Mining

Two well-known mining industry executives will assume control of ASX-listed Brumby Resources in a merger they hope will establish the new company as a producer in the medium term.

Mid West iron ore miner Karara Mining has completed a $US1.48 billion refinancing of its bank debts, providing a share price boost for its part owner Gindalbie Metals.

Global Construction Services has won a scaffolding contract for the Sino Iron project by Citic Pacific Mining.

The environmental watchdog has recommended a six-week exploration drilling program for iron ore near Perenjori, 350 kilometres north of Perth be conditionally approved.

Evolution Mining has snared the Cowal gold mine in central NSW for $US550 million ($A702.74 million).

Shares in workplace provider Skilled Group have jumped 12 per cent after it announced it was in merger talks with rival Programmed Maintenance Services.

Gold, nickel, zinc and copper producer Independence Group has struck a $1.8 billion deal to acquire Sirius Resources.

Gold prices have eased after US Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen said she expected an interest rate hike this year.

Atlas Iron has accepted the state government's iron ore royalty relief program, which will deliver an up-front cash injection of $12.5 million and an expected total benefit of $23 million.

Venturex Resources has signed a conditional term sheet to sell its Pilbara copper-zinc project to a mining-focused investment group for $14 million in cash.

Western Australia has developed a strong edge in resources technology but must continue to invest in innovation as it faces competition from other regional players and beyond, according to the Western Australian Energy Research Alliance.

Fortescue Metals Group chairman Andrew Forrest says Brazilian iron ore giant Vale is a responsible producer, on the same day that Roy Hill Holdings chief executive Barry Fitzgerald warned about the impact of Vale's rapid expansion.

Perth-based gold and base metals miners Metallum and Paradigm Metals have announced plans to raise a combined $3.7 million to fund ongoing work at their respective tenements, while Dynasty Resources announced its intention to raise $2.2 million but then later withdrew its proposal.

Gold fell as the US dollar cut losses on economic data that showed growing economic momentum, but support came from signs the Federal Reserve was unlikely to raise interest rates in June.

Western Australian universities have featured prominently in an expanded research funding program announced by federal Education Minister Christopher Pyne, with three resources-related centres scoring nearly $15 million between them.

Treasurer Joe Hockey has ruled out the federal government initiating an inquiry into iron ore, just one week after Prime Minister Tony Abbott backed the idea.

Mining giant Rio Tinto has been voted as Western Australia's most attractive employer at the annual Randstad Awards, a title it has won twice in three years.

Neale Fong-chaired Chrysalis Resources has announced its intention to enter the tech market by acquiring a Philippines-based company which operates a mobile banking, payments and remittance platform.

UK-based Bushveld Minerals has launched its second takeover bid for local coal explorer Lemur Resources in two years, this time proposing to acquire all the shares it doesn't own in the business for about $10.9 million.

Woodside Petroleum has provided some telling insights into how it plans to achieve $800 million in productivity gains by the end of next year; as well as chopping 600 jobs, it has slashed the number of vendors supplying its Australian business from 3,000 to 800.

Mining giant BHP Billiton has been hit with a $US25 million fine for violating a bribery law by treating foreign officials to trips to the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Gold prices are higher, briefly climbing to a new session high as the US dollar pared its gains after Federal Reserve minutes showed policy makers believed it would be premature to raise interest rates in June.

Oil prices have risen after data showed a drop in US petroleum supplies and production.

Iluka Resources hasn't given up on its United States operations despite incurring an $82 million writedown last year.

Fortescue Metals Group hopes that its calls for an inquiry into the iron ore market will generate enough public pressure to force rivals to rein in their expansion plans.

Mining junior RNI says a number of recent cost-cutting measures included staff redundancies and salary cuts across the board, as the company announced a $26.5 million recapitalisation plan to pay off debt.

Uranium miner Vimy Resources has received a $30 million financing package from a mining-focused private equity fund, to advance ongoing development of its flagship Mulga Rock project near Kalgoorlie.

West Perth-based Liquefied Natural Gas Ltd has tapped investors for a $174 million capital raising to fund ongoing development of its two North American LNG projects.

Gold's five-day rally ran out of steam on Tuesday as the dollar extended gains on strong US data, while global shares rose on the European Central Bank's suggestion it may speed up bond buying.

Oil prices have slumped as resurgent worries about the global supply glut combined with a sharp dollar rally.

Blackham Resources has negotiated a $38.5 million funding package from a mining-focused investment firm to complete a feasibility and bring its Matilda gold project into production.

Aziana has received firm commitments from its two largest shareholders for a $4 million capital raising it is undertaking as part of its reverse takeover of US-based biotech firm BrainChip.