Edited announcement

Aurora Oil & Gas says it has raised $41 million in a placement and share purchase plan which will be used to fund drilling at its Sugarkane field in Texas.

Apex Minerals has appointed Resolute Mining general manager Allan King as chief operating officer.

Aphrodite Gold has successfully closed its initial public offering (IPO) after raising $9.25 million.

Wasabi Energy and Australian Renewable Fuels (ARF) have decided not to go ahead with a proposed merger but both companies claim theire growth outlook is strong.

Advanced materials company Quickstep Holdings has announced plans to set up a US base in an effort to target and secure defence and aerospace contracts.

Northern Star has secured a $15 million finance facility for its Paulsens gold mine acquisition.

Personal care products company EcoQuest has appointed scientist and businesswoman, Sylvia Tulloch as company chairman.

Neptune Marine has appointed four new senior executives in Australia and overseas.

Mincor Resources believes it has discovered two nickel deposits close to its Miitel Nickel Mine at Kambalda.

Altas Iron has announced the discovery of a new direct shipping grade iron ore prospect at Wodgina, south of Port Hedland.

Poseidon Nickel has identified seven new highly prospective lava channels at its Windarra Nickel Project, west of Kalgoorlie.

Mining equipment company Emeco has appointed former Dyno Nobel chief executive officer Peter Richards as a non-executive director.

The Australian Security and Investment Commission (ASIC) has permanently banned a Perth man from providing financial services.

Cape Lambert has announced a $44 million capital return to shareholders, in the form of a 7 cent per share dividend, following the sale of the Lady Annie project in Queensland.

Canadian company Ivernia has finalised an agreement with Perth-based Prairie Downs to acquire up to 80 per cent of the Prairie Downs lead zinc project in WA.

Mineral Resources has signed a deal with QR Freight to transport iron ore from its planned Yilgarn project to Kwinana.

Former Clough executive vice president, Simon High, has been appointed managing director of Southern Cross Electrical Engineering.

A budget dispute over the Eagle Downs coal project in Queensland has developed between subsidiaries of Perth-based Aquila Resources and its Brazilian partner Vale.

Gold producer Focus Minerals has announced it's has reached agreement to acquire a 75 per cent stake in the Treasure Island gold-copper project near Kambalda.

Aspen Group has replaced its managing director, Angelo Del Borrello, with the company's executive director and co-founder Gavin Hawkins effective immediately.

TSMarine has secured at $US7 million drilling contract with Canadian company Nautilus Minerals.

The value of WA listed companies fell almost 13 per cent in May, with the Deloitte WA Index falling to its lowest level 10 months.

West African Resources has listed on the ASX after an initial public offering (IPO) raised $6.5 million.

Schaffer Corporation has downgraded its half year earnings to $4.5 million compared to $10.5 million for the previous year.

Swick Mining Services has secured another contract with gold mining giant Newmont.

Neptune Marine Services has announced a turn around in its full year profit earnings.

Crosslands Resources has secured non-binding Letters of Intent (LOIs) from North Asian steel mills to purchase more than 50 million tonnes per annum of iron ore from the Jack Hills expansion project.

Western Areas has officially opened its new mine and upgraded plant at Forrestania, south-east of Southern Cross.

Perth based gold explorer Perseus Mining has got the green light for production and construction of its Central Ashanti gold project (CAGP) in Ghana.

Perth-based Orbital Corporation has announced it is not going ahead with a proposed acquisition of a complementary business in the alternative fuels system sector.

Former Rio Tinto managing director Barry Cusack has been appointed as non-executive chairman of iron ore company Brockman Resources.

The receivers of Great Southern have announced plans to sell the company's entire blue gum forestry estate.