 V   20060929 09:31:47           2.40      0.00     86700   11 Orion              11 Orion              KL 
 V   20060929 09:30:21           2.34      0.00        46   36 Latimer            33 Canaccord          E 
 

I have no idea how to interpret this but I will take it as a good thing I guess.

House Positions for V : CLM from 20060901 to 20060929 
 Ex	House		Bought	$Value	Ave		Sold	$Value	Ave		Net	$Net 
 V	11 Orion		2,203,000	5,256,753	2.39		786,700	1,888,080	2.40		1,416,300	-3,368,673

[Tackler]

Northland drills 36.5 m of 40.1% Fe at Hannukainen

2006-09-13 10:11 ET - News Release

Mr. Buck Morrow reports

NORTHLAND CUTS SIGNIFICANT IRON-COPPER-GOLD MINERALIZATION AT THE HANNUKAINEN PROJECT, FINLAND

Northland Resources Inc. is releasing results from its first-stage drill program at the 100-per-cent-owned Hannukainen iron-oxide-copper-gold (IOCG) project in northern Finland. Thirteen broad-spaced holes were drilled, testing the flat-lying Laurinoja magnetite body at Hannukainen. Results confirm the presence of significant copper-gold mineralization associated with the magnetite body.

Results from the drilling are tabled below. The copper-gold values are also presented as gold equivalent grades, calculated for each mineralized interval using prices of $500 (U.S.) per ounce for gold and $2.50 (U.S.) per pound for copper. This calculation does not incorporate any value for the iron grades present in the interval.

All intervals are believed to be true thicknesses as the mineralized body ranges in dip from flat lying to a maximum of 15 degrees from the horizontal. A drill collar plan is available on Northland's website.

 
  
                            Interval                            Au (i)  
 Hole No.  From (m)   To (m)      (m)   Fe %    Cu %   Au g/t Eq. g/t 
  
 HAN06001    123.4    156.5     33.1    37.7    0.77     0.33    3.09 
 HAN06002    129.8    153.0     23.2    41.8    0.32     0.09    1.24 
 HAN06003    127.0    152.3     25.3    33.6    0.20     0.15    0.87 
 HAN06004    113.9    128.5     14.6    42.1    0.20     0.00    0.72 
 HAN06005    148.0    177.0     29.1    39.7    0.81     0.75    3.66 
 HAN06006    144.4    172.0     27.6    34.1    0.29     0.00    1.04 
 HAN06007    132.3    153.8     21.6    43.8    0.20     0.00    0.72 
 HAN06008    101.2    110.8     9.6     46.9    1.11     0.99    4.97 
 HAN06009    142.0    178.5     36.5    40.1    0.41     0.18    1.65 
 HAN06010    147.1    175.8     28.8    41.2    0.52     0.40    2.27 
 HAN06011    155.4    185.5     30.1    39.1    0.25     0.00    0.90 
 HAN06012    140.0    169.0     29.0    37.9    0.43     0.91    2.45 
 HAN06013    105.3    126.0     20.7    38.8    0.74     0.73    3.38 
 

(i) Au price assumed equals $500 (U.S.) per ounce, Cu price assumed
equals $2.50 (U.S.) per pound

The weighted average interval and grade for mineralized intercepts in the 13 holes are 25.3 metres at 39.2 per cent iron (Fe), 0.46 per cent copper (Cu) and 0.33 gram per tonne (g/t) gold (Au).

Northland's previous work at Hannukainen included relogging and reassaying a number of historic bore holes stored in the government core archives. Part of the Hannukainen deposit was mined from 1982 to 1988 from the Laurinoja open pit. Approximately 4.5 million tons of magnetite ore were mined from Laurinoja at a grade of 43 per cent Fe, 0.88 per cent Cu and one gram per tonne Au.

Approximately 175 holes were relogged and over 100 holes were reassayed. Copper-gold grade thickness maps were produced which define a 1,000-metre-by-400-metre, northeast-trending copper-gold zone within the magnetite body at Laurinoja extending through and beyond the historic pit area. The results of this work were published in Stockwatch news Nov. 7, 2005.

Although no historic production records are available for specifically for the Laurinoja open pit other than some basic tonnage and grade figures, historic production records have been obtained for the nearby Rautuvaara underground mine which processed a blend of material mined from the Laurinoja open pit and material from the underground Rautuvaara mine. The blended ore was crushed and magnetic separation recovered 99.4 per cent of the magnetite feed. The iron grade of this concentrate was 66.9 per cent indicating a high yield. The tails of the magnetic separation were processed using flotation which recovered 94.7 per cent of the copper and 75 per cent of the gold in the tails with no apparent metallurgical complications. Copper-in-concentrate grade was reported to be 23.7 per cent, and the gold-in-concentrate grade was 11.7 g/t Au. The reader is cautioned that Northland has not yet performed the metallurgical testwork required to independently verify the Cu and Au recoveries quoted in the historic Rautuvaara production records.

Planned work at Hannukainen

Two core rigs are being mobilized to the property and drilling is expected to recommence at Hannukainen before the end of September. The drill program will have the following objectives:


to confirm the historic 66-million-ton iron-copper-gold resource and allow recalculation of the resource to National Instrument 43-101 standards (the existing resource estimate was prepared prior to the implementation of National Instrument 43-101 and does not use the resource categories stipulated in Section 1.3 of National Instrument 43-101, which are inferred mineral resource, indicated mineral resource and measured mineral resource. The company believes that term resources is used differently from the use of that term in NI 43-101. The company does not have -- and is not aware of -- any more recent resource estimates which conform to the standards laid out in NI 43-101 and the historical estimate should not be relied upon);
to expand this historic resource along the linear trend established by the relogging program; and
to evaluate the adjacent iron-oxide-copper-gold targets in the Hannukainen belt and -- where warranted -- to advance these targets to the resource category.

Laurinoja is one of five known iron-copper-gold occurrences in the Hannukainen area. The other prospects, Lauku, Kuervaara, Vuopio and Kivivuopio, all exhibit the potential to host similar mineralized bodies to Laurinoja.

The Hannukainen area itself represents only one of a number of known iron-oxide-copper-gold-type magnetite occurrences in the Kolari district, Finland, that are currently being evaluated by Northland. The company controls the mineral rights to a 50-kilometre strike of the Pajala shear zone, the major structural feature that appears to localize the emplacement of these magnetite bodies. The belt straddles the border between Finland and Sweden. On the Swedish side, at the Stora Sahavara prospect, which is roughly 25 km from the Laurinojo open pit, the company has defined a significant NI 43-101-compliant iron resource with Cu credits (see Stockwatch news May 18, 2006).

NI 43-101 statement

Vance Thornsberry, PGeol, vice-president of exploration for Northland, is the qualified person as defined in NI 43-101, responsible for the design and execution of the Hannukainen drill program and reassay program, and has verified that the drill intersections contained in this release are an accurate summary of the assay data received by the company. Mr. Thornsberry has also verified that the historic information presented in this release has been accurately summarized from the reports quoted.

The core was cut at Northland's core facility in Kolari, Finland. A one-half split of the core was sent for preparation and analysis to the Geological Survey of Finland's Analytical Laboratory in Rovaniemi which is accredited according to the SFS-EN ISO/IEC 17025 and in compliance with the requirements of the Standards Council of Canada (CAN-P-1579), "Guidelines for Accreditation of Mineral Analysis Testing Laboratories." The entire sample, representing approximately three kilograms, was crushed and pulverized and a 150-gram split was submitted for analysis.

Iron and copper analyses were performed using sodium peroxide fusion multielement analysis with ICP-AES technique, method 720P, and gold analysis was performed by lead fire assay preconcentration with ICP-AES technique, method 704P. In addition to the GTK internal sample preparation and assay quality-control protocol, Northland maintains a rigorous quality-assurance/quality-control program consisting of inserting blanks, duplicates and certified standards to the analytical process.

[Tackler]

Cons Thompson retains Osborne to advise on Bloom Lake

2006-09-13 09:57 ET - News Release

Mr. Richard Quesnel reports

CONSOLIDATED THOMPSON RETAINS COLIN OSBORNE AS SPECIAL ADVISOR IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE BLOOM LAKE IRON ORE PROJECT

Consolidated Thompson Iron Mines Ltd. has retained Colin Osborne as a special adviser to assist in the development of the Bloom Lake deposit.

Mr. Osborne has over 18 years of experience in the steel and mining industries, having served on the board of directors of three active iron ore-mining operations in North America, including: Tilden and Hibbing Mines, in the United States; and Wabush Mines, in the Labrador trough, approximately 40 kilometres north from Consolidated Thompson's Bloom Lake deposit. Most recently, Mr. Osborne held the position of chief operating officer at Stelco Inc., Canada's largest steel producer.

Mr. Osborne is currently the president and chief executive officer of Caelan Consulting Inc., providing consulting services to the metals and mining industry.

Richard Quesnel, president and chief executive officer, stated: "We are very pleased to welcome Mr. Osborne to the team. His high level of experience in iron ore and the steel end-user community, coupled with our recent progress, demonstrates our ability to fast track the development of Bloom Lake, while evaluating the local infrastructure and potential synergies that could allow for significant upside scenarios in the future."

Brian Tobin, chairman, stated: "A seasoned industry professional with familiarity of the Labrador trough, like Mr. Osborne, is a remarkable asset to our team. As we continue to build a strong team, we feel very optimistic about the future progress of the Bloom Lake development."

Mr. Osborne is a professional engineer with a degree in metallurgical engineering from McGill University, Montreal, and is a graduate of the executive program at Queen's University, in Kingston.

[Tackler]

Cons Thompson appoints Valle, Scherrer project managers

2006-09-07 16:47 ET - News Release

Mr. Richard Quesnel reports

CONSOLIDATED THOMPSON APPOINTS HUBERT VALLEE AS PROJECT MANAGER, DEVELOPMENT AND RENE SCHERRER AS PROJECT MANAGER, MINING

Consolidated Thompson Iron Mines Ltd. has appointed Hubert Vallee as project manager, development, and Rene Scherrer as project manager, mining.

Mr. Vallee has worked in senior management positions at major resource and iron ore mining companies during his 21-year career. Prior to joining CLM in September, 2006, he was operation manager for Domtar Inc., plant manager for Iron Ore Co. of Canada and operation manager for Quebec Cartier Mining.

Mr. Scherrer presently serves as director of mining for the company. He has also worked in senior management and engineering positions at major mining companies during his 20-year career. Prior to joining CLM in March, 2006, he was area manager and senior mining engineer for Iron Ore Co. of Canada, Quebec Cartier Mining and Falconbridge.

Richard Quesnel, president and chief executive officer, stated: "With Mr. Vallee and Mr. Scherrer leadership abilities, technical competence and senior experience, we consider them to be a tremendous asset to the CLM team. Developing Bloom Lake with such senior and experienced professionals, coupled with a high-quality, large-scale deposit strategically well located, reflects our ability to advance the project as scheduled while pursuing other opportunities in the existing iron ore camp."

Mr. Vallee is a professional electrical engineer and holds a BSc in engineering from Laval University, Que., Canada. He is an active member of the Order of Engineers of Quebec.

Mr. Scherrer is a professional mining engineer and holds a BSc in engineering from Ecole Polytechnique, Montreal, Que., Canada. He is an active member of the Order of Engineers of Quebec.

[johnlw]

Globe/CP say Baffinland Iron begins Inuit talks

2006-09-07 08:10 ET - In the News

The Globe and Mail reports in its Thursday, Sept. 7, edition that Baffinland Iron Mines is providing hope for Inuits on Baffin Island. A Canadian Press dispatch to The Globe reports the Canadian miner wants to develop a $1.4-million iron mine in the area, providing jobs for three communities. Bob Weber writes the Mary River project would include a railway and deepwater port. Terry Audla of the Qikiqtani Inuit Association says: "There's a huge potential. You're talking about [jobs for] your grandchildren -- and their grandchildren." Geologists say the iron ore at Mary River is 66 per cent pure hematite or magnetite. This means miners can dig it out of the ground and load it on ships headed for blast furnaces. Mary River has at least 337 million tonnes of such ore, enough to keep a mine running at profitable volumes for 34 years. Malachi Arreak is senior administrative officer for Pond Inlet, which has a population of 1,400. He comments, "We want to see us working hand in hand with the company to develop infrastructure." Mr. Arreak adds, "It's a long enough life that we could have generations of miners." The company began talks with Inuits this week. The negotiations should be complete in 15 months.

[johnlw]

CLM
Stan spends some of his own money? This is a good thing I believe.

Aug 23/06 Aug 17/06 McCarvill, Gerald Patrick 10 - Acquisition in the public market Common Shares 100,000 $2.500
Aug 23/06 Aug 17/06 Bharti, Stan 10 - Acquisition in the public market Common Shares 100,000 $2.500
Aug 23/06 Aug 15/06 Bharti, Stan 10 - Acquisition in the public market Common Shares 10,000 $2.250

[sumisu]

Cash Minerals Updates Exploration Program at Igor Property

Wednesday August 30, 11:50 pm ET

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(CCNMatthews - Aug. 30, 2006) - Cash Minerals Ltd. (TSX VENTURE:CHX - News) today announced that the first drill core from 2006 exploration drilling at the Igor property has been delivered to ALS Chemex (ALS) in North Vancouver, B.C. for assaying. Visual inspection of the core indicates that chalcopyrite may be present. The Igor property is an iron-oxide copper-gold (IOCG) target, with similar characteristics to the Olympic Dam and Ernest Henry deposits in Australia.

Due to a backlog of samples awaiting testing at ALS, the Company anticipates that complete assay results for the first batch of holes may not be complete before October, 2006. As per the news release dated August 17, 2006, a total of 14 holes measuring approximately 2,000 metres have been completed at Igor. A further three to five holes measuring approximately 1,500 metres are planned by the end of 2006.

About Cash Minerals Ltd.

Cash Minerals (www.cashminerals.com) is an emerging publicly listed resource company. Under an agreement with joint venture partner Twenty-Seven Capital Corp., Cash Minerals has the option to earn a 75% interest in one or more of the eight uranium prospects in the Yukon. These prospects include four IOCG prospects and an attractive unconformity-related uranium target all located in the Wernecke Mountain region of north-east Yukon. The company is also engaged in exploring and developing coal properties in the Yukon, and is involved in the development of a coal-to-liquids (CTL) project in China, which uses the Fischer-Tropsch process to convert coal into clean-burning diesel fuel.

Cautionary Note

The matters discussed in this news release include forward-looking statements. Such statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties. Actual results in the future could differ materially and adversely from those described in the forward-looking statements as a result of various important factors, including the risk factors as set forth in Cash Minerals' 2005 Annual Report filed with SEDAR on May 16, 2006.

Should you wish to receive Company news via email, please email [e-mail] and specify "CHX News" in the subject line.

The TSX Venture Exchange has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.



Contact:
Basil Botha
Cash Minerals Ltd.
President & CEO
[phone]
[phone] (FAX)
[e-mail]

Peter Arendt
Cash Minerals Ltd.
Vice President
[phone]
[phone] (FAX)
[e-mail]


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Source: Cash Minerals Ltd.

[Arctec]

PALLADON VENTURES LTD Quick Quote: PLL 0.51 (+0.01)




Palladon Announces First Iron Sale
8/28/2006

SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH, Aug 28, 2006 (CCNMatthews via COMTEX News Network) --
Palladon Ventures Ltd. (TSX VENTURE:PLL)(FWB:PV-1) is pleased to announce their first sale of iron ore from the Iron Mountain project near Cedar City, Utah.

The first order was a 500 ton shipment of crushed feed material to a cement industry customer, who trucked the material from the minesite. The material is from a stockpile holding approximately 100,000 tons of iron ore grading an average of 56% Fe. This material was mined, crushed, and stockpiled by Geneva Steel prior to the shutdown of their operations at Iron Mountain in 1996. Permitting has been approved for the removal of these materials under existing reclamation bond agreements.

Many cement plants in the southwestern United States use up to 5% iron content as flux material in cement processing. Pure magnetite can also be mixed with other mill scale products as feed, thus Iron Mountain potentially represents an excellent source of run-of-mine ore or stockpiled feed material for cement producers in the region. Palladon intends to sell the rest of the Geneva stockpile and evaluate other stockpiles for commercial viability for this new business channel. In addition, run-of-mine ore does not require additional processing once crushed and will initially be purchased at and shipped from the minesite.

Palladon President Don Foot commented, "Although the initial order is small, sales to the cement industry represent an opportunity for the Company to generate revenue while the development of the iron ore concentrator plant continues. We intend to fully evaluate this market opportunity and develop a viable framework to support the business endeavor."

Dr. Michael G. Nelson, Vice President and Chief Technical Officer, announced today the successful completion of additional process testing by Palladon Iron Corporation at Midland Research Center in Nashwauk, Minnesota.

"Midland completed a full round of grind/release tests on ore from our property at Iron Mountain, Utah," Nelson said. "Palladon felt it was important to confirm the results of earlier testing at Dawson Metallurgical Laboratories in Salt Lake City, and we went to the heart of the Iron Range where we knew we would find people with years of experience. We did confirm our earlier results, showing that we can produce, without any difficulty, a high-grade iron ore concentrate that will be acceptable anywhere in the world." This confirmation testing is essential in a project of this magnitude to assure process design and metallurgical performance is optimized for ores from various locations in the mine.

Final testing for the sizing of plant equipment is nearing completion at Coleraine Materials Research Laboratory in Minnesota and at WesTech Salt Lake City, so that process flow diagrams can be issued by the last week of August.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors,

[Arctec]

Iron Springs railway interchange new tracks Feb.28,2006

[johnlw]

Baffin Island mine dream no longer so baffling
NORTHERN EXPOSURE: Price may finally make cost of port, icebreakers and rail link worthwhile

Drew Hasselback
Financial Post

Saturday, August 19, 2006

While many of the mining exploration projects throughout Nunavut focus on the pursuit of luxury gem stones, Gord McCreary is dreaming of building a $1.5-billion iron ore mine near the northern tip of Baffin Island.

From a mining point of view, Mr. McCreary's Baffinland Iron Mines Corp. is planning an operation that is about as far away from the glitter and glitz of the diamond business as you can get.

It's relatively easy for a company like Tahera to fly a few plastic bags of diamonds out of the Arctic every five weeks or so, but Mr. McCreary's Mary River project would require a new generation of ocean-going icebreakers to transport the 10 million tonnes of iron ore the mine could ship each year for at least three decades.

Another company looked at mining Mary River back in the 1970s, but abandoned the project over the complexity of navigating ships in the extreme Arctic weather.

Mr. McCreary, chief executive of Baffinland, is convinced the shipping technology and market conditions finally exist that could actually make Mary River work. He hopes Baffinland can start construction on the Mary River mine in 2009, and enter production by 2011.

The ore on the Baffin Island property grades 66% iron content -- high enough for the company to ship it to market unprocessed. This is a rare thing in the mining world. Usually, ore needs to be refined or processed before it is shipped, something that adds to capital and operating costs.

"You didn't have to be a genius to discover this thing," Mr. McCreary says. "You fly over top, you see all that black stuff, and quite likely your compass would be spinning in circles."

Mr. McCreary has been thinking about the project for a long time. In 1978, Mr. McCreary wrote his MBA thesis on the project while studying at Queen's University. His paper concluded that transportation is the key challenge for the project.

Mary River lies 100 kilometres away from the coast, so a rail link would be needed to transport the ore from the mine to a port. There is no port on the north coast of the island, so a shipping company would need to build one. What's more, the transport firm would need access to ships that could service a port that spends part of the year caked in ice.

"If it were any other company, the owner of this project would likely be buying their own ships and not depend on a third party," says Tom Meyer, analyst with Raymond James in Toronto.

Mr. McCreary understands the transportation concerns. "The basic conclusion of my MBA thesis was that the Mary River Project would be a mine one day, but that it would take a robust cycle in iron ore markets for this 'greenfield' to make it."

That robust cycle of strong prices has arrived, Mr. McCreary says. Market fundamentals support the construction of a greenfield -- that is, a project built where none has been built before -- on Baffin Island.

Five years ago, the iron ore business consolidated. Three players, Rio Tinto PLC, BHP Billiton PLC and CVRD, gained control over 75% of the global iron ore business. For the first time, it looked like iron ore miners would be able to dictate terms to their steel mill customers, rather than the other way around.

Iron ore is sold to steel mills using one-year supply contracts. Booming demand from China generated a 19% increase in this year's price. That followed a 72% jump in the price in 2005.

In the meantime, Baffinland has much work to do. A feasibility study is expected before the end of next year. Only then would Baffinland be in a position to figure out how to finance the project -- and turn Mr. McCreary's MBA thesis into reality.
© National Post 2006

[Arctec]

LOL.

Weren't you in PLL last year?

[Tackler]

Iron is hot!...

[Arctec]

Hope so I got in on Friday

[Tackler]

NAU Northland Resources...

[Tackler]

Turn around?

[echarter]

http://www.cuervo.ca/

[Arctec]

That is very interisting. Never saw that one before either.

[johnlw]

Hey Arc
Found this about PLL, didn't see it posted before on the board-kinda interesting, to me at least:

May 23, 2006 - 03:01:18 ET

Palladon Ventures Ltd.: Iron Mountain Project Update and Schedule


SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH--(CCNMatthews - May 23, 2006) - Palladon Ventures Ltd.
(TSX VENTURE:PLL)(FWB:PV-1) is pleased to provide the following updates on
developments at the Iron Mountain project in southwestern Utah.

Recent studies at Iron Mountain have revealed that rock and sand materials in
the onsite waste dumps contain sufficient magnetite for the production of
high-strength cement. Palladon requires approximately 450,000 yards of cement
for processing plant and power facility foundations, and for certain retaining
wall structures. Palladon will produce its entire demand for cement on-site,
at a significant discount to trucking cement to Iron Mountain via different
locations in southern Utah. A local contractor has been secured to begin
producing cement and pouring foundations by June 1, 2006. Currently, the batch
plant is onsite, crushing rock and producing sand. In addition, the plant will
produce rock product to be used as road base.

Palladon is also pleased to announce that the recently purchased ball mill is
currently being refurbished. All parts are being cleaned and reconditioned, or
re-built into near-new condition in order to assure that the mill will have
sufficient lifespan as new mills and equipment are placed on order. The motor
has also been assigned to an electric engineering facility for testing,
assurance, and possible rewinding. The motor and mill refurbishment will be
completed by the time the foundation has had sufficient time to reach maximum
strength, allowing for subsequent plant assembly.

The schedule of milestones for the remainder of 2006 is as follows:

Q2 2006: cement production, laying concrete foundations, completion of Iron
Springs interchange tracks

Q3 2006: construction of plant facilities, delivery of railcars, short line
refurbishment; resumption of mining and stockpiling

Q4 2006: plant pilot testing, processing and shipment

Palladon President Don Foot commented This is huge for Palladon Iron. With
the severe shortages of cement and long lead times for delivery, the ability
to make our own cement on-site will assure us that can keep the project moving
forward as rapidly as possible. We are now confident that we will have cement
foundations in place, timed to coincide with the refurbishment of the mill.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors,
Donald G. Foot, Jr., President & Chief Operating Officer

About Palladon

Palladon Ventures Ltd. is a junior resource company focused on the exploration
and development of mineral resource projects worldwide. Development stage
projects include the Western Utah Copper Project near Milford, Utah, the Iron
Mountain project near Cedar City, Utah, in addition to gold exploration
projects in Nevada and Argentina.

[Arctec]

PLL.V

[johnlw]

CLM from Canadian insider, lots of $2.75 options, closed at $2.35 today......

 Jun 22/06  	 Jun 14/06  	 Depatie, Jean  	 50 - Grant of options  	 Options  	 200,000   	   
 Jun 16/06 	Jun 14/06 	Quesnel, Richard Placide 	50 - Grant of options 	Options 	250,000 	$2.750 
 Jun 16/06 	Jun 14/06 	McCarvill, Gerald Patrick 	50 - Grant of options 	Options 	250,000 	$2.750 
  	  
 Jun 14/06 	Jun 14/06 	Battiston, Deborah 	50 - Grant of options 	Options 	100,000 	$2.750 
 Jun 14/06 	Jun 14/06 	Wonnacott, Anthony John 	50 - Grant of options 	Options 	100,000 	$2.750 
 Jun 14/06 	Jun 14/06 	Tobin, Brian Vincent 	50 - Grant of options 	Options 	200,000 	$2.750 
 Jun 14/06 	Jun 14/06 	Bharti, Stan 	50 - Grant of options 	Options 	200,000 	$2.750

[johnlw]

More from the FWIW dep't, another decent sized cross on CLM:

V 20060814 13:55:24 2.50 0.23 400000 74 GMP 74 GMP K

Nice 10% pop today.
Rev this baby up Stalin!