A project to automate the Roy Hill iron ore benefication plant, predictive analytics for equipment in copper and nickel mines, and sensors to detect rocks to big for crushing were among the local initiatives to receive $2.2 million of federal innovation funding today.
Catalyst Metals has announced that Gold Exploration Victoria, a subsidiary of Hancock Prospecting, has agreed to subscribe for a $13.02 million placement of Catalyst shares.
Civmec has secured a fabrication and assembly contract at BHP's South Flank iron ore project in the Pilbara, taking its total at the project to $48 million.
Bardoc Gold will raise up to $11.3 million via a share placement and rights issue, while Ausgold will raise $1.8 million through a share placement, with both companies to put the funds towards their respective flagship projects.
BGC Australia has deferred indefinitely the sale of its core building materials and construction business because of weak market conditions but is pressing ahead with the sale of its contracting business and property assets.
Australia's biggest miner Rio Tinto says it will return billions to shareholders, after it recorded a 2 per cent rise in underlying earnings for 2018, to US$8.63 billion ($12.2 billion).
Gina Rinehart's Hancock Prospecting is aiming to further diversify its operations by taking over Sydney-based Riversdale Resources, which is focused on developing a new coal project in Canada.
Paladin Energy is preparing for a recovery in the uranium market, approving a prefeasibility study to evaluate restarting its Langer Heinrich mine in Namibia.
Southern Cross Electrical Engineering has reported a net profit after tax of $4.5 million for the first half of the financial year, a rise of 66 per cent from the prior corresponding period.
Altura Mining has announced it its closer to the production target at its Pilgangoora lithium project, after it made improvements to the processing plant.
Mining giant BHP Group has reached a settlement with the train driver who was fired over a huge derailment in Western Australia's Pilbara region last year.
Evolution Mining has purchased a 19.9 per cent stake in Tribune Resources, which holds a major interest in the East Kundana project operated by Northern Star Resources.
Macmahon has reported a strong half-yearly result, but MACA and GR Engineering have seen their profit plunge compared to the prior corresponding period.
Talisman Mining has announced a $29 million capital return to shareholders in the form of a 15.625 cent per share dividend, following the sale of the company's 30 per cent interest in the Springfield copper-gold project located in the Doolgunna region.
Bellevue Gold has raised $20 million via a share placement, with the funds to go towards drilling at its namesake project located near the Goldfields town of Leinster.
Shares in Mineral Resources fell sharply early today befor recovering some lost ground, after the company reported an interim net profit of $13 million, due in part to an unrealised loss on its stake in Pilbara Minerals.
Wesfarmers is handing more than $1 billion of the cash it raised by demerging Coles and selling other assets back to shareholders in the form of a special dividend.
Kalium Lakes is a step closer to starting construction on its Beyondie potash project near Newman after receiving $74 million in funding, making it the latest in a string of mining companies to win financial backing from the Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility.
Shares in NRW Holdings and Seven Group Holdings were stronger today after reporting improved earnings on the back of strong resources and infrastructure markets, with NRW adding its first interim dividend in five years.
Intrepid Mines and AIC Resources have agreed to a revised merger deal, less than three weeks after Intrepid's initial attempt to acquire the Subico-based gold junior lapsed.
Fortescue Metals Group has reported a 5 per cent dip in half-year profit, but blew past estimates as it won higher prices for its iron ore, pushing its shares to a two-year high.
BHP Group has posted an 8 per cent fall in first-half underlying profit to $US3.7 billion ($5.2 billion), which it attributed to production disruptions and lower commodity prices.
