Mining

Rio Tinto has booked a 59 per cent slump in full year net profit due mainly to a writedown of its aluminium business, but underlying earnings jumped eleven per cent.

Gold explorer Westgold Resources has moved to secure up to $80 million in debt funding to help pay for development of its Central Murchison project in Western Australia.

The Australian Greens have again urged federal Labor to increase its proposed mining tax, to better protect industries struggling under the weight of the high Australian dollar.

Leighton Holdings subsidiary Thiess has won a $180 million contract for work at BHP Billiton Mitsubishi Alliance's (BMA) Caval Ridge coal mine in Queensland.

BHP Billiton chief executive Marius Kloppers has blamed complex Labor workplace laws for creating the conditions for current strike action at the company's coal operations.

Australia's sole antimony mine is to be revived under plans by Emu Nickel, which needs to raise $60 million to buy the asset and re-start production.

Rio Tinto has again demonstrated its faith in Asia's growing demand for iron ore by committing $US3.4 billion ($A3.2 billion) to expand its operations in Western Australia's Pilbara region.

BHP Billiton's first-half profit has fallen by 5.5 per cent to $US9.941 billion ($A9.3 billion), due to lower commodity prices and some production constraints.

Swiss mining giant Xstrata has booked a 12 per cent jump in attributable profit for calendar 2011 to a record $US5.78 billion ($5.41 billion) due to increased production volumes, cost savings and h

West Africa-focused gold explorer Taruga Gold has made a flat debut on the Australian Securities Exchange.

Engineering and construction company Clough has won a $140 million contract for work on Inpex's $US34 billion ($A31.82 billion) Ichthys liquefied natural gas (LNG) project.

South African miner Exxaro Resources is 27 per cent shy of reaching the minimum acceptance level in its $338 million take-over bid for Perth-based iron ore explorer African Iron, with one week left

Mining and rail equipment manufacturer Bradken says its first-half profit is up 65 per cent and its full-year expectations remain unchanged.

Gold miner Ramelius Resources says it is on track to begin full production at its Mt Magnet mine in March.Shares in Ramelius finished up 2.5 cents, or 2.25 per cent, at $1.135.

Software provider ISS Group has inked a three-year deal with iron ore miner and existing client Fortescue Metals Group.

Monadelphous has sold its stake in fellow engineering, construction and contracting company Norfolk Group for $24.4 million, reaping a tidy profit in the process.

Open pit mining is set to commence at Gindalbie's $2.57 billion Karara iron ore project in the Mid West, after Downer EDI signed a $570 million mining services contract.

Perth-based exploration junior ElDore Mining has announced a major gold mine acquisition in Zimbabwe, that it says paves the way for it to become a significant producer in 2012.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard is wary of an economy where the only signs of strength are in the mining sector, after hundreds of jobs were slashed in the banking and manufacturing sectors.

Shares in Magma Metals have skyrocketed after nickel miner Panoramic Resources launched a $40 million takeover bid for the base metals explorer.

Coretrack is planning to wind down its Globe Drill business after disclosing a legal dispute over its license agreement and poor performance of its GT3000 drill rig.

Mongolia-focused Xanadu Mines says it seeks to partially sell or completely divest its thermal coal assets in the Asian nation as it simplifies itself into a copper and gold play there.

The mining boom has helped Australia post its second highest level of monthly exports despite an economic slowdown in Asia, economists say.

Rare earths miner Lynas says it has a responsibility to the Malaysian community to operate a newly-approved plant in a safe manner.

Rio Tinto says it will take a controlling stake in South African mineral sands miner Richards Bay Minerals (RBM) through the acquisition of BHP Billiton's 37 per cent interest for an undisclosed su

Beleaguered uranium miner Energy Resources Australia says its 2012 production remains highly dependent on the amount of rain in the Northern Territory during this year's wet season.

Santos' Wortel operation in Indonesia has produced its first gas, the fourth project in the company's base business to begin output in the past eight months.

Norwegian group Yara International has secured control of Burrup Fertilisers after striking a deal with Apache Energy that will see them become joint owners of the business, while also disclosing t

 BHP Billiton may cut up to 155 jobs from its Nickel West business as it curbs activity and restructures roles in reaction to a depressed nickel price and a strong Australian dollar.

Tenix and a joint venture partnership between Theiss and Black & Veatch have been shortlisted for the South Hedland and Karratha wastewater works contract.

More than 25 per cent of all construction in Australia is occurring in Western Australia, where almost $90 billion worth of mining, energy and infrastructure projects are currently underway.

Oil and gas producer AWE is on track to meet its full-year production and revenue targets, while it has lowered its risk exposure to the troubled BassGas project.