Mining

Perth-based Brierty has won a $30 million contract to provide civil works at Newmont Mining’s Boddington gold mine.

Perth’s commercial property sector is reeling from the simultaneous downturn in iron ore and oil and gas, but the WA capital is not alone among global resources hubs.

Local explorer Cassini Resources has attracted OZ Minerals as a joint venture partner for its West Musgrave nickel-copper project.

Iluka Resources has confirmed plans to wholly acquire Africa-focused miner Sierra Rutile in an all-cash deal valued at about $375 million.

Northern Star Resources has cut its production guidance after agreeing to sell its Plutonic gold mine in Western Australia for an inital $37.5 million, but it plans to spend $130 million on exploration and expansion work at its other assets.

Mineral sands miner Iluka Resources has revealed it is in takeover talks with London-listed Sierra Rutile, an Africa-focused miner with a market cap of about $400 million.

Investor interest has swung strongly towards the resources sector this year, but opportunities remain for tech companies aiming to list on the ASX.

Gold’s rising stocks and role in the post-boom recovery will make this year’s Diggers & Dealers the most promising for many years. 

Iron ore shipments contributed more than $45 billion to the Western Australian economy in the 12 months to June, a figure well down on last year, according to BNiQ, despite a pick-up in volumes by the state’s major producers.

Tempo Australia has expanded its service offering with the acquisition of local electrical, telecom and data communications contractor Cablelogic for an undisclosed sum.

Gold miner Barrick Gold today announced its intention to sell its 50 per cent stake in Kalgoorlie’s iconic Super Pit, which is Western Australia’s second largest gold mine.

VDM Group will focus on its mining, trading and construction units of the group after announcing plans to close its equipment hire and sales business.

Blackham Resources managing director Bryan Dixon has flagged plans to boost production at the miner’s Wiluna gold plant, as its shares lifted 10 per cent today.

Power generation company Pacific Energy has won an eight-year contract extension to continue providing services at St Barbara’s Gwalia gold mine in Leonora.

The fatal Samarco mine disaster in Brazil will dent BHP Billiton's bottom line by up to $US1.4 billion ($A1.9 billion) for the 2015-16 financial year.

Padbury Mining and two of its directors have entered into a settlement agreement with the corporate watchdog over misleading statements made last year, but they could still face penalties in the Federal Court later this week.

Triton Minerals is set to get a second chance after administrators Ferrier Hodgson released control of the business to a private gold company and a corporate finance firm, which will raise a combined $14.1 million and relist the graphite explorer on the ASX.

Shares in miner Atlas Iron were up 10 per cent today after the company reported cash generation of $30 million after interest and profit sharing for the June quarter.

Gold and nickel miner Independence Group has announced a $280 million capital raising to bolster its balance sheet, making it the largest raising by a Western Australian company for 2016.

Fortescue Metals Group is targeting further cost reduction in the current fiscal year as it seeks to match the cost structure of larger rival Rio Tinto in an effort to boost returns.

The mining and civil division of Perth-based BGC has won two contracts for work in Queensland, worth a combined $114 million.

Ramelius Resources has raised $25 million from investors to fund a development program in the Murchison region that is targeting a 40,000 ounce increase in gold production by FY18.

Mark Bennett’s gold hopeful, S2 Resources, has tapped investors for a $12.1 million capital raising to fund ongoing work at its Polar Bear project near Norseman.

Gold miner Northern Star Resources has posted a 65 per cent jump in full-year profit on the back of higher gold prices and a reduction in costs.

Newcrest Mining has scraped into meeting its full-year production guidance, despite posting lower output in the June quarter as it continued to struggle with disruptions at various operations.

Minerals explorer TNG has reignited plans to form a spin-out company by demerging its base metals portfolio through a subsidiary and floating it on the ASX.

Perth geologist Scott Halley has come up with an innovative and highly effective way to combine professional development for his peers with fundraising for prostate cancer.

Six listed resources companies operating in commodities as diverse as gold, lithium and iron ore have announced a collective $36.9m in capital raisings today.

Pilbara accommodation businesses run by one-time trucking boss Craig Mitchell and the Collinson family are set to be the winners from BHP Billiton’s surprise decision to close Kurra Village in Newman, which at its peak houses up to 1,600 fly-in, fly-out  workers

Peter McBain has stepped down as chief executive of mining and civil contractor Brierty after a series of financial and operational setbacks, and will be replaced by the company’s chief operating officer.

Gold production and cash costs have both outperformed financial year guidance for Regis Resources, with shares in the company enjoying solid gains today.

Laing O’Rourke had a pyrrhic victory in the Court of Appeal today, when it managed to overturn a previous adverse ruling but it appears the construction contractor still won't be getting the $45 million it was awarded by an adjudicator in 2015.