Mining

Gold explorers have made up half of the final successful applicants for the first round of the state government's new co-funded industry drilling program.

Explorer Silver Swan Group has raised $7 million through a slightly discounted share placement to fund its exploration program in Western Australia.

Emeco Holdings chief executive Laurie Freedman has decided to step down, a month after the company revised down its earnings guidance for the second time this calendar year.

Indicative bids for a strategic 50 per cent holding in Aquila Resources $4 billion West Pilbara iron ore project are expected within two weeks, following a decision by Aquila's estranged joint venture partner to canvass offers for its stake.

West Perth-based miner Norseman Gold has made a stunning debut on the Australian stock market today with its shares closing at a 20 per cent premium.

A Hong Kong-based investment group has spent more than $17 million buying shares in Brockman Resources in a move the iron ore hopeful said is a positive reflection of the company.

Lithium hopeful Galaxy Resources has secured approval from the state's environment department to start construction of the processing plant at its $68 million Mt Cattlin project near Ravensthorpe.

A survey has revealed water demand in the Pilbara region to more than double in the next 20 years, highlighting the need for sustainable water management, the Chamber of Minerals and Energy WA says.

Shares in Kagara have closed higher after drilling at Western Areas' adjacent Flying Fox mine intercepted a good nickel result within the former's Lounge Lizard project.

South Perth-based Cooper Energy says potential exsits for further oil discoveries in the Cooper Basin after testing confirmed the Butlers-1 well is a new oil discovery.

Swick Mining Services plans to raise $14.5 million through a share placement and rights issue to fund expansion plans in North America and the construction of new drilling rigs.

Grain hander and marketer CBH Group has appointed former Wesfarmers executive David Morony as its new chief financial officer.

Mega Uranium has finalised a deal to sell a 35 per cent stake in its Lake Maitland uranium project in Western Australia to three Japanese electricity utilities and Japanese trading house ITOCHU Corporation for US$49 million.

Subiaco-based Chrome Corporation will move into the gold sector after it struck a deal to acquire Papua New Guinea explorer Pacific Nuigini Minerals.

Extract Resources has bowed to requests from several major shareholders to add representatives to the board.

East Perth-based explorer Metals X has announced a restructuring of its board, with founding chairman Peter Newton to retire and managing director Peter Cook to step up to the chairman role.

THE insurance industry is going through a "hard market" where rates are rising and insurers become more selective in the types of risks they are prepared to write.

The uranium industry is a notoriously tough nut to crack, but one local player is making its mark.

CLIVE Jones has boosted his shareholding in Bannerman Resources, exercising more than 4 million options at less than a fifth of the current share price.

A PERTH company has developed materials conveying technology it says could mark the end of large haul and dump trucks in mining, and revolutionise the bulk materials handling industry at ports.

Southern Cross Electrical Engineering will pay up to $5.1 million to acquire FMC Corpration, which operates Hindle Offshore Services and Hindle Electrics, as part of its strategy to re-enter the oil and gas sector.

Premier Colin Barnett says no agreement has been reached with BHP Billiton chief executive Marius Kloppers on the issue of royalties post a proposed Pilbara iron ore merger with Rio Tinto following an hour-and-a-half long meeting today.

Two more ex-Jubilee Mines executives have joined Nedlands-based Talisman Mining with Peter Langworthy and Brian Dawes today appointed executive directors.

Shares in Rio Tinto have slumped as much as 23 per cent in trade today, as the miner launches its $US15.2 billion ($A19 billion) rights issue, one of the world's biggest capital raisings.

Shares in BC Iron have been placed in a trading halt as the company finalises details of a capital raising.

Fortescue Metals Group chief executive Andrew Forrest has gifted nearly $10 million worth of shares to various recipients.

Delays in receiving environmental approval for the $1.8 billion Karara iron ore joint venture have prompted Gindalbie Metals to make redundant 24 employees.

Shares in Perth-based explorer Buru Energy have been placed in a trading halt amid speculation that a $41 million cash takeover proposal by its chairman, using the company's cash reserves, may be dropped.

Gunson Resources will build its processing plant for the Coburn zircon project in Western Australia instead of China as it selects Intermet Engineering as its preferred engineering contractor.

Shares in Perth-based Resolute Mining have risen after the company produced first gold at its redeveloped Syama mine in Mali.

Miner Atlas Iron has confirmed today it will raise up to $117 million to help fund expansion plans of its operations in the Pilbara.

Mid West iron ore hopefuls Gindalbie Metals and Asia Iron are not concerned by a cap on export volumes through Geraldton port, saying the limit only comes into place once the nearby Oakajee port is ready.