Zimbabwe Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai has claimed that about $16 billion could be ploughed into the country for mining and exploration projects by 2018.

Investors have shied away from tapping into Zimbabwe's rich mineral resources in recent times, mainly due to a nationalisation law aimed at majority holdings by locals in mines owned by foreign firms.

However, Reuters quotes Mr Tsvangirai as saying at a Chamber of Mines annual general meeting: "Government has a window of opportunity to prepare a conducive policy environment by mid-2010 that could see Zimbabwe's minerals sector attracting between $6 billion and $16 billion in exploration and mine development during the 2011 to 2018 period."

Zimbabwe could attract $16 bln in mining sector-PM (29/05/09)

Marathon PGM Corporation confirmed that metallurgical recoveries at its Marathon PGM-Cu Project in Ontario have improved significantly.

A mini-pilot plant run at the site revealed that palladium, gold and platinum recoveries were up by three per cent, seven per cent and eight per cent respectively.

In addition, the company revealed that life of mine production for all three has increased, with palladium up 4.5 per cent, gold rising 9.8 per cent and platinum up by 12.1 per cent.

Marathon PGM: Better Metallurgy and Economics (01/06/09)

Jubilee Platinum is to press ahead with a feasibility study and possible development of its flagship Tjate project after some encouraging drilling results at the Bushveld Complex site.

The area's inferred mineral resource for the Merensky and UG2 reefs was 132.5 million tonnes at a combined indicated and inferred grade of 5.24 g/t 3E + Au (platinum, palladium, rhodium and gold) and containing 22 million ounces 3E.

Furthermore, the 'First Mine' target region was found to contain 25 million ounces 6E (platinum, palladium, rhodium, iridium, ruthenium, osmium and gold) at an inferred grade of 5.94 g/t 6E.

DJ Jubilee Platinum Confident For Feasability Stuy At Tjate (04/06/09)

Chromex Mining confirmed that it has been given a mining right to extract pgms and gold at its Stellite project on the western limb of the Bushveld Complex.

The company's financial results for the six months to 31st March also revealed that the processing plant at the site was constructed on time and within budget under the terms of an offtake agreement.

Interim Results (03/06/09)

Pacific North West Capital has commenced an extensive geochemical study of pgm mineralisation at the River Valley intrusion in Ontario, Proactive Investors reports.

The firm has collated 337 core samples at the site - which is a joint venture with Anglo Platinum - in order to determine the concentration of five pgm elements.

Pacific North West announces geochemical study and re-assay program at River Valley PGM project (05/06/09)

Nkwe Platinum's friendly takeover of joint venture partner International Goldfields is close to completion after more than a year of negotiations, the West Australian reports.

According to reports, Nkwe is now set to pay $60 million for its counterpart's stake in the Genorah Farms platinum project, which is located on the eastern limb of the Bushveld Complex.

Sage poised to close deal on platinum play (08/06/09)

Micromem Technologies has announced that it will deploy its new patented magnetic sensor for pre-production mineral exploration companies in the next 12 months.

The device, which is capable of rapidly pinpointing mineral constituents in drill core samples as they are drawn from the ground, could open a $500 million worldwide market, according to Frost and Sullivan.

"We expect to transform traditional mineral exploration from an incredibly expensive process and something of a gamble to a more cost-effective and reliable undertaking," said Steven Van Fleet, President of the company's US subsidiary, Micromem Applied Sensor Technologies.

Micromem Subsidiary Introduces Magnetic Sensors for Mining and Mineral Exploration with Potential Market Value of US$500M Worldwide (09/06/09)

Meanwhile, Nevoro has confirmed the completion of the first of a number of planned NI 43-101 Technical Reports on its Montana-based Stillwater project.

The results revealed that the firm has "some of the most promising" pgm targets located outside the JM Reef, with strong analogues to the UG2 chromitite seam in South Africa.

Nevoro Completes NI 43-101 Technical Report on Stillwater Project (11/06/09)

Champion Bear Resources has revealed that Wallbridge Mining Company and Impala Platinum have agreed to devote a minimum of $600,000 to a June drilling programme at its Parkin Offset dyke properties in Ontario.

"We are very pleased with the continued contribution of our joint venture partners on the Parkin Property," said Champion Bear President Richard Kantor.

"We appreciate the support of Impala, which will allow the joint venture to successfully explore and generate quality drill targets in an under-explored portion of the high potential Parkin Offset dyke environment."

Champion Bear Announces New Program by Impala/ Wallbridge Joint Venture on Its Parkin Property (12/06/09)

Platinum Group Metals has secured a $35 million financing deal which will help the restructuring of its Western Bushveld Joint Venture (WBJV).

The arrangement will see the firm pay Anglo Platinum an initial $28 million, with the remaining funds used to conduct a review and update of the WBJV feasibility study.

President Michael Jones said: "The net proceeds of this financing provide the company with the means to rapidly advance its Western Bushveld projects through value engineering and implementation preparations and we expect to be making solid progress in the weeks ahead."

Platinum Group Metals closed financing raising $35 million (16/06/09)

MacDonald Mines Exploration is set to embark on a follow-up of its VTEM airborne geophysical survey at its pgm Nielsen-Chisholm Property in Saskatchewan, Canada.

The company hopes to analyse high-strength EM conductors uncovered by the survey for drill testing, which is planned for later this year.

In addition, the firm has now put its mobile Innovex XRF analytical unit to work, a device which can provide live assessments of rock and soil samples.

MacDonald Mines Initiates 2009 Summer Exploration Program on Nickel, PGM & Base Metal Property in the LaRonge District of Saskatchewan (17/06/09)

Finally, Morning Star Holdings announced that it has sealed a full takeover deal for platinum exploration and development firm Realm Resources.

Realm has a number of pgm interests in South Africa, including the Kliprivier project - located on the eastern limb of the Bushveld project - which has an inferred UG2 resource of 109.6 million tonnes at 2.3 g/t 3E + Au for 7.6 million ounces.

Morning Star Holdings times its move into platinum with acquisition of Realm Resources (19/06/09)

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