Mining giant Xstrata has opened a new $4.5 million accommodation precinct at its Mt Isa mine in north-west Queensland.
The facility will cater for new employees and offer them accommodation for three months.
Xstrata’s Steve de Kruijff says there are 93-bedroom duplex units as part of the complex, which is an environmentally-friendly design.
“We have got a lot [...]

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The Queensland Resources Council (QRC) says despite a jump in the state’s unemployment rate, the mining industry remains strong.
The jobless figure rose to its highest level since 2003 on Thirsday, but QRC chief executive Michael Roche says the resources sector is not to blame.
“The mining industry is going from strength to strength, despite the global [...]

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Mining group Petra Diamonds has discovered a 507.55 carat white diamond at South Africa’s Cullinan mine, one of the largest high-quality rough diamonds ever found, the firm said on Tuesday.
“This spectacular gemstone was recovered on Thursday 24 September and is currently with experts for analysis,” said a statement released by the London-listed company which operates [...]

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The West Australian Government has given final environmental approval for Gindalbie’s multi-billion dollar iron ore project in the state’s mid-west.
Gindalbie is developing the Karara project, east of Geraldton, in a joint venture with Chinese steel producer Ansteel.
It is the final step in the State Government approvals process.
The project will now go to the Federal Environment [...]

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BC Iron has formalised a landmark JV agreement with Fortescue Metals Group (FMG) that puts BC Iron on track to become Australia’s newest iron ore producer in early 2010.
The agreement will see the two companies establish a joint venture to develop BC Iron’s Nullagine Iron Ore Project in Western Australia’s Pilbarra region.
The formation of the [...]

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Mining giant Rio Tinto has scrapped its proposed $US19.5 billion ($24.3 billion) transaction with Chinese company Chinalco in favour of a $US15.2 billion ($19 billion) equity raising and an iron ore joint venture with rival BHP Billiton.

Rio Tinto said this morning the deal with Aluminum Corporation of China (Chinalco), which would have lifted the China [...]

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FORTESCUE Metals Group did not mislead investors about binding agreements with Chinese parties because investors knew that its Pilbara iron ore project was in its infancy, a court has heard.
The Australian Securities and Investments Commission has alleged Fortescue engaged in misleading and deceptive conduct by overstating the nature of deals with three state-owned Chinese companies [...]

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The Northern Territory Mining Minister says the Government will not offer any financial aid to GBS Gold, despite the potential loss of hundreds of Territory jobs.
GBS Gold say it’s had to go into administration because production costs have soared at its mines at Tom’s Gully and Brock’s Creek.
GBS Gold employs about 200 people and it’s [...]

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Global mining giant Rio Tinto Ltd has signed two agreements with the world’s largest copper producer CODELCO, to explore for the base metal in Chile.
The first agreement covers the Esteli prospect which adjoins the Exploradora property in northern Chile. 
The second agreement covers the Paloma prospect near the El Tesoro min and the BHP Billiton Ltd-operated [...]

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An inquest has heard the Beaconsfield Gold mine was warned by its geotechnical officer that the area of a fatal rockfall was not safe for mining, six months before the accident.
The inquest into the death of Larry Knight was shown a memo from geotechnical and geological engineer, Adrian Penney, to another mine manager, expressing concerns [...]

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