A highlight of exploration and development news during the past week was the announcement by Precious Metals Australia Ltd that the proposed Windimurra vanadium mine is "robust, viable and can be economically developed". The feasibility study by Hatch Associates envisages an open-pit mine using bulk-mining techniques. Capital costs are estimated at A$175.4 million. PMA is seeking contractors and engineers as partners in the project.

Another project to be declared "financially robust" last week was SXR Uranium Inc's proposed Dominion uranium-gold mine in South Africa. The feasibility study envisages an underground operation to a depth of 500 m from trackless declines.

Similarly, Equigold NL has completed a bankable feasibility study of its 94%-owned Bonikro gold project in Ivory Coast, and Great Basin Gold Ltd has received an independent assessment concerning underground development of part of its Hollister gold-silver property in Nevada.

International Nickel Ventures Corp reports that Teck Cominco Ltd has commissioned scoping studies for their joint-venture Santa Fe-Ipora nickel laterite properties in Brazil.

Alcan Inc and Alcoa World Alumina LLC (a JV between Alcoa Inc and Alumina Ltd) are to proceed with a US$20 million feasibility study for a proposed 1.5 Mt/y alumina refinery in Guinea.

AIM-listed Mano River Resources Inc has raised £3 million from a private share placement to finance a bankable feasibility study for the KGL and Weaju gold deposits on the Bea licence area in Liberia. Meanwhile, TSX-listed Glamis Gold Ltd has announced that it is to begin construction of its Penasquito polymetallic project in Mexico. The decision is based on a revised feasibility study completed recently by consultant M3 Engineering.

In other development news, African Eagle Resources plc (AER) has signed a heads of agreement with Central Asia Gold Ltd concerning development of AER's Mkushi copper project in Zambia.

Drilling results covered in Mining Journal last week include news that Petra Diamonds Ltd has discovered the 50th kimberlite at its Alto Cuilo property in Angola. In the Democratic Republic of Congo, Moto Goldmines Ltd has completed further drilling at various deposits, and expects a prefeasibility study for the Moto project to be completed later this month.

In Indonesia, Finders Resources Ltd has reported mixed results from drilling on its 64%-owned Wetar copper project. Infill drilling at the Kali Kuning deposit intersected high-grade mineralisation but exploration drilling encountered only low-grade gold and copper. In the Philippines, Eldore Mining Corp has completed infill drilling at its Nalesbitan Hill gold-silver deposit, and a new resource estimate will be completed shortly.

In Nevada, Staccato Gold Resources Ltd has intersected further mineralisation at its Lookout Mountain gold prospect. Elsewhere in the US, Niblack Mining Corp has announced results from drilling to test extensions to the Lookout zone at its namesake polymetallic property in Alaska.

Other North American exploration announcements in last week's Mining Journal include news that Golden Goose Resources Inc has completed a short infill-drilling programme at the Magino gold property in Ontario, and that Tyler Resources Inc is continuing its drilling programme at the Bahuerachi copper property in Mexico.

Elsewhere, Avoca Resources Ltd has increased estimated resources at the Athena zone of its Trident gold deposit in Western Australia, and an increase in the average gold grade has been announced for Greystar Resource Inc's Angostura deposit in Colombia. Also in South America, Apogee Minerals Ltd is testing a silver-zinc target on the Pulacayo-Paco property in Bolivia, and Aquiline Resources Inc has received drilling results from its Calcatreu gold-silver property in Argentina.