Mining

Former Gindalbie Metals boss Tim Netscher has joined the board of uranium miner Toro Energy as a non-executive director, replacing chair Fiona Harris, who is retiring for personal reasons.

Sheffield Resources has entered into an access agreement for the use of the bulk handling facility at the Derby Wharf as an export hub for mineral sands mined from its $271 million Thunderbird project.

SPECIAL REPORT: Earnings for the state from the powerhouse minerals and energy industries have softened, but agriculture, among other sectors, will create opportunities. Business News also takes an in depth look at Bunbury port, where a big expansion plan needs community backing and solid regional demand growth.

Phoenix Gold has reiterated shareholders should reject a cash and scrip takeover offer from Evolution Mining, even though a rise in Evolution’s share price has boosted the value of the deal.

Mining giant Rio Tinto looks set to achieve its annual iron ore shipment target after posting a 17 per cent jump in shipments during the September quarter.

Andrew Forrest's Fortescue Metals Group is in no rush to offload assets as it steams ahead with cost cutting and debt relief to shore up its future.

Perth company Metals X has made a surprise takeover offer for embattled copper miner Aditya Birla Minerals, in a bid which values the target at about $86 million.

Copper miner Metallum is selling its Chilean assets and restructuring its board, after determining that it wouldn’t be viable to restart operations at the El Roble project in the short or medium term.

Woodside Petroleum has fine-tuned its project portfolio as it deals with the impact of weak oil prices, selling one of its mature assets, deferring a new oil field development but proceeding with evaluation of another new development.

Mining services company Ausdrill has been named the preferred contractor for a $US300 million ($A415 million) contract at Kefi Minerals’ Tulu Kapi gold project in Ethiopia.

The chairman of a state inquiry into the impact of fly-in, fly-out work practices on mental health has highlighted several missed opportunities following the state’s announcement it will enact half of the 30 recommendations.

The billionaire Rinehart and Wright families have scored a multi-million dollar High Court win against mining giant Rio Tinto over iron ore royalties derived from the Pilbara.

Millennium Minerals has kicked off a $21 million capital raising to pay off its debt and fund an ‘aggressive’ exploration campaign at its Nullagine gold project in the Pilbara.

The state government has announced it supports half of the 30 recommendations stemming from a parliamentary inquiry into the impact of fly-in, fly-out work on the mental health of those in the resources industry, after considering the findings for nearly four months.

Mining services group Ausdrill has developed technology that allows it to drill for gold and other minerals in salt lakes and difficult-to-reach areas with deep mud covering.

Short sellers have driven Fortescue Metals Group shares more than 8 per cent lower after a recent run up in the company's stock.

MZI Resources is set to begin operating its $70 million Keysbrook mineral sands project near Serpentine, with development work due to wrap up next week.

Excelsior Gold says a revised ore treatment agreement with Norton Gold Fields will remove an upfront $12.5 million payment for a milling allocation, with the savings to provide flexibility to further develop its Kalgoorlie North gold project.

Mining giant Glencore will attempt to sell copper mines in Australia and Chile as it tries to tackle its massive debt.

Former Sirius Resources boss Mark Bennett and director Neil Warburton have joined the board of Independence Group, which acquired Sirius in a $1.8 billion takeover last month.

General Mining Corporation has confirmed the viability of earning a 50 per cent stake in Galaxy Resources’ Mt Cattlin tantalum project, after an independent review found it would cost $14.7 million to bring the project back into operation.

Shares in Antipa Minerals have soared on news it has attracted backing from mining giant Rio Tinto, which plans to invest up to $60 million in the local explorer’s Citadel gold-copper project.

Jose Martins has resigned from his position as chief financial officer at Ausdrill to take on the same role at Macmahon Holdings.

Local engineering services company Clough is boosting its North American presence with the acquisition of Canada-based Enercore Projects for $C10 million ($A10.5 million).

Junior explorer MRL Corporation has received firm commitments for a $4 million capital raising to fund development of mine shafts at its graphite tenements in Sri Lanka.

The recently appointed boss of BHP Billiton’s Nickel West division has presented a rare positive message for the unloved business, saying there was “nervous excitement” after a series of internal changes.

Shares in NRW Holdings have nearly doubled in value after the company lifted a trading suspension following two wins in the Supreme Court of Western Australia in its dispute with Samsung C&T.

Health insurer HBF and miner BHP Billiton are turning away from a singular focus on annual performance reviews in favour of more regular and personal engagement with staff.

Shares in local rare earths explorer Plymouth Minerals closed 75 per cent higher on news it had entered into an agreement to acquire two African potash projects for an all-scrip deal worth up to $2.75 million.

Mining giant Glencore says its Australian coal mines will be shut down if the long downturn in commodity prices makes them unprofitable.

Nickel miner Western Areas has pushed about $32.6 million worth of capital expenditure planned for FY16 back by a year, as it prepares to weather the weak nickel market.

Perth-based Metalicity has commenced exploration activity and a scoping study at its recently acquired base metals projects, after a 12-month restructuring process that concluded yesterday when it began trading on the ASX.