Mining

Mutiny Gold has signed a memorandum of understanding with GR Engineering Services for the construction of a processing facility at its Deflector copper-gold project in the Mid West.

Local miner Western Areas is extending its exploration program in South Australia, inking farm-in and joint venture agreements with Gunson Resources and Monax Mining.

Premier Colin Barnett has strongly criticised Rio Tinto and BHP Billiton, accusing the major iron ore producers of flooding the market and hurting the state.

Shares in Perth-based minerals explorer Talga Resources surged after announcing it would cost $29 million to bring its Swedish graphite mine into production.

About 1,500 jobs will be slashed from Western Australia's public sector in a bid to tackle the state's slowing economy.

Mining giant Rio Tinto has completed the sale of its Mozambique coal assets to International Coal Ventures Private Limited.

Gold prices have risen, after minutes from the Federal Reserve's September meeting showed the central bank expressing concern about a stronger US dollar and weak economic growth overseas.

Ratings agency Standard and Poor's has cut its iron ore price forecasts amid continued weakness in the steel-making commodity.

Exploration firm Energia Minerals says it has received shareholder approval to place $6 million towards its flagship Gorno zinc project in Italy, with pre-development activities planned to begin within six weeks.

BC Iron is close to completing its acquisition of Iron ore Holdings, which was part-owned by media magnate Kerry Stokes.

Perth-based contractor and surveyor OTOC has obtained approval for an $8.1 million debt facility from the Commonwealth Bank of Australia, on top of an $8.2 million facility it was awarded from the CBA last year.

Glencore International has abandoned its bid to merge with Rio Tinto, a day after it was first made public.

Oil prices have sunk amid concerns about slowing economic growth, with WTI dropping to a 17-month low on expectations of a rise in US crude-oil supplies.

Stavely Minerals has secured a $2 million share subscription agreement with its contracted drilling services company, Titeline Drilling, under which Stavely can partly pay its monthly drilling bill in lieu of Titeline’s share subscription payment.

Ironbark Zinc says it has lodged a formal application for a 30-year mining licence with the Greenland government for its Citronen base metal project.

Federal Labor is considering doing a deal with the government to exclude the aluminium industry from the renewable energy target.

Minbos Resources will issue more than 203.3 million new ordinary shares and 93.3 million new unlisted options to investors as part of its conversion of outstanding convertible notes and securities.

Fox Resources has announced plans to sell its Bundaberg coking coal project in Queensland, while shifting focus on developing its Western Australian projects.

Newcrest says it is on track to hit its gold production targets for a second consecutive year.

Glencore's hopes of striking a deal to become the world's largest miner remain just that, after an approach was rebuffed by Rio Tinto.

Crude oil prices have closed higher, staging a small rebound from last week's steep losses as a slightly weakening US dollar offered some support.

Ausdrill subsidiary Energy Drilling Australia has secured a contract extension of undisclosed value with Strike Energy for a three-month drill campaign in the Cooper Basin.

A University of Western Australia doctoral student has found major banks were exploiting price sensitive information through the London Gold Fix and has predicted the demise of the system before the end of the year.

Transport Minister Dean Nalder has announced that Fremantle Ports will go to market for the leasing of its container terminals on North Quay for undisclosed sums.

Removal of the carbon tax has dampened inflation, allowing the Reserve Bank of Australia to remain in wait-and-see mode on interest rates.

Tech firms Today We Learned, Circadyn and Freewheeler have been named the RAC of WA SeedSpark winners at an awards night last week, and have each received a cash prize to fund their projects.

Private operator White Rivers Exploration, majority owned by Mark Creasy, has joined Harmony Gold Mining Company in an exploration and development joint venture for its Beisa project in South Africa.

Mining giant BHP Billiton plans to overtake rival Rio Tinto to become Australia's lowest cost iron ore producer, detailing plans today for an expansion of its Pilbara operations despite the slump in the commodity's price.

Geraldton-based Bhagwan Marine has announced details of its first international acquisition, confirming speculation from last week.

Gold prices fell to a four-year low on Friday after stronger-than-expected US employment data intensified investors' concerns about how soon the Federal Reserve would raise interest rates.

Perth-based Resource Development Group has completed its acquisition of Central Systems today, as the new group looks towards growth and diversification.

Price cuts by key exporter Saudi Arabia have helped send global crude prices to their lowest point in more than two years before they recovered in late trade.