Mining

Iluka Resources shares have risen seven per cent after the company reported a sharp increase in quarterly sales revenue.

Shares in West Perth explorer Riedel Resources have skyrocketed after Fortescue Metals Group agreed to farm-in to its Charteris Creek tenement in a deal worth up to $1 million.

BGC has been awarded a contract worth more than $100 million to restart operations at Arrium Mining's Iron Knob mine in South Australia.

Woodside Petroleum has flagged up to $400 million in writedowns ahead of the release of its 2013 full year earnings result next month, with the energy giant reporting lower sales revenue for the year.

Rio Tinto has achieved record iron ore production and shipments in 2013.

Paladin Energy says it is confident of securing the sale of a stake in its flagship Namibian mine as a fall in uranium prices weighed on its December quarter activities report.

Former Exxon Mobil executive Tony Cudmore has been appointed president of corporate affairs at BHP Billiton.

Waste management company Tox Free Solutions has bolstered its order book, securing new contracts with Titan Energy and Rio Tinto's Dampier Salt business.

Oz Minerals shares have jumped 17 per cent after the gold and copper miner said it had realised its production guidance and expects a boost in production and lower costs in 2014.

Fortescue Metals Group has paid back $US1.6 billion ($A1.79 billion) of debt early, lowering its total pile to below $US10 billion.

Australia's largest gold miner Newcrest has extended its debt facility by more than $200 million as it faces a class action from shareholders over its massive financial writedown.

Woodside Petroleum has inked a deal to supply about 1.5 million tonnes of liquefied natural gas over three years to Japanese utility Chubu Electric Power.

Core Services Group has completed a long-planned all-scrip acquisition of Marcon Group worth up to $10.7 million, with an over-subscribed capital raising sealing a deal first announced in November 2012.

Regis Resources says gold recovery at its Garden Well operation is likely to be lower than expected until plant upgrades are completed later this year, with quarterly production at the project coming in below guidance.

Mining giant Rio Tinto has paid more than $1.31 billion for 510 million Turquoise Hill shares under a rights issue, clearing the slate as it develops the Oyu Tolgoi mine in Mongolia.

Forge Group has announced further cost blow-outs of up to $28 million on one of its power station projects, less than two months after telling the market it had defined the full extent of its problems.

Fortescue Metals Group has assumed "full operational responsibility" at its Christmas Creek mine after two fatalities in less than five months, announcing it has purchased the mine's ore processing facilities from Mineral Resources subsidiary Crushing Services International.

MZI Resources has signed an off-take agreement with major shareholder Tricoastal for the purchase of all zircon concentrate produced at its Keysbrook mineral sands project over a five-year period.

Mirabela Nickel chairman Geoff Handley and directors Colin Steyn and Peter Nicholson have all resigned from the board of the embattled company, which remains in a trading freeze as it works to restructure its $US454 million of debt.

Anti-fraccing campaigners are gearing up for a showdown with unconventional gas explorers in WA's Kimberley region ahead of a series of public hearings next month.

Gindalbie Metals has announced the appointment of former Oakajee Port & Rail executive Wayne Zekulich as its new chief financial officer.

Leighton Holdings subsidiary Thiess has won a $135 million contract from Western Desert Resources to lead the mining operations at the Roper Bar iron ore mine in the Northern Territory.

Southern Cross Electrical Engineering has bolstered its order book, securing electrical and instrumentation works worth more than $10 million at Rio Tinto's Nammuldi below water table project.

Rox Resources shares have soared after the minerals explorer announced new nickel sulphide discoveries at its Fisher East project in the Goldfields.

Shares in oil and gas junior Neon Energy have been smashed on the ASX after the company said development at one of its exploration wells was unlikely due to poor test results.

OM Holdings chief executive Peter Toth has announced his resignation from the role in order to take up a senior posting with an unnamed multinational resources group.

Central Norseman Gold Corporation has made 33 staff redundant as Australia's longest continuously-running gold mining operation faces an uncertain future.

Forge Group has entered a trading halt as it prepares to update the market on its financial position after announcing a $127 million profit writedown late last year.

Southern Cross Electrical Engineering has been awarded a $40 million electrical and instrumentation contract at Rio Tinto's Cape Lambert Port B project in the Pilbara and says it is in negotiations with the mining giant to secure further works at the project.

Perth-based mining intelligence provider IntierraRMG has been acquired by American financial information firm SNL, with plans to integrate the companies' databases into a one-stop source of comprehensive information for the global mining industry.

Worries about China continue to weigh on the nation's biggest iron ore miners, despite the release of record shipping figures.

Saracen Mineral Holdings has exceeded its production guidance for the third consecutive quarter and says it is on track to produce more gold for the financial year than initially forecast.