Mining

Northgate Minerals Corp. (TSX:NGX) and the Matachewan First Nation signed an impact and benefits agreement on July 2 for the Young-Davidson project, located in Matachewan.

With local tensions running high in Sudbury as a result of ongoing management restructuring at Vale Inco, rumors have begun to grow surrounding the potential departure of John Pollesel, Vale Inco's new president of Ontario operations – rumors which a

Xstrata's proposed $40 billion merger with Anglo American may spur competing bids from Vale and China as rival miners compete for a deal to place them among the largest, according to Bloomberg sources.

United Steelworkers Local 6500 president John Fera stated in a release he is “fed up with the antics and negative business processes of their new third world employer, Vale. This is a company that only recognizes dollars – not people.

Mineral exploration activity has gone through peaks and lulls over the last 30 years in the Kenora District, but this time Craig Ravnaas said it could have some longevity.

Parviz Farsangi, executive vice president and COO of Vale Inco, has left the company. Cory McPhee, director of corporate affairs, confirmed his leave, saying there will be further restructuring going on, but the end should be wrapping up fairly soon.

With cash in hand, people on the ground and confidence in the air, St. Andrew Goldfields officials are more than optimistic that three gold properties nearly 100 kilometres east of Timmins will be in production by next year.

Xstrata has proposed to merge with British miner Anglo American. Xstrata recently sent a written proposal to the board of Anglo American seeking their consideration of a merger of equals of the two multi-billion dollar companies.

More eyes than ever are turning to Lake Shore Gold Corp. and Apollo Gold Corp. as they prepare to become the region's newest producers.

It's used at Xstrata's operations throughout Timmins, at the De Beers Victor Mine, and in various Sudbury mines, but Dave Sharp's patented conveyor belt alignment device is not mass produced in a factory.