Mining

Perth-based Ardea Resources has wrapped up its first day of trading on the ASX, after spinning out from Heron Resources and raising $5.2 million from investors.

Perth-based miner Mount Gibson Iron has started development of its Iron Hill mine in the Mid West after receiving final approvals, and hopes to begin producing by as early as May.

Rio Tinto has bounced back to profitability, reporting full-year profit of $US4.6 billion ($A6.1 billion) for 2016 on the back of a jump in iron ore prices.

State Treasurer Mike Nahan has put his neck on the line to stop the Nationals WA's proposed mining tax, saying he will resign from the portfolio if a post-election Liberal government does a deal to lift royalties.

ANALYSIS: Atlas Iron has emerged a leaner, better-financed company just a year after its near-death experience.

Galaxy Resources has set the bar for the largest capital raising undertaken by a WA-based company for 2017, announcing a $61 million capital raising to fund development work at its Sal de Vida lithium project in Argentina.

Construction and contract mining company CIMIC Group has flagged a boost in annual profit of up to 21 per cent in 2017 after delivering a solid rise in profits for the year just ended.

The joint venture partners behind the Mt Marion lithium mine near Kalgoorlie have heralded an inaugural shipment of ore to China, with Mineral Resources becoming the state’s third lithium producer.

AngloGold Ashanti has made a $6 million investment in Perth-based Orinoco Gold and plans to spend $US9.5 million ($A12.4 million) to farm-in on the company’s gold tenements in Brazil.

Africa-focused Tiger Resources has named Agrimin chairman Brad Sampson as its new chief executive, replacing Michael Griffiths who spent four years in the role.

Aspiring gold miner Capricorn Metals has secured a $10 million investment from an overseas asset manager to fund ongoing work at its Karlawinda project near Newman.

Perth-based explorer Lithium Australia has lodged a takeover bid for rival lithium-focused Lepidico - in the middle of a Supreme Court battle between the two companies - in an all-scrip deal that values the target at $23.8 million.

Indigenous contractor Guma ICRG has won a contract for work at Gina Rinehart’s Roy Hill iron ore mine in the Pilbara for an undisclosed amount.

An Aboriginal corporation has obtained a Supreme Court ruling that will require Mitsui & Company subsidiary Onslow Salt to release documents concerning its dealings with oil and gas giant Chevron, and contractors Bechtel and Thiess, over the Wheatstone LNG project.

Perth-based Primary Gold has tapped investors for $8.5 million to fund ongoing work at its Coolgardie and Mount Bundy projects in the Goldfields.

Shares in junior explorer AVZ Minerals have skyrocketed on news the Perth company has struck an agreement to acquire a majority stake in a lithium mine in Africa, and has raised $5 million to fund the deal.

Premier Colin Barnett has criticised the mining industry over its prominent media campaign against Nationals leader Brendan Grylls and his proposed mining tax hike, on the first day of the election campaign.

Former BHP Billiton executive Julius Matthys has been appointed chairman of gold miner Doray Minerals, replacing Peter Lester who retired last month to focus on his other business interests.

Minerals explorer TNG has finally lodged a prospectus for the demerger of its base metals portfolio into a spin-out company, while Heron Resources and Force Commodities have both progressed their respective demergers.

Iluka Resources boss Tom O’Leary says the company will swing the axe on 90 jobs after revealing a $201 million impairment and flagging a net loss of up to $230 million for 2016.

Decmil Group has substantially cut its revenue forecasts for the current financial year due to delays in recent contract wins, while suffering further losses at a Victorian construction project.

Fortescue Metals Group looks set to achieve its full-year guidance after outlining steady iron ore shipments and further cost cuts in the December quarter.

Shareholders owning a combined 6.5 per cent in Birimian have called for the replacement of two directors on the lithium explorer’s board, a week after a $107 million cash offer for the Perth-based company's flagship project fell through.

OPINION: Expect Brendon Grylls to go hard at BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto over his tax plan ahead of the March state election.

Gold miner Newcrest Mining's production guidance for the full year remains unchanged despite flat output in the December quarter.

Former Toro Energy managing director Vanessa Guthrie says recruiting and maintaining women in senior leadership roles remains a significant challenge in Western Australia, given the prevailing corporate culture.

Shares in Perseus Mining tumbled today after the Perth-based gold miner lowered its production guidance for the next six months, on the back of a temporary shutdown at its Edikan operation during the December quarter.

Perth is renowned as a hub for mining and energy technology, so why do so many local firms end up in foreign hands?

More than $8 billion of greenfields iron ore projects are either proposed or in development, while $450 million of brownfields work is under way as the state’s miners plan investments to maintain production.

Macmahon Holdings has criticised CIMIC Group’s proposed $174 million takeover offer, saying its preliminary view was that it does not represent fair value of the business, and has told its shareholders to take no action.

First Graphite has announced plans to raise $3.52 million from investors through the placement of 32 million shares at 11 cents each.

Gold miners operating in Western Australia performed solidly in the three months to December, with Northern Star Resources, Independence Group and Evolution Mining all posting strong results.