Gina Rinehart's Hancock Prospecting has spent more than $60 million exercising options to increase its stake in Mineral Resources to 8.26 per cent.

Newcrest Mining and Indonesia's Aneka Tambang have suspended operations at their Gosowong joint venture after the death of nine people, including two Australians, in a helicopter accident.

The state government has tipped in an extra $7 million to include corporate facilities in the first stage of redevelopment at nib Stadium.

Building and construction group Pindan has announced the launch of a joint venture hire business for its Formas range of modular accommodation.

The Bonaparte LNG joint venture has begun drilling at its Petrel-7 appraisal well in the Timor Sea, as it moves toward a possible go-agead for development of the offshore gas field. A final investment decision for the project, around 250 kilomtres west of Darwin, is expected in 2014.