Mining

Explosives and chemicals maker and supplier Orica's half-year profit has slumped, with strong demand from miners in the Pilbara region largely offset by flat sentiment on the east coast.

Northern Star Resources has continued its aggressive expansion strategy, announcing it will buy the Jundee gold mine in Western Australia from Newmont Mining for $82.5 million.

Gold prices have risen, a day after pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine declared victory in a succession referendum, raising chances that rival factions will split the country in two.

Tugboat workers at Port Hedland are threatening to strike for up to a week, bringing iron ore exports at Australia's largest shipping hub to a standstill.

The future of BP's Kwinana refinery lies in improving productivity as the Australian fuel market undergoes significant disruptions.

Perth-based private company QCG Resources has announced plans to raise up to $60 million in an initial public offering to fund its purchase of the mothballed Avebury nickel mine in Tasmania.

Perth-based oil and gas services company Coretrack has signed a deal to acquire unlisted fraccing technology developer Ecopropp in an all-scrip transaction worth about $17 million.

Gold prices have closed nearly unchanged as investors weigh Russia's mixed messages on Ukraine and brighter economic data from the US.

Red Mountain Mining expects to complete by the end of the year a definitive feasibility study at its Batangas gold project in the Philippines after appointing Como Engineers to undertake the initiative.

World oil prices have fallen as traders booked profits from the previous day's rally on signs of strengthening crude demand in the United States.

The state's gold sector fears it will be tapped for hundreds of millions of dollars in additional royalty revenue banked by the Barnett government in its latest budget.

Decmil Group has won a $35 million contract at Rio Tinto's West Angelas iron ore project to build infrastructure related to developing the Deposit B ore body.

World oil prices have surged higher after crude inventories unexpectedly fell from a record high in the United States, suggesting better demand in the world's largest crude consumer.

As Business News' Rising Stars search draws to a close, the founder of a contracting company that expanded through the GFC, but had a “disastrous” last financial year and more recently lost $1 million through its dealings with Forge Group, is pursuing growth again with a new strategy.

Copper and gold explorer Stavely Minerals debuted on the ASX today in what was the first float by a Western Australia-based minerals play in more than a year.

Engineering contractor Monadelphous Group has been awarded a series of new maintenance services contracts and contract extensions worth $140 million.

Private equity fund Denham Capital has launched its first Australian mining investment, committing $200 million to newly-formed coal venture Pembroke Resources in a deal spearheaded by the firm's Perth-based mining team.

Gold prices slipped as investors took profits from the previous session's three-week high.

Kogi Iron chief executive Iggy Tan has stepped down from the role after just nine months as the struggling iron ore hopeful looks to slash costs amid tough times for explorers.

Engineering contractor VDM Group has announced a capital raising which would lift the combined stake of two of its directors to almost 65 per cent.

Wesfarmers says the average price it receives for its metallurgical coal will be about 16 per cent weaker in the June quarter.

Oil prices have dipped after a disappointing manufacturing report on China raised concerns about crude demand, overshadowing worries about growing violence in the Ukraine crisis.Oil prices dip after weak China data

Mining executive Chris Tuckwell plans to return to MACA as its managing director, two years after leaving the company to join rival contractor Ausdrill in Africa.

Perth-based Liquefied Natural Gas says its Magnolia LNG project is fully funded with the completion of a $49.5 million capital raising.

Andrew Forrest has emerged as a surprise backer of Energy and Minerals Australia, taking a major stake in the Perth-based uranium explorer through a much-needed $12 million investment. EMA has also struck a debt-for-equity swap with its noteholders.

Continued growth of the Pilbara as an export-focused iron ore province received a huge boost today when Chinese steel giant Baosteel and Australian railway operator Aurizon teamed up to bid for the Perth company behind a $6 billion port and rail project.

Gold has closed at a three-week high as worries about escalating violence in Ukraine bolstered investor demand for the haven asset.

Shares in junior explorer Padbury Mining have plunged as the company resumed trade and revealed details of its short-lived $US6.47 billion ($6.89 billion) equity funding deal to construct a port and rail network at Oakajee.

Oil prices have slipped helped by more abundant supplies thanks to high US production and the boost to exports in Libya.

Mining giant Rio Tinto is suing Brazilian miner Vale and an Israeli company over the rights to develop the massive Simandou iron ore deposit in Guinea.

Brierty and three Aboriginal contracting firms have won a $300 million contract with Rio Tinto to complete mining and civil works on a project in the Pilbara.

If prices for iron ore, coal, oil and gold are falling, which they are, how long before the Australian dollar follows?