Mining

It might be too early to crack the champagne but junior miners are certainly celebrating the weakening of the Australian dollar, which had lost its traditional connection with commodity prices and

Perth-based mining contractor Barminco has refinanced its existing debts through an issue of high-yield notes in the United States.

Perth-based explorer Bauxite Resources has announced it is buying back up to 10 per cent of its issued stock over a 12 month period.

Mining services provider Macmahon Holdings' shares have shot up by more than 20 per cent after it detailed positive growth in a "changing and challenging environment".

West African gold miner Noble Mineral Resources has halted surface mining operations at its Bibiani project in Ghana, as it evaluates funding options for an underground development.

New Zealand's $NZ22-billion Superannuation Fund has pulled nearly $NZ2 million worth of investment out of Barrick Gold, the world's biggest gold miner citing its human rights and environmental reco

Junior mining stocks Orinoco Gold and Peak Resources have bolstered their coffers with capital raising that will raise a total of $6.1 million.

There are even less inflation hurdles for the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) to cut the cash rate further, if need be.

Fortescue Metals Group is trying to boost its permanent Aboriginal workforce as the company moves from a construction phase into production.

Workers at a Rio Tinto subsidiary in NSW are threatening industrial action to protect job security and protest against "anti-union proposals".

Greater demand from miners and the New Zealand dairy industry has helped explosives and chemicals supplier Orica increase its profits by six per cent.

Fortescue Metals Group has officially opened its Firetail iron ore mine in the Pilbara today, part of a wider $3.2 billion development.

The federal opposition doubts new revenue projections for Labor's mining tax, after an independent body said it would raise just $800 million in its first year.

Perth-based Gunson Resources has become the latest junior mining company to cut pay rates and boardroom numbers in a trend demonstrating the increasingly difficult operating environment for the sec

Arrium is considering selling or dumping businesses in its loss-making steel division, raising the prospect of more heavy job cuts.

Premier Colin Barnett has outlined three reasons the government wants to push ahead with acquiring land at James Price Point, despite Woodside shelving its original plan for the Browse gas project.

Diversified miner Rio Tinto has opened its $US2.2 billion Argyle underground diamond mine in the eastern Kimberley.

Oil and gas producer Santos has committed to a $100 million drilling and appraisal program over the next 12 months in the Northern Territory.

The share price of minerals explorer Aquila Resources took a hit after its Japanese joint venture partner pulled out of some of its Queensland coal exploration permits.

BHP Billiton has sold a copper mine in the US for $US650 million ($A634 million) as the resources giant continues to off-load assets.

Gold prices have closed at their highest level in nearly two weeks, as investors drew confidence from data showing central banks' purchases of the precious metal in March while brisk demand for gold coins, jewellery and bullion bars in Asia continued.

Oil and gas major Chevron says it has made more gas discoveries in the Carnarvon Basin.Chevron has now made 21 discoveries offshore Western Australia since mid-2009.

A group of disgruntled Intrepid Mines investors have moved to remove five of the company’s current directors and replace them with four new ones, blaming the board for the loss of around $1 billion

Investors have rejoiced in Woodside's decision to pay a generous dividend, despite concerns about the company's lack of short-term growth projects.

Oil prices rose in choppy end-of-contract trading, as bargain-hunters moved in following last week's plunge that prompted speculation about a possible cut to OPEC output.

Investors have dumped Oz Minerals stocks to 10-year lows after it slashed production guidance in its quarterly update.

Western Australia is still the nation's economic powerhouse, and the gap between the best- and worst-performing states in the country appears to be widening.

Lynas expects demand for its products to grow over the medium term after beginning production of its first separated rare earths products in the March quarter.

Santos is sticking with its full year production targets despite suffering a slide in the first quarter.

Rio Tinto chief executive Sam Walsh says the company will focus on divesting non-core assets as it strives to save $US5 billion ($A4.87 billion) through to 2014.

Iluka Resources is eager for Chinese apartment dwellers to use tiles in their homes, as the company flags further cuts to production.

Fortescue Metals Group is confident of meeting its full year production targets after unveiling its latest quarterly results.