Lower-grade iron ore product made up 20 per cent of Rio Tinto's Pilbara shipments during the December quarter, as the company progresses new project delivery in a delicate approvals environment.
Rio Tinto has confirmed a $US251 million ($375 million) deal to sell the Lake MacLeod salt and gypsum operation in Carnarvon to privately-owned Leichhardt Industrials Group.
A potential sale is on the cards for a Carnarvon salt mine majority owned by Rio Tinto, although operators say there's no certainty a deal will be struck.
Rio Tinto's Dampier Salt has been hit with a $20,000 fine after a worker was injured when his head became trapped between an elevated working platform and a salt stacker.
BCI Minerals has released a pre-feasibility study for its Mardie salt and potash project in the Pilbara, with a total capital expenditure of $335 million needed to reach full production.
German company K+S Group is planning to evaluate development of a $350 million salt project south-west of Onslow, six years after another salt project in the area was scrapped after facing widespread opposition.
