Mining

Experienced director Sharon Warburton will join the board of Northern Star Resources in September, while Tony Kiernan has announced his plan to retire from the role.

The share prices of Australia’s big iron ore miners have fallen by an average of 13 per cent over the past week, under the weight of a lower commodity price and higher costs.

Dozens of women have reported being sexually harassed on Western Australian mine sites, but the big miners concede the true number of cases is likely to be higher.

Liontown Resources’ non-lithium spinout will hit the ASX boards in October after it raises at least $15 million from an initial public offering.

Andrew Forrest’s Tattarang has bought $38 million of Western Areas shares since March, revealed a day after IGO confirmed the nickel miners were in takeover discussions.

Major resources players are increasingly investing profits made in WA elsewhere.

Monadelphous is suing Fremantle-based ACOR Consultants for almost $1 million over allegedly breaching a contract for works on BHP’s $27 million Jimblebar mine upgrade.

Perth-based companies Jadar Resources and Tempus Resources are raising funds to progress their projects in Australia and Canada.

NRW Holdings expects to earn as much as $155 million from operations in the current financial year, while announcing a fully franked final dividend of 5 cents per share.

IGO has confirmed it is in discussions with fellow nickel miner Western Areas over a potential takeover worth more than $800 million.

BHP has disclosed that its iron ore production costs are set for a big increase next year but will remain just below those of rival Rio Tinto.

BHP is reshaping its business and corporate structure, with the company selling its petroleum division, making a big investment in potash and ending its dual-listed structure.

Perth-based Myanmar Metals has agreed to sell its entire interest in a historical lead and silver mine, impacting the likelihood of a $66 million takeover deal.

Leichhardt is progressing its plan to build a $280 million salt mine in the Pilbara, lodging the proposal with the state's peak environmental body.

Western Australian company Battery Minerals has agreed to sell two graphite projects in Mozambique to an existing producer for $12.5 million in cash and shares.

Monadelphous has secured $200 million in construction and maintenance contracts including with mining majors BHP and Rio Tinto.

Unions are calling for the establishment of an independent body to investigate claims of sexual abuse and harassment at West Australian mine sites.

Shares in IMDEX were up by more than 8 per cent today, after the mining technology company reported a significant jump in revenue and net profit.

WA potash hopefuls are keeping an eye on what BHP does next.

The noteholders in one-time lithium producer Altura Mining are set for a windfall gain, after the value of shares they are due to receive in Pilbara Minerals rocketed.

West Perth-based Galan Lithium has secured funds to continue exploring its Greenbushes South project in WA and its Argentinian assets.

Galaxy Resources’ $4 billion merger with Queensland lithium producer Orocobre will come into effect later this month after the plan was approved by the Western Australian Supreme Court today.

Aussie Gold Hunters star Vernon Strange has become embroiled in a lawsuit involving a Perth exploration company over mining tenements near Wesfarmers' Mount Holland lithium project.

South Australia’s Thor Mining has raised $1.5 million, primarily to fund continued exploration at its Ragged Range gold and nickel project in the Pilbara.

Rox Resources’ nickel spinout has had a strong start to its first day of trading, with its share price surging 50 per cent.

Perenti subsidiary Ausdrill has partnered with the University of Technology Sydney and the Innovative Manufacturing CRC to co-develop a system for safer rock scaling operations.

Mineral Resources managing director Chris Ellison said today he is extremely confident the miner will get the nod over rival exporters to expand its operations at Port Hedland.

Veris subsidiary Aqura Technologies has won its second contract from BHP this month for further work on the miner’s iron ore accommodation villages.

The chief executive of one of seven major potash companies in WA has expressed the need for a cautious approach when it comes to developing a new resource industry.

Balcatta-based Great Southern Mining is raising $2.5 million from a share placement to progress its projects in Western Australia and Queensland.

Tony Sage's European Lithium and fellow WA company Marvel Gold have secured funds to progress their projects in Austria and Mali.

Goldminer Red 5 says it has completed more than half of the construction work required for its $226 million King of the Hills project in WA, where production is on track for mid-next year.