Company: BHP BILLITON PLC

BHP Billiton on Wednesday posted sharp drops in iron ore and coal production over the March quarter due to bad weather and labor unrest.

Australia's treasurer lashed out at some of the country's wealthiest and most powerful mining executives on Friday, accusing them of using their power and influence to threaten democracy and undermine good policy.

BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto have raised their bets on global copper demand, approving plans for a $4.5 billion expansion of the massive Escondida mine in Chile, while BHP plans to reopen a U.S. copper mine idled three years ago.

Miner Lonmin, the world's third-largest platinum producer, posted a rise in first quarter output, despite the impact of safety stoppages which it warned could hit both sales and costs if current trends persist.

BHP Billiton, the world's biggest mining company, said it expects to mine record tonnages of iron ore this year, shrugging off predictions that industrial activity in top consumer China will slow this year.

The first in a series of interviews in CNBC's Investors Clinic was commodities bull Jim Rogers, who shared his views on metals - especially precious metals – and other investment opportunities.