ATLAS Iron and Equinox Minerals have joined the ranks of the top 100 Australian companies by being included in the S&P/ASX100 stock index, while six other Western Australia-based firms have been elevated to the S&P/ASX300.
Atlas Iron, headed by David Flanagan, has enjoyed a rapid rise based on its iron ore mining operations in the Pilbara.
It recently reported its maiden profit of $30 million for the half-year to December and has completed a takeover of junior stock Giralia Resources.
Equinox has a lower profile in Australia because its primary listing is the Toronto Stock Exchange and its mining operations are in Africa.
The West Perth-based company has recently completed a $1.2 billion takeover of Citadel Resource Group and has just launched a $4.8 billion bid for Canadian base metals producer Lundin Mining Corporation.
Meanwhile, Ghana-focused gold miner Adamus Resources has joined fellow gold miners Beadell Resources and Ramelius Resources in the top 300 index.
Engineering and construction firm Forge Group, drilling services company Imdex and Matrix Composites & Engineering have also joined the top 300.
Beadell listed just last year, and a series of positive exploration results and successful capital raisings has pushed the stock up to around 83 cents.
Ramelius Resources lodged a $47 million half-year profit midway through last month.
