Mining

Belt tightening among Western Australia's mining equipment hire operations, miners and mining contractors is pushing record volumes of yellow equipment into auction yards.

Australian resources companies are under-represented in Latin America's mining sector despite its attractive operating environment, according to a seasoned player in the region.

Mermaid Marine Australia employees at the Dampier Supply Base will stop work on Wednesday for five days, while negotiations continue around wages and job security.

A joint venture between AusGroup and Japanese-based Meisei Industrial has won a $197 million subcontract for industrial work at Inpex's Ichthys liquefied natural gas project near Darwin.

Chinese demand continues to drive export growth in Western Australia, with more than 57 per cent ($6.2 billion) of the state's $10.9 billion of goods exports in August bought by China.

The Department of Mines and Petroleum is seeking to recover about $11 million in unpaid royalties amid producer disquiet about possible royalty rate increases.

Fancied explorer Orbis Gold has rejected a $162 million cash bid by fellow West Africa player Semafo.

The Business News annual export review has the latest data on 33 businesses representing $122 billion in outgoing trade. It also shows that while iron ore continues to dominate, the emergence of LNG, agriculture and services will benefit from a lower dollar.

Chalice Gold Mines founder and executive chairman Tim Goyder has taken the role of managing director in a series of board changes that include Bill Bent stepping down from the position today.

Prices for platinum and palladium have fallen, hit by fears that slowing growth in Europe and Asia will impact on demand.

Poseidon Nickel has raised $30 million in an oversubscribed placement to fund development of its Mt Windarra and Lake Johnston projects.

Tin and gold producer Metals X will reward shareholders with an $11 million dividend, the first since the company was listed over a decade ago.

Engineering contractor Monadelphous Group has been awarded a $200 million extension to its facilities management services contract at Chevron's Gorgon project on Barrow Island.

The former managing director of China's Hanlong Mining has been extradited to Australia for what could be the nation's biggest insider trading case.

Oil prices have tumbled as fresh evidence of economic weakness in the eurozone, especially in Germany, added to concerns of slowing global growth and abundant crude supplies.

New data from the Office of the Registrar of Indigenous Corporations have provided clear evidence of the extent to which indigenous communities benefit from iron ore mining in the Pilbara.

Macmahon Holdings has extended its standstill agreement with Mongolian company Erdenes Tavan Tolgoi to allow for more time to negotiate an outstanding $US30 million in payments it's owed.

Mutiny Gold has signed a memorandum of understanding with GR Engineering Services for the construction of a processing facility at its Deflector copper-gold project in the Mid West.

Local miner Western Areas is extending its exploration program in South Australia, inking farm-in and joint venture agreements with Gunson Resources and Monax Mining.

Premier Colin Barnett has strongly criticised Rio Tinto and BHP Billiton, accusing the major iron ore producers of flooding the market and hurting the state.

Shares in Perth-based minerals explorer Talga Resources surged after announcing it would cost $29 million to bring its Swedish graphite mine into production.

About 1,500 jobs will be slashed from Western Australia's public sector in a bid to tackle the state's slowing economy.

Mining giant Rio Tinto has completed the sale of its Mozambique coal assets to International Coal Ventures Private Limited.

Gold prices have risen, after minutes from the Federal Reserve's September meeting showed the central bank expressing concern about a stronger US dollar and weak economic growth overseas.

Ratings agency Standard and Poor's has cut its iron ore price forecasts amid continued weakness in the steel-making commodity.

Exploration firm Energia Minerals says it has received shareholder approval to place $6 million towards its flagship Gorno zinc project in Italy, with pre-development activities planned to begin within six weeks.

BC Iron is close to completing its acquisition of Iron ore Holdings, which was part-owned by media magnate Kerry Stokes.

Perth-based contractor and surveyor OTOC has obtained approval for an $8.1 million debt facility from the Commonwealth Bank of Australia, on top of an $8.2 million facility it was awarded from the CBA last year.

Glencore International has abandoned its bid to merge with Rio Tinto, a day after it was first made public.

Oil prices have sunk amid concerns about slowing economic growth, with WTI dropping to a 17-month low on expectations of a rise in US crude-oil supplies.

Stavely Minerals has secured a $2 million share subscription agreement with its contracted drilling services company, Titeline Drilling, under which Stavely can partly pay its monthly drilling bill in lieu of Titeline's share subscription payment.

Ironbark Zinc says it has lodged a formal application for a 30-year mining licence with the Greenland government for its Citronen base metal project.