Mining

Rio Tinto chief executive officer Sam Walsh and chief financial officer Chris Lynch have both had their contracts with the mining giant extended to open-ended tenures.

Shareholders have taken up just one third of new shares offered by troubled rare earths miner Lynas Corporation in its effort to raise $71 million.

Mining and civil engineering firm MACA has received a letter of intent to provide mining services to Beadell Resources' Tucano gold project in Brazil, with the value of the deal yet to be finalised.

Atlas Iron has made significant cost savings in the September quarter and increased its production guidance, but lower prices have delivered only marginal profits.

World oil prices have sunk further as US stockpiles surged again, with the New York price falling nearly $US2 a barrel to its lowest level in 16 months.

Gold futures have pulled back from a six-week high as a stronger US dollar and lacklustre US inflation pressure prices.

Buru Energy has received a quarter of its maximum allowable $12 million in subscription applications for its share purchase plan following a recent $28 million placement.

Cape Lambert Resources says it will provide $US20 million through a financing agreement to Timis Mining Corporation to help fund its acquisition of the collapsed London Mining's Marampa mine assets.

Work has commenced on a new $124.6 million advanced water recycling plant at Craigie, which could supply up to 20 per cent of Perth's drinking water needs by 2060.

Green Rock Energy has signed a binding agreement with Eneabba Gas to sell its Ocean Hill hydrocarbon block prospect in the Perth Basin for $830,000.

Silver Lake Resources has entered into a binding heads of agreement with a private consortium for the sale of its Lakewood Mill near Kalgoorlie for $5.5 million.

Australia has secured a deal with China for zero tariffs on coal exports under a free trade deal Canberra hopes to conclude next month, it's been reported.

Mining giant BHP Billiton has lifted production 9 per cent, driven by increasing iron ore, coal and petroleum output.

Oil prices have moved higher with support from better-than-expected data on Chinese growth in the third quarter, especially a pickup in industrial output.

Debate over which area in the Mid West should become a Class A nature reserve has heated up as the Environmental Protection Authority increases its calls to preserve an area that Karara Mining wants to mine.

Kin Mining has negotiated a revised deal to acquire the Leonora gold project, after previous backer Geolord Resources said it planned to terminate its support for a capital raising.

West Perth-based oil and gas explorer Target Energy has tapped its major shareholder Wyllie Group for $3 million through a convertible note issue, and is undertaking an entitlement offer to raise up to $2.9 million.

Subiaco-based explorer Anova Metals says it has received commitments for a $1.69 million capital raising to fund drilling and permitting programs at its Big Springs project in Nevada.

Western Australian Environment Minister Albert Jacob has granted Northern Minerals approval of its proposed Browns Range rare earths project near Halls Creek.

Newcrest Mining's NSW gold project is helping it keep on top of costs as it works to turn around its fortunes.

Gold prices have advanced as declines in the dollar and Treasury yields bolster the precious metal's appeal as a haven.

Oil prices have dipped on concerns about high supplies and more signs from key Middle Eastern producers that OPEC has no plans to cut crude output.

Subiaco-based graphite player Kibaran Resources has achieved some preliminary success in developing a process to convert the carbon-based mineral into graphene.

Iron ore production shows no sign of slowing, but getting the ore on the water may be more problematic.

Three senior Western Australian mining executives have been named among 16 recipients of Chief Executive Women's $250,000 scholarship program.

Two Chinese companies suing federal MP Clive Palmer have a genuine dispute against him, a judge says.

Shares in Perth-based gold explorer Talisman Mining have surged more than 70 per cent after the company announced it had entered into a binding agreement for Swiss-based Glencore's Sinclair nickel project in the Goldfields for $10 million.

Shares in mining services business Ausdrill have slumped to a five-year low after its second profit warning in just two months.

Gold prices have fallen as a relief rally in US equities saps investor appetite for haven assets like precious metals.

Fremantle-based Mermaid Marine Australia will seek to change its name at the company's AGM next month, following acquisition of all Singaporean listed Jaya Holdings' subsidiaries in June.

Woodside Petroleum has donated $1 million to the Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research, while 100 Woodside employees have raised almost $280,000 more through the Ride to Conquer Cancer.

Former copper and gold explorer Quintessential Resources has moved another step towards its scrip takeover of technology incubation company Yonder and Beyond with the appointment of Y&B chief executive Shashi Fernando as a non-executive director.