Mining

Mineral Resources was coy about its plans after today announcing it has agreed to buy mining tenements, including lithium deposits, and infrastructure at the Wodgina tantalum mine, which is owned by private group Global Advanced Metals.

Spanish contractor Duro Felguera has won a legal battle with Samsung C&T over the jurisdiction of a contractual dispute for work on the $10 billion Roy Hill project, with the next stage to play out infront of Singaporean arbitrators. 

Evolution Mining has underlined its bullish outlook by doubling dividend payouts after posting record gold production, in line with its target guidance.

Blackham Resources has awarded four contracts for its Matilda gold project, including a $115 million open-pit mining services contract given to MACA.

Veteran mining executive Tim Netscher will soon take on the role of chairman at aspiring gold miner Gold Road Resources, while Ian Murray will transition to managing director.

Shares in local explorer Manas Resources have doubled in value on news the company has entered into an agreement to acquire the Victoria gold project in Tanzania from a private Italian group for $US4 million ($A5.4 million) in cash and shares.

BHP Billiton will focus on copper and oil as it boosts exploration spending in the coming financial year despite cutting its total capital expenditure.

Perth-based explorer Pioneer Resources has tapped investors for a $5.62 million capital raising to fund ongoing work at its lithium, gold and nickel projects in Western Australia and Canada.

BC Iron has announced settlement of its dispute with former contractor Watpac, with the settlement including a final payment by BC Iron and its joint venture partner Fortescue Metals Group.

The Australian dollar gold price hit an all-time record of $1,826 an ounce today after Britain elected to leave the European Union, with shares in local gold miners rallying strongly even though the broader stock market tumbled more than 3 per cent.

Lithium is one sector of the mining industry that is charging ahead, according to share market entrant Lithium Power International.

Shares in local explorer Burey Gold have skyrocketed on promising drilling results at its Giro project in Africa, with today’s gains on top of a big jump before the results were announced.

Drilling services company Imdex has continued to refresh its board, with corporate adviser and company director Anthony Wooles recruited to replace long-serving chairman Ross Kelly.

Orica chief executive Alberto Calderon argued today that the gloom surrounding the mining industry was overdone, saying it would continue to grow.

Maintenance workers at Griffin Coal are set to stop work for 24 hours from 5:30am tomorrow in response to a decision by the Fair Work Commission earlier this month to move them onto an industry award wage.

Fortescue Metals Group will lop off another $US500 million ($A665 million) from its debt pile next week, after issuing a repayment notice for part of its 2019 term loan.

Perth-based mining contractor Macmahon Holdings has confirmed this afternoon that one of its employees was shot dead and seven others abducted near its operations in Nigeria.

Chinese steel production was up 1.8 per cent in the month of May compared with the same period last year, although global output was down 0.1 per cent.

Wesfarmers isn't seeking to offload its coal mine, despite anticipating what could be a $600 million hit from its embattled resources division.

Rio Tinto has announced a new executive team in a major reorganisation that will include iron ore boss and one-time CEO hopeful, Andrew Harding, leaving the mining giant.

Echo Resources says it will cost just $2.9 million to bring its Julius gold project into production, while Empire Resources expects to begin mining at its Penny’s Find gold project in the coming three months.

BHP Billiton is looking for $800 million in new savings from its coal operations as the global miner maintains an optimistic outlook for the coal business.

Gold miner Perseus Mining has announced the biggest capital raising by a Western Australian company for the year, topping the likes of Pilbara Minerals and Gold Road Resources.

Stephen Pearce has been appointed to the board of Fortescue Metals Group, but will retain his current role as chief financial officer of the iron ore giant.

Gold and base metals producer Metals X has been given an environmental tick for the Wingellina nickel project east of Warburton, although with prices close to their lowest level since the financial crisis a new development may be some way off yet.

Five Perth-based junior miners and explorers have announced plans to raise a combined $29.8 million to fund ongoing work at their respective projects, with Excelsior Gold also attracting a new cornerstone investor.

A 32-year-old man has died on a Rio Tinto mine site in the Pilbara region of Western Australia.

A Canadian gold miner has entered into an agreement to acquire Subiaco-based explorer Gryphon Minerals, in an all-scrip deal worth $86 million.

Mineral Resources chairman Peter Wade has sold down a majority of his shareholding in the mining and contracting group, pocketing about $8.04 million.

Local contractor NRW Holdings has been awarded a $30 million contract to provide its services to Rio Tinto’s Yandi Oxbow iron ore mine in the Pilbara, on the same day its long-serving director Ian Burston announced his retirement.

A stubbornly low market price and the growing focus on renewables have WA’s fledgling uranium sector on the ropes.

Shares in Mount Gibson Iron have soared on news the iron ore miner received an $86 million property damage insurance payment for the collapse of a seawall at its Koolan Island mine in 2014.