Mining

Rio Tinto has contracted New Zealand business Scott Technology to build an automated mine site laboratory for its Koodaideri iron ore project in the Pilbara.

Julian Wright has commenced legal action in the Supreme Court, claiming he was defrauded when he sold his share of the family company to his siblings, 'rich listers' Angela Bennett and the late Michael Wright.

Australian Vanadium has received a $1.25 million grant from the federal government to find ways to improve vanadium production.

Kalgoorlie-based Hampton Mining and Civil Services has secured an early works contract for Mincor Resources’ Cassini nickel project in Western Australia’s Kambalda district.

Goldminer Ramelius Resources has lodged a $208 million takeover offer for Spectrum Metals, after Spectrum settled its disputes with Venus Metals Corporation in relation to the acquisition of the Penny West gold project in Western Australia.

Ascot-based GR Engineering Services has been contracted to build a sulphide flotation and processing plant for Galena Mining’s base metals project in Western Australia.

Perth-based explorer Tesoro Resources will begin trading on the Australian Securities Exchange tomorrow after completing a backdoor listing, an outcome that's been increasingly rare of late.

Perth-based explorers Technology Metals and Artemis Resources have each raised $2.1 million through share placements, while South Australian company Twenty Seven Co is seeking to raise $1.6 million to explore its tenements in Western Australia’s Goldfields region.

Rio Tinto has contracted Perth-based Southern Cross Electrical Engineering to complete rehabilitation works on its Gove Peninsula operations in the Northern Territory.

Indian miner Adani has been fined $20,000 for giving the Queensland government false or misleading information about land clearing.

Shares in CIMIC Group are up 8 per cent, a day after the international contractor named a new chief executive and announced a $1 billion full-year loss related to its decision to exit the Middle East.

Civil and mining contractor NRW Holdings has secured a $70 million contract for works on the Iron Bridge magnetite project near Port Hedland.

Mining services provider Perenti Global says it is considering buying Downer EDI's mining servicing business, but dismissed a report of a $700 million offer.

Ian Purdy will replace Scott Sullivan as the new chief executive of Paladin Energy, following the uranium miner's major board upheaval two months ago.

Private companies and not-for-profit businesses play a prominent role in the West Australian economy, with annual revenue at the top 20 exceeding $32 billion, according to data compiled by Business News.

Saracen Mineral Holdings has sold its 10.5 per cent interest in Red 5 for $39 million, completed through a book build process at 30 cents per share prior to the ASX market open today.

Shares in Panoramic Resources have plunged by more than 33 per cent, falling to their lowest price since 2016, after the company downgraded production guidance for the underground Savannah mine in the Kimberley.

Fortescue Metals Group is anticipating iron ore exports to be at the upper end of guidance after posting record shipments for the first half of 2020, while also announcing plans to spend $US450 million ($A668 million) on a solar-gas power facility.

Gold Road Resources shares rose by more than 11 per cent today after the company announced higher than expected cash generation from its Gruyere gold mine in Western Australia.

Northern Star Resources said it was on track to meet production guidance of around 1 million ounces of gold this year, helped by its recent acquisition of a 50 per cent stake in the Kalgoorlie Super Pit and strong performance across its Australian operations, but also disclosed today an increase in its operating costs.

Rio Tinto has scrapped a practice that allowed it to discount payments to small business suppliers, two weeks after the state government forced the Water Corporation to make a similar change.

Rio Tinto has confirmed it will proceed with the next phase of its exploration joint venture at the Citadel copper-gold project, located in the Pilbara's Paterson province, but has extended the time it has to spend $14 million from three years to five years.

Emeco Holdings has expanded its service offering after signing a $72 million agreement to acquire Australian underground mining equipment and services provider, Pit N Portal.

Barrick Gold has resolved a three-year tax dispute with the Tanzanian government, which has lifted a ban on minerals exports, potentially providing a pathway to production for a contingent of Western Australia-headquartered miners and exploration firms.

An NRW Holdings mine site worker has died after sustaining serious injuries at Gina Rinehart’s Roy Hill iron ore mine in the Pilbara.

More than 80 per cent of spending on the Eliwana iron ore project has been through local contractors, Fortescue Metals Group said today, while Premier Mark McGowan announced a major approval had been fast tracked to enable the mine to be completed on schedule.

A decision by Wesfarmers and partner SQM to pause investments at the Mount Holland mine and Kwinana refinery bring to about $3 billion the value of lithium projects deferred in Western Australia during the past year.

Perth-based Castile Resources and Kaiser Reef are set to raise up to $25 million ahead of stock market listings next month, despite tough market conditions affecting a number of ASX aspirants.

Gold explorer Emerald Resources is seeking to raise $75 million through a share placement to develop its Okvau project in Cambodia, while also finalising a $US60 million ($A88 million) loan with Sprott Private Wealth.

Shares in national contracting groups CIMIC and Downer have plummeted more than 20 per cent after the companies reported significant write-downs and higher costs respectively.

Subiaco-based Carbine Resources has signed an agreement to purchase Cockatoo Iron in a scrip deal worth $12 million.

Shares in St Barbara eased today after the company downgraded production forecasts at two of its goldmines, while fellow miner Regis Resources reported a strong quarterly result.