Mining

Wesfarmers has bucked the job shedding trend with plans to employ more people this year at Coles and its other retail chains, after underwhelming the market with a flat first half profit result.

South African miner Exxaro Resources has taken a majority share of Perth-based iron ore explorer African Iron after last-minute acceptances of its $300 million offer.

Oz Minerals has suffered a dramatic fall in full-year net profit to $274.5 million, but says demand for copper remains strong.

Uranex's wholly owned Mkuju uranium project in Tanzania has attracted aspiring joint venture partners, the company says.

Africa-focused uranium producer Paladin Energy has widened its first half net loss from the previous corresponding period even though it achieved record production.

A South Korean firm has been has awarded the contract to build a huge processing plant offshore from Western Australia for the $US34 billion ($A31.8 billion) Ichthys gas project .

Altona Mining has joined the ranks of copper producers after its wholly owned Outokumpu project in Finland commenced output.

BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto together will spend $US4 billion ($A3.75 billion) to increase production at the Escondida copper mine in Chile.

Nickel miner Western Areas says a recent rebound in nickel prices could boost its financial performance in the second half of the 2012 financial year.

 Environmental services firm Cardno has won a $22 million contract to help provide major infrastructure upgrades at several Rio Tinto iron ore mines in Western Australia.

Murchison Metals shareholders have backed the sale of key assets to the company's equal joint venture partner, Japan's Mitsubishi, clearing the way for the $325 million deal to proceed.

Leighton Holdings says its first-half profits have jumped 57 per cent and that it's well-positioned for 2012.

The euro zone debt crisis is deterring some investors from funding small companies in the gold sector, says gold project developer Aphrodite Gold.

Former Perth fertiliser tycoon Pankaj Oswal is facing a contempt of court charge for allegedly releasing confidential information to the press about the receivers appointed to Burrup Fertilisers.

Minerals explorer Sheffield Minerals has launched a $10 million capital raising to fund drilling and exploration programs at its Dampier Zircon and Enneabba mineral sands projects.

The federal opposition is demanding Treasurer Wayne Swan explain a potential $4 billion black hole in its mining tax that is due to start in July.

Doray Minerals has announced an in-principle native title agreement it says will pave the way for the company to be granted a mining lease over its Andy Well gold project in the Murchison.

Subsea services provider Fugro TSM has won a $100 million-plus contract with Woodside Energy at the North West Shelf project off the coast of Western Australia.

Newcrest Mining has forecast a continuing strength in the gold price after reporting a record high first half profit, driven by stronger gold, silver and copper sales.

Iron ore miner Mount Gibson Iron has declared its maiden interim dividend, despite production problems at its mines and a slump in interim profit.

Thousands of miners from several of BHP Billiton's central Queensland coal mines are planning a seven-day strike from next week.

Rio Tinto has booked a 59 per cent slump in full year net profit due mainly to a writedown of its aluminium business, but underlying earnings jumped eleven per cent.

Gold explorer Westgold Resources has moved to secure up to $80 million in debt funding to help pay for development of its Central Murchison project in Western Australia.

The Australian Greens have again urged federal Labor to increase its proposed mining tax, to better protect industries struggling under the weight of the high Australian dollar.

Leighton Holdings subsidiary Thiess has won a $180 million contract for work at BHP Billiton Mitsubishi Alliance's (BMA) Caval Ridge coal mine in Queensland.

BHP Billiton chief executive Marius Kloppers has blamed complex Labor workplace laws for creating the conditions for current strike action at the company's coal operations.

Australia's sole antimony mine is to be revived under plans by Emu Nickel, which needs to raise $60 million to buy the asset and re-start production.

Rio Tinto has again demonstrated its faith in Asia's growing demand for iron ore by committing $US3.4 billion ($A3.2 billion) to expand its operations in Western Australia's Pilbara region.

BHP Billiton's first-half profit has fallen by 5.5 per cent to $US9.941 billion ($A9.3 billion), due to lower commodity prices and some production constraints.

Swiss mining giant Xstrata has booked a 12 per cent jump in attributable profit for calendar 2011 to a record $US5.78 billion ($5.41 billion) due to increased production volumes, cost savings and h

West Africa-focused gold explorer Taruga Gold has made a flat debut on the Australian Securities Exchange.

Engineering and construction company Clough has won a $140 million contract for work on Inpex's $US34 billion ($A31.82 billion) Ichthys liquefied natural gas (LNG) project.