Mining

AngloGold Ashanti and Dacian Gold have reported positive updates on their Western Australian operations.

Potash explorer Agrimin has boosted its coffers with a $10 million capital raising to progress the definitive feasibility study being undertaken at its Mackay project in Western Australia.

Mineral sands miner MZI Resources has announced the completion of upgrades at its Keysbrook operation, while also outlining delays in the project and attempts to seek waivers from some conditions of an $80 million debt funding package.

Roy Hill Holdings has introduced a staff profit scheme after achieving its 55mtpa production target and has confirmed its interest in expanding to 60mtpa.

Three local companies have secured work across the state, with Kerman Contracting, Adco Constructions and WestStar Industrial all announcing recent contract wins.

Sydney-based Vango Mining has announced a $5.1 million capital raising to fund exploration at its Plutonic Dome gold project in Western Australia's Mid West.

ASX-listed Imdex, software company Manufacturing Intelligence and Emapper are among five local companies in the mining technology sector that will share in $7.1 million of federal government funding announced today in Perth.

Swick Mining Services has announced the first commercial agreement for use of its Orexplore mineral scanning technology, which has been developed over the past seven years.

Independence Group has agreed to pay $21 million in cash and shares to prospector Mark Creasy to acquire a 70 per cent stake in a series of tenements in the Fraser Range near its Nova nickel mine.

Rift Valley Resources has tapped investors for $5.5 million as the company continues exploration work at its Longonjo rare earths project in Angola.

Perth-based MOD Resources has announced a significant upgrade to the mineral resource at its T3 copper project in Botswana.

The Takeovers Panel has dismissed an application from Fortescue Metals Group questioning the veracity of Hancock Prospecting’s $390 million bid for Atlas Iron.

Rio Tinto has commenced a $50 million replacement of the iron ore stackers at its Paraburdoo mine, with local engineers and contractors set to benefit from the project.

A three-year battle over an exploration licence in the northern Goldfields has resulted in a win for prospector Andrew Paterson, who appealed against a ruling by the former mines and petroleum minister in favour of listed company Connected IO.

Two local mining companies have been forced to provide clarifications to the ASX this morning, with Flinders Mines responding to a presentation given by BBI Group, while lithium-focused AVZ Minerals told investors to ignore a Twitter post from one of its strategic advisers.

Swick Mining Services has announced two contract extensions worth about $80 million, including a renewal at Northern Star Resources’ Jundee gold mine near Wiluna.

The board of Atlas Iron has unanimously recommended a revised bidder’s statement from Hancock Prospecting, while also announcing the suspension of production at its Mt Dove iron ore mine due to challenging market conditions.

Mineral sands-aspirant Strandline Resources has appointed GR Engineering Services to lead a definitive feasibility study at its Coburn project, while Arafura Resources has signed on Mining Plus and a number of other consultants for a study at the Nolan project.

Tanami Gold says it will exercise a put option forcing Northern Star Resources to buy a 15 per cent stake in the junior miner’s Central Tanami project for $20 million, after the Bill Beament-led company said it had not reached commercial production at the joint venture mine.

The future of Atlas Iron has been further muddied today after the takeover target said the state government had indicated to media it could compromise on its policy regarding development rights at Port Hedland if either Fortescue Metals Group or Hancock Prospecting takes control of the junior miner.

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A NSW District Court has acquitted former Kimberley Diamonds executive chairman Alex Alexander of charges related to the issuing of false or misleading information to the market.

Three weeks after acquiring a strategic blocking stake in Atlas Iron, Fortescue Metals Group has for the first time confirmed that its main interest in the takeover target is the rights to develop new berths at Port Hedland.

AVZ Minerals has announced the resignation of executive chairman Klaus Eckhof, weeks after he sold off half his stake for $4.4 million, while also signing up Perth-based CPC Engineering to complete a scoping study for its Manono lithium project in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Perth-based Pacifico Minerals has announced it will take a 75 per cent stake in the Sorby Hills lead and silver project north of Kununurra in a cash-and-scrip deal worth up to $4.1 million.

Stavely Minerals, Prodigy Gold, Chalice Gold Mines and St George Mining are among the Western Australian miners that will share in $31 million allocated through the federal government’s Junior Minerals Exploration Incentive announced today.

Shares in local contractor NRW Holdings were up 9.2 per cent today after the company said its order book had increased to near record levels of $2.05 billion, while also saying the business was well placed to be involved in Western Australia’s major upcoming iron ore projects.

The battle for Atlas Iron has taken another twist after Fortescue Metals Group submitted an application to the Takeovers Panel questioning the veracity of the $390 million takeover offer by Gina Rinehart’s Hancock Prospecting.

BHP and joint-venture partner Vale have reached a framework agreement with Brazilian prosecutors to negotiate settlement of a $A55.35 billion claim relating to the fatal 2015 Samarco mine disaster.

The federal government has launched an inquiry into cheap imports of ammonium nitrate following an application by three local manufacturers, including Wesfarmers subsidiary CSBP and Orica.

Work is continuing on the stage one expansion at Greenbushes lithium mine, according to Talison Lithium, despite the business hitting a legal speed bump in a dispute with Global Advanced Metals.

While cost savings are one reason for greater automation in workplaces, ever-improving robotic capabilities are hastening the uptake in a range of industries.