Mining

African-focused gold explorer Tietto Minerals announced it would raise $17 million through a share placement, primarily to fund drilling at the company’s Abujar project in Côte D’Ivoire.

Saracen Mineral Holdings confirmed today it has agreed to buy a 50 per cent stake in Kalgoorlie’s famous Super Pit gold mine with managing director Raleigh Finlayson saying the asset has already delivered positive surprises.

Rio Tinto said it will subscribe to $326 million rights shares of Energy Resources of Australia, which has been desperately seeking funds to close and rehabilitate the controversial Ranger uranium mine.

West Perth-based Talga Resources is seeking to raise $6.25 million through a share placement and purchase plan, primarily to fund the development of its graphite project in Sweden.

Two Perth builders have come up with more liveable and homely accommodation for fly-in, fly-out workers after more than 200 were surveyed.

Northern Star Resources executive chairman Bill Beament has been handsomely rewarded for the gold miner’s strong performance over the past few years, with the recent exercising of three million performance rights.

Takeover target Panoramic Resources revealed today operational performance at its Savannah nickel project would be below previous forecasts over the next four months and that it would need to raise extra capital, with bidder Independence Group saying it would now review its offer.

There’s no bad news in Western Australia’s battery industry, Energy Minister Bill Johnston says, shrugging off the deferral of major projects in recent months.

Engineering company Monadelphous has entered the Chilean market with the acquisition of two jointly-owned mining services providers, Buildtek and Maqrent.

Fortescue Metals Group has agreed to a $6 million farm-in with Carawine Resources to explore its Paterson project in Western Australia, and a $2 million farm-in with Reward Minerals to explore its potash tenements in the McKay range.

Junior gold explorer Breaker Resources has agreed to a non-brokered $8 million placement to a private equity fund managed by New York-based Electrum Group, with the proceeds to fund drilling activities at Breaker’s Lake Roe mine in Western Australia.

Kewdale company RCT has pioneered a lot of technology used in the mining industry, and its increased focus on export markets has lifted sales to a record level.

Bassendean-based Hofmann Engineering has credited increased orders from the mining sector and a major contract in the defence sector as the major drivers behind a surge in revenue to a record $149 million in its 50th year in business.

Gold producer Pantoro announced it has completed a processing plant options review and scoping estimate at the Norseman processing facility in Western Australia.

Spectrum Metals announced it has filed and served its defence to a claim from Venus Metals Corporation in relation to Spectrum’s acquisition of DJ Carmichael’s Penny West gold project in Western Australia.

Venus Metals Corporation has entered into an underwriting agreement with Ord Minnett to exercise $5.7 million worth of options to progress exploration activities at its base metal projects in Western Australia.

Panoramic Resources has advised shareholders not to take action in respect of the off-market takeover offer launched last week by Independence Group, while also criticising some of the conditions attached to the offer.

updated: Pilbara Minerals temporarily suspended its operations today after Homicide Squad detectives were called to investigate a suspicious death at its Pilbara lithium mine.

Lithium explorer AVZ Minerals has announced it would raise $14.1 million to a new strategic investor based in China.

Mining & Process Solutions has won the top prize at this year’s Innovator of the Year awards, with an environmentally friendly, cost-efficient new process for the mining industry.

Perenti Global will reassess the security situation in the West African nation of Burkina Faso following a deadly attack on its employees and other local workers.

Wesfarmers subsidiary Evol LNG has announced plans to upgrade its liquefied natural gas plant in Kwinana to increase production capacity by 40 per cent.

Engineering group Clough's joint venture with Madrid-based ACCIONA has secured works for the construction of a bridge over the new Koodaideri railway.

Three Western Australian companies led by experienced mining executives are hoping to defy the slump in new stock market listings by launching initial public offerings over the past week.

GR Engineering Services has signed a $24.5 million contract with Saracen Mineral Holdings to upgrade the processing plant at the Carosue Dam gold mine in Western Australia.

Fenix Resources expects its high-grade Iron Ridge project in Western Australia to deliver strong returns, helped by its low development cost.

Macmahon Holdings and Newcrest Mining have signed an agreement to increase the rates for Macmahon’s work at the Telfer gold project.

Civil and mining contractor NRW Holdings today confirmed it has been selected as the preferred bidder for BGC Contracting.

Independence Group is planning to take advantage of nickel miner Panoramic Resources’ operational issues and boardroom changes by launching a hostile scrip takeover bid.

Silver Lake Resources has substantially improved the terms of its scrip takeover bid for EganStreet Resources, which disclosed today it had been approached by Adaman Resources with a competing cash offer.

Fortescue Metals Group has awarded a $24 million contract to Australian Ceramics Engineering, primarily to provide offsite refurbishment for its operational sites in the Pilbara.

The $600 million Wodgina lithium project is being placed on care and maintenance, after its ownership was transferred to a joint venture between US company Albemarle Corporation and local company Mineral Resources.