Mining

Strike Energy has taken advantage of concern about an east coast gas supply shortage by negotiating a $52.5 million offtake deal with Orica to fast-track development of its Cooper Basin assets. Orica has agreed to buy up to 150 petajoules of natural gas over 20 years.

Apache Northwest, Santos and Tap Oil announced today that drilling at the Bianchi-1 natural gas well co-owned by the three companies had confirmed a gas discovery, the second for the companies' offshore Carnarvon Basin joint exploration projects. Bianchi is located in the WA-49-R retention lease, around 60km north-west of Onslow and west of Barrow Island, and approximately 21km south of the Gorgon gas field. It is the second confirmed gas discovery in the retention lease, after the Zola-1 well, owned by the same companies and located about 6.4km south-west of the Bianchi site, tested positive in April 2011.

Rio Tinto has boosted its global iron ore production to a record level during the June 2013 quarter, as it reviews new options to achieve its growth target at its Pilbara operations. Rio has also disclosed the high cost of a legal dispute with Gina Rinehart's company Hancock Prospecting.

Belmont-based NRW Holdings announced today that it had been awarded a major contract at BHP Billiton's Mooka Iron Ore car repair shop site.

Perth companies Aura Energy and South Boulder Mines have announced the appointment of new chairmen, as they strive to make progress on their mining projects.

Perth-based Gold Road Resources has delayed a pre-feasibility study in the belief that project development and operating costs in Western Australia will become cheaper.

The completion of an initial resource estimate for Sirius Resources' second major nickel deposit near Norseman has failed to replicate the market excitement when the ore body was initially discover

Sundance Resources is now fighting legal action on three continents over a 2010 plane crash in west Africa which killed the company's entire board of directors.

Subiaco based oil and gas explorer Jacka Resources has raised $3.25 million through the issuing of 38.5 million shares.

Red Fork Energy has raised $47.7 million to continue development work at its Big River Mississippian project in the United States.

Cash-strapped miner Atlantic has obtained two new sources of funding, with the company using an expected R&D tax refund to secure a $15.3 million bank loan.

A cut in mining investment will leave Australia with a steeper capital expenditure downturn than during the global financial crisis, Standard & Poor's says.

Western Australia's Department of Mines and Petroleum has issued a warning to Pilbara miners following a rise in recovery time for serious injuries.

Clive Palmer says moves to transfer security rights at a West Australian port away from his private company will not stop Mineralogy from being able to export iron ore from the facility.

Arrium has revealed that a one cent fall in the dollar's value is worth $10 million to $12 million in before-tax profit for its struggling steel business.

Poseidon Nickel has hailed new drilling results at its Windarra nickel project and outlined plans to resume drilling in coming months, which meant it expected to re-engage contractors who had finis

Troy Resources has moved to acquire the remaining shares it does not already own in Azimuth Resources, after meeting the minimum acceptance provision of its $188 million takeover bid.

Embattled gold miner Newcrest has told workers at its Telfer mine in Western Australia that some of them will lose their jobs in the next 12 months.

Chile-focused copper explorer Hot Chili has secured $11.7 million to continue development of its Productora copper project in Chile.

Nickel miner Panoramic Resources has exceeded its production guidance for the 2013 financial year, on the back of an 18 per cent rise in output in the June quarter.

Perth logistics company Centurion has won a 10-year contract thought to be worth several hundred million dollars to handle the freight needs of mining giant Rio Tinto across Western Australia.

Gold and iron ore are the newsmakers in Western Australia's mining industry but nickel could be the troublemaker, with most nickel mines now operating at a loss, potentially triggering another roun

Global miner Rio Tinto has started shipping copper concentrate from its Oyu Tolgoi gold and copper mine in Mongolia.

Prominent company director Ian Middlemas has been given the all-clear to chair the board of Aviva Corporation, after receiving the support of a majority of shareholders at a general meeting today.

Just under 40 jobs are set to go as international gold miner Gold Fields makes the move from owner-operated mining to a contracting model at its Agnew underground mine east of Kalgoorlie.

Shares in Australia's Alumina have posted strong gains despite its giant aluminium producing partner Alcoa posting a large quarterly loss.

Ramelius Resources shares have jumped almost 20 per cent after the gold miner posted a record June quarter production result.

Northern Star Resources says its record production during the 2013 financial year largely offset the impact of lower gold prices and led to a record profit, but it hasn't been enough for the miner

World oil prices have eased slightly but concerns over mounting violence in the wake of the military coup in Egypt kept the market firm.

Cleveland Mining shares have gained slightly after the miner was granted a licence to construct a carbon in leach (CIL) processing plant at its Premier gold mine in Brazil.

The price of silver has plunged quicker than that of gold since Federal Reserve boss Bernard Bernanke's positive comments on the US economy three weeks ago.

Biofuels developer Algae.Tec has signed on with refining group Biodiesel Industries Australia to refine algal oil from the Perth-based company's biofuel production facility near Sydney.