Mining

Norway-focused iron ore miner Northern Iron is receiving support from its financiers to cover foreign exchange losses following a plunge in iron ore prices.

The board of gold miner Ramelius Resources has given its approval to begin mining at the company's Vivien project near Leinster, while also announcing a $10 million facility secured with the Commonwealth Bank of Australia.

Fortescue Metals Group has confirmed reports that it set up a company in Singapore, but insists it has not used it to avoid paying tax.

Programmed Maintenance Services managing director Christopher Sutherland says it’s too early to speculate on what price will be put on its proposed merger with Skilled Group, after announcing a 16 per cent slide in net profit to $25.7 million.

Gold dropped almost two per cent on Tuesday as the US dollar extended gains following a raft of strong American data.

World oil prices have fallen as traders mostly took their cue from the rebounding US dollar and output remained strong, dealers say.

Tap Oil shareholders have lodged a big protest vote, with more than 35 per cent of votes cast against three resolutions at today's annual meeting, with dissident shareholder Chatchai Yenbamroong accounting for a large share of the opposition.

National engineering group UGL and WA-based bulk fuel distributor Great Southern Fuel Supplies have struck agreements with BP to operate and maintain some of the petroleum giant's facilities.

Zijin Mining Group has increased its offer to buy all the shares it doesn’t own in Norton Gold Fields to 25 cents a share, boosting the value of the deal to about $41 million.

Perth-based explorer Gold Road Resources has appointed GR Engineering Services to undertake pre-feasibility process and mining studies at its Gruyere project east of Laverton.

Mining contractor Barminco has posted a small increase in underlying earnings in the March quarter, as cost reductions and efficiency measures offset a dip in quarterly revenue to $123.9 million.

Fortescue Metals Group shares have surged more than 10 per cent on Chinese whispers of a major foreign buy-in and a lift in the iron ore price.

Nickel miner Mincor Resources has made a number of redundancies as it plans to cut back development of its Kambalda operations near Kalgoorlie, in response to the ongoing weakness in nickel prices.

Gold prices rose sightly on Monday, even as the dollar gained traction against major currency rivals on signs the US Federal Reserve is preparing to tighten monetary policy for the first time in six years in 2015.

Shares in gold and copper explorer Frontier Resources doubled on news it will acquire an 80 per cent stake in the Gold Ridge mine in Guadalcanal, previously operated by St Barbara.

WA’s economy needs to become more sophisticated if it is to take advantage of emerging opportunities along the Indian Ocean rim.

Two well-known mining industry executives will assume control of ASX-listed Brumby Resources in a merger they hope will establish the new company as a producer in the medium term.

Mid West iron ore miner Karara Mining has completed a $US1.48 billion refinancing of its bank debts, providing a share price boost for its part owner Gindalbie Metals.

Global Construction Services has won a scaffolding contract for the Sino Iron project by Citic Pacific Mining.

The environmental watchdog has recommended a six-week exploration drilling program for iron ore near Perenjori, 350 kilometres north of Perth be conditionally approved.

Evolution Mining has snared the Cowal gold mine in central NSW for $US550 million ($A702.74 million).

Shares in workplace provider Skilled Group have jumped 12 per cent after it announced it was in merger talks with rival Programmed Maintenance Services.

Gold, nickel, zinc and copper producer Independence Group has struck a $1.8 billion deal to acquire Sirius Resources.

Gold prices have eased after US Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen said she expected an interest rate hike this year.

Atlas Iron has accepted the state government's iron ore royalty relief program, which will deliver an up-front cash injection of $12.5 million and an expected total benefit of $23 million.

Venturex Resources has signed a conditional term sheet to sell its Pilbara copper-zinc project to a mining-focused investment group for $14 million in cash.

Western Australia has developed a strong edge in resources technology but must continue to invest in innovation as it faces competition from other regional players and beyond, according to the Western Australian Energy Research Alliance.

Fortescue Metals Group chairman Andrew Forrest says Brazilian iron ore giant Vale is a responsible producer, on the same day that Roy Hill Holdings chief executive Barry Fitzgerald warned about the impact of Vale’s rapid expansion.

Perth-based gold and base metals miners Metallum and Paradigm Metals have announced plans to raise a combined $3.7 million to fund ongoing work at their respective tenements, while Dynasty Resources announced its intention to raise $2.2 million but then later withdrew its proposal.

Gold fell as the US dollar cut losses on economic data that showed growing economic momentum, but support came from signs the Federal Reserve was unlikely to raise interest rates in June.

Western Australian universities have featured prominently in an expanded research funding program announced by federal Education Minister Christopher Pyne, with three resources-related centres scoring nearly $15 million between them.

Treasurer Joe Hockey has ruled out the federal government initiating an inquiry into iron ore, just one week after Prime Minister Tony Abbott backed the idea.