Mining

Rio Tinto has splashed out $US518 million ($A482 million) on a project to run the world's first driverless long-distance, heavy-haul rail network.

Monadelphous Engineering has become the fourth contractor to announce a framework agreement with Rio Tinto, giving it preferred contractor status for structural, mechanical and piping work as well

Perseus Mining has returned to profitability, bouncing back $13.7 million into the black for the six months to December 31.

Industrial services company and takeover target Spotless has posted weaker first-half net profit of $16.5 million, down 5.2 per cent on the previous corresponding period.

Forge Group has posted a steady profit for the half year ended December 31, pulling in $21.3 million after tax.

The resources boom is unlikely to derail other industries in Australia, according to Reserve Bank of Australia deputy governor Philip Lowe.

Alcoa joint venture partner Alumina has rejected claims that the carbon tax is the main factor behind the stalled expansion of the Wagerup alumina refinery in Western Australia, saying th

Australian oil and gas salaries are the highest in the world according to a survey compiled by Hays Oil and Gas and Oil and Gas Job Search.

BC Iron has reported a significant boost in interim net profit, on the back of a maiden operational profit from its Nullagine iron ore joint venture with Fortescue Metals Group.

Decmil Group has announced it will build a 200-bed rail camp for Fortescue Metals Group in a deal worth $28 million.

Wesfarmers has bucked the job shedding trend with plans to employ more people this year at Coles and its other retail chains, after underwhelming the market with a flat first half profit result.

Nickel miner Mincor has capped a busy six months by nudging back into the black, reporting a $350,000 profit for the six months to December 31.

Iron ore miner Fortescue Metals Group has reported a solid rise in half-year profit today but also disclosed an expected jump in costs and delays to its ambitious expansion strategy in the Pilbara.

South African miner Exxaro Resources has taken a majority share of Perth-based iron ore explorer African Iron after last-minute acceptances of its $300 million offer.

Oz Minerals has suffered a dramatic fall in full-year net profit to $274.5 million, but says demand for copper remains strong.

Uranex's wholly owned Mkuju uranium project in Tanzania has attracted aspiring joint venture partners, the company says.

Africa-focused uranium producer Paladin Energy has widened its first half net loss from the previous corresponding period even though it achieved record production.

A South Korean firm has been has awarded the contract to build a huge processing plant offshore from Western Australia for the $US34 billion ($A31.8 billion) Ichthys gas project .

Altona Mining has joined the ranks of copper producers after its wholly owned Outokumpu project in Finland commenced output.

BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto together will spend $US4 billion ($A3.75 billion) to increase production at the Escondida copper mine in Chile.

Nickel miner Western Areas says a recent rebound in nickel prices could boost its financial performance in the second half of the 2012 financial year.

Andrew Forrest’s Fortescue Metals Group will pay Iron Ore Holdings $25 million for the exclusive option to mine the Iron Valley and Weelli Wolli tenements in the central Pilbara, in a deal that cou

 Environmental services firm Cardno has won a $22 million contract to help provide major infrastructure upgrades at several Rio Tinto iron ore mines in Western Australia.

Murchison Metals shareholders have backed the sale of key assets to the company's equal joint venture partner, Japan's Mitsubishi, clearing the way for the $325 million deal to proceed.

Tap Oil has washed its hands of any exposure to legal action surrounding the Harriet gas joint venture, selling its 12.2 per cent stake to a subsidiary of Apache Corporation for $10 million.

Leighton Holdings says its first-half profits have jumped 57 per cent and that it's well-positioned for 2012.

The euro zone debt crisis is deterring some investors from funding small companies in the gold sector, says gold project developer Aphrodite Gold.

Former Perth fertiliser tycoon Pankaj Oswal is facing a contempt of court charge for allegedly releasing confidential information to the press about the receivers appointed to Burrup Fertilisers.

Minerals explorer Sheffield Minerals has launched a $10 million capital raising to fund drilling and exploration programs at its Dampier Zircon and Enneabba mineral sands projects.

The federal opposition is demanding Treasurer Wayne Swan explain a potential $4 billion black hole in its mining tax that is due to start in July.

Doray Minerals has announced an in-principle native title agreement it says will pave the way for the company to be granted a mining lease over its Andy Well gold project in the Murchison.