Mining

Explosives, mining services and chemicals supplier Orica is reviewing the future of its non-mining chemicals business while contemplating a push into the iron ore sector in the Pilbara.

Fortescue Metals Group chief Nev Power has rebutted claims of increased pressure on iron ore producers, while also flagging continued strength in the price of the steel-making ingredient for the ne

Perth-based Independence Group will pay up to $6.5 million to earn-in to prospective base metal tenements held by Alchemy Resources in the northern Goldfields.

US oil prices have slipped after an unexpectedly large rise in US crude inventories.

Continental Coal has secured a short-term funding deal which will allow it to continue trading but at the expense of its chief executive and several other directors.

Mid-tier iron ore miner Atlas Iron has lifted its forecast for shipments of iron ore in its 2014 financial year and says prices for the commodity are strong.

Oil and gas producer Drillsearch Energy has increased its 2014 production guidance by around a million barrels.

Struggling contractor Forge Group has forecast a loss of up to $25 million for the 2014 financial year, slashing its earnings guidance on the back of cost blow-outs at several projects.

Gold prices have slipped as equity markets bounce back from multiple losing sessions, and gold investors wait for a signal from the US central bank on the direction of its economic stimulus program

BC Iron has reaffirmed its full year sales guidance for its Nullagine joint venture project with Fortescue Metals Group.

Poseidon Nickel has suspended its shares from trading on the ASX as it works to secure funding to support the construction of its Windarra project.

Downer EDI has been awarded two contracts with a total value of $100 million by BHP Billiton Iron Ore.

Ausdrill has struck up an alliance with gold explorer Azumah Resources, agreeing to invest $2 million in the company following the appointment of Ausdrill subsidiary African Mining Services as Azumah's preferred mining contractor.

Perth-based concrete construction group Whittens has been awarded a $50 million contract at the $10 billion Roy Hill iron ore project.

Mike Young will take an executive role at Energy and Minerals Australia as a condition of a deal to secure more debt funding for the uranium explorer.

More turbulence in global financial markets has helped press oil prices lower amid rising concerns for global economic growth.

Lycopodium announced today it has entered a non-binding agreement to acquire a majority stake in South African based engineering business ADP Holdings.

Exploration spending in the Western Australian oil and gas sector dropped by more than 10 per cent in the September quarter.

The value of mergers and acquisitions in the Western Australian gold sector over the past 12 months has reached close to $650 million, analysis by Business News has found.

Queensland-based explorer Pacific Niugini has made a $6.8 million bid to purchase an 80 per cent stake in Bulletin Resources' Halls Creek gold projects, dwarfing an original offer from Bulletin's major shareholder Matsa Resources.

Shares in engineering company Forge Group have been placed in a trading for the third time in as many months ahead of an update on its earnings.

Gold futures have risen to the highest price in more than nine weeks, taking cues from a retreat in the US dollar after weaker economic data.

Contractor HWE Mining faces a retrial over the death of a worker at BHP Billiton's Yandi mine in 2008, after a judge overruled an acquittal on charges the firm failed to provide a safe working environment.

Northern Star Resources looks set to emerge as the fifth biggest gold mine operator in Western Australia following its $75 million acquisition of Barrick Gold's majority stake in the East Kundana joint venture and the Kanowna Belle mine.

Gold miner Newcrest Mining is poised for deeper cost cutting after slicing quarterly production costs by 16 per cent.

Energy giant Santos has lifted its December quarter sales revenue 21 per cent thanks to stronger oil production and prices.

Platinum has climbed to the highest price in more than two months ahead of a planned strike in South Africa that may interrupt production in the top producer of the precious metal.

Mount Gibson Iron has achieved record half-year iron ore sales despite posting softer sales results during the December quarter.

Aurora Oil and Gas has boosted its quarterly production and revenue, with a number of new wells coming into production.

BHP Billiton produced record volumes of coal and iron ore in the second half of 2013, despite falls in quarterly production at its petroleum and Pilbara iron ore divisions.

Global crude-oil prices have gained after the IMF raised its forecast for global growth in 2014 and the International Energy Agency upped its prediction of oil consumption growth.

Empire Oil & Gas has appointed former Woodside Petroleum executive Stuart Brown to its board as the company's new management looks to recruit experienced directors to guide its future.