Volatile oil prices and a weak dollar sent stocks plunging in the United States today as the prospect of inflation and rising interest rates sank in on Wall Street.

AIM-quoted Minco has started a drilling programme at its Pallas Green zinc-lead project in Limerick.

Mining company Minco will begin a joint venture drilling programme with Noranda in 2004 on what it termed 'world-class zinc properties' in Co Limerick.

Minco, the Irish-focused zinc and gold explorer, have commented on the difficulties facing exploration companies.