Mining

Atlas Iron will record a non-cash impairment of up to $100 million in its full-year results after rising costs led to an operating loss in its third quarter.

There has been a big increase this year in the number of ASX-listed companies, primarily junior explorers in WA, forced to retract announcements.

Sheffield Resources has signed a 20-year access agreement with the Port of Derby, allowing the company to export from its planned Thunderbird mineral sands project, located on the Dampier Peninsula.

Local engineering firm Lycopodium and Queensland-based Mineral Technologies have been appointed to deliver a pre-feasibility study for Base Resources’ Toliara mineral sands project in Madagascar.

Shares in Auris Minerals have risen after the company’s joint venture partner, Sandfire Resources, released promising drilling results from the Morck’s Well East copper project in the Bryah Basin.

Local contractor MACA has locked in a $27.5 million contract for crushing and screening services at BHP Billiton’s Area C mine in the Pilbara.

A plan to redouble capacity at Talison Lithium’s Greenbushes mine was lodged with the federal government’s environmental regulator last week, while US-based Albemarle Corporation has updated its timeframe for a Kemerton refinery.

Seven Group Holdings has upgraded its full-year earnings guidance, after the company said it was performing above expectations due to strength in the mining industry and east coast infrastructure a

Shares in Sipa Resources soared today after the company announced a joint venture agreement with mining giant Rio Tinto at the junior explorer’s Kitgum-Pader base metals project in northern Uganda.

Iron ore-focused NSL Consolidated has tapped investors for $10 million to fund an expansion of its Kurnool wet beneficiation plant in India.

Engineering company Clough has been contracted for early works for the non-process infrastructure at BHP Billiton’s $4.6 billion South Flank iron ore project in the Pilbara.

Rio Tinto, Apple and Alcoa have invested $C188 million ($195.5 million) to commercialise a new aluminium smelting process that reduces carbon emissions.

West Perth-based Latitude Consolidated has agreed to sell its Mt Ida gold project near Leonora to Alt Resources in a cash and scrip deal worth $2 million.

Artemis Resources has announced plans to sell its stake in Canadian joint venture partner Novo Resources for $20.7 million, with the proceeds set to be spent on exploration at the company’s conglomerate gold assets in the Pilbara.

State government revenue will be boosted by several policy measures announced today, including increased cost recovery from the mining, maritime and justice sectors, removal of the resource sector’s exemption from a training levy, and an increased levy on foreign property buyers.

KIN Mining has suspended construction at its $35 million Leonora gold project after a review by Como Engineers confirmed increases in pre-production capital costs.

Spanish-owned contractor Duro Felguera Australia, which is involved in multiple legal disputes arising from its work on big resources projects, has been ordered to set aside $20 million because of concerns it would not be able to pay potential claims.

West Perth-based Rox Resources has announced plans to spin-out its Mt Fisher gold project into a newly established company, Helios Gold, via an initial public offering.

Newcrest Mining has struck a preliminary farm-in deal with ABM Resources in relation to the Nedlands-based company’s Euro gold project in the Northern Territory.

Shares in West Africa-focused Azumah Resources soared today on the back of positive drilling results from its Wa gold project in Ghana.

Local contractor MACA has secured nearly $40 million of work, including contracts for Panoramic Resources and Sandfire Resources in Western Australia worth up to $12 million.

Gold miner Beadell Resources has raised $US23 million ($30 million) via a share placement and convertible debentures to fund an upgrade of its Tucano mine.

Scarborough-based West African Resources has tapped investors for $35 million via a capital raising to progress its Sanbrado gold project in Burkina Faso.

Former Fortescue Metals Group CEO Nev Power’s new career as a non-executive director has started with Perth Airport.

Local tech company Parkd has appointed Robert Freedman to its board, while former KPMG partner Andrea Hall has joined Automotive Holdings Group as a non-executive director and Panoramic Resources has announced the appointment of Nick Cernotta to its board.

Kwinana has been selected as the site for what is likely to be the fourth lithium refinery in Western Australia, with investment in the boom sector estimated to exceed $4 billion in the next few years.

Two Western Australian mining juniors focused on battery-related commodities have secured $50 million to advance their projects in Africa.

Aboriginal communities in Western Australia's Kimberley region have had their native title rights recognised over 12,050 square kilometre of land on the Dampier Peninsula, including James Price Point.

Subiaco-based Vital Metals has agreed to sell its tungsten project in Queensland to Tungsten Mining for a cash consideration of $15 million.

Ausdrill has announced plans to sell its telecommunications subsidiary to private group Powerlines Plus (now part of GenusPlus Group), while also agreeing to take a majority stake, along with other investors, in mining technology company HiSeis.

Peter Bilbe-led Adriatic Metals began trading on the ASX today, after the company raised $10 million via an initial public offering to fund exploration work at its Veovaca and Rupice projects in Europe.

Applecross-based Mineral Resources is looking to sell a 49 per cent stake in its Wodgina lithium project, as work to investigate the feasibility of a lithium hydroxide or carbonate processing plant at the site continues.