Mining

BHP Billiton chief Andrew Mackenzie says his main aim is not growing volumes, confirming plans to cut capital expenditure by 25 per cent this year and further next year.

New Standard Energy plans to diversify its interests in the oil and gas sector by completing a farm-in agreement in the Cooper Basin in South Australia and acquiring 5,182 acres in a Texas oil shale asset.

Shares in Perth-based explorer Krakatoa Resources have soared on the back of the company signing a strategic alliance with Indonesian iron ore miner Sitasa Group.

Perth-based Kogi Iron has released indicated resource estimates of 466 million tonnes at 41.4 per cent iron at its Agbaja iron ore project in Nigeria, with an overall resource increase of 20 per cent.

Rio Tinto's former Pilbara iron ore president Greg Lilleyman has been promoted to group executive technology & innovation, just four months after he was made head of productivity improvement.

Seven Group Holdings subsidiary WesTrac China will pay $US130 million ($A143 million) to acquire Caterpillar Global Mining's distribution and support business in north eastern China.

Brent oil prices have slumped following news of weaker German industrial output, while New York crude futures dipped slightly.

The developer of the $10 billion Roy Hill iron ore project has secured a unique insurance scheme which safeguards the project against construction delays and wage blowouts caused by cyclones on the volatile Pilbara coastline.

Perth-based explorer Musgrave Minerals’ share price has spiked up 40 per cent after releasing drilling results at the company's Deering Hills project in northern South Australia.

Queensland-based pipeline construction company Murphy Pipe and Civil has expanded its operations into Western Australia, opening a new Perth office in the hopes of winning further work on the state's resources projects.

Perth-based gold miner West African Resources has gained approval from shareholders of Canadian-based Channel Resources to combine the two companies for further expansion of gold projects in Burkina Faso.

Cassini Resources has resolved a share sale agreement to acquire 75 per cent of Crossbow Resources, the 100 per cent owner of the West Arunta X17 project in the Gibson Desert.

Shares in Perth-based gold mining junior Minera Gold have risen by 25 per cent after the company signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) with a private Peruvian entity to utilise a 200 tonne-per-day CIP gold circuit for its Torrecillas gold project in Peru.

Perth-based oil and gas explorer Liquefied Natural Gas has announced plans to raise $15.3 million through a share placement as it looks to advance its Magnolia LNG project in the United States.

Gindalbie Metals has agreed to sell its Shine hematite iron prospect to Mount Gibson Iron for $15 million as it focuses attention on bringing its Karara magnetite project to full production.

Gold futures have eased as investors try to determine what impact the continued gains in US hiring will have on the timing of a reduction in Federal Reserve stimulus.

Triton Minerals has raised $1.6 million to fund its exploration activities at the Balama North graphite project in Mozambique.

Perth-based oil explorer Oilex has announced it has secured a $13.5 million three year equity financing facility with UK-based Darwin Strategic, for drilling at its Cambay onshore oil joint venture project in Gujarat, India.

Gold prices have fallen after upbeat US economic data supported investor expectations for a reduction in Federal Reserve stimulus.

Global chemical manufacturer Rockwood Holdings is set to acquire a 49 per cent stake in Perth-based Talison Lithium, just less than a year after its proposed $700 million takeover bid for the miner collapsed.

Mineral sleuth Rox Resources has raised $2.4 million for exploration programs and working capital in a share purchase plan, the company announced today.

Woodside Petroleum has been awarded exploration permits off New Zealand under a government block offer.

Base Resources is set to increase its working capital for the ramp-up of its Kwale mineral sands project in Kenya by a further $US25 million up to a total debt facility of $US215 million.

Tangiers Petroleum is to acquire Jacka Resources via a friendly off-market takeover bid, combining to create an Africa-focused upstream oil and gas company valued at about $80 million.

Oil and gas explorer WHL Energy has secured a one-off $US2.7 million loan from New York-based institutional investor Bergen Global Opportunity Fund.

Inspectors from the Department of Mines and Petroleum are investigating the death of a contractor at Newcrest Mining's Telfer gold mine in the Pilbara.

Pura Vida Energy has made further progress for its African offshore oil projects, and announced a placement raising $13.5 million.

Gold and silver futures have rallied as some bearish investors rush to reduce their wagers after the precious metals showed strength in the face of brighter economic data.

Rio Tinto employees have dominated a list of 16 executives and key operational players based in Western Australia that feature in the 100 Global Inspirational Women in Mining.

Oil and gas explorer Buru Energy has engaged international water consulting and engineering firm MWH Global as it looks for gas resources in north Western Australia.

Western Australia's domestic gas production has recorded its first significant quarterly growth since 2008, helped by the opening of BHP Billiton's $1.5 billion Macedon project.

South Perth company Brighton Mining Group has announced plans to acquire Indonesian manganese miner Asia Minerals Corporation, which is led by Perth mining entrepreneur Michael Kiernan and counts another South Perth company, Gulf Mines, as a substantial shareholder.