^[1]By Daniella D'Alimonte - Exclusive to ZincInvestingNews.com

Though slightly improved from its US$0.78 low at the beginning of the month, zinc is still dragging at around US$0.82.

Zazu Metals Corporation (TSX: ZAZ) has dropped ten per cent or US$0.04 to US$0.36 per share.

Teck Cominco (TSX: TCK.B) has made a modest US$3.03 gain after a recent drop to $37.86, its lowest value since March. This could be in due part to a recent announcement.

Teck is now considering ^[2] alternative forms of energy for its biggest zinc plant, Red Dog. It has started a study to determine whether the plant could run with wind power or natural gas. Red Dog, located in Alaska, is currently using diesel fuel.

“Every dollar increase in the price of a gallon of diesel adds $17-million in costs to the project,” said Donald Lindsay, chief executive officer, in a Bloomberg dispatch.

With the rising oil prices, many mining companies are beginning to re-evaluate their development.

Gold Hawk Resources Inc. (TSX: CGK) plans ^[3] to restart production in six to eight months at its Coricancha mine in Peru, according to its press release. Progress has been made towards ground stability since the mine was closed in May because of ground displacement. The shift caused a mine dump, containing by-products from of lead, zinc, arsenic and other metals and minerals, to crack. The Peru government declared a state of emergency July 18 to ensure the nearby Rimac River would not be contaminated.

Argentex Mining Corporation (TSX: ATX) announced ^[4] July 28 its common shares will begin trading on the TSX Venture Exchange. Argentex is already listed in the United States and Germany. The junior mineral resource company has its flagship Pinguino property which has a silver-zinc-lead-indium mineralized system.

Tamerlane Ventures Inc. (TSX: TAM) has released ^[5] new analyses from drill holes at its Pine Point property in North West Territories. The results come from its M-67 deposit. The property has 50.9M tonnes of remaining historical resources, at a grade of 3.84 per cent zinc and 1.24 per cent lead.

MAG Silver Corp. (TSX: MAG) is back up to US$9.35 per share since hitting last week's low of US$8.91.

MAG has announced ^[6], on behalf of Minera Juanicipio SA (a joint venture between Fresnillo plc), new results from its Valdecanas Vein.

Hole QF returned 578 grams per tonne (g/t) (16.8 ounces per ton (opt)) silver, 3.85 g/t gold, 5.55 per cent lead and 6.36 per cent zinc over 6.20 metres (true width). This also includes a high grade gold intercept of 271 g/t (7.9 opt) silver, 9.13 g/t gold, 0.99 per cent lead and 4.41 per cent zinc over 1.96 metres (true width). Hole OF reports an intersection of 224 g/t silver, 1.77 g/t gold, 0.92 per cent lead and 2.63 per cent zinc over 4.71 metres. Included is a higher grade intercept of 349 g/t silver, 1.78 g/t gold, 0.74 per cent lead and 3.28 per cent zinc over 2.62 metres.

Despite its increase in zinc and lead production, Hindustan Zinc Ltd., India's only integrated producer of lead and zinc, recently reported ^[7] decreased profits in its Q1 financial report. It reported a 17 per cent or US$7.66 decrease to US$38.61. Hindustan produced 127,889 tonnes of zinc in Q1, a 38 per cent increase, and 17,298 tonnes of lead, an increase of 27% per cent. However, the revenue from these metals alone plummeted 18 per cent.

Arizona's Southern Copper Corp. plans ^[8] to fire all workers at its Cananea mine in Mexico and re-hire them under a new labour agreement. The workers, who have been striking since the end of last July, refused to return to work even after the Mexican labour court declared it an illegal strike. Southern eventually shut down the mine in April and offer a severance package to 1,300 of its workers.

The company, which produces copper as well as zinc and molybdenum, had a decrease in profit of 24.4 per cent in Q2. This brings its profit down to $548.5 million from the $726 million it made last year.

The company is also working on ways to offset rising costs during production, said Genaro Guerrero Diaz Mercado, Southern's Chief Financial Officer in a recent Bloomberg report. The company is considering buying a coal power station in Mexcio as well as gas-fired projects in Peru.