Mining

Civil engineering and construction firm Decmil Group has won a $55 million contract to install a second 800-man camp at Fortescue Metals' Christmas Creek operation.

West Perth-based explorer ZYL says it has gained the support needed to become a metallurgical coal producer by late 2012 after it received backing from institutional investors to the tune of $30 million.

Focus Minerals says it will lift its yearly gold production by 40,000 to 60,000 ounces, after it announced the start of mining at its underground gold project, The Mount.

Shares in Gindalbie Metals shot up more than nine per cent after the company announced an expansion of its Karara iron ore project and the appointment of a new chief executive.

Norton Gold Fields has completed the sale of its Sienna and Electra coal projects in Queensland to coal magnate Nathan Tinkler's Boardwalk Resources subsidiary, Boardwalk Sienna.

Perth-based Galaxy Resources has postponed its initial public offering in Hong Kong until further notice due to unfavourable market conditions.

Sheffield Resources has completed the purchase of the rights to three heavy mineral sands mining leases and a retention license from Iluka Resources.

Perth-based NRW Holdings has announced it will expand its exposure in Queensland, after entering an $84 million deal with Comiskey Earthmoving.

Cape Lambert Resources has slipped to a $17.5 million loss in the half-year to December 31, after a busy period of asset acquisitions.

Perth-based Hunnu Coal has continued its stunning run with the announcement of a strategic partnership with Singapore-based Banpu Minerals to develop its Mongolian coal tenements.

Gold miner Catalpa Resources has posted a maiden first half profit on the back of record production of the precious metal from its two Australian mines.

Engineering and construction firm Forge Group is searching for a new managing director, after its current boss, Peter Hutchinson, stepped down in a move he says will drive the company's next phase of growth.

Sandfire Resources says it will take a 17.1 per cent stake in Chile-focused copper-gold explorer Whinnen Resources.

Shares in Ramelius Resources rose after it reported high-grade gold results from deeper drilling its Wattle Dam mine in Western Australia and was admitted to the S&P ASX 300 index.

Hong Kong-based Wah Nam International Holdings has extended its parallel takeover bids for West Australian iron ore explorers Brockman Resources and FerrAus by one month.

Sandfire Resources has announced it will go ahead with a $400 million development of its DeGrussa copper-gold project, on the strength of a "robust" pre-feasibility study.

Rio Tinto says Sir Rod Eddington and Yves Fortier will retire as non-executive directors of the mining giant at the end of the annual general meeting on May 5.

Wayne Bergmann, the Kimberley Land Council head who has spearheaded Aboriginal negotiations over a controversial gas hub near Broome, is stepping down from the role.

Australia's biggest gold miner Newcrest Mining has nearly doubled its estimate of deposits at a mine in Papua New Guinea to more than 30 million ounces of gold.

Focus Minerals says it will purchase the remaining stake it does not already own of the Treasure Island gold project in the eastern Goldfields in a scrip and cash offer worth around $2.4 million, on today's share price.

A takeover bid of Perth-based oil and gas explorer Amadeus Energy hasn't been resolved and its shares remain in a trading halt, the company says.

Perth-based Aquila Resources says its interim loss of $15.8 million was primarily due to an increase in spending on exploring and evaluating its tenements.

Strategic Marine has expanded its exposure to the booming north-west, after winning a contract to build a 27-metre work barge for Karratha-based Offshore Plant Hire.

Perth-based goldminer Northern Star Resources says it is debt free and ready for growth after paying off the final $2.5 million production royalty relating to its $40 million acquisition of the Paulsens gold mine in the Pilbara.

West Perth-based base metals explorer Overland Resources says it has successfully raised $11.9 million through a share placement to institutional investors.

Southern Cross Electrical Engineering has announced it has won a contract for the first concentrator area electrical installation at CITIC Pacific's Sino Iron project at Cape Preston near Karratha.

Filipino workers paid "slave labour" rates on the North West Shelf could be entitled to tens of thousands of dollars in back pay, the Australian Workers Union says.

Premier Colin Barnett has thrown the door open for a change in the ownership structure of the Oakajee Port & Rail development, after granting its proponents an extension until the end of the year to finalise their plans.

Independent senator Nick Xenophon has called on the federal government to consider making natural gas exempt from a carbon tax.

Northern Minerals has announced it has gained a 60 per cent stake in its Gardner Range uranium joint venture with Manhattan Corporation.

Western Australia's Chamber of Minerals and Energy says it is crucial for the Federal Government to expand its skilled migration program to ensure labour demand from the resources industry is met.

Blackgold Resources, the Chinese-owned coalminer that listed on the ASX in Perth last week, has purchased a Chinese coal mine for around $12 million.