Twenty-four Canadian mining companies, 17 universities and a federal agency have teamed up in a five-year, $11.8-million project to advance mineral exploration techniques. Announced May 14 to mark National Mining Week, the Footprints program “is expected to enhance the ability of geologists to assess the range, depth and composition of ore bodies and mineral deposits, even those lying hundreds of metres underground …”

For many months I have been witnessing the toll that resource nationalism takes on the potential supply of platinum (PTM), over 90% of which comes from South Africa, Zimbabwe and Russia….

Continuing a worldwide surge that started in 2007, last year saw an especially high number of graphene patents filed, according to CambridgeIP….

Galaxy Graphite TSXV:GXY shares doubled to $0.10 on February 7, following the release of sample assays from the company’s Buckingham project in Quebec….

British Columbia saw record expenditures of $680 million on mineral exploration last year, a 47% increase over the previous record set in 2011….

Despite a relative weakness in gold (GLD), I expect a turnaround to the $1,800 area and eventual breakout at $2,000 in 2013. Taking inflation into account over the past 40 years, gold may have much further to go….

A letter of intent announced late December 17 brings new hope to Newmont Mining’s TSX:NMC Hope Bay gold project in Nunavut. The privately held TMAC Resources proposes to acquire the development, for which Newmont took a $1.6-billion write-down in January 2012. The project has been on care and maintenance since….

Joint venture partners Alpha Minerals TSXV:AMW and Fission Energy TSXV:FIS announced results on December 5 from their Patterson Lake South uranium property in Saskatchewan’s Athabasca Basin….

Clermont Capital Inc TSXV:XYZ.P announced a letter of intent on November 30 to acquire NexGen Energy Ltd….

Victoria Gold Corp TSXV:VIT announced results from its Eagle Gold Project in central Yukon. Highlights include 3.61 grams per tonne gold over 19.5 metres …