Mining

Engineering firm Calibre Group has forecast a gloomier than expected outlook for its business due partly to depressed iron ore and coal prices.

The board of MZI Resources has approved the development of its flagship Keysbrook mineral sands project near Serpentine.

Sirius Resources has named the preferred contractors for various works at its $473 million Nova nickel project near Norseman, however contract values have not been disclosed as final terms are yet to be completed.

Sea water is flowing into a mine pit in Western Australia after a wall gave way.

Adelaide-based Beach Energy has recruited Woodside Petroleum's second most senior executive, Rob Cole, as its new chief executive.

The Woodside Petroleum-led North West Shelf venture has agreed to proceed with its $1.2 billion Persephone gas project off the Western Australian coast.

Gold prices are virtually unchanged in quiet, pre-holiday trade as investors find little direction in lacklustre US economic data and a flat stock market.

US oil prices have fallen to a new four-year low on growing expectations that OPEC will not take significant action in response to lower oil prices.

Oil and gas producer Neon Energy has said the result of its recent shareholder meeting gives it a mandate to pursue a merger with Melbourne-based MEO, despite receiving renewed notice that key shareholder Evoworld Corporation will call a meeting to remove directors.

The Woodside-led North West Shelf joint venture has struck a new supply agreement that will deliver a small increase in the amount of gas coming into the local market but there is still no word on the future of contracts that account for more than half the state’s domestic supply.

Nickel miner Western Areas says it has awarded an offtake agreement to Jinchuan Group, building on a five-year relationship with the Chinese nickel producer.

A mix of both residential and fly-in fly-out workforces is necessary to keep mines competitive, industry giant says.

BC Iron has shed three board members, including its first managing director, to help reduce costs as iron ore prices plunge.

Shares in Perth-based junior Lucapa Diamond Company have surged on news it has signed a 35-year licence to mine alluvial diamonds at the Lulo diamond concession in Angola.

Mining giant Woodside Petroleum will expand its presence off the Moroccan coast after entering into a contract with the country's national oil company for a licence to explore another block of the Doukkala basin.

Mount Gibson Iron has placed its shares in a trading halt amid ongoing problems at its Koolan Island mine.

Mining services business Ausdrill is slicing $28 million off its revenue forecast after a customer decided to postpone operations in Africa.

Iron ore prices have slumped to a fresh five-year low, due to an oversupply of the commodity and a slowdown in demand from China.

Oil prices have tumbled, with the US benchmark down 2.2 per cent, on expectations that the OPEC cartel will not agree to cut output despite ample global supplies.

Gold prices have edged higher, after a day of shuffling between gains and losses as two sets of economic data gave varying pictures of the state of US recovery.

NRW Holdings chairman Ian Burston has told shareholders the contractor will not be "jerked around by anybody" after revealing it is in a dispute over its largest project at Roy Hill.

MZI Resources has signed a deal to sell most of the high value titanium dioxide production from its Keysbrook mineral sands project to US-based DuPont Titanium Technologies, and is still looking for a buyer for the balance.

Global oil prices have fallen following a choppy session amid scepticism that OPEC would move aggressively to lift prices this week.

Gold prices have eased from a three-week high as investors weigh the likely path of global monetary policy.

A new report from BIS Shrapnel has forecast a surge in mining production over the next four years as the mining industry’s focus shifts away from the investment and construction phase of the boom.

A downturn in mining activity has contributed to a 40 per cent fall in half year profit for laboratory services company ALS, but it expects earnings to grow in the current quarter.

WA Police have confirmed reports they are investigating allegations of fraud against billionaire Clive Palmer, using material supplied by his estranged business partner Citic Pacific Mining.

Western Australian resources companies are increasingly looking to private equity players for funding as an alternative to traditional capital raisings, with more than $300 million in deals just this month.

Mining explorer Heron Resources has been forced to hold a spill of its board of directors after suffering a shareholder revolt at its annual general meeting.

BHP Billiton says it is upping the stakes in its efforts to grow production and cut costs, while also announcing more details of the management line-up for the company it plans to create from its proposed demerger.

Gold prices have closed at their highest level in nearly three weeks, spurred by a drop in the US dollar and tensions in Eastern Europe and the Middle East.

Sandfire Resources managing director Karl Simich said reports in Fairfax today that its major shareholder, South Korean steel giant Posco, was attempting to offload its 15 per cent stake were mischievous.