Atlas Consolidated Mining and Development Corp plans to raise up to P1.8 billion, primarily to increase its investment in its wholly-owned subsidiary, Carmen Copper Corporation. Principal shareholders of Atlas Mining will serve as lenders by extending the convertible loans through independent bilateral loan agreements.

New very high grade gold surface results have extended the early mixing zone of the South West Breccia (SWB) lode extended area by up to 50 metres at Red Mountain Mining’s Batangas Gold Project. The best result is 3 metres averaging 24.2 grams/tonne gold, including 1 metre @ 39.5 grams/tonne.

Agata Mining Ventures Inc (AMVI) has completed a detailed drill program comprising 986 holes totalling 16,768 metres at the Agata Nickel Laterite Project in northern Mindanao. Results from the program will be used to increase the confidence level of the existing nickel laterite resources and potentially expand the size of the deposit.

After completing a diamond drilling program at the Itogon Gold Project ECR Minerals is starting a trenching program designed for the main prospect area. Trenches are planned to be up to 5 metres deep and are intended to expose certain of the larger mapped quartz vein structures and other interpreted mineralized zones, including supergene zones, in the main prospect area.

B2Gold’s Masbate Gold Project has continued its strong operational performance into the first quarter, after setting a quarterly production record in the fourth quarter of 2014. First quarter gold production of 46,241 ounces was approximately in-line with budget and an increase of approximately 9% or 3665 ounces over the same period last year.

Agata Mining Ventures Inc (AMVI) has completed a detailed drill program at the Agata Nickel Laterite Project in northern Mindanao comprising 986 holes for 16,768 metres. Results from this program will be used to increase the confidence level of the existing nickel laterite resources and potentially expand the size of the deposit.

New very high grade gold surface results from Red Mountain Mining’s Batangas Gold Project have extended the early mining zone at South West Breccia (SWB) lode by up to 50 metres. They will add substance to a new resource model, which is due soon, for an at-surface, high-grade early mining target.

In a bid to speed up the approval process, the Mining Industry Coordinating Council (MICC) has transferred to the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) the task of validating applications for expansion of areas filed by operating miners. The transfer has been made from the MICC Technical Working Group on Environmental Protection and Legislation.

Crazy Horse Resources has entered into a letter agreement with Solfotara Mining Corp to option and acquire all of Solfotara’s interests in the advanced-stage Basay project, the Kilong-Olao/Bayosen projects, and the prospective Biliran gold project. The company aims to acquire Solfotara’s ownership of the shares of Canex Resources, Basay Copper and Adanacex Resources.

Atlas Consolidated Mining and Development Corp grew revenue by 12% to P16.2 billion in 2014, helped by higher revenues from copper, gold, and nickel. However, its consolidated net income declined to P397 million from 1.9 billion, mainly because of the collective effect of lower prices, increased depreciation, higher financing charges, and higher income tax provision in 2014.

Red 5 has resumed milling operations at Siana Gold Project with 64,902 tonnes processed and 6345 ounces of gold produced to the end of February. The average mill head grade of processed ore was 3.49 grams/tonne at an average gold recovery of 89.5%.

THE low costs and high grades of the Didipio Gold Project in Luzon have contributed greatly to OceanaGold’s record revenue and net profit in 2014. Managing director and CEO Mick Wilkes says the project has been a huge success for the company and continues to perform very well.

MEDUSA Mining’s Philippine operating company, Philsaga Mining Corporation, advises that a major corridor of gold in soil geochemistry anomalies have been defined at Guinhalinan prospect which is adjacent to the company’s 1.14 million ounce Bananghilig mineralized system. Bananghilig is to the north of Medusa’s operating Co-O Gold Project in northeast Mindanao.

THE latest high-grade gold results from Red Mountain Mining’s Batangas Gold Project in southern Luzon have increased the potential of early trial mining and ore sale or toll processing. The results look likely to increase and upgrade the high-grade, at surface, mineral resource in the South West Breccia (SWB) lode structure of Lobo prospect.

POSITIVE indications from the logging of core from a three hole diamond drilling program at ECR Minerals’ Itogon Gold Project have prompted the company to extend the program by drilling a further hole. The fourth hole was more than 75% complete by mid-March.

NICKEL Asia Corp (NAC), the Philippines largest producer of nickel, aims to increase its nickel capacity through acquisition of a mining project in Isabela. NAC is buying a controlling stake in Geogen Corp, a subsidiary of NiHAO Mineral Resources and which owns the mineral rights over the property in Dinapigue, Isabela, for up to P720 million.

IN support of an Agusan del Norte Provincial Government directive on training, Agata Mining Ventures Inc (AMVI) recently partnered with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) for specialized operator training with hydraulic excavators.

AGATA Mining Ventures Inc (AMVI), a joint venture company involving TVI Pacific (60%) and Mindoro Resources (40%), is increasing nickel direct shipping ore (DSO) shipments from the Agata Nickel Laterite Project in northern Mindanao. The increase reflects the completion of production ramp-up activities that included causeway expansion and stockpile area development work.

WITH Indonesia’s ban on the export of raw ores having a major influence on the global nickel market, now is the time for nickel to shine... and the Philippines is in the perfect position to capitalize. It appears most nickel producers in the country are benefiting from the boom although recent government comments about implementing a similar ban to Indonesia could hinder any long-term gains.

The final hole in ECR Minerals’ current diamond drilling program at the Itogon Gold Project is expected to be completed by the end of this week. The hole has a target depth of 80 metres and is intended to follow-up intersections in a previous hole including 10 metres @ 2.15 grams/tonne gold from surface and 7 metres @ 5.33 grams/tonne from 138 metres.