Snow! Sun! Copper! Coal! Cameras! Action!

On location with a film crew, Hugh Leggatt kept a diary as he toured Rio Tinto operations in the US.

Spring Creek's power driver

After running on locally produced lignite for almost 40 years, Stanton Station, an electricity generating plant in North Dakota, last year decided to change its supply source and buy its coal from Kennecott Energy's Spring Creek mine n Montana. Peter Brigg explores the thinking and the politics behind the change-over.

Diamonds in the rough

Prospectors are going to even greater lengths in the search for Earth's most precious stone. Bob Holmes investigates the great diamond rush.

Keeping it legal

Five minute interview with Charles Lawton, the legal advisor.

Chain of prosperity

How do the linkages work between the overall economic contributation of a major mining group and regional economic development stimulated by its projects? Nicolas Di Boscio examines the challenges and opportunities.

Aluminium flies high

The Airbus A380, which flew for the first time last month, is setting new standards in construction technology, avionics and energy efficiency. And to provide the necessary strength and durability, its airframe incorporates high specification aluminium alloys based on metal from Comalco's Tiwai Point smelter in New Zealand.