Mining

BHP Billiton will freeze the salaries of its top executives as it continues to manage costs due to an uncertain global economic environment.

Ginadalbie Metals shares have jumped by more than 10 per cent after the Perth-based miner officially opened its dedicated port terminal for the Karara iron ore project in Geraldton this mornin

Federal Resources Minister Martin Ferguson has warned there may be more east coast mine closures as global commodity prices soften and mining royalties rise.

Mining companies should pay to offset the damage their developments cause to the nation's coastal environment, the federal government says.

Two Leighton subsidiaries have won new contracts worth a total of $437 million.

Thermal coal miner New Hope says it is reviewing the pace at which it is developing new projects because of falling coal prices and the strong Australian dollar.

Fortescue Metals Group has resolved its short-term funding problems after securing the backing of global banking groups Credit Suisse and JP Morgan for a new US$4.5 billion credit facility.

Brazilian authorities say they are fining US oil firm Chevron $US17.5 million ($A16.64 million), and likely will impose further penalties, over a major spill off Rio de Janeiro state last year.

Apex Minerals is set to go to market for more funds, with its Wiluna operation expected to become cash-flow positive next month as it ramps up production to between 12,000 and 13,000 ounces of gold

Engineering and construction contractor LogiCamms has won $10 million worth of contracts for the Wiggins Island Export Terminal in Queensland and Australia-Pacific LNG.

Doray Minerals shares have risen after the gold miner announced it had finalised a $55 million funding arrangement for its Andy Well gold mine in the Murchison region.

Forge Group subsidiary Cimeco has received a notice of award for a $70 million engineering and procurement contract at Rio Tinto's West Angelas and Brockman iron ore mines in the Pilbara.

Northern Iron has cut jobs and suspended its exploration program to help offset the effects of falling iron ore prices.

Engineering and construction group Clough has won a key contract at Tap Oil's Manora oil development in the Gulf of Thailand, adding a $US60 million package of works with Pearl Oil to its growing o

Macmahon Holdings is poised to cut its earnings guidance, only a month after the mining services and construction group forecast 20 per cent profit growth for fiscal 2013.

Gold futures have eked out a new six-month high as optimism for demand remained strong in the wake of the US Federal Reserve's newest monetary-easing initiative.

Fortescue Metals Group has had a High Court win that opens the way for a further review of its access to Pilbara rail lines owned by mining giants BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto.

Mobile accomodation manufacturer Desert Plains has gone into voluntary administration after racking up debts of more than $3 million.

A fresh capital raising and further asset sales are believed to be among the options being evaluated by iron ore miner Fortescue Metals Group, which has halted trade in its shares as negotiations c

Shares in Fortescue Metals Group dropped by nearly 14 per cent today, on media speculation that the iron ore miner had asked its lenders to waive its debt covenants for the next 12 months.

NRW Holdings has announced a $133 million contract win, for works at Rio Tinto's Cape Lambert port expansion in the Pilbara.

Production at Newcrest's Cadia Valley underground gold and copper mine in central western NSW has been suspended due to an equipment failure.

LinQ Resources Fund has accepted an off-market takeover bid from Singapore-based investment house IMC Resources that values the target at around $80 million.

Energy Resources of Australia says the shelving of the Olympic Dam expansion and the high costs for Japan to dump nuclear power should see uranium prices rebound strongly.

Former treasurer and attorney-general Christian Porter has backed Gina Rinehart's call for a special economic zone in the nation's north.

Mining contractor MACA has appointed a new chief executive and manager director, with Doug Grewar set to take over from Chris Tuckwell in July.

Australia has been cemented as China's top market for business transactions, with 32 deals being done since 2011, worth a total of $US11 billion, research released today says.

Half of Western Australia's planned resources projects are teetering on the edge of oblivion, partly because of wage blow-outs, the state's former attorney-general Christian Porter warns.

Sirius Resources share price has risen a further 9 per cent this morning as the market responds to yet more positive news from the company's Nova nickel and copper discovery.

Premier Colin Barnett has defended the process behind the Environmental Protection Authority's (EPA) decision to recommend Woodside Petroleum's proposed $30 billion Kimberley gas hub.

Gina Rinehart's youngest daughter has been refused leave to seek to have her family's multimillion-dollar trust fund battle dealt with through mediation.