BALLARAT GOLDFIELDS (28 FEBRUARY 2001)

Closing date for the prospectus has been extended to 5.00pm on 2 March 2001. For more information, click here.

BEMAX RESOURCES (28 FEBRUARY 2001)

SNAPPER DRILLING RECOMMENCES; RIGHTS ISSUE SUCCESSFUL

PAN AUSTRALIAN RESOURCES (28 FEBRUARY 2001)

Pan Australian enters into option agreement with BHP Minerals over Steere River Project

AUSMELT (28 FEBRUARY 2001)

AUSMELT RECORDS BUMPER HALF YEAR RESULT
The Directors of Ausmelt have reported the best six months in the company's 20-year history in tabling its half-year results.
During the period to the end of December 2000, Ausmelt:

• Signed new contracts worth close to $18 million, including the installation of an Ausmelt technology smelter at Anglo American Platinum Corporation's Rustenburg complex in South Africa and a project with Anhui Tongdu Copper Stock Company in China to modernise its Jinchang Smelter;
• Made excellent progress in the South Australian Steel and Energy Project, with first iron being produced from the demonstration plant last November (Ausmelt retains a direct 5% interest in the SASE Project);
• Doubled operating revenue, excluding abnormals, from $3.4 million to $6.8 million; and
• Increased its market capitalisation from approximately $12 million in June 2000 to around $30 million by year's end.

The increased level of activity has resulted in a substantial improvement in profitability for the half-year. The operating profit, before abnormals and tax, for the half-year was $2,393,894, compared to $603,480 in the corresponding period in 1999. The consolidated economic entity profit after tax for the six months to December 31 was $1,350,108.
Ausmelt Managing Director Paul Abbott says "the Company is very pleased to be in such a strong position, facing a future which promises a great deal by way of enhanced profitability from the sale of its unique suite of technologies and the ongoing development of new projects and products. The Board looks forward to an equally encouraging full year result."
However he notes "We remain aware that Ausmelt's market capitalisation remains considerably below that which would be warranted on any reasonable assessment of the Company, its assets and the substantial future earning potential of its technologies and projects."

BLIGH OIL & MINERALS (28 FEBRUARY 2001)

Half Yearly Report - REVIEW OF OPERATIONS
PRODUCTION
Oil production for the six month period increased from the previous corresponding period to 11,365 barrels (4,901 barrels previously). Average production for the period was 62 barrels of oil per day, Gas production for the six months increased from the previous corresponding period to 146 million cubic feet (70 million cubic feet previously). Gas production averaged 0.8 million cubic feet per day over the period, compared to 0.4 million cubic feet per day previously.

For the 6 months to December 31, 2000 Bligh derived oil and gas production from its 1.62% working interest in the TAWN Joint Venture, Taranaki Basin, New Zealand and also from its 83.33% interest in the Bayou Choctaw Project, Louisiana.

BOLNISI GOLD (28 FEBRUARY 2001)

The Directors are pleased to announce that the dispute at Quartzite Limited ('Quartzite') has been resolved.
The key terms of the settlement of the dispute include:

• All gold dore produced by Quartzite since the end of July 2000, which has been held in storage pending resolution of the dispute and is currently located in Switzerland, is to be refined, the gold sold and proceeds from sale distributed as follows:
  - US$1.5 million will be retained by Quartzite for project refurbishment and operating expenses under the control of Bolnisi Mining Operations NL ('BMO') management;
  - 50% of the balance, estimated to be approximately US$2.0 million, will be paid to BMO as a part loan repayment; and
  - the other 50% will be paid to JSC Madneuli for operating expenses incurred since the end of July 2000.
• BMO personnel will be reinstated to technical and operational management of Quartzite.

BRANDRILL (28 FEBRUARY 2001)

Rock-breaking specialist Brandrill Limited has achieved another major breakthrough in the commercialisation of its PCF(TM) rock-breaking technology with an initial order from WMC for its world-class Olympic Dam project at Roxby Downs in South Australia.

BUKA MINERALS (28 FEBRUARY 2001)

Preliminary information has been received from Noranda Pacific Pty Ltd (75% owner, and manager) regarding the Lady Loretta zinc project. This information takes the form of an overview, or project scoping, for the inaugural meeting of the Lady Loretta Joint Venture Operating Committee.

As part of the feasibility data, Buka has also received a new estimate for the Lady Loretta ore reserve, which represents a substantial increase from the previously published ore reserve estimate.

In this overview, key summary findings of the feasibility study (recently completed by Noranda and its consultants) have been delivered to Buka. It must be stressed that the information is not final and that the Joint Venture partners have taken no decision to commit to development of the Project.

Some more work is yet required - to complete and finalise designs, project negotiations, and to obtain all the necessary regulatory clearances, permits and approvals. Should these permits and approvals be forthcoming, a final b feasibility study could then be compiled. The partners would then meet to consider this final feasibility study and to examine options for project development. This would also require the securing of finance and offtake agreements.

Whilst this feasibility information is not final, Buka considers it is important to release the following basic parameters applicable to a potential project development at Lady Loretta, as supplied by Noranda.

• Ore reserve: 11,500,000 tonnes, grading 15.5% zinc and 5.4% lead
• Capital expenditure for a mine, site infrastructure and concentrator: in the order of A$200m
• Concentrator capacity: 1,000,000 tonnes per year
• Higher grade ore is expected to be treated in the project's early years
• Expected recovery of zinc: 84% zinc recovery into a 55% zinc concentrate (2.7% lead)
• Expected annual production of zinc concentrate: 230,000 tonnes, containing 125,000 tonnes zinc

Buka observes that the scale envisaged for this potential development at Lady Loretta is comparable to other successful base metal mining operations in Australia, including Golden Grove, the Lennard Shelf and Hellyer (recently closed).

CENTAUR MINING & EXPLORATION (28 FEBRUARY 2001)

The US bondholders have extended the period for replenishment of the balance of the DSR to 9 March 2001 whilst a longer term extension is negotiated between the parties.

COEUR D'ALENE MINES (28 FEBRUARY 2001)

Coeur d'Alene Mines, Corporation (NYSE: CDE) reported a net loss attributable to common shareholders for the year ended December 31, 2000 of $45.8 million or $1.29 per share compared to a net loss of $38.9 million or $1.61 per share for 1999.

2000 HIGHLIGHTS

• Record production of 11.7 million ounces of silver at a cash cost of $4.09 per ounce compared to production of 9.6 million ounces of silver at a cash cost of $4.17 in 1999.
• Successful exploration programs increased proven and probable reserves by 16.3 million ounces of silver and 237,000 ounces of gold, before considering 2000 production.
• Produced 144,900 ounces of gold at a cash cost of $348 per ounce compared to production of 151,700 ounces of gold at a cash cost of $290 per ounce in the previous year.
• Discovered and commenced development of the high-grade Cerro Bayo gold-silver deposit near the Fachinal mine in southern Chile. Work completed to date has defined reserves and resources of approximately 312,500 gold equivalent ounces.
• Completed a pre-feasibility study at the San Bartolome silver development project in Bolivia and increased the measured and indicated resource by 35 percent from 106 million ounces to 122 million ounces.
• Sold Coeur's 50 percent shareholding in Gasgoyne Gold Mines NL ("Gasgoyne") of Australia for US$15.6 million.
• Repurchased $31.7 million in face value of the Company's outstanding debentures, significantly lowering future interest payments and recognizing a gain of S16.1 million.
• Received the prestigious John T Ryan safety award in Chile.

DELTA GOLD (28 FEBRUARY 2001)

Perpetual Trustees Australia Ltd increased its relevant interest in Delta Gold Limited on 26/02/2001, from 13,392,099 ordinary shares (5.02%) to 19,833,274 ordinary shares (7.44%).

EMPIRE OIL & GAS (28 FEBRUARY 2001)

Empire has allotted 30,000,000 Shares together with 15,000,000 free options exercisable at 20 cents per share on or before 31 December 2002.
The funds raised are to be used for working capital requirements of the Company to be used for the drilling of wells in the Exmouth Sub- Basin, North West Cape Peninsula, together with some additional work on the Rough Range Well 1B Oilfield to satisfy WADME safety requirements to enable re-commencement of oil production.

JERVOIS MINING (28 FEBRUARY 2001)

Jervois has gained access to new technology for the recovery of nickel and cobalt metal from laterite ores. A Confidentiality Agreement has been entered into with an overseas group, with appropriate expertise, who offered the innovative and 'high tech' process to the Company. The Company has contracted to submit, in the near future, samples totalling 600kg in weight, for appraisal, using the new process. The samples will be drawn from Young and Port Macquarie in NSW and Beaconsfield in Tasmania and initial testing should be completed in about 4 months. One small representative sample from the Young (NSW) resource was tested successfully and similarly favourable results on the larger samples, will lead to more exhaustive testing and ultimately to a semi-mobile demonstration plant, for on site use.
The new process, essentially, is an acid leach process at Atmospheric Pressure and the end product is nickel metal and a saleable cobalt product or metal. The process has the potential to improve the economics of nickel/cobalt recovery from most nickel/cobalt laterites. For obvious reasons, given the potential for a paradigm shift lower in nickel processing costs much of the actual process and 'know how' remains proprietary at the present time.

MAIDEN GOLD (28 FEBRUARY 2001)

Maiden Gold NL advises that programmes for the period to June have been agreed with Anglovaal Mining Limited.
On the Jubilee Reef and Nyanzaga Joint Ventures IP (Induced Polarisation) and ground magnetic surveys to be conducted on both licences covering prospective zones identified by previous exploration. On completion and interpretation of this work, the Joint Venture plans to complete a total of 3,000 to 4,000 metres of RAB (Rotary Air Blast) drilling and between 1000 and 1200 metres of RC (Reverse Circulation) drilling on both licences.
The work programme for the Mwagi Magi and Ngoma Alliance Projects includes approximately 2000m of RAB and IP surveys over selected areas.

Maiden expects all the above work to be completed by the end of the June Quarter.

Following a detailed internal review and a prioritisation of funding, Anglovaal has also elected to reduce the number of Alliance Projects in the Strategic Alliance signed in October 2000. Of the 9 original Alliance Projects, only the Mwagi Magi and Ngoma Projects have been retained. The reduction has no effect on the Joint Venture projects (Jubilee Reef and Nyanzaga) or the Generative budget, which remain intact.

Maiden is free to seek other interested parties with respect to properties released from the alliance and a number of groups have expressed interest in these areas. Maiden expects to be able to Joint Venture these properties over the coming months.

NEW HOLLAND MINING (28 FEBRUARY 2001)

The Company has acquired nine mineral tenements in the Pilbara and southwest region of Western Australia totalling approximately 1,200 square kilometres.
The tenements are prospective for tantalum and have close proximity to the Gwalia flagship tantalum operations of the Greenbushes Mines in the southwest, and the Wodgina Mine in the Pilbara.
Spot prices for tantalum have increased significantly over the past two years. Tantalum is an essential refractory metal used in modern wireless communication. It is anticipated that there will be increasing pressure on prices with a shift worldwide to this technology.

In consideration for the acquisition of this portfolio of tenements the Company will pay $51,000, and issue and allot a total of 16.7 million (sixteen million seven hundred thousand) fully paid ordinary shares in the capital of the Company.

OIL COMPANY OF AUSTRALIA (28 FEBRUARY 2001)

INTERIM PROFIT ANNOUNCEMENT
Oil Company of Australia Limited today announced a net profit of $15.1m for the six months to December 2000. This compares with $21.8m last year which included an abnormal profit of $13.2m as a consequence of the Federal Government Business Tax Reform. Profit before tax was $23.2m compared with $13.7m in the previous period. Sales revenue increased 30% to $46.5m.

Although oil production was down 25% from the previous period the continuing high world price boosted oil revenues by 14%. Production was 323,000 bbls compared with 428,000 bbls and was due in part to tower production at the Kenmore field in the Eromanga Basin. The average oil price for OCA over the six months was A$45.08 compared with A$29.74 in the same period in 1999. This reflects both the impact of changes in crude oil prices and the value of the Australian dollar. The average oil price for the period January-June 2001 is expected to be at the higher level.

Total natural gas sales were up 35% from 6.5 PJ to 8.1 PJ.

OCA spent $19.7m in the drilling of 45 wells during the period, 22 of which were operated by OCA with a success rate of 100%. The operated wells included five (5) conventional gas wells in the Denison Trough, four (4) oil wells in the Bodalla Block in the Eromanga Basin and thirteen (13) coal seam gas (CSG) wells. Twenty-one (21) of the non-operated wells were successful.

OCA continues to expand its activities in the exploration and development of CSG. In the Moura area a further eleven (11) CSG wells were drilled to meet expanding markets in Moura and Gladstone, with sales increasing by 76% to 1.1 PJ compared with the same period in 1999.

The Peat coal seam gas plant was commissioned late in 2000 and two (2) additional development (CSG) wells were drilled ahead of the commencement of supply to the BP Bulwer Island Clean Fuel Project in February 2001. Coal seam gas production will build to around 25 TJ/d in early 2001 with in excess of 80 PJ sales gas now proven in the Moura and Peat fields.

CSG exploration is set to increase significantly with OCA acquiring new acreage in the northern Surat Basin in a joint venture with Surcor Energy Inc and negotiating farmout agreements in the Surat and Bowen Basins. A total of nineteen (19) CSG wells are expected to be drilled in the next six months.

In total OCA anticipates participation in thirty-nine (39) wells (21 operated) in the next six months at a cost of $25m.
Directors declared an interim dividend of three (3) cents per share which will be fully franked. The record date for payment will be Tuesday 12 June 2001 and the dividend will be paid on Tuesday 26 June 2001.

PERILYA (28 FEBRUARY 2001)

Perilya reported in its financial results for the half-year ended 31st December 2000, that revenue and earnings were above budget, with a cash operating surplus of $5.4 million after a strong performance from its Fortnum mine in Western Australia.

After exploration write-offs of $2.1 million and depreciation and amortisation charges of $6.2 million, the Company announced a first half loss after income tax of $0.7 million.

The Company announced to the Australian Stock Exchange today that the Fortnum mine produced a total of 40,920 ounces of gold in the first half of the year, at a grade of 4.13 g/t Au, with cash operating costs of $372 an ounce - 30% below budget.
The Fortnum project has produced approximately 500,000 ounces of gold since being acquired seven years ago.

Managing Director, Mr Tim Clifton, said the performance at the mine in recent years had allowed Perilya to move into a strong financial position with cash, investments and assets readily convertible into cash, of $30.6 million at the end of December.

"The performance at the mine, has given us a strong balance sheet and we are facing the future with confidence," he said.

During the first half Perilya made a strategic investment of $3 million by taking a 24% stake in unlisted oil and gas explorer Strike Oil NL. Settlement of the sale of its interests in the Mount Garnet and Walsh River projects provided the Company with $2.75 million and a 14% interest in Kagara Zinc Limited.

In the second half of the year the Company will continue its encouraging exploration programme at the Durack prospect, 65 kilometres south east of Fortnum, as well as advancing the Flinders Range zinc project in South Australia.

SUN RESOURCES (28 FEBRUARY 2001)

Waitaria #2 in PEP 38335, East Coast Basin, North Island of New Zealand, at 0600 hours WST, 27 February 2001, was at total depth of 2,545 metres (8,347 feet) within the thicker sandstone units at the base of the Tunanui Formation.
Electric logging of the deepened section is currently in progress after which a potentially gas bearing zone of thinly bedded sands over the interval 1,402 to 1,412 metres (4,600 to 4,630 feet) will be tested.

TAP OIL (28 FEBRUARY 2001)

Tap has reported a net profit after tax for the half year of $4.22 million (inclusive of exploration expenditure writedowns of $1.01 million) on revenues of $13.3 million.
This is a 15% increase in profit and a 21.6% increase in revenues on the same period last year (a record profit year for the Company) largely due to higher oil prices and increased gas sales volumes. Specifically, gas sales volumes were up by 8% and oil prices averaged A$55 per bbl compared with A$36 per bbl for the same period last year.

It should be noted that the 31 December 1999 comparative included an abnormal profit item of approximately $1.1 million relating to the change in income tax rates.

Tap is oil track to realise a strong profit performance for the year ending 30 June 2001.

OIL PRODUCTION FORECAST TO INCREASE - GIPSY NOW ON LINE
Oil revenues are expected to increase significantly for the second half with the Gipsy and North Gipsy oil fields now developed and producing over 15,000 barrels of oil per day.

Later in the calendar year, production from the recently discovered Simpson oil field is expected to come on stream at around 10,000 barrels of oil per day, further increasing oil revenue.

WEST OIL (28 FEBRUARY 2001)

Wireline logging of the Puffin-6 Appraisal Well has been completed. These logs confirm that the Lower K1a Sands are water wet and that the oil shows encountered whilst drilling were residual oil shows.
The well is currently being plugged & abandoned.

WOODSIDE PETROLEUM (28 FEBRUARY 2001)

Woodside Petroleum Ltd., Operator of the WA-269-P Joint Venture, reports that the Atlas-1 exploration well located in the Carnarvon Basin was drilling ahead in an 8(1/2) inch hole at a depth of 3768 metres at 0600 hours WST on 27 February.
Since the last report the 14(3/4) inch hole was drilled to a depth of 2588 metres and the 9(5/8) inch casing was set at 2583 metres.
All reported depths (except water depth) are referenced to the rig rotary table.

GIANTS REEF MINING (26 FEBRUARY 2001)

Giants Reef Mining Limited is pleased to advise that it has made a successful offer, subject to normal commercial due diligence and formal documentation, to purchase Normandy Tennant Creek Pty Ltd, ACN 002 910 296 (NTC), a wholly owned subsidiary of Normandy Mining Limited (Normandy).

The purchase includes NTC's equity in the high grade Chariot gold deposit which contains an indicated and inferred 353,000 tonnes @ 20 grams gold per tonne. Chariot, which is situated 5 kilometres west of Giants Reef’s TC8 mill site, is held under a Joint Venture with Pacmin Mining N.L. ACN 066872 839 in which NTC is the manager. The deposit is not yet fully defined and is open at depth. The ore drilled to date is expected to produce 227,000 ounces of which 116,000 ounces will be Giants Reef’s.

This will take Giants Reef from being a junior explorer to a profitable gold producer.

The purchase will secure for Giants Reef, all of NTC's Tennant Creek tenements and assets. The tenements acquired through the purchase of NTC, when added to Giants Reef’s existing tenements, will result in the Company having effective control of the Tennant Creek Mineral Field.

Under the terms of the purchase, Giants Reef will pay Normandy seven million Australian Dollars (A$7,000,000) for the outright purchase of all of the shares in NTC.

In relation to the Chariot deposit, after the first 100,000 Giants Reef owned Troy fine ounces of gold produced, Giants Reef will make a payment to Normandy of thirty dollars, (A$30) for each subsequent Troy fine ounce of gold produced to Giants Reef’s account.

In relation to other tenements held by NTC, a payment will be made to Normandy of A$30 per fine Troy ounce discovered or produced for Giants Reef within 10 years following the date of acquisition. In the case of mineable discoveries made during the ten years, subject to production occurring within a reasonable time to be agreed.

Financial arrangements with bankers and financiers to the purchase are well advanced and Giants Reef is confident that it will, as required under the agreement with Normandy, satisfy the due diligence condition on or before the agreed 16th of March 2001.

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QUEENSLAND GAS COMPANY (26 FEBRUARY 2001)

The Directors of Queensland Gas Company Limited (QGC) are pleased to announce that the company’s ninth well, and third appraisal well on the Argyle coalbed methane field, Argyle No. 3 spudded at 0800 hours on Friday 23 February 2001.

Argyle No. 3 is located within ATP 620P and approximately 900 metres east of the successful QGC Argyle No. 1 exploration well and 25 kilometres south of the township of Chinchilla.

Interests in the Walloon Coal Measures in ATP 620P are:

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CLICK HERE.

ACCLAIM EXPLORATION (26 FEBRUARY 2001)

Wingellina EM Approval - The Company has received approval to carry out a low-level detailed airborne electromagnetic (EM) survey to identify further nickel sulphide, platinum group metals and artesian groundwater targets prior to a reverse circulation drilling programme which is the subject of final discussions with the Traditional Owners and the Ngaanyatjarra Land Council.

BEACH PETROLEUM (26 FEBRUARY 2001)

Beach said its entry today into Australia's geothermal energy vision is a sensible commercial extension of the Company's oil and gas investment in the Cooper Basin.
A joint venture involving Beach, the CSIRO and South Australian Geothermal Energy Pty Limited (SAGE) was named by the South Australian Government today as one of three successful applications for the State's first geothermal exploration licences.

A consortium comprising of SA Geothermal Energy Pty Ltd (45%), CSIRO (45%) and Beach Petroleum NL (10%) has been advised that it will be offered Block HDR2000-A. Block HDR2000-A is located approximately 40km to the northeast of the Moomba gasfields and covers a substantial portion of the Nappamerri Trough of the Cooper Basin.
This area is considered to be Australia's foremost "hot dry rock" province, where rock temperatures commonly exceed 200 degrees Celsius at depths below 3,500m

GUNSON RESOURCES (26 FEBRUARY 2001)

Mount Gunson Copper Project - A recently completed drill hole at Elaine Prospect has confirmed the earlier geological interpretation of a steep, wide breccia zone containing Olympic Dam style iron oxide associated copper-gold mineralisation.
Since the Company's latest quarterly report, wedge hole MGD26-W1 was completed on 12th February. This hole passed through the western contact of a major mineralised breccia zone at 953 metres and was stopped in this zone at 1137 metres after the rig, rated to a depth of 1000 metres, was unable to continue.

Copper sulphide mineralisation as chalcopyrite is considerably more abundant in this breccia zone than in its western fringe. The fringe zone was encountered in the entire basement portion of the first hole, MGD26, and the upper part of the wedge hole. The highest copper value in the breccia zone is 0.5% over a 2 metre interval close to the end of the wedge hole between 1130-1132m, associated with 0.2 g/t gold and 1.8 g/t silver but much higher copper grades are possible to the east (based on geological observations).

JERVOIS MINING (26 FEBRUARY 2001)

The Company has placed 12.0 million shares with 12.0 million attaching options expiring 28th February 2002 at 4.5 cents to raise $540,000 for new working capital. The placement was made to Johnson Taylor Potter Stockbrokers, for a fee of $43,200 (8%).

LIHIR GOLD (26 FEBRUARY 2001)

Preliminary Final Report - HIGHLIGHTS

• Lihir recorded a net profit before write-off and tax for the year of US$37.0 million. This pleasing result was assisted by a realised gold price of US$378 per ounce, gross cash cost reductions of US$16 million and a much-reduced depreciation charge of US$39 million for the year.
• Total cash costs were US$228 per ounce, which included a charge of US$18 per ounce of deferred waste costs.
• A gold price of US$300 per ounce has been assumed for ore reserve calculations, resulting in a revised reserve of 12.8 million ounces. It is 14% more than the reserve announced at year-end 1999, at US$350 per ounce.
• Lihir completed the refinancing of its senior debt facility resulting in reduced interest charges and total debt outstanding.
• Lihir has restated its 1999 accounts recognising an asset impairment of US$236.8 million, resulting from bringing forward the US$325 per ounce gold price that was adopted in July 2000. The 2000 accounts include a further impairment of US$120.7 million following the adoption of a US$300 per ounce gold price. The total impairment is US$126.4 million above that announced in July 2000.
• The low-grade stockpiles and historical exploration costs have been written off.

MATRIX METALS (26 FEBRUARY 2001)

The Directors of Matrix Metals Limited have executed formal loan documentation with Summo Minerals Corporation. This loan facility which is for a total of A$3.25 million is a component of the Heads of Agreement between Matrix and Summo which was previously announced to the ASX on 24 January 2001.
In accordance with the provisions of the loan facility, the first tranche of A$500,000 was received by the Company today.

MINCOR RESOURCES (26 FEBRUARY 2001)

The directors of Mincor Resources NL announced the successful completion of a $5,000,000 placement of ordinary shares. Hartley Poynton has placed 50 million shares at 10 cents to existing shareholders and new investors.
The placement allows Mincor to fully fund its share of the $38 million acquisition of the Miitel Nickel Mine in Kambalda through a combination of the funds received from the placement and previously arranged debt finance facilities.
Settlement with WMC Resources Ltd is scheduled to take place on 28 February 2001.
Following settlement Mincor expects to immediately commence production, benefiting from the work previously undertaken by WMC, Mincor anticipates receiving its first payment in early April in respect of nickel ore delivered to WMC's nickel concentrator pursuant to the off-take agreement.

NORTHERN GOLD (26 FEBRUARY 2001)

Northern Gold NL has recorded a consolidated net profit after tax for the half year to 31 December 2000 of $6.8 million.
This result includes the close-out of the Northern Gold hedge contracts, which resulted in a profit of $1.7 million, and the recognition of previously deferred income of $4.9 million. The cash proceeds of the close-out have been applied to strengthening the Company's financial position, which brings the Company's current cash balance to approximately A$12.7 million.

During the half year ended 31 December 2000, the Company maintained and continued to explore its extensive ground holdings within the Pine Creek region of the Northern Territory with work focused on the Mt Paqualin area.

NOVUS PETROLEUM (26 FEBRUARY 2001)

AMP Limited increased its relevant interest in Novus Petroleum Limited on 22/02/2001, from 19,798,793 ordinary shares (12.41%) to 21,419,457 ordinary shares (13.43%).

OROGEN MINERALS (26 FEBRUARY 2001)

Preliminary Final Report - HIGHLIGHTS

• Orogen earned a Profit after Tax, before abnormal items, of US$68.2 million (A$118.7 million), 54% higher than in 1999 and a record for the Company. Earnings per share before abnormal items were US 21.2 cents (A 37.0 cents), compared to US 13.7 cents (A 21.1 cents) in 1999. The Company's Price to Earnings Ratio based on the current share price of A$1.40 per share is 3.8 times.
• A final dividend of US 2.5 cents (A 4.7 cents) per share has been declared. Together with the interim dividend of US 2.5 cents (A 43 cents), the total dividend payment for 2000 is US 5.0 cents (A 9.0 cents), representing a dividend yield of 6.4% based on the current share price.
• Operating cash flow in 2000 was US$140.4 million (A$244.3 million) or US 43.7 cents (A 76.0 cents) per share.
• As at 31 December, Orogen had net assets of US$426.5 million (US$1.33 or A$2.37 per share), no debt, cash of US$40.4 million and an undrawn line of credit for US$84.4 million.
• Orogen's share of oil production from the Kutubu, Gobe and Moran Oil Fields in 2000 was 6.22 million barrels, 6% higher than in 1999. The average realised oil price was US$27.41 per barrel, a 52% increase on the 1999 average price of US$18.05 per barrel, while average cash operating costs were US$5.43 per barrel.
• Orogen's share of gold production from the Porgera Gold Mine was 182,087 ounces, 31% higher than in 1999. The average gold price received was US$309 per ounce (US$328 per ounce in 1999). Cash costs averaged US$141 per ounce, 11% lower than in 1999.

1. All A$ amounts stated in this report are converted from US$ figures. Balance sheet items have been converted at the year end rate of A$1.00=US$0.5600, while profit and loss and cash flow items have been converted at the average spot rate of A$1.00=US$0.5747.

PANCONTINENTAL OIL & GAS (26 FEBRUARY 2001)

At 1800 hrs, 25 February 2001, the Waitaria 2 well was drilling ahead at 2358 metres in the Tunanui Formation.
For the interval 2140 to 2358 metres, down-hole cutting samples and drilling penetration rates indicate only a few, 1 to 2 metre thick, fine to very fine grained sandstone beds of poor quality, interbedded within tight, calcareous, siltstones.
Background gas levels increased up to 0.16% from 0.11% after the mud weight was reduced from 16.0 to 15.8 pounds per gallon (ppg). Chromatograph reading for methane ranged up to 875 parts per million (ppm) and ethane up to 102 ppm. No formation gas peaks or fluorescence was observed.

SONS OF GWALIA (26 FEBRUARY 2001)

Sons of Gwalia Ltd, wishes to advise the appointment of Mr Stephen Pearce to the position of Chief Financial Officer of the Company.

TAIPAN RESOURCES (26 FEBRUARY 2001)

St Barbara Mines Limited increased its relevant interest in Taipan Resources NL on 23/02/2001, from 21,241,765 ordinary shares (9.84%) to 51,158,829 ordinary shares (23.69%).

TITAN RESOURCES (26 FEBRUARY 2001)

Titan Resources NL reported an operating profit after tax of $3.1 million for the half year ending 31 December 2000, compared to a profit of $1.5 million for the previous half year period.

WEST AUSTRALIAN METALS (26 FEBRUARY 2001)

West Australian Metals has concluded an agreement to purchase three mining properties in the Duketon belt north of Laverton in Western Australia's eastern goldfields region.
The three properties, namely M38/302 "The Anchor", M38/346 "Cork Tree Well" and P38/2659 "No Mistake" are being purchased from Minerichie Investments Pty Ltd and Messrs N & C Johnson. The consideration for the purchase is for WME to pay $200,000 cash and issue 5,000,000 fully paid ordinary shares and 5,000,000 options, exercisable at 20 cents each on or before 15 September 2002. Further, on or before 1 July 2001, WME will pay a further $300 per ounce for every ounce of gold up to a total of 4,200 ounces sold by WME from The Anchor between now and 20 June 2001, and further still, on or before 31 July 2001, WME will pay a Anther $250 per ounce for every ounce of gold in excess of 4,200 ounces sold by WME by 20 June 2001.

Royalty agreements are in existence relating to the Anchor and Cork Tree Well properties, The royalty payable on The Anchor tenement is 20 cents per tonne of ore mined. The royalty on the Cork Tree Well tenement is for 50 cents per tonne of ore mined and treated.

WME expects to sell any gold bearing ore at the prevailing gold price less costs of treating and cartage, which are estimated to be between $40 and $50 per tonne. Last year the vendors produced 22,642 tonnes of are mined and treated yielding 26.76 g/t Au (19,483 ounces.) from the Anchor tenement.

WESTERN METALS (26 FEBRUARY 2001)

Western Metals today announced the appointment of Mr Geoff Wedlock as Managing Director and CEO.

WEST OIL (26 FEBRUARY 2001)

The Puffin-6 Appraisal Well, which is located in permit AC/P22, has been drilled to a total depth of 2,326 metres.
A sandstone, which is considered to be the K1a reservoir objective, was intersected at approximately 2,070 metres. While drilling this sandstone unit, hydrocarbon shows were reported over a gross 26 metre interval.
Evaluation of wireline logs indicates that there is unlikely to be movable hydrocarbons trapped within the K1a Sandstone at Puffin 6 and that the hydrocarbon shows are residual.
The K5/6 Sandstone was intersected about 200 metres below the top of the K1a Sandstone. As in Puffin 5, this sandstone does not appear to contain hydrocarbons.
Seismic remapping and delineation of the oil accumulation centred on Puffin-5 based on the information gained from Puffin-6 will now commence to ascertain any possible economic viability.

MINASCO AUSTRALIA (24 FEBRUARY 2001)

• 34 UNITS CATERPILLAR, HITACHI & TAMROCK.
• $2M PARTS & SERVICE EXCHANGE INVENTORY

For details, click here.

BALLARAT GOLDFIELDS (24 FEBRUARY 2001)

BRITANNIA GOLD (24 FEBRUARY 2001)

CALTEX AUSTRALIA (24 FEBRUARY 2001)

CUE ENERGY RESOURCES (24 FEBRUARY 2001)

SUMMARY OF THE OFFER - RIGHTS ISSUE DETAILS

To subscribe for one (1) ordinary Cue Energy Resources share (the "New Shares") for every four (4) Existing Shares you currently hold.
The subscription price for the New Shares is A$0.04 each, to be paid in Australian currency.
To subscribe for the New Shares you must return your completed Entitlement and Acceptance Form together with payment in full to be received before 5.00pm on 30 March 2001.
The issue, which will raise approximately A$2.97 million in new capital for Cue Energy Resources, is not being underwritten.

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DELTA GOLD (24 FEBRUARY 2001)

Delta announced a half-year profit after tax of $17.1 million, an increase of 62% on the previous corresponding half-year period.

Revenue increased by 20% to $171.2 million and reflects an impressive contribution from Delta's hedge book. The gold price realised increased to $565 per ounce from $479 per ounce in the half-year ended December 1999, and represents $71 per ounce more than the average spot price during the period.

Total gold shipments of 302,927 ounces were achieved, 2% more than the previous corresponding half-year.

Delta Gold Chief Executive, Terry Burgess, said:
"Kanowna Belle's excellent performance was a key driver in Delta's improved half-year profit result and provided more than $25 million in earnings. Attributable production from Kanowna Belle increased 45% to 148,000 ounces while total production costs reduced by 13%".

Delta's mines provided strong operating cash inflows of $42.0 million and a cash margin of $255 per ounce was achieved. During the period, $89.3 million was invested, including the second and final $45 million instalment for the remaining 50% of Kanowna Belle and $7.4 million spent on exploration.

Mr Burgess added:
"The development of the major Wallaby project at Granny Smith commenced in late 2000 and the Wallaby resource is now 7.1 million ounces. Granny Smith and Kanowna Belle are both quality, long-life mines and Delta's exploration effort is focussed on the highly prospective regions around these core mines".

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EAGLE BAY RESOURCES (24 FEBRUARY 2001)

LONGREACH GOLD OIL (24 FEBRUARY 2001)

NEWCREST MINING (24 FEBRUARY 2001)

NORWEST ENERGY (24 FEBRUARY 2001)

PACMIN MINING CORPORATION (24 FEBRUARY 2001)

STRATA MINING CORPORATION (24 FEBRUARY 2001)

SUN RESOURCES (24 FEBRUARY 2001)

WOODSIDE PETROLEUM (24 FEBRUARY 2001)

MINERAL DEPOSITS (23 FEBRUARY 2001)

BEACH PETROLEUM (23 FEBRUARY 2001)

CONSOLIDATED MINERALS (23 FEBRUARY 2001)

KIDSTON GOLD MINES (23 FEBRUARY 2001)

NORWEST ENERGY (23 FEBRUARY 2001)

SANTOS (23 FEBRUARY 2001)

SUN RESOURCES (23 FEBRUARY 2001)

WESTERN METALS (23 FEBRUARY 2001)

MINERAL DEPOSITS (22 FEBRUARY 2001)

GOVERNMENT APPROVES FULLERTON EXTENSION

ALCASTON MINING (22 FEBRUARY 2001)

AQUARIUS PLATINUM (22 FEBRUARY 2001)

AUSTRALIAN HERITAGE GROUP (22 FEBRUARY 2001)

BLIGH OIL & MINERALS (22 FEBRUARY 2001)

HARDMAN RESOURCES (22 FEBRUARY 2001)

SELWYN MINES (22 FEBRUARY 2001)

SOUTHERN CROSS EXPLORATION (22 FEBRUARY 2001)

SUN RESOURCES (22 FEBRUARY 2001)

TRIBUNE RESOURCES (22 FEBRUARY 2001)

UNION CAPITAL (22 FEBRUARY 2001)

WEST OIL (22 FEBRUARY 2001)

WOODSIDE PETROLEUM (22 FEBRUARY 2001)

LAKES OIL (21 FEBRUARY 2001)

MEDIA RELEASE

21-2-01

Lakes Oil NL advises that its offshore Troas prospect in the Otway Basin, S.A., has been estimated to hold recoverable gas reserves of 325BCF to 427BCF worth between $40 million to $88 million.

Taking a mid-range value of $64 million, this equals about 11 cents a share.

There are possible larger recoverable reserves in the broader Troas complex of 874BCF yielding a NPV up to $127 million from much larger cash flows.

These estimates are contained in a detailed report on EPP 24 obtained from Prospect Evaluation Pty Ltd, which stresses the need for flow testing and market availability in its sums.

Mr Robert Annells, chairman, LKO, said: "We have now moved to 100 per cent ownership of the "Troas" prospect and are negotiating for a drilling rig "slot" in the first quarter of 2002.

"The mooted construction of an Adelaide-Melbourne pipeline and deregulation of gas markets puts Lakes in a prime position to supply these markets.

"We believe we are ideally suited to find one or more farm-in partners to carry Lakes in a reduced percentage through the drilling of EPP24."

The proposed redrilling of the "Troas" prospect follows an original probe in 1992 in which the then operator estimated gas reserves of up to 600BCF with a maximum recoverable reserve of 480BCF. These are estimates only as the early well was never tested. For more information, click here.

ICON ENERGY (21 FEBRUARY 2001)

Activity Report

Following extensive negotiations and contract agreements reached in the United States over the past two weeks, Icon is pleased to announce an accelerated drilling programme will commence shortly in Louisiana USA.

The initial drilling programme will be expanded up to seven wells which are a mix of workovers, new shallow and deep wells. This comprehensive drilling programme is expected to commence in late March/early April subject to the release of the drilling rigs from wells being drilled by the drilling contractors prior to Icon’s programme. The drilling targets are aimed at oil and gas development with one deep exploration gas well planned in the second half of the year. Site preparation is underway and permits have been obtained for the intial drilling.

Icon was prudent to have reserved drilling slots last year when equipment shortages were imminent. If it were not for this move, Icon would have been unable to commence drilling until late this year or early next year. The petroleum industry in the USA is experiencing equipment and staff shortages following the Californian power/gas crisis early this year.

In order to fund this accelerated drilling programme Icon is pleased to announce that it has reached agreement with Bligh Oil and Minerals NL to cross assign certain interests in the Victory Financial Lease and the Wilberts HBP Lease.

Icon and Bligh are already joint venture partners in the Wilberts HBP development block where Icon already has a 16.67% working interest. Icon has the right under the agreements to earn an additional 23.33% in the Wilberts HBP lease increasing Icon’s working interest to 40.0%.

Bligh has a right to earn an interest in the Victory Financial lease in which Icon’s current working interest is 100%.

The assignments bring considerable benefit to both parties not least of which is the combined capacity to fund the increased drilling development programme and accelerate the development schedule.

Documentation of the Icon/Bligh deal is being finalised and details of the cross assignments will be announced as soon as these agreements are completed.

Icon’s oil production from Bayou Choctaw is expected to grow significantly over the next few months as development wells come on production. Gas production is insignificant at this point and is used to run production equipment. No gas sales are currently made.

In Queensland, Icon and its joint venture partners have announced the application for a Production Licence over the gas discovery at Argyle #1 in ATP 620P in the Surat Basin. The third well, Argyle #5 in ATP 620P is being tested following the successful tests conducted in Argyle #1 and #2 which flowed gas at rates of over 1 million and 350,000 cubic feet of gas per day respectively. Argyle # 3 and #4 locations have been delayed due to seasonal rains. Negotiations are under way to market Argyle gas to the electric power utility CS Energy. Icon’s interest in ATP 620P is 12.5% in this initial development. Argyle # 1 and #2 have been completed for production and are currently suspended following successful testing.

Icon is carried under a farmout agreement with Queensland Gas Company Ltd through a further 6 wells in ATP 610P, 648P and 632P.

Fore more information on Icon, click here.

QUEENSLAND GAS COMPANY (21 FEBRUARY 2001)

The Directors of Queensland Gas Company Limited (QGC) announce that Argyle No. 5, the second appraisal well of the Argyle coalbed methane field, spudded on 8th February 2001 and at 0800 hrs today was at a total depth of 391 metres and undergoing testing (updated with operation at 0800 hrs).

Drill stem testing of individual coal seams during the drilling indicates all target seams have good permeability and high gas saturation. This has been confirmed at total depth by a flow test of 1200 barrels per day of water and 31000 cubic feet per day of gas. Such a strong flow of gas and water is an excellent early result when compared with typical CBM wells in the Powder River Basin of the United States which initially flow only water with little or no free gas but become prolific gas producers as the seams are dewatered.

The Directors of QGC believe that Argyle No. 5 will be a very significant producer of CBM and it is intended that the well will be completed and dewatering operations commenced immediately.

Argyle No. 5 is located within ATP 620P and approximately 1.2 kilometres south of the successful QGC Argyle No. 2 exploration well and 25 kilometres south of the township of Chinchilla. The Argyle No. 3 and No. 4 sites were inaccessible owing to heavy rain and will be drilled after completion of the No. 5 well.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CLICK HERE.

AUSTRALIAN OIL & GAS CORPORATION (21 FEBRUARY 2001)

FINANCIAL RESULTS
The result for the six months ended 31 December 2000 was an after tax profit of $3.0 million (6.4 cents per share) compared to a loss of $0.7 million for the corresponding half year ended 31 December 1999.
The profit was derived from revenue of $59.7 million compared to $31.0 million for the previous year's half, an increase of 93%.

DIVIDEND
An interim dividend of 4 cents a stock unit, franked as to 1.1 cents will be paid on the 4th of May 2001 to shareholders registered at 5.00pm on the 27th of April 2001.

OPERATIONS
A key factor in the increase of drilling rig utilisation and resultant profitability has been the maintenance of crude oil prices above US$25 a barrel. This price level has stimulated both exploration and development drilling on a worldwide basis in contrast to the low levels of activity resulting from the previous price levels of less than US$15 a barrel.

The rig utilisation rate increased in the half year to 54% from the low of 37% experienced at the same time last year. Debt levels have remained low as activity increased despite the pressures on additional working capital requirements.

There has been a significant increase in the number of enquiries for the Company's services including tenders for long term contracts in major oil and gas producing countries. Some of these tenders, if successful, will result in appreciable capital expenditure, and resultant stable long-term profitable contracts.

Your Company has continued to operate a total of 23 rigs and 6 workover units which are located in Australia, New Zealand, Indonesia, Oman, Libya, the Gulf of Mexico and Argentina.

The current contract book is satisfactory and barring unforeseen events the likelihood of maintaining and improving upon the present positive results is excellent.

BLIGH OIL & MINERALS (21 FEBRUARY 2001)

The Rimu-A2 has been drilled to a total depth of 4696 metres. The basement thrust block was thicker than anticipated at this location, and consequently the lower Tariki Sandstone was not encountered. Testing of the Upper Tariki Sandstone zone will be carried out once wireline logging operations have been completed.

DIORO EXPLORATION (21 FEBRUARY 2001)

Further encouraging results from the ongoing drilling program at the Mungari East project being conducted by Mines and Resources Australia Pty Ltd on behalf of the joint venture.

INTERSECTION HIGHLIGHTS

Diamond Drilling at north end of Frog's Leg:

• 23 metres @ 9.72 g/t from 121 metres downhole depth (inc 10m @ 16.95 g/t)
• 8 metres @ 8.68 g/t from 224 metres downhole depth
• 3 metres @ 15.19 g/t from 256 metres downhole depth

Final results from re-sampling of RC holes at south end of Frog's Leg:

• 16 metres @ 13.24 g/t from 96 metres downhole depth (inc 8m @ 24.82 g/t)
• 6 metres @ 13.05 g/t from 80 metres downhole depth (inc 1m @ 73.32 g/t)

New Composite assay results from infill RC holes at various locations at Frog's Leg:

• 12 metres @ 9.78 g/t from 28 metres downhole depth
• 40 metres @ 3.20 g/t from 24 metres downhole depth

IVANHOE MINES (21 FEBRUARY 2001)

IVANHOE'S EXPLORATION TEAM DISCOVERS A HIGH-GRADE MINERALIZED GOLD SYSTEM IN MYANMAR
Recent work by Ivanhoe's exploration team has discovered a promising new gold-bearing vein system in a concession located in central Myanmar, approximately 100 kilometres north of the capital city of Yangon. The project is accessible by road and is 10 kilometres from a major highway. For competitive reasons, the exact location is not being disclosed at this time. To date, exploration has focused on driving adits, trenching and channel sampling on a number of quartz veins in the prospect area. Throughout the prospect area, measuring three kilometres by two kilometres, visible gold occurs in persistent quartz veins, which outcrop over a 400-metre vertical interval.

SOUTH KOREA: EXPLORATION RESULTS REVEAL AN IMPORTANT NEW MINERALIZED GOLD/SILVER DISTRICT
A four-year program of systematic evaluation of mineralized prospects by Ivanhoe Mines' geologists has led to the grassroots discovery of two significant, epithermal gold-silver vein systems in South Korea. Both projects are located in the southwest coastal region. For competitive reasons, the company is not disclosing the specific locations at this time. Ivanhoe has secured all necessary mining and surface rights to both discovery areas.

KIMBERLEY DIAMOND COMPANY (21 FEBRUARY 2001)

The offer to raise up to $6,000,000 has closed over subscribed.

MAJESTIC RESOURCES (21 FEBRUARY 2001)

Perth diamond producer Majestic Resources NL plans to give the green light in May to its third South African mine after buying a highly prospective new resource near Kimberley.
The Orange River Project, in the richest alluvial diamond province in the world, has been described by Majestic's Exploration Director, Manfred Marx, as containing the best alluvial gravel resource he has seen in the district after completing an extensive drilling program over the past three months.
Orange River, on the Elsiesdrift Farm, is less than 10 kilometres from the world's biggest alluvial diamond miner, Trans Hex's, Saxendrift Diamond Mine, from which a diamond of 213 carats was recovered late last year.
A 210 carat diamond was also found about three months ago from the Beatrice Mine, adjacent to the Orange River property, which sold for a reported $5 million.

NEWCREST MINING (21 FEBRUARY 2001)

Newcrest Mining advises it has undertaken a corporate reorganisation to optimise the management of its existing operations and the development of its significant pipeline of future projects.

As part of the corporate reorganisation, the two dedicated divisions of Project Development and Operations have been formed. This has replaced the previous divisional operations/project structure of East and West.
Bruce Price is now Executive General Manager of Project Development. He will be based in Newcrest's Perth office and will assume responsibility for the feasibility and potential development of the Company's Telfer projects and will continue to be responsible for all ongoing construction and commissioning of the Ridgeway project.
The sydney office of Newcrest will be closed.

Steve Reid who joined Newcrest in December 2000 from Placer Dome Inc as the new Executive General Manager of Operations will be responsible for the Company's mining operations, including Gosowong, Cadia, New Celebration and Boddington interest, together with Corporate Development activities. His significant operational and management experience on numerous large projects brings a wealth of skills to Newcrest. The Operations group management will be located in the Melbourne Office.

The corporate reorganisation has unfortunately required a number of redundancies. All personnel are being assisted with out-placement services and other counselling.

SANTOS (21 FEBRUARY 2001)

The Santos Group, as Operator for PEP 154 announces the discovery of a new gas field in the Victorian section of the Otway Basin.
The exploration wildcat well McIntee 1 has intersected a 16.5m net gas column in the Cretaceous Waarre Sandstone over the interval 1539.5m to 1556m.
The McIntee 1 well is located 10km West-northwest of the Mylor 1 gas well and 14km west-northwest of the Heytesbury Gas Facility.
McIntee 1 reached a total depth of 1803m and is being further evaluated by wireline logs.

The proximity of the discovery to the recently constructed Heytesbury Gas Facility will allow early connection and sale of the discovery. Currently Mylor 1 and Fenton Creek 1 are on production through the Heytesbury facility.
McIntee 1 is the first well of a four well program in PEP's 153 and 154.

SUN RESOURCES (21 FEBRUARY 2001)

Waitaria #2 in PEP 38335, East Coast Basin, North Island of New Zealand, at 0600 hours WST, 20 February 2001, is still at 2,140 metres (7,020 feet).
A testing proposal has been put to the joint venture by the operator of a test of a potentially gas bearing zone of thinly bedded sands over the interval 1,402 to 4,112 metres (4,600 to 4,630 feet). A decision by all participants will be made this morning on proceeding with this operation or drilling ahead to a depth of 2,239 to 2,950 metres (8,000 to 8,500 feet) before reviewing the situation. Current biostratigraphic information from the well indicates that the thicker quality reservoir sandstone units within and at the base of the Tunanui Formation have yet to be encountered.

WEST OIL (21 FEBRUARY 2001)

West Oil advises that at 6:00am CST the Puffin-6 appraisal well was at 1,596 metres and drilling ahead.
Puffin-6 is an appraisal well which will test the southwest culmination of the Puffin Oilfield which has the potential for recoverable reserves of 55 million barrels. The well is 3.5 kilometres southwest of Puffin-5 which intersected a 9.4 metre oil column in the Lower Kla Sand in June 2000.

WOODSIDE PETROLEUM (21 FEBRUARY 2001)

Woodside Petroleum Ltd, Operator of the WA-269-P Joint Venture, reports that the Atlas-1 exploration well located in the Carnarvon Basin was spudded at 0400 hours WST on 20 February 2001. At 0600 hours WST an 20 February the operation was jetting the 30 inch conductor.
The Marine 500 drill rig is drilling the well. The location is approximately 240 kilometres northwest of Karratha. Water depth at the location is 1395 metres. Planned total depth is 4243 metres.

MOUNT BURGESS MINING (20 FEBRUARY 2001)

Tsumkwe Diamond Project-Namibia/Share Buy-Back

TSUMKWE DIAMOND PROJECT, NAMIBIA

This is to inform you that the Company has recommenced exploration at its Tsumkwe Diamond Project in Namibia.

As a consequence of the interpretation of data acquired from drilling and loam sampling during the previous field season, three discretekimberlitic garnet anomalies have now been delineated.

The area containing two of the garnet anomalies, the Nyae Nyae and Khabi anomalies, has undergone a detailed assessment by Mackay & Schnellmann Pty Ltd, an independent firm of consulting diamond geologists. Mackay & Schnellmann's assessment of all available data concludes that there is a likely kimberlitic source within close proximity to the Nyae Nyae and Khabi anomalies.

As a result of this study, 18 potential kimberlite targets have been identified for drilling.

These targets together with a number of other targets throughout the project area will be drill tested commencing the 26th of February 2001. Field operations in preparation for this drilling which include ground magnetics and electro-magnetics have now commenced.

SHARE BUY-BACK

The Company has to a large degree achieved its objective to reduce its issued share capital through an on market share buy-back. The issued share capital has been reduced by 9,066,135 from 110,566,135 on issue prior to the commencement of the buy-back to 101,500,000 as it now stands. Consequently the Company has resolved to terminate the buy-back.

For more information, click here.

AQUILA RESOURCES (20 FEBRUARY 2001)

Notice of General Meeting

RESOLUTION 1 - PLACEMENT OF ORDINARY SHARES TO RAISE $10 MILLION - of 8,333,333 fully paid ordinary shares at $1.20 per share (or such higher number of shares as will raise $10 million at an issue price of no less than 80% of the average market price calculated over the last 5 days on which sales of the Company's shares were recorded before the day on which the issue was made or, if there is a prospectus relating to the issue, over the last 5 days on which sales of the Company's shares were recorded before the prospectus is signed), to clients of Member Organisations of Australian Stock Exchange Limited.

ENERGY EQUITY CORPORATION (20 FEBRUARY 2001)

Energy Equity Corporation Ltd (EEC) is pleased to announce that agreement has been reached between PLN, the Indonesian Electricity company and PT Energi Sengkang, the operator of the Sengkang Power Project (PTES is owned 47.5% by EEC) with respect to its power project in Sulawesi, Indonesia.
This agreement includes a settlement of all outstanding issues, a revised tariff and an extension of the plant capacity from 135MW.
Formal documentation of this agreement is now in progress and is expected to be completed within the next few weeks.

GEOGRAPHE RESOURCES (20 FEBRUARY 2001)

Geographe Resources announced a two stage conditional agreement to acquire Spacelift Australia Limited, a company focused on developing an integrated satellite launching service in Australia using proven Russian space technology.
To fund part of this investment Geographe intends to raise up to $1.24 million (with a minimum of $1 million) before expenses by way of a placement of shares and options to clients of CIBC World Markets. The shares will be new ordinary shares placed at a price of 20 cents each with a free option for each share exercisable at 20 cents before or on 31 December 2003.

The suspension of trading in the securities of Geographe Resources Limited (the "Company") will be lifted before the commencement of trading on Tuesday 20 February 2001

KIMBERLEY DIAMOND COMPANY (20 FEBRUARY 2001)

KDC advised a total of 1,415 (one thousand four hundred and fifteen) diamonds weighing 125.59 carats have so far been recovered from processing 415 tonnes of supergene material above Ellendale Pipes 4 and 9.
Three samples taken from Pipe 4 include grades of 53.3, 64.7 and 39 carats per hundred tonnes respectively; a substantial increase in the previous preliminary results. These results come from pits excavated to an average depth of less than 2 metres. The results now include diamonds recovered from the fine fractions of all samples. Milling of HMS concentrates from E4-K3 and E4-K9 indicated that a considerable number of diamonds are completed encapsulated in ironstone concretions. HMS concentrates from the other samples have now been sent for milling to recover any encapsulated diamonds. It is anticipated that this processing will result in a further increase in diamond grade.

MINCOR RESOURCES (20 FEBRUARY 2001)

PROSPECTUS - For the issue of up to 50,000,000 fully paid ordinary shares at 10 cents per share each to raise up to $5,000,000.

MOSAIC OIL (20 FEBRUARY 2001)

Mr John Carmody has resigned as a Director of Mosaic Oil NL. John is the incoming President of the Petroleum Exploration Society of Australia which position he will take up in April this year. Directors note his valuable contribution to the Company over many years particularly as a founding director and are assured of his continuing interest in the company's welfare.

NEWCREST MINING (20 FEBRUARY 2001)

National Australia Bank Ltd Group decreased its relevant interest in Newcrest Mining Limited on 31/01/2001, from 16,212,818 ordinary shares (6.7%) to 13,042,407 ordinary shares (5.39%).

OIL SEARCH (20 FEBRUARY 2001)

Oil Search Limited is pleased to announce that the Production Licence, PDL5, covering the portion of the Moran Central oil field that lies in exploration licence PPL 138, was awarded on Saturday 17 February. This now allows full development of this part of the Moran Central field, with construction of roads and facilities to start immediately.

PANCONTINENTAL OIL & GAS (20 FEBRUARY 2001)

The Waitaria 2 exploration well was drilled to a depth of 2134 metres in the Mid Miocene age Tunanui Formation. A suite of electric logs was run over the open-hole section from total depth to the casing shoe at 1351 metres. The well was subsequently deepened to 2140 metres.
A number of zones of interest have been identified by the petrophysical analysis of the electric log data. There interpretations are now being reviewed by the Joint Venture in order to formulate a strategy involving the testing of these zones and whether to deepen the well to the earlier indicated depth of 2590 metres.
For the interval 1903 to 2140 metres, drilled since the last report, down-hole rutting samples and drilling penetration rates have indicated that no significant porous sandstone reservoir beds were encountered.
While drilling down to 2134 metres, background gas levels have ranged up to 0.25%, with chromatograph readings of methane, C(1) (1618ppm), ethane, C(2) (139ppm), propane, C(3) (91pm). Mud weight has been maintained at 15.5ppg. The synthetic based mud system is masking fluorescence, and none has been noted.

PERSEVERANCE CORPORATION (20 FEBRUARY 2001)

PROSPECTUS - RENOUNCEABLE RIGHTS ISSUE
A Renounceable Rights Issue of 82,061,596 New Shares on the basis of 3 New Shares for every 2 Shares held at an issue price of 7 cents per New Share.
The Issue is underwritten by Johnson Taylor Potter Corporate Finance Limited.

PILBARA MINES (20 FEBRUARY 2001)

Inmet Mining Corporation (Inmet), who are in joint venture with Pilbara at the Teutonic Bore base metal project in Western Australia, have notified Pilbara of their intention to commence a DeepEM regional geophysical survey at Teutonic Bore during February 2001.
This survey follows on from the successful completion of two orientation surveys during December 2000, in which the effectiveness of the Crone system in penetrating deep weathering and thick conductive cover in the Teutonic Bore area was confirmed. The surveys delivered quality data with a late time short wavelength conductor detected.

ROC OIL COMPANY (20 FEBRUARY 2001)

2001 Drilling Program Commences
The commencement of an appraisal well in the Chestnut Field in the UK North Sea and recommencement of drilling activity at the Eskdale-13 appraisal well location, onshore UK, mark the start of ROC's 2001 drilling program.
ROC expects to have interest in a total of 10 wells to be drilled during 2001 of which 5 will be exploration wells

SUN RESOURCES (20 FEBRUARY 2001)

Waitaria #2 in PEP 38335, East Coast Basin), North island of New Zealand, at 0600 hours WST 19 February 2001, was at 2,140 metres (7,020 feet).
A decision was made at the weekend to run electric logs and side wall cores before drilling onto revised total depth of 2,950 metres (8,500 feet). These logs are currently being evaluated by the joint venture partners to decide on a test of two zones of thin bedded sands at 1,406 to 1409 metres (4,614 to 4624 feet) and 1,887 to 1,893 metres (6,190 to 6,210 feet).
Current biostratigraphic information from the well indicates that the thick quality reservoir sandstone units within and at the base of the Tunanui Formation have yet to be encountered.

TAP OIL (20 FEBRUARY 2001)

Gibson-1 exploration well spudded at 14:00 hours on 16th February 2001.

LOCATION
The well is located 2 kilometres to the south west of the Simpson-1 oil discovery well and, 2.5 kilometres to the south of the Varanus Island production facilities, in exploration permit TL/6 at latitude 20deg41'57.88"S and longitude 115deg33'57.41"E.

PROGRESS
As at 6.00am today, the well has drilled ahead to 552 metres measured depth and will continue to drill ahead to the planned total depth of 2,428 metres Measured depth. It is expected to take 7 days to reach its projected total depth of 2,428 metres measured depth.

TUART RESOURCES (20 FEBRUARY 2001)

PROSPECTUS
A Prospectus for the issue of 10,000,000 shares at 20 cents each and 10,000,000 free attaching Options, to raise a total of $2,000,000.

WEST OIL (20 FEBRUARY 2001)

Following delays associated with cyclone "Vincent", operational problems were experienced with setting BOP's. Current operations are drilling out cement. The drilling plan then calls for conducting a leak off test before drilling ahead.
The primary objective KlA Sandatone reservoir is prognosed below 2000m and will not be intersected until about Friday 23rd February 2001.

PAN AUSTRALIAN RESOURCES (17 FEBRUARY 2001)

Due Diligence period extended for Call Option Agreement with Normandy Anglo

QUEENSLAND GAS COMPANY (17 FEBRUARY 2001)

The Directors of Queensland Gas Company Limited (QGC) are pleased to announce that the company’s eighth well, Ridgewood No. 1 spudded at 1000 hours on Wednesday 14 February 2001.

The well is located approximately 23 kilometres east of the township of Tara in the Surat Basin in Queensland, and approximately 65 kilometres southeast of QGC’s Argyle field.

Ridgewood No. 1 is programmed to a total depth of approximately 620 metres and is located within Authority to Prospect for Petroleum (ATP) No. 621P. The well will test the coal seams of the upper Walloon Coal Measures, at a substantially greater depth than in any previous QGC well. The greater depth has the potential to produce greater gas flow rates and reserves from this area.

This well is the first of a two well program to earn QGC a 50% interest in the Walloon Coal Measures in ATP 621P. At 1700 hours on 15 February 2001 the well had set surface conductor pipe at 31.6 metres and was preparing to drill 81/2" hole.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CLICK HERE.

ADMIRALTY RESOURCES (17 FEBRUARY 2001)

Admiralty, through its subsidiary Argentina Diamonds Limited, has completed its due diligence on the Rincon Salar project. Following completion of the due diligence the company has exercised its option to acquire the tenements forming the Rincon Salar project.
As part of the due diligence process the company carried out saline crust sampling of the area, the results of which have confirmed the mineral composition previously obtained by the joint United Nations and Salta Mines Department taskforce who carried out an extensive drilling, sampling and geochemical study.
The project comprises 53 mining tenements covering 410 square kilometers located in northwest Argentina.
The Rincon Salar contains a major resource of magnesium, potash, borate and a world-class deposit of lithium and caesiummn-rubidium.

ALCASTON MINING (17 FEBRUARY 2001)

Alcaston has entered into a joint venture with Geotech International Pty Ltd in respect of the Mummering Spring platinum/palladium prospect situated approximately 150 kilometres north-east of the port city of Geraldton in Western Australia.
Geotech has applied for an exploration licence (E70/2424) of approximately 55 square kilometres at Mummering Spring to cover an area prospective for Platinum Group Metals in layered mafic complexes.
Regional sampling by the Geological Survey of Western Australia has outlined a highly anomalous area with sample results consistent with a mineralised ultramafic source.
Alcaston can earn a 90% interest in the licence by the reimbursement of past expenditure to Geotech and ongoing exploration. Geotech will retain a 10% free carried interest up to the point where a decision to mine is made following a feasibility study.
An infill sampling program is proposed to more fully investigate this highly anomalous result.

AURORA GOLD (17 FEBRUARY 2001)

As previously reported, political and social uncertainties in Indonesia caused plans to construct the proposed 1.5 million tonnes per annum Toka Tindung Project in North Sulawesi to be suspended, with the project placed on care and maintenance in September 1999.
The political and social uncertainties continued during 2000 and illegal mining activity has become firmly entrenched at the Company's satellite Talawaan prospect with widespread and uncontrolled use and discharge of mercury.
In view of this continuing uncertainty, and the failure by central and regional authorities to address the illegal mining situation, the Company has decided to divest its interest in the Project to minimise holding costs and to enable it to focus on its other interests.
Accordingly, the Company announces that it is offering for sale or joint venture all of its 85% shareholding in the PT Meares Soputan Mining and PT Tambang Tondano Nusajaya Contracts of Work, which comprise the Toka Tindung Project.
Expressions of interest will be reviewed during the next three months.

AUSTRALIAN MINING INVESTMENTS (17 FEBRUARY 2001)

Australian Mining Investments Limited (AMI) advises that it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding concerning the acquisition of an interest in an oil bearing property in Kazakhstan.
The MOU sets a purchase price of US$1.5 million for a 51% interest in the oil field located in the Mangistau Province 175 km north of the provincial capital and seaport Aktau.
The reported reserves of the deposit are:

In place 65.97 Million barrels
Recoverable 19.79 Million barrels
A test production well on the site is being pumped at 100 to 110 barrels per day.

BLACK RANGE MINERALS (17 FEBRUARY 2001)

Half Yearly Report - ATTACHMENT A
The financial report has been prepared on the going concern basis. At 31 December 2000, the consolidated total current assets were $2,920,038 and the consolidated total current liabilities were $11,563,684. The economic entity incurred an operating loss of $1,287,021.

The ability of the economic entity to pay its debts as and when they fall due is dependent on refinancing the existing debt and/or equity funding, which is currently subject to negotiation with various parties, to continue as a going concern and therefore there is uncertainty whether it will be able to pay its debts as and when they fall due and realise its assets and extinguish its liabilities in the normal course of business and at the amount stated in the financial report. The directors believe there are reasonable grounds for the adoption of the going concern basis. However, should alternative funding not become available the economic entity may not be able to pay its debts as and when they fall due and may be required to realise assets and extinguish liabilities other than in the normal course of business and at amounts different from those stated in the financial statements.

GEOGRAPHE RESOURCES (17 FEBRUARY 2001)

The securities of Geographe Resources Limited (the "Company") will be suspended from official quotation forthwith at the request of the Company, pending the release of an announcement.

HAMPTON HILL MINING (17 FEBRUARY 2001)

Following the close of acceptances on 9 February 2001, the company is pleased to announce that 77% of the shares offered in its 1:5 pro-rata issue pursuant to its prospectus dated 5 December 2000 have been accepted.
In accordance with the provisions outlined in the prospectus the Directors have made arrangements to place the balance of 2,268,162 shares, the results of which will be announced once all acceptances have been confirmed.

IVANHOE MINES (17 FEBRUARY 2001)

Ivanhoe Mines Ltd's Chairman, Robert Friedland, and Senior Vice-President of Exploration, Douglas Kirwin, announced today that the company's 2000 exploration program at the Turquoise Hill (Oyu Tolgoi) project in Mongolia has substantially expanded a large, copper-gold porphyry system previously discovered by BHP Minerals.
Based on a preliminary extrapolation of drill results, Ivanhoe estimates that the porphyry system now has the potential to host up to 750 million tonnes of copper and gold mineralization.

LONGREACH GOLD OIL (17 FEBRUARY 2001)

Longreach advised that is has entered into a conditional option agreement with a UK-based company in respect of onshore and offshore oil concessions in Somaliland.
The concessions, comprising 7,000,000 acres, will be subject to Production Sharing Agreements being concluded.
Provided the due diligence studies prove to be satisfactory, Longreach will be able to acquire a 25% interest in the Production Sharing Agreements.
Plans are in hand to drill two onshore wells by mid-year.

MOUNT CONQUEROR MINERALS (17 FEBRUARY 2001)

In accordance with a resolution of shareholders passed at the 2000 Annual General Meeting of the Company held on 27th November, 2000, the Company wishes to advise that it has made a placement of 4,673,390 ordinary shares in the capital of the Company at an issue price of 5.2 cents per share. The purpose of the placement is to raise working capital.

SUN RESOURCES (17 FEBRUARY 2001)

Waitaria #2 in PEP 38335, East Coast Basin, North Island of New Zealand, at 0100 hours EST 16 February 2001, was at 1,997 metres (6,551 feet). Current operations is drilling ahead to revised target zone of interest and new total depth of 2,590 metres (8,500) feet.
Current biostratigraphic information from the well indicates that the thick quality reservoir sandstone units within the Tunanui Formation have yet to be encountered. To date non reservoir units have been intersected. Based on information to date the Tikiwhata Sand Member should be encountered by 2,000 metres (6,600 feet) and eventually older Clifdenian-Altonian age base Tunanui or Rere Sanstones.

TAP OIL (17 FEBRUARY 2001)

The South Plato-1 exploration well spudded at 20:00 hours on 14 February 2001.

WEST OIL (17 FEBRUARY 2001)

Puffin-6 Appraisal Well - West Oil advises that delays have been experienced due to weather conditions associated with cyclone "Vincent". With the cyclone having moved onshore the swell and winds are decreasing. It is expected that operations will recommence within the next 24 hours when the blow out preventer will be installed. Once the BOP is set drilling operations will continue according to the drilling plan when the Upper Objective Oliver Sandstones will be encountered.

WOODSIDE PETROLEUM (17 FEBRUARY 2001)

Shell Australia Investments Limited's (Shell Investments) Offer for Woodside Petroleum Limited (Woodside), which was announced on 24 November 2000, remains conditional on the Federal Government approving the Offer under its foreign investment policy and legislation.
Shell Investments has decided to extend its Offer until 7pm (Perth time) an Friday, 30 March 2001.

QUEENSLAND GAS COMPANY (16 FEBRUARY 2001)

The Directors of Queensland Gas Company Limited (QGC) are pleased to announce that the exploration well, Trafalgar No. 1 was completed yesterday as a potential coalbed methane producer. Trafalgar No 1 intersected 19.6 metres within the four upper seams of the Walloon Coal Measures.

Testing of the well during drilling produced gas at a rate of 20 000 cubic feet per day (570 cubic metres per day) and water production measured at 360 barrels per day. These results are typical of the initial flows from wells drilled in the Powder River Basin in the USA. After dewatering, these wells produce significant gas flow rates.

Trafalgar No 1 again demonstrated that the coals of the Walloon Coal Measures are gas saturated and the 360 barrels of water production indicates that the coals have good permeability. Gas saturation and good permeability are the essential criteria for successful coalbed methane production.

The well is now shut in awaiting equipment to be set up for production testing.

This is the first well of a two well farmin agreement which will earn QGC a 60% interest in the Walloon Coal Measures in the area of Petroleum Lease application (PLA) 171.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CLICK HERE.

EAST COAST MINERALS (16 FEBRUARY 2001)

EAST COAST MINERALS NL, the holder of a 70% interest in a Joint Venture Agreement with Legend Mining Limited (30%) relating to the Munni Munni mining tenements advises:

• It has sought legal advice to the effort that it has entered into no binding agreement to dispose of its 60% holding in the Munni Munni tenements to Legend or any other party, despite a statement to the contrary by Legend;
• It proposes to continue with a drilling program as previously announced on 30th January 2001 in order to explore the platinum, platinoid, silver and copper nickel potential of the tenements; and
• It has instructed its lawyers to prepare a response to Legend's public announcement, which was made without its prior knowledge or consent, and to enforce the provisions of its Joint Venture Agreement.

EMPIRE OIL & GAS (16 FEBRUARY 2001)

The Directors have closed the Placement Issue, the subject of the January 2001 Prospectus, today Thursday 15 February 2001.
This Issue, which has been well received, gave priority to existing shareholders of the Company. The Joint Issue Managers and Brokers to this issue, D&D Tolhurst Ltd and D J Carmichael Ltd, mandated to undertake this placement, advised the Company on 15 February 2001 that the Issue is oversubscribed. This Placement Issue of 30 million fully paid shares at 7.25 cents per share and 15 million free options has raised $2,175,000. Funds raised will be used in the April 2001 drilling programme in the Exmouth Sub-Basin, Western Australia.

The wells planned to be drilled are located in the Company's EP 41 Part 3 permit in the Exmouth Peninsula. The Company is preparing 3 drilling sites located over the Tess, Jennifer and Brooke Prospects which are all seismically defined and also exhibiting magnetotolluric ("MT") signature from the recent MT survey indicating that they are all oil charged.

HERON RESOURCES (16 FEBRUARY 2001)

Heron has mandated D J Carmichael Pty Limited, a participating organisation of the Australian Stock Exchange Limited, to arrange a Placement, pursuant to section 708 of the Corporations Law of 10,000,000 ordinary fully paid shares at a price of 28 cents each to raise $2,800,000 before expenses.
D J Carmichael Pty Limited is entitled to receive the fee of 5% of the funds raised from the Placement.
The Company intends to use the funds raised from the Placement to assist in funding pre-mine drilling at Goongarie South, additional resource drilling elsewhere at Goongarrie (Cawse Stage II BFS requirements), new exploration drilling of the Laverton nickel laterite projects, and working capital. Following the Placement and payment of placement expenses, the Company's total cash position will be approximately $4.6 million.

HILLGROVE GOLD (16 FEBRUARY 2001)

Hillgrove Gold NL ("Hillgrove") has entered into a loan agreement with its major shareholder, Tronoh Mines Malaysia Bhd ("Tronoh"), whereby the unsecured advances provided progressively over the past year to continue implementation of the 1997 Feasibility Study have been formalized as part of a project loan to a total of A$20m.
This loan is interest bearing at BBSW plus 3% and is to be repaid over a 5 year period and contemplates the granting of a fixed and floating charge over all the Hillgrove Group's assets.

LEGEND MINING (16 FEBRUARY 2001)

Legend Mining Limited ("Legend") wishes to clarify the sequence of events that has led to its acquisition of a further 60% of the Munni Munni Mining Leases from its joint venture partner East Coast Minerals NL ("ECM") on 13th February 2001 in response to ECM's trading halt in its securities yesterday.

1. ECM received an offer to acquire 60% of the Munni Munni Mining Leases from Greater Pacific Gold limited ("GPGL") on 15th January 2001 on the terms and conditions contained in the offer.

2. ECM then forwarded the offer to Legend by letter dated 16th January 2001, stating inter alia that ECM intended to accept GPGL's offer and that ECM was invoking clause 23 of the Joint Venture Agreement between ECM and Legend whereby Legend had 30 days within which to accept the offer instead of ECM.

3. Legend by Notice of Acceptance dated 13th February 2001 accepted the offer and thus contracted to acquire a further 60% of the Munni Munni Mining Leases from ECM ("the Contract"), and paid the agreed deposit of $25,000 to ECM.

4. Legend has now lodged a caveat against the mining leases protecting its interest under the Contract, on 14th February 2001.

5. ECM by its chairman, has advised Legend, without any explanation, in the afternoon of 14th February 2001 that ECM has deposited $25,000 (equivalent to the deposit paid under the Contract) into the bank account of Legend today.

6. Legend has received legal advice that the Contract with ECM is binding and Legend will hold ECM to the Contract.

MINERALS CORPORATION (16 FEBRUARY 2001)

The Placement Issue pursuant to the Prospectus dated 19 January 2001 closed yesterday fully subscribed raising $1,500,000 for the company.
The group company, Queensland Kaolin Limited ("QKL"), also successfully raised the full amount of $1,074, 219 from the rights issue pursuant to its Prospectus dated 19 January 2001.
The investment that MCL is making in the Skardon River Kaolin Project through the group company,QKL, has attracted significant support from stock brokers and investors for MCL.

OIL COMPANY OF AUSTRALIA (16 FEBRUARY 2001)

Roche No.01 a coal bed methane exploration well situated approximately 4.0 kilometres south-east of Roma No.01, latitude 26 deg, 01 min 07.82 sec south, longitude 150 deg 00 min, 47.78 sec, east, was spudded at 15:30 hours on February 03,2001. Surface casing was set at 130 metres GL. A total depth of 213 metres GL was reached at 12:30 hours, February 8, 2001. The well was plugged and abandoned at 15:00 hours, February 11, 2001. The rig operated only during daylight hours. Progress for the week was 24.00 metres.
The well is the subject of Farmin arrangements with Queensland Gas Company Limited.

PETROZ (16 FEBRUARY 2001)

Phillips Australia WA-248 Company Pty Ltd increased its relevant interest in Petroz NL on 14/02/2001, from 190,605,042 ordinary shares (84.23%) to 192,257,612 ordinary shares (85.41%).

SUN RESOURCES (16 FEBRUARY 2001)

Waitaria #2 in PEP 38335, East Coast Basin, North Island of New Zealand, at 0700 hours WST 15 February 2001, was at 1,834 metres (6,016 feet). Current operations is drilling ahead to revised target zone of interest and new total depth of 2,590 metres (8,500) feet.
Current biostratigraphic information from the well indicates that the thick quality reservoir sandstone units within the Tunanui Formation have yet to be encountered. To date non reservoir units have been intersected. Based on information to date the Tikiwhata Sand Member should be encountered in the next 200 metres (650 feet) and eventually older Clifdenian-Altonian age base Tunanui or Rere Sanstones.

WEST OIL (16 FEBRUARY 2001)

Progress Report - Puffin-6 Appraisal Well
Delays have been experienced due to weather conditions associated with cyclone, "Vincent". While the cyclone is not expected to come close to Puffin-6, the swell resulting from associated winds means that operations could not continue with guaranteed safety. Once the winds ease, the blow out preventer will be installed and drilling operations will continue according to the drilling plan when the Upper Objective Oliver Sandstones will be encountered.

WOODSIDE PETROLEUM (16 FEBRUARY 2001)

At 0600 hours WST on 14 February the Audacious-1 exploration well located in the Vulcan Sub-Basin in the Timor Sea was being plugged and abandoned. The well is a significant flank test of the Audacious structure, located more than 50m down-dip from the mapped crest. Excellent reservoir quality was proven by logging and production testing, and early data suggest a continuous light oil column to be present. The AC/P17 joint venture partners now plan to fully assimilate the well results and investigate all viable development options before embarking on an appraisal programme.

Woodside Energy Ltd, on behalf of the North West Shelf Joint Venture, advises that production from the Goodwyn A platform has been temporarily shut down due to an electrical fault.

AKD (15 FEBRUARY 2001)

AKD has added to its diamond portfolio at Seppelt Range in the North Kimberley region of Western Australia with the exercise of an option to acquire 100% of 4 exploration licences located close to Striker's Ashmore pipe discoveries. The new tenements compliment AKD's existing land holdings at Seppelt Range which comprise 3 exploration licences located near the Seppelt pipes.

ALCASTON MINING (15 FEBRUARY 2001)

Alcaston Mining NL has applied for an additional exploration licence (E08/1233) of 240 square kilometres adjoining its Minilya diamond exploration project in the Giralia Range region of Western Australia, near Exmouth Gulf.
This licence, together with other applications in the area, has increased the Company's total land holding to 720 square kilometres.
The licence is bounded in the south by Asarco who are reportedly exploring for high grade silver.
This additional area forms part of the Minilya Diamond Project which is a joint venture with Geotech International Pty Ltd in the ratio 90/10% with Geotech having a free carried 10% interest up to the feasibility study stage.

AUIRON ENERGY (15 FEBRUARY 2001)

The second phase of the four phase operations campaign of its 90% owned South Australian Steel and Energy (SASE) demonstration plant at Whyalla commenced on February 4 and pig iron is being produced at rates that are in line with expectations.
The fourth and final phase of the programme is scheduled to be completed in May 2001 and will utilise coal from AuIron's Ingomar deposit in the Phillipson coalfield as the fuel/reductant in the plant's AusIron smelter.

DIORO EXPLORATION (15 FEBRUARY 2001)

Trading in Ellendale Resources NL (ELL) will commence at 10.00am WST on Friday 16 February 2001.

EAST COAST MINERALS (15 FEBRUARY 2001)

The securities of EAST COAST MINERALS will be placed in pre-open pending the release of an announcement by the Company.

KIMBERLEY DIAMOND COMPANY (15 FEBRUARY 2001)

Kimberley Diamond Company NL has had its first opportunity to test its view that the diamondiferous pipes in the Ellendale Mining Area have a near surface zone of diamond enrichment grading considerably higher than the average diamond grades attributed to the pipe (lamproitic) material. Recent testing of 6 pits in the Ellendale Pipes 4 and 9 by Kimberley to a maximum depth of 2.6 metres has so far resulted in the recovery of 653 diamonds weighing 106.21 carats from a total tonnage of 415 tonnes excavated. Approximately 80 percent of the diamonds recovered are of gem quality. These diamonds have not been valued however a recent valuation of Ellendale Pipe 4 diamonds commissioned by Kimberley yielded an indicative average value of US$75.92. The corresponding value for Ellendale Pipe 9 diamonds was US$170.37.
The largest diamond recovered weighed 4.11 carats with 11 other stones weighing in excess of 1 carat. The indicated grades of samples from Pit E4-K1 and Pit E4-K2 (both Pipe 4) were 53.3 carats per hundred tonnes (cpht) and 53.4 cpht respectively. Pipe 4 has a surface area of approximately 78 hectares.

MAGNETIC MINERALS (15 FEBRUARY 2001)

• Magnetic has acquired an 80% interest in the former BHP Minerals Mindarra Springs Project, 95km north of Perth.
• A Resource Estimate by BHP is 1.2 billion tonnes at 1.9% heavy minerals at 1.5% cut-off.
• Application of the Company's proven magnetic mapping technique may delineate higher grade resources.

Magnetic Minerals has acquired an 80% interest in the Mindarra Springs Project, located 95km north of Perth on the Dandaragan Plateau, north-east of the Gingin township. Infrastructure in the district is excellent, located close to main roads, rail and power.

Exploration activity by BHP Minerals ("BHP") in the early 1990's discovered a major new heavy mineral sand field east of the Gingin Scarp where they outlined three very large but low-grade heavy mineral sand deposits; Mindarra South, Mindarra North and McCalls. BHP held these areas under retention license until 1999. The Indicated Resource estimated by BHP is 1.2 billion tonnes at 1.9% heavy minerals (HM) at 1.5% cut-off. This estimate is based on air-core drilling on a very wide drill spacing of 400 to 500 metres on drill lines and 500 metre to 2,000 metre spacing between drill lines. BHP studies of mineralogy indicate a mineral assemblage of 60% ilmenite (60.2% TiO(2), 5% zircon, 1% rutile and 1% monazite. The TiO(2) content of the ilmenite is amenable for synthetic rutile upgrading or chloride route processing.

MT GRACE RESOURCES (15 FEBRUARY 2001)

The contract for the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) on the Batchelor Magnesium Project has been awarded to URS Australia Pty Ltd (formerly trading as Dames & Moore). The award follows evaluation of several proposals for the work.

Mt Grace considers that this is an important step in advancing the Batchelor Project and the timing is consistent with our stated objective of completion of a bankable Feasibility Study by the end of 2001 to facilitate the commencement of commercial production in early 2003.

NORMANDY MINING (15 FEBRUARY 2001)

OVERVIEW - Half Yearly Report

PROFIT

• After tax, $62.6 million
• Return on average capital employed, 6.8 percent
• Improved operating contribution, $307 million
• Gold division component higher at 90 percent

INTERIM DIVIDEND

• 2.5 cents per share maintained, 44 percent franked
• Payable 12 March 2001
• Books close for dividend entitlement 23 February 2001
• Shares trade ex-dividend entitlement 19 February 2001

BALANCE SHEET

• Cash $257 million
• Net debt $1,379 million
• Net debt to net debt and equity, 55 percent

GOLD

• Improved attributable contribution $275 million
• Attributable sales 1,073,411 ounces (1.01Moz)
• Cash margin $254 per ounce ($262/oz)
• Net realised price $553 per ounce ($562/oz)
• Total cash cost $299 per ounce ($300/oz)
• Improved contribution from all operations, other than Boddington and Mt Leyshon, both of which are approaching reserve depletion

NON-GOLD

• Golden Grove operating contribution, $34.6 million ($28.6M)
• Payable zinc sales, 107.7 million pounds (98.3Mlb)
• Realised zinc price, 88.7 cents per pound (81.4c/lb)
• Kasese (cobalt) attributable contribution a loss of $7.0 million
• Australian Magnesium Corporation
• Attributable after tax loss of $6.7 million

OIL SEARCH (15 FEBRUARY 2001)

National Australia Bank Limited Group ceased to be a substantial shareholder in Oil Search Limited on 31/01/2001.

PILBARA MINES (15 FEBRUARY 2001)

Pilbara announced the commencement of a 23,000 metre rotary air blast exploration drilling programme on Pilbara's tenements to the south of the Teutonic Bore mine, 40 km north of Leonora, in the Eastern Goldfields region of WA. This programme targets gold mineralisation and follows on from previous exploration drilling by Pilbara during 2000.

RED BACK MINING (15 FEBRUARY 2001)

Red Back Mining announced a drilling program to test a nickel sulphide target at the Company's 100% owned Irwin Hills nickel project in Western Australia.
The target comprises a coincident ground geophysical transient electromagnetic ("TEM") and Induced Polarisation ("IP") anomaly which corresponds to anomalous near surface nickel, copper and platinum-palladium geochemistry. The geophysical anomalies have been interpreted by Red Back's geophysical consultant to be comparable to those developed over massive nickel sulphide deposits. An initial 600m drilling program to test the target is scheduled to commence early next week.

RESOLUTE (15 FEBRUARY 2001)

Mr Michael Carrick has today retired as Chief Executive Officer of the Company. Mr Carrick will continue as a non executive director of the Company.
Consequent upon Mr Carrick's retirement, the Board of Directors has appointed Mr Peter Ross Sullivan as Chief Executive Officer of the Company. Mr Sullivan has been a director of Resolute Limited since December 1999 and has considerable experience in the mining and associated corporate disciplines. Mr Sullivan holds an Engineering degree from the University of Western Australia and a Masters of Business Administration from the Australian Graduate School of Management.

SONS OF GWALIA (15 FEBRUARY 2001)

SONS OF GWALIA FORECASTS SIGNIFICANT INCREASES IN TANTALUM SALES FOR THE 2000/2001 FINANCIAL YEAR

Sons of Gwalia Ltd ("Gwalia") announced a consolidated net after tax half yearly profit of $26.08 million for the first half July to December 2000 ($26.14 million 1999 before abnormals).
The Company said that earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) were $44 million for the first half ($43.17 million 1999).
The Company said that earnings would increase significantly in the second half of the year due primarily to an anticipated 65 per cent increase in tantalum sales at increased prices.

INTERIM DIVIDEND MAINTAINED
The Directors also declared an unfranked interim dividend of 12.5 cents per ordinary share payable on 1 May 2001 (12.5 cents, 1999).

STRONG CASH FLOW AND EARNINGS PER SHARE FOR THE HALF YEAR
The Company said that the operating cash flow for the six months prior to exploration expenditure, interest expense and income tax, amounted to $54.3 million equivalent to 47 cents per ordinary share.
Earnings per share amounted to 22.4 cents per share.

FORECAST GOLD PRODUCTION OF 430,000 OUNCES FOR THE FULL YEAR
The Company said that gold production for the first half totalled 220,238 ounces with full year production estimated at 430,000 ounces.
Production from the Southern Cross region will be consolidated through the Marvel Loch Mill in the second half following the recent acquisition of its Joint Venture partners' interests in that region.

TANTALUM PRODUCTION AND SALES FORECAST TO INCREASE 65 PER CENT ON THE FIRST HALF WITH INCREASED PRICES
Sales from the Greenbushes and Wodgina Tantalum Mines totalled a record 601,013 lbs for the first half (455,004 lbs, 1999).
Production and sales are forecast to increase by approximately 65 per cent to 1.0 million lbs in the second half, at increased prices, resulting in increased revenues, margins and earnings.

The Company said that it is the world's largest producer of tantalum accounting for approximately 50 per cent of primary tantalum concentrates produced on a global basis.

SUMMARY AND OUTLOOK
The Executive Chairman, Mr Peter Lalor, said: "The Company's first half financial results met the Company's forecasts and budgets. Significantly increased production and sales of tantalum is budgeted for the second half of the year accompanied by increased pricing over and above that achieved in the first half."
"Compared to the first half, tantalum sales will increase by nearly one million lbs, or 65 per cent, at increased prices."

Mr Lalor also said that, "Gold production in the second half will be approximately 210,000 ounces."
"As a result of the above, particularly in respect of increased tantalum production and pricing, the Company anticipates substantially increased earnings in the second half of the year. This should result in earnings comfortably exceeding the 1999/2000 financial year after tax and abnormals consolidated profit of $59.59 million."

SUN RESOURCES (15 FEBRUARY 2001)

Waitaria #2 in PEP 38335, East Coast Basin, North Island of New Zealand, at 0600 hours WST 14 February 2001, was at 1,638 metres (5,375 feet). Current operations is drilling ahead in 8 1/2" hole to target zone of interest.

TAIPAN RESOURCES (15 FEBRUARY 2001)

The Board of St Barbara Mines Limited ("St Barbara") has decided to increase the cash alternative of its Taipan bid to 9.0 cents per fully paid share.
St Barbara's revised cash alternative is 0.2 cents per share higher than Troy's revised offer.

TAP OIL (15 FEBRUARY 2001)

AMP Limited decreased its relevant interest in Tap Oil Limited on 12/02/2001, from 13,837,224 ordinary shares (10.53%) to 12,818,806 ordinary shares (9.43%).

WERRIE GOLD (15 FEBRUARY 2001)

The resolution put to the Werrie Gold Limited Extraordinary General Meeting on 14 February 2001 regarding the placement of up to 30,000,000 million ordinary shares was carried.

The issue of this parcel will be placed at 16.5 cents a share (which is approximately 80% of the average market price for the 5 days closing price for the Company's shares prior to the date of the Extraordinary General Meeting), which will result in the Company placing $4,950,000. This figure exceeds the $3,000,000 used as an example in the explanatory memorandum and will be utilised as follows:

• $500,000 will be used by the Company for immediate working capital, to maintain the Company's mineral tenements and to continue to rehabilitate the Big Rush Gold Mine;
• $500,000 would be used as a payment for the licence fee;
• $1,000,000 would be used to develop a commercial prototype; and
• $1,000,000 would be used for the purchase of equipment and for marketing costs related to the technology; and
• The balance of the funds will be used for ongoing working capital purposes.

WEST OIL (15 FEBRUARY 2001)

At 6:00am CST the Puffin-6 appraisal well was at 948 metres and 13 3/8" casing has been set and cemented. It is prognosed that drilling will recommence in approximately 24 hours when the Upper Objective Oliver Sandstones will be encountered.

QUEENSLAND GAS COMPANY (14 FEBRUARY 2001)

The Directors of Queensland Gas Company Limited (QGC) are pleased to announce that Queensland Gas Company Limited (ACN 089 642 553) as operator of Authority to Prospect 620P, for and on behalf of the holder of the authority to prospect, has applied to the Minister for Mines and Energy for two Petroleum Leases to be granted in respect of all the lands of Authority to Prospect 620P.

The application was lodged this afternoon, Tuesday 13 February 2001.

The Petroleum Leases has been applied for in the following interests:

Pangaea Oil and Gas Pty Ltd (ACN 068 812 171)	-	37.5%
Icon Oil NL (ACN 058 454 569)	-	12.5%
Queensland Gas Company Limited (ACN 089 642 553)	-	50.0%

As a result of information obtained from the drilling of Argyle No. 1 and Argyle No. 2 and the analysis of data from previous petroleum and coal exploration and water bores, QGC believes that commercial volumes of Coal Bed Methane (CBM) are present and provide grounds for the granting of a Petroleum Lease.

Significant points regarding the ability of Walloon Coal Measures to contain and produce payable deposits of Coal Bed Methane over the entire area of ATP 620P are highlighted below:

• Xyloleum No. 1 approximately 5 kilometres to the north west of Argyle No 1 flowed gas at 420 000 cubic feet per day from the Walloon Coal Measures at 200 metres.
• Argyle No. 1 flowed gas at over 1 million cubic feet per day from the coal seams from 244 to 251 metres in the Walloon Coal Measures and produced water at over 500 barrels per day from the seams completed from 220 to 294 metres. Total coal intersected in the upper measures was 14.9 metres.
• Argyle No. 2 flowed gas at 350 000 cubic feet per day from the coals intersected from 257 to 303 metres (total coal of 6.9 metres). A total of 13.9 metres of coal was encountered in the well with over 200 000 cubic feet per day of gas being recorded from the uppermost seams.

The second appraisal well, Argyle No. 5, is ready to drill into the primary target seams tomorrow.

The Petroleum Leases will enable the early development and production of Coal Bed Methane from this area.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CLICK HERE.

ALLIANCE GOLD (14 FEBRUARY 2001)

Alliance Gold Limited (ASX: AGS) has taken the next step in plans to move into energy-related projects, today announcing the acquisition of a unique Australian-developed network power controller technology which can enhance the energy efficiency of commercial buildings.
The technology - to be developed through newly launched Alliance subsidiary Alliance Power Conservation Pty Ltd (APC) - corrects power factor and harmonic distortion in electrical systems within buildings, leading to lower electricity consumption and costs, in some cases up to 30%.

BLIGH OIL & MINERALS (14 FEBRUARY 2001)

The Rimu-A2 is currently drilling ahead in 6" hole at a depth of 4413 metres.
The well is being deepened to evaluate the Rimu Limestone, from which oil and gas was tested in the Rimu B2, and the lower Tariki Sandstone, prior to any testing of the upper Tariki Sandstone interval.
Preparations continue for a long term production test of the Rimu Limestone interval in the Rimu-B2 well, with 4 1/2" liner set at 3516.9m.

FIRST AUSTRALIAN RESOURCES (14 FEBRUARY 2001)

The Nabors 409 land rig is on location at Clear Branch and is presently rigging up. Sixty feet of 16 inch conductor pipe and cellar have been installed. Drilling is expected to commence tomorrow. The well has been renamed Tolar No 1 (formerly Willamette No 2 well). Planned total depth of approximately 10,000 feet should be reached within 30 days of spud.

The Tolar No 1 is planned as a straight hole test of the Blue and Yellow Hosston sands at a location approximately 2,400 feet to the north of the Terry Ewing No 1 producing gas well. Both sands are prolific gas producers within the field. The well will be drilled under-balanced and has been engineered with special mud and cement systems based on formation characteristics measured while drilling the Terry Ewing No 1 well.

FLETCHER CHALLENGE (14 FEBRUARY 2001)

Notice of Special Meeting 6/3/2001 to approve:

• the separation of Fletcher Challenge Building into a stand-alone company; and
• the sale of Fletcher Challenge Energy to Shell and Apache Corporation

KIMBERLEY DIAMOND COMPANY (14 FEBRUARY 2001)

Weybridge Pty Ltd ceased to be a substantial shareholder in Kimberley Diamond Company NL on 12/02/2001.

LEGEND MINING (14 FEBRUARY 2001)

Legend has entered into a contract to gain control of a further 60% of the Munni Munni palladium, platinum and silver joint venture ground. Currently Legend has 30% and will acquire the further 60% from East Coast Minerals NL (ECM) at the end of the earning period leaving ECM with 10%.
Legend has paid ECM $25,000 deposit and a balance of $975,000 is payable over one and a half years subject to a 60 day due diligence period followed by a formal Joint Venture and Farmin Agreement with ECM.
Legend will earn the additional 60% interest by spending a further $4.5m on exploration for palladium, platinum, silver and gold over a 3 year period.

LONGREACH GOLD OIL (14 FEBRUARY 2001)

Longreach Gold Oil Limited advises that it has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with ITOK IRAN of Tehran, with the objectives of obtaining suitable oil/gas projects in Iran.
ITOK IRAN is the leading mineral resources consulting company in the Islamic Republic of Iran.

NEW HAMPTON GOLDFIELDS (14 FEBRUARY 2001)

SUMMARY

• Joint study increases Mineral Resources at Jubilee Pit to 460,000 ounces
• Strong exploration results from 1600N, south of Big Bell

JUBILEE - JOINT STUDY
The Jubilee Pit 100% owned by New Hampton Goldfields Limited is adjacent to the Jubilee mill, south of Kalgoorlie, and adjoins the Hampton-Boulder Pit owned by Newcrest Mining Limited. A joint study by New Hampton with Newcrest Mining Limited of the Jubilee and Hampton-Boulder mineral resources was recently completed. For Jubilee only, the study identified a Mineral Resource of 7.23 million tonnes at 2.0 grams per tonne (g/t) of gold (0.75g/t cut-off) for 460,000 ounces. The mineralisation remains open at depth.
Australian Mining Consultants Pty Ltd (AMC) have been engaged to undertake an immediate mining study into the possibility of a big pit cut-back for Jubilee only. The study is anticipated to be completed by the end of February 2001.

BIG BELL - EXPLORATION RESULTS AT 1600N
The ongoing drilling programme at 1600N, 1.5 kilometres south of Big Bell has generated strong results in two recently completed diamond holes.
Drill hole, BBDD23, tested the main 1600N shoot and gave a very encouraging intersection of 13 metres at 5.5 g/t gold at the target depth of 409 metres, plus a lower zone of 23 metres at 1.6 g/t gold. This intersection extends the depth of the mineralised system to 400 metres below surface and suggests that the system is strengthening at depth .
The previous mineral resource estimate for the, main ore shoot at 1600N was 159,000 ounces of gold to a depth of 360 metres below the surface. The new intersection is expected to substantially increase those resources and gives encouragement for the concept of underground mining. The Big Bell underground workings are 1,500 metres north of the BBDD23 intersection at this depth.
Drill hole BBDD24, on section 1450 North, 225 metres south of BBDD23 gave an intersection of 14 metres at 4.0 g/t gold at a vertical depth of 150 metres below surface. This drill hole is approximately 120 metres from the southern margin of the main mineralised shoot and is interpreted to have identified a new blind ore shoot in this part of the Big Bell ore system (see attached long section).
Further drilling is required to better define the significance of this new mineralisation, and the impact that it will make on mineral resources and ore, reserves.

OXIANA RESOURCES (14 FEBRUARY 2001)

SEPON PROJECT - 80% OXIANA RESOURCES, 20% RIO TINTO BANKABLE FEASIBILITY STUDY DRILLING UPDATE
Assays received for an additional 35 holes from colluvial zone in the Discovery gold resource continue to confirm the high grade near surface nature of all five gold deposits at Sepon.
Significant thicknesses of high grade oxide/partial oxide mineralisation were intersected from surface over 600 metres of strike. This zone remains open to the south.

REEFTON MINING (14 FEBRUARY 2001)

PROSPECTUS - FOR THE PURPOSE OF
An offer by way of placement of up to a maximum of 30,000,000 partly paid ordinary voting shares ("Contributing Shares") in the capital of the Company to be issued at 7 cents each and paid to 1 cent each to raise up to $300,000.

TAIPAN RESOURCES (14 FEBRUARY 2001)

Troy Resources has increased the cash consideration being offered in its takeover bid for Taipan from 8.3 cents to 8.8 cents per Taipan Fully Paid Share and from 0.65 cents to 0.7 cents per Taipan Partly Paid Share.

SUN RESOURCES (14 FEBRUARY 2001)

Waitaria #2 in PEP 38335, East Coast Basin, North Island of New Zealand, at 0600 hours WST 9 February 2001, was at 1,353 metres (4,437 feet). Current operation is resuming drilling operations in 8(1/2)" hole to target zone of interest below the regional seal after drilling out of shoe track and advancing only 1 metre (3 feet) followed by a bit trip. Background gas has picked up noticeably (0.4 to 0.5%) with the occasional presence of C4.

WEST OIL (14 FEBRUARY 2001)

At 6:00am CST 13 February, the Puffin-6 appraisal well was at 948 metres and setting 13 (3/8)" casing. It is prognosed that drilling will recommence on Wednesday night 14th February when the Upper Objective Oliver Sandstones will be encountered.
Puffin-6 is an appraisal well which will test the southwest culmination of the Puffin Oilfield which has the potential for recoverable reserves of 55 million barrels. The well is 3.5 kilometres southwest of Puffin-5 which intersected a 9.4 metre oil column in the Lower K1 a Sand in June 2000.

WMC (14 FEBRUARY 2001)

Full Year - Highlights show WMC is a new company

• Nickel, alumina and copper generate big profit increases
• Copper Uranium now producing at above nameplate capacity rate
• Set production records for copper, uranium, alumina, and in nickel
• Unit costs substantially lower for nickel and copper
• Poor fertilizer result, but made 64% of capacity last quarter
• Capital expenditure down 52% to $468.6 million
• $417.4 million paid to buy back 56.0m shares. This has been extended by another 5%
• Developed growth opportunities with proposed high return Olympic Dam expansion; discovery of West Musgrave nickel prospect; and investigation of the large Corridor Sands titanium project in Mozambique.

WMC Chief Executive Officer Hugh Morgan said that the Company’s record annual profit capped an outstanding operating year. The Company set production records for copper, uranium, alumina, nickel-in-matte, nickel metal and gold at Agnew.

“We are delivering higher returns that flow from fundamental reconstruction of our major businesses and the business system that supports them,” he said.

“In 2000 we used those higher earnings to return to shareholders increased dividends and capital through a share buy back.”

The record result reflects much higher nickel margins, continuing strong alumina performance and higher profit and cash flow from copper uranium as Olympic Dam reached and exceeded its nameplate capacity in the second half.

“Although nickel prices declined towards the end of the year, our nickel business delivered a profit increase of 389%. Despite cost increases caused by higher royalties and oil prices, we have improved our margins to the point that in 2000 WMC was the world’s most profitable major nickel producer.”

Alumina’s contribution to profit increased 107%, mainly due to increased production, higher average prices and lower costs.
Copper uranium began to reap the benefits of scale as it passed its designed production capacity, strongly improving margins and reducing unit costs.

Queensland Fertilizer’s full year loss of $44.5 million was a poor result for an operation capable of being a world leader. The plant overcame mechanical problems that delayed commissioning in the third quarter, and produced two thirds of rated capacity in the fourth quarter.

Mr Morgan said WMC had continued to improve systems and processes across the business. He cited the Company’s founding membership of the international minerals online supply portal, the increase in minerals recoveries in most operations, and the focused cost saving programs in every area of the business as signs of WMC’s commitment to strong continuing improvement.

“In addition, the scope of projects to expand the Kwinana Nickel Refinery and Olympic Dam show the disciplined approach to capital that will be a signature of our approach to developing future quality growth engines in our business.”

“Last year has shown the kind of earnings growth we are able to deliver with what is fundamentally a new company. This year we will build on that platform by strongly enhancing existing assets and developing opportunities for growth in new areas in a way that maximises early returns to shareholders. With current commodity prices and exchange rates, WMC will earn a high profit in 2001.”

Mr Morgan said that cash flows are much stronger from all WMC businesses and, based on current conditions, surplus funds will be available beyond the $400 million targeted for debt repayment in 2001. This would fund business development, repay further debt or buy back shares depending on the relative attractiveness of each option. As a consequence, Directors have decided to extend the share buy back by 5%.

Mr Morgan said that WMC was moving on a number of growth opportunities. The Board would soon consider the best option for expanding Olympic Dam, delivering an outstanding return on capital required; with discussions proceeding well with community leaders, WMC expected to be on the ground in the secon quarter to further evaluate the West Musgrave nickel discovery; and WMC recently invested US$15 million to extend its option over the massive Corridor Mineral sands deposit in Mozambique, and is proceeding with a bankable feasibility study of that project.

AURIDIAM (13 FEBRUARY 2001)

JOINT VENTURE TO RESUME ACTIVITIES AT ELLENDALE

Auridiam Limited (60% interest) and Diamond Ventures NL (40%) are the owners of the Ellendale Project Joint Venture on exploration tenement EO4/813. On 19 October 1998 Kimberley Diamond Company NL acquired an option from Auridiam and Diamond Ventures to undertake exploration activity on the tenement and to purchase the tenement for an agreed amount.
Kimberley has now advised both owners that it will not be exercising the option and hence the Ellendale Project Joint Venture which was held in suspension during the option period will be restored to the position under the Joint Venture Agreement that existed as at 19 October 1998. Under the terms of the Joint Venture Agreement Diamond Ventures are able to increase their interest in the project to 51% by the expenditure of approximately $400,000. Auridiam then has the right to maintain a 49% interest in the project by contributing pro-rata with Diamond Ventures to the on-going exploration programme.
Diamond Ventures has advised its intent to proceed to earning a 51% interest in the Joint Venture with the immediate target being the palaeo-channel of diamondiferous Terrace 5 gravels that runs through EO4/813.
Excellent exploration results and diamond recoveries have been obtained from this tenement and from the area in which this tenement is located and the Ellendale region has become a focus of attention as a potential new diamond producing region.

BEACH PETROLEUM (13 FEBRUARY 2001)

Beach Petroleum NL has spudded its first wildcat gas exploration well in its renewed thrust in Victoria's onshore Otway Basin.
The well - McIntee-1 - is being undertaken by Beach in joint venture with Santos as operator.
It is part of a two-well program by Beach over the next month in an area east of Warrambool and close to where the Company made the first discovery of commercial gas in onshore Victoria more than 20 years ago.
McIntee-1 will be drilled in the Cretaceous-aged Waare Sandstone formation in PEP 154, 40 kilometres southeast of Warrnambool in an area neighbouring commercial producing gas fields around Port Campbell.
The well has a target depth of 1,600 metres.

CENTRAL KALGOORLIE GOLD MINES (13 FEBRUARY 2001)

The Prospectus for 70,000,000 Options closed on the 5th February 2001. The Company received 20 applications for 9,675,000 options raising $193,500.00 and leaving a shortfall of 60,325,000 options. Negotiations to place the shortfall with professional investors are currently underway.

KINGS MINERALS (13 FEBRUARY 2001)

Kings Minerals NL has resolved to place 6,000,000 ordinary fully paid shares in the capital of the company to raise $210,000 which is an effective price of $0.035 per share.
Funds raised are to be used to meet working capital requirements and to further the ongoing search and investigation for a suitable onshore diamond exploration project in the Republic of South Africa. This is to complement the Company's offshore diamond exploration program which is presently based out of Port Nolloth on the West Coast of South Africa.

MIM HOLDINGS (13 FEBRUARY 2001)

Half Yearly Report

MAIN POINTS:

Net profit before abnormal items (MIM's share) was $21 million lower than for the previous December half at $31.2 million.

Capital expenditure was lower at $205.5 million (December half 1999 $244.4 million).

Standard & Poor's lifted MIM's credit rating outlook from stable to positive.

In respect of MIM's share of net profit:

Continuing strong operating performances at most of the company's mining operations were offset by:

- Lower production from the Mount Isa smelters primarily due to major overhauls and flow-on effect at Northfleet refinery. Poor European smelter performances.

• Copper operations EBIT increased by $24.3 million to $134.7 million (December half 1999 $110.4 million) mainly due to price and exchange gains.

- Mount Isa copper achieved an EBIT of $82.3 million (December half 1999 $41.2 million), and Ernest Henry $23.0 million (December half 1999 $5.4 million).

• Alumbrera EBIT of $29.4 million (December half 1999 $63.8 million) was depressed by scheduled lower ore grades and lower throughput in the September quarter. December quarter 2000 throughput returned to December quarter 1999 levels.
• Zinc-lead-silver EBIT declined by $34.7 million to $6.6 million (December half 1999 $41.3 million) following European losses.
  - Avonmouth and Duisburg both experienced unplanned interruptions to smelter production, which reduced output and increased costs. Planned and unplanned shutdowns of the Mount Isa lead smelter resulted in lower than expected lead-silver bullion deliveries to Northfleet.
  - Average margins were lower as a result of purchasing metal to cover customer contracts at all European operations.
  
  
• Coal EBIT increased by $72.5 Million to $94.7 million (December half 1999 $22.2 million) due to increased production and sales, lower unit costs and higher coal prices in A$ terms.
• EBIT loss of A$75.7 million largely from A$/US$ currency hedging. (December half 1999 $5.8 million gain). Note: this excludes European operations' currency hedging loss of $12.9 million (December half 1999 loss $1.5 million) which is included in the above zinc-lead-silver EBIT.

NORWEST ENERGY (13 FEBRUARY 2001)

At 6am (Central Standard Time) Monday 12th February 2001 the Puffin 6 Appraisal well was at a depth of 651 metres and drilling ahead in 17-inch hole.
Puffin-6 will be drilled in permit AC/P22, as a follow up to the oil discovery made at Puffin 5 in June 2000 and will be drilled 3.5 kilometres southwest and updip of Puffin-5.

PERSEVERANCE CORPORATION (13 FEBRUARY 2001)

Board Restructure:

• The appointment of Mr John Quinn, former managing director of Newcrest Mining Limited, as Chairman of the Company.
• The appointment of Dr Robin George, former Director - Exploration and Mining with Acacia Resources Limited, and Mr John Robinson, former Managing Director of Ashton Mining Limited, as non-executive Directors of the Company.
• The announcement of a 3 for 2 renounceable rights issue at 7 cents to raise $5.74 million before expenses.
• The rights issue is underwritten by Johnson Taylor Potter Corporate Finance Limited. The rights issue, has the full support of the Company's major shareholder, Waverley Mining Finance plc, who will take up all its rights and sub-underwrite an additional 10 million shares
• The proceeds of the rights issue will be primarily used to fund a deep drilling programme to assess the down-plunge continuity of the high grade sulphide mineralisation known to exist at Fosterville, and if warranted, complete a pre-feasibility study for a large, scale, long life mining operation.
• Drilling will initially target plunge extensions of the high grade 400-metre long shoot under Central North. Section 913ON is typical cross section at Central North. It has the following six true-thickness intersections, 7.5 Ag g/t over 1.5, 9.0 Au g/t over 9.9 metres, 11.1 Au g/t over 8.3 metres, 8.8 Au g/t over 7.4 metres, 11.0 Au g/t over 7.5 metres and 8.0 Au g/t over 4.7 metres. These intersections are over the known 100-metre height of the shoot.
• The depth potential of the multi-shear zone prospect at Fosterville is clearly demonstrated by one hole the Company drilled in 1995/96 that intersected the sulphide mineralisation at a depth below surface down to 450 metres.

SUN RESOURCES (13 FEBRUARY 2001)

Waitaria #2 in PEP 38335, East Coast Basin, North Island of New Zealand, at 0600 hours WST 9 February 2001, was at 1,352 metres (4,434 feet). Last casing point was reached Saturday 10 February. Casing (9 (5/8)") has been run and cemented. Current operation is testing BOPs before resuming drilling operations in 8 (1/2)" hole to target zone of interest below the regional seal. Background gas has picked up noticeably (0.4 to 0.5%) with the occasional presence of C4.

WOODSIDE PETROLEUM (13 FEBRUARY 2001)

Woodside Petroleum Ltd, a Joint Venture partner in permit AC/P17, reports that at 0600 hours WST on 12 February the Audacious-1 exploration well located in the Vulcan Sub-Basin in the Timor Sea was rigging down test equipment. Earlier, during production testing operations, a flow rate of 9,100 barrels oil per day was achieved, from a 3 metre perforated interval. Gravity of the produced fluid is 55 degrees API. No water was produced during the test.

XENOLITH GOLD (13 FEBRUARY 2001)

The following release (part) has been made to the North American market with respect to the East Lost Hills oil/gas project in which Xenolith has an indirect interest via its shareholdings in Kookaburra Resources Ltd and KOB Energy Inc.

"Calgary, Alberta - Berkley Petroleum Corp announced several developments today, including the commencement of production from the Berkley #1 natural gas well in the East Lost Hills area of California and updates on three other wells in progress in that area.

* The Berkley #1 natural gas well commenced production Tuesday February 6, 2001. Production will reach the originally planned 13 million cubic feet per day (mmcf/d) within the first few days of operation. During start up, production from the well is being restricted to 9.6mmcf/d and approximately 475bpd of associated hydrocarbon liquids, at a flowing well head pressure of 13,300 psi. A potential production rate of over 20 mmcf/d is ultimately planned for the well.

The California energy market is virtually unrivalled in its economic attractiveness to natural gas producers. The joint venture is currently receiving USD$12.60 (Cdn $19.00) per mcf for its East Lost Hills production.

BEACONSFIELD GOLD (10 FEBRUARY 2001)

The directors of Beaconsfield Gold NL are pleased to announce that all the resolutions put to its members at the company's Extraordinary General Meeting held on 8 February 2001 were passed. Fore more information on Beaconsfield, click here.

BEACH PETROLEUM (10 FEBRUARY 2001)

Sable-1 exploration well in ATP 541P, Cooper/Eromanga Basin, Queensland, reached a total depth of 2203m. The well did not encounter significant hydrocarbon shows and is currently being plugged and abandoned.

BHP (10 FEBRUARY 2001)

BHP announced approval of a US$138 million expansion of its Tintaya copper operations in Southern Peru.
The expansion will include a new solvent extraction electrowinning (SX/EW) facility that will initially produce 34,000 tonnes of copper in cathode per annum.
Construction of the project will commence immediately with first production expected in mid 2002. Copper production levels at Tintaya, currently around 90,000 tonnes per annum, will rise to a capacity of 124,000 tonnes per annum in 2002 and 130,000 tonnes per annum in 2004.

IVANHOE MINES (10 FEBRUARY 2001)

Robert Friedland, Chairman, and Daniel Kunz, President of Ivanhoe Mines Ltd, announced today that Ivanhoe Mines and its recently acquired ABM Mining subsidiary had combined revenue in 2000 of approximately US$84.8 million. The companies recorded combined net sales of approximately 13,350 tonnes (29.1 million pounds) of copper from Ivanhoe's Monywa joint venture in Myanmar, and approximately 2.19 million tonnes of iron ore pellets and 19,400 tonnes of iron ore concentrate from ABM's Savage River mine and Port Latta pellet plant in Tasmania, Australia. Ivanhoe completed its acquisition of 100% of ABM Mining on December 31, 2000.

ABM's sales revenue in 2000 was US$61.5 million, up 8.66% over 1999 sales revenue of US$56.6 million. ABM's production of iron ore products in 2000 increased by approximately 11% over its 1999 output of 1.9 million tonnes of iron ore pellets and 80,000 tonnes of concentrate. ABM also benefited from a price increase of 6% for its pellets, which took effect in the second quarter of 2000.

JUBILEE MINES (10 FEBRUARY 2001)

Jubilee Mines NL has significantly exceeded expectations with an inaugural $15.459 million net profit for the half year to December 31, 2000. This is on the back of an outstanding performance at its Cosmos Nickel Mine which has confirmed the project's world-class status.

The excellent profit result, which equates to half-year earnings per share of 12.78 cents, establishes Jubilee as a significant new Australian nickel sulphide producer following the commissioning of the Cosmos Project in Western Australia last year.

During the six-month period, the mine generated sales revenue of $64.045 million for Jubilee, propelling the Company to its first-ever profit after more than 13 years as a junior explorer. The previous corresponding result, a loss of $940,000 for the December 1999 half-year and a loss of $1.958 million for the full-year to 30 June 2000, highlights this dramatic transformation.

The bottom line result for the December 2000 half-year was after amortisation and depreciation of $9.945 million and abnormal hedging losses of $4.583 million. Jubilee posted an operating profit for the period of $29.987 million, representing an exceptionally strong margin on sales which bodes well for the future profitability of the operation.

The December 2000 result represents a 93% return on equity, based on total shareholders' funds of $16.645 million as at 30 June 2000. It has also underpinned a 100% increase in this figure over the six month period, with total shareholders' funds standing at $32.021 million at 31 December 2000.

Jubilee's borrowings, representing the development cost of the Cosmos Project, stood at $52 million at 31 December, and are expected to reduce rapidly over the next 12 months.

MINCOR RESOURCES (10 FEBRUARY 2001)

Reko Diq Project - Successful Completion of Drilling - Mincor has received the results of a further 15 holes, two of which are diamond core holes and the remainder RC percussion holes.
Ten of these holes proved to lie within the boundaries of the potential resource, as outlined using a cut-off grade of 0.7% copper over a minimum intersection of 4 metres down hole as well as visual estimates of the presence of supergene mineralisation. All the holes were drilled at an angle of 60 degrees from the horizontal.

NORMANDY NFM (10 FEBRUARY 2001)

Half Yearly Report

PROFIT BEFORE TAX - $32.2 million, up 63 percent

PROFIT AFTER TAX - $21.3 million, up 11 percent

• Gold sales - 204,155 ounces (149,356 ounces), up 37 percent
• Cash margin - $257 per ounce ($245 per ounce), up $12 per ounce
  - net average realised gold price, $542 per ounce ($577 per ounce)
  - total cash cost, $285 per ounce ($332 per ounce)
• * Cash and bullion at 31 December 2000
  - $22.8 million (net debt $26.5 million)

INTERIM DIVIDEND REINSTATED

• 10 cents per share, 100 percent franked, payable 2 March 2001
  - books close for dividend entitlement 20 February 2001
  - distribution to shareholders $7.6 million
  - Dividend Reinvestment Plan suspended

SUN RESOURCES (10 FEBRUARY 2001)

Waitaria #2 in PEP 38335, East Coast Basin, North Island of New Zealand, at 0700 hours WST 9 February 2001, is at 1,290 metres (4,232 feet). Current operations is a bit change before resuming drilling ahead in 12(1/4)" hole to next casing point 1,372 metres (4,500 feet) which lies above target zone of interest.

TAP OIL (10 FEBRUARY 2001)

Simpson-1 - Since the last report on 8 February 2001, a wireline logging programme has been conducted, pressure data gathered and fluid samples obtained.
This information has confirmed the existence of a 31.1 metre oil column with no gas cap. The oil is characterised as similar to existing Harriet light crude production at approximately 39 to 40 degrees API.
The reservoir is characterised as very good to excellent.

ANVIL MINING (9 FEBRUARY 2001)

Golden Star Resources Ltd and Anvil Mining NL announce the completion of the metallurgical testwork stage of the detailed study to determine the feasibility to mine and process the primary sulphide resource at Bogoso gold mine in Ghana.

The results of the metallurgical testwork were generally in accordance with, or better than expectation, and have had a beneficial impact on the anticipated processing costs. The final feasibility study is on schedule and is expected to be completed during the second quarter of 2001.

AUSTRALIAN PIPELINE TRUST (9 FEBRUARY 2001)

The Chief Executive Officer of APA, Mr Jim McDonald, today announced the acquisition of the remaining 15% interest in the Roma-Brisbane Pipeline (RBP) from its joint venture partner, Interstate RBP Pty Limited. The sale is conditional on Queensland Ministerial approval.
The 440 kilometre Roma - Brisbane Pipeline is a significant asset of the APA Group transporting gas for consumption by a broad range of industrial, commercial and residential users in the South-East Queensland market.

"The purchase price for the acquisition of the remaining interest is confidential, but is consistent with the valuation of the RBP at the time of the Float of APA."

"The acquisition reflects the APA prospectus plan to acquire minority interests where feasible. The investment is earnings positive for APA and will improve over time with the reduction of cost of joint venture management, and increased usage," Mr McDonald said.

BHP (9 FEBRUARY 2001)

Half Year Profit Report December 2000

SIGNIFICANT FEATURES

• a record half year profit;
• higher prices for petroleum products and copper;
• benefits from lower A$/US$ exchange rates;
• profits from the Laminaria/Corallina oil fields (North West Australia); and
• lower debt levels.

CONSOLIDATED MINERALS (9 FEBRUARY 2001)

Lion Selection Group Limited changed its relevant interest in Consolidated Minerals Limited on 01/02/2001, from 35,000,000 ordinary shares (36.9%) to 37,777,778 ordinary shares (31.7%).

DOMINION MINING (9 FEBRUARY 2001)

GAM International Growth Fund & Sterling Managed Fund increased its relevant interest in Dominion Mining Limited on 02/02/2001, from 4,756,296 ordinary shares (7.14%) to 7,161,504 ordinary shares (10.35%).

EMPIRE OIL & GAS (9 FEBRUARY 2001)

Empire, through its wholly owned subsidiary Rough Range Oil Pty Ltd, announced its plans to drill 2 to 3 prospects in the EP 41 (Part 3) Permit in the Exmouth Sub Basin commencing in April 2001.
Empire has identified 8 interpreted oil filled prospects from its recent High Resolution Magnetotelluric ("MT") Survey recorded in EP 41 (Part 3) as reported to the ASX an 1 February 2001 and 2 February 2001 and is to test the validity of those MT results by a 2 to 3 well drilling programme.
The Company is to prepare 3 drilling site locations and road works over prospects Tess, Jennifer and Brooke.

The first well planned to be drilled will be Tess No 1, a Birdrong Sandstone reservoir test with a total well depth of 1400 metres. The Tess Prospect is interpreted as a westerly tilted fault block with an estimated volume of Oil in Place of 10MMBO (million barrels of oil) with an indicated maximum oil column of 30 metres at the crest. The well is located 6 kilometres north east of the Rough Range Oilfield.
The Tess No 1 well is scheduled to take approximately 8 days and will be followed, dependent on results, by the Brooke or Jennifer Prospects.

HADDINGTON INTERNATIONAL RESOURCES (9 FEBRUARY 2001)

Haddington International Resources is pleased to announce that it has received Works Approval from the Western Australian Department of Environmental Protection for the construction of the process plant and associated infrastructure at its Bald Hill Tantalite Project.
Haddington has a Licence Agreement with Sons of Gwalia Limited for the development of the Bald Hill Tantalum deposit near Widgiemooltha and the Cattlin Creek Tantalum deposit, which is located at Ravensthorpe, in Western Australia.

HILLCREST RESOURCES (9 FEBRUARY 2001)

The Directors of Hillcrest Resources Limited advise that they have today resolved to undertake a 1 for 2 entitlement issue to shareholders of 20 cent 31 January 2005 options at a subscription price of 0.5 cents for each option. The entitlement offer will cause the issue of 40,548,836 options and will raise $202,744.
The issue will be non-renounceable and be underwritten by William Noall Limited of Melbourne.

The Directors also advised that they have today resolved to seek shareholder approval for the placement of an additional 40,548,836 options at an issue price of 0.5 cents. The options will have the same terms and conditions as the options the subject of the entitlement issue to shareholders being a 31 January 2005 expiry dale and an exercise price of 20 cents.
William Noall Limited have agreed to place the options on an all reasonable endeavours basis. A meeting of shareholders will be called shortly to approve the placement.

NORMANDY MT LEYSHON (9 FEBRUARY 2001)

Half Yearly Report

CONSOLIDATED PROFIT AFTER TAX - $10.9 million, down 46 percent

• Gold sales, 139,064 ounces (145,529 ounces)
• Cash margin, $183 per ounce ($269 per ounce)
  - net average realised gold price, $487 per ounce ($542 per ounce)
  - total cash cost, $304 per ounce ($273 per ounce)
• * No debt; cash and bullion at 31 December 2000, $47.5 million ($82.6 million)

DIVIDEND - 25 cents per share fully franked

• Books close for dividend entitlement 21 February 2001
• Distribution to shareholders, $19.7 million, payable 2 March 2001
• Payout ratio 182 percent

FUTURE DISTRIBUTIONS OF OPERATING CASHFLOW SURPLUS

• An operating life of 12 months remains, after which site rehabilitation and ongoing monitoring (estimated cost of $7 million) will continue for a further three to four years
• Directors anticipate a further distribution to shareholders, subject to operations proceeding according to the mine schedule.

This would be by way of a capital return, currently estimated at 50 cents per share to be paid September 2001, following audit of financial results to 30 June 2001
NOTE: Six months to 3l December l999 in bracketed italics. Australian dollars, unless specified otherwise.

OIL COMPANY OF AUSTRALIA (9 FEBRUARY 2001)

Roche No 01 a coal bed methane exploration well situated approximately 4.0 kilometres south-east of Roma No 01, latitude 26 deg 01 min 07.82 sec south, longitude 150 deg 00 min, 47.78 sec east, was spudded at 15:30 hours on February 03, 2001. Surface casing was set at 130 metres GL. At 06:00 hours today the rig was drilling ahead at 189.00 metres GL. The rig operates only during daylight hours. Progress for the week was 189.00 metres.
The primary targets of the well were the coals of the Taroom coal measures.

PERSEVERANCE CORPORATION (9 FEBRUARY 2001)

The directors announced a loss for the half year to 31 December 2000 of $733,319. The majority of the loss is due to exploration and other write-offs of $171,680 and inventory, depreciation and amortisation charges of $539,806.

SUN RESOURCES (9 FEBRUARY 2001)

Waitaria #2 in PEP 38335, East Coast Basin, North Island of New Zealand, at 0600 hours 8 February 2000, is at 1,103 metres (3,619 feet). Current operations is a bit change before resuming drilling ahead in 12(1/4)" hole to next casing point 1,372 metres (4,500 feet) which lies above target zone of interest.

TAP OIL (9 FEBRUARY 2001)

Success in Simpson-1 Oil Appraisal Well - The Simpson-1 appraisal well has drilled to its total depth and encountered a 33.4 hydrocarbon column, being 18 metres more than pre-drill prognosis.
The 33.4 metre column has at this stage been interpreted based on measurement while drilling log data along with excellent oil shows over the interval.

HERALD RESOURCES (8 FEBRUARY 2001)

WILLIAM NOALL ISSUES A BUY RECOMMENDATION FOR HERALD - Sopokomil Deposit -Outstanding Global Resource . FOR DETAILS, CLICK HERE.

GTECH INTERNATIONAL RESOURCES (8 FEBRUARY 2001)

The Company announces that it has terminated its Joint Venture with Genetic Technologies (ASX – GTG) Limited in respect of the Mt Alexander Goldfield Joint Venture in Victoria, Australia.

The Company had a 31.25% interest in the Joint Venture and had resolved not to advance further funds to the Joint Venture. As part of the termination agreement, The Company is released from all liabilities in respect of the Joint Venture effective from 31 December 2000. Genetic Technologies Limited will now have 100% of the Mt Alexander Goldfield Project and be responsible for all commitments in respect of the project.

The Directors of Gtech International Resources Limited have previously written down the value of the project to nil in the accounts of the Company.

Genetic Technologies Limited owns approximately 53% of the shares in Gtech International Resources Limited and accordingly the transaction is a non-arms length transaction. The transaction is subject to acceptance for filing by the Canadian Venture Exchange. For more information on GTG, CLICK HERE.

AQUARIUS PLATINUM (8 FEBRUARY 2001)

As a consequence of acceptances of it unconditional offer and buying in the market, Aquarius Platinum Limited and its subsidiaries, now own 30.87 million ordinary KPM shares constituting 78% of the KPM ordinary shares on issue and 10.70 million KPM "T" options constituting 72% of the issued KPM "T" options at the close of the offer at 4pm (South African time) on 5th February 2001.
On a fully diluted basis Aquarius and its subsidiaries now own 76% of KPM.

AUSTRALIAN OIL & GAS CORPORATION (8 FEBRUARY 2001)

National Australia Bank Limited Group ceased to be a substantial shareholder in Australian Oil & Gas Corporation Limited on 31/01/2001.

BHP (8 FEBRUARY 2001)

BHP announced the appointment of Greg Robinson to the position of BHP Petroleum Chief Financial Officer, effective 15 February 2001.

CROESUS MINING (8 FEBRUARY 2001)

Croesus Mining announced today that it had signed a $10 million joint venture agreement with Placer Dome Asia Pacific to explore Croesus' Binduli project.
Under the terms of the agreement Placer may earn up to a 75% interest in the Binduli project by spending $10 million on exploration and feasibility studies.

Placer, with Croesus has been investigating the Binduli project over the past two years developing conceptual gold targets based on advanced geophysical and geological modeling.
Preliminary in-house geophysical surveys conducted by Placer at Binduli have identified at least 3 anomalies that may represent sulphide gold mineralisation similar to the high grade ECM (Eastern Contact Mineralisation) that averaged over 20g/t gold and was mined by Croesus from the Centurion pit in 1999.
Croesus retains the right to continue its current development and mining of the existing 750,000 ounce resource base at Binduli.

EQUINOX RESOURCES (8 FEBRUARY 2001)

Billiton Exploration Australia Pty Ltd increased its relevant interest in Equinox Resources Limited on 17/01/2001, from 10,000,000 ordinary shares (9.24%) to 13,846,154 ordinary shares (11.69%).

EXODUS MINERALS (8 FEBRUARY 2001)

The securities of Exodus Minerals Limited will be placed in pre-open pending the release of an announcement by Exodus.

GREENSTONE RESOURCES (8 FEBRUARY 2001)

Greenstone Resources NL has vowed to move quickly to heal the wounds of its recent boardroom dispute, with its expanded board planning to focus on accelerating the development of its portfolio of mineral assets and building a team to lead the Company into the future.

Greenstone's Chairman Mr Graham Riley and Managing Director Mr Phillip Golding - both of whom will continue in their current roles following the outcome of Monday's Shareholders' Meeting - said they welcomed the end of the dispute which has beset the Company for the past two months.

As a result of Monday's meeting, Greenstone shareholder Mr Mark Connell, who requisitioned the meeting to remove Mr Golding and Mr Riley, was elected to the Company's Board.

HOMESTAKE MINING COMPANY (8 FEBRUARY 2001)

Homestake Reports Q4 Earnings of $0.02 Per Share, All-Time Record Quarterly And Annual Gold Production, Lowest Cash Costs in 23 Years

(Note: All financial information is reported in US dollars unless stated otherwise)

Fourth quarter 2000 summary:

• Net income of $5.2 million, compared to net income of $4.0 million for the corresponding 1999 period. Net income per share remained unchanged at $0.02.
• Cash flow from operations of $32.6 million, compared to $17.2 million in the fourth quarter of 1999.
• Total attributable gold production at an all-time Company record of 589,100 ounces, 48,200 ounces more than in the fourth quarter of 1999.
• Average cash cost of $168 per ounce, $20 per ounce lower than in the same quarter of 1999.
• Attributable proven and probable gold reserves at December 31, 2000 of 20.8 million ounces, 11% higher than a year earlier.

ILUKA RESOURCES (8 FEBRUARY 2001)

National Australia Bank Limited Group ceased to be a substantial shareholder in Iluka Resources Limited on 31/01/2001.

PETROZ (8 FEBRUARY 2001)

Phillips Australia WA-248 Company Pty Limited (Phillips Australia) today announced it has extended the offer period in its cash offer for Petroz shares for one week in order to provide, shareholders with sufficient time to accept the offer. This is the final extension of the offer. It will not be extended again.
The scheduled closing date of each offer is extended from midnight (Sydney time) on 7 February 2001 to 7.00 pm (Sydney time) on 14 February 2001.

PRIMA RESOURCES (8 FEBRUARY 2001)

The securities of Prima Resources Limited (the "Company") will be suspended from quotation immediately, at the request of the Company, following release of an announcement concerning a proposal to change the Company's activities.

SELWYN MINES (8 FEBRUARY 2001)

Selwyn announced that it has awarded the Scoping Study for its Selwyn Twin Ridges project to Fluor Daniel (a division of Fluor Australia Ltd). Selwyn called for tenders for the Scoping Study in December/January. A number of competitive tenders from major engineering firms were received.

The Study is planned to be completed by late April 2001. The study will investigate the commercial viability of a major copper-gold development adjacent to Selwyn's existing operations at the Selwyn Project near Mt Isa in NW Queensland. The Project will be based on the relatively large, low grade Selwyn Line and Mt Dore deposits. The resources for these deposits are detailed in our December 2000 Quarterly Report.

SONS OF GWALIA (8 FEBRUARY 2001)

Sons of Gwalia Ltd ("the Company") announced today that it has acquired its two joint venture partners' interests in the Southern Cross region of Western Australia.

The Executive Chairman of the Company, Mr Peter Lalor, said:
"We have been keen to achieve this outcome for some time and believe the rationalisation and consolidation of the Southern Cross region, processing ore through one large, low cost milling facility, will result in significant, long term benefits to the Company."

The Company said that it had acquired beneficial interests in a number of assets previously shared with the Joint Venture partners including:

i. A 30 per cent interest in the Yilgarn Star Gold Mine.
ii. A 25 per cent interest in the Star Mill gold processing facilities and infrastructure situated between the Yilgarn Star and Marvel Loch Mines.
iii. A 25 per cent interest in the Great Victoria and Nevoria Gold Mines.
iv. A 25 per cent interest in the Southern Cross Joint Venture which comprises approximately 60 kilometres of strike and 1,200 square kilometres of mining tenements covering the historical Southern Cross gold belt.
v. A 50 per cent interest in the Gasgoyne gold hedge book which comprises a total of 180,000 ounces of bought puts at an average delivery price of approximately $600 per ounce.
vi. A 50 per cent interest in a large tenement position south of Laverton.

The Company said that significant cost savings and other benefits would be released as a result of the rationalisation resulting in cash flow benefits in the order of $7 million - $10 million per annum.

The Company said that the consideration for the purchase of the above assets comprised $21.9 million plus a royalty on 75 per cent of production from the Yilgarn Star Gold Mine alone.

SUN RESOURCES (8 FEBRUARY 2001)

Waitaria #2 in PEP 38335, East Coast Basin, North Island of New Zealand, at 0700 hours 7 February 2000, is at 939 metres (3,082 feet) and is currently drilling ahead in 12 (1/4)" hole to next casing point 1,372 metres (4,500 feet) which lies above target zone of interest.

UNITED ENERGY (8 FEBRUARY 2001)

United Energy Limited released its 2000 full year results showing a $78.0 million net profit after tax before abnormals, exceeding its 1999 result by 9.9%. Earnings per security before abnormals strengthened to 18.7 cents compared with 17.1 cents in 1999.
In addition, a $51.2 million abnormal item took the Company's net profit after tax and after abnormals to $129.2 million. The abnormal item relates to the sale of businesses and tax-related adjustments.
United Energy's Chief Executive Officer, Don Bacon, said the strong results had been achieved in a year that had seen substantial change to the business.

WESTERN METALS (8 FEBRUARY 2001)

National Australia Bank Ltd Group ceased to be a substantial shareholder in Western Metals Limited on 31/01/2001.

WEST OIL (8 FEBRUARY 2001)

West Oil NL announces the AC/P22 Joint Venture has received the Sedco 703 semi- submersible drilling rig. The rig is expected to be on location at Puffin-6 on the night of Thursday 8th February.

QUEENSLAND GAS COMPANY (7 FEBRUARY 2001)

The Directors of Queensland Gas Company Limited (QGC) are pleased to announce that the first appraisal well at the Argyle coalbed methane (CBM) field, Argyle No. 2 was completed today as a potential coalbed methane producer. Testing of the well during drilling produced gas at a rate of 358 000 cubic feet per day (10 100 cubic metres per day)

The well is now shut in awaiting equipment to be set up for further evaluation.

The well is located approximately 900 metres south of QGC Argyle No 1 and approximately 25 kilometres south of the township of Chinchilla in the Surat Basin in Queensland.

The completion of this well has earned QGC a 50% interest in the Walloon Coal Measures in ATP 620P.

The rig will now move to the Argyle No. 5 site located approximately 1.2 kilometres south of Argyle No. 2. The Argyle No. 3 and No. 4 sites, 900 metres east and north respectively of Argyle No. 1 are not accessible due to recent heavy rain.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CLICK HERE.

AUSTRALASIAN GOLD MINES (7 FEBRUARY 2001)

Australasian Gold Mines NL (ASX: ATE) has put the finishing touches to its new tantalum venture with the world's largest manufacturer of tantalum capacitors, the NYSE-listed KEMET Corporation, today (Tuesday) executing agreements to form a new joint venture company focused on the fast-growing sector.

Under the agreements finalised today, Australasian and KEMET Corporation's Australian subsidiary, KEMET Tantalum Pty Ltd, will each hold a 50% interest in Tantalum Australia - a new company which will own and fund the development of Australasian's existing tantalum assets in Australia, as well as seek new project opportunities on a global basis.

KEMET Tantalum is providing A$10 million in funding to the new company to acquire its 50% interest - funding which is initially being applied to the establishment of a pilot plant for one of Australasian's existing tantalum assets, its Dalgaranga Project in Western Australia.

The US-based giant is also investing directly in Australasian by subscribing for 18 million shares in the Company at A$0.25 per share, which will give it a 10% fully diluted stake and raise approximately A$4.5 million.

AUSTRALIAN MINING INVESTMENTS (7 FEBRUARY 2001)

AMI has, during December 2000-January 2001, engaged geological and other consultants to examine, and assist in the selection of one of more suitable oil & gas exploration and/or production projects in the central Asian republic of Kazakhstan. Those consultants have extensive local experience, and are now in the course of a visit to Kazakhstan to review available opportunities for AMI to acquire an interest.
AMI stated in its 2000 Annual Report that it intended to explore opportunities to invest in projects in the energy sector, and in December 2000 it raised $300,000 to assist it to examine such possible opportunities.

BLIGH OIL & MINERALS (7 FEBRUARY 2001)

The Rimu-A2 is currently drilling ahead in 6" hole at a depth of 4197 metres.
The well is being deepened to evaluate the Rimu Limestone, from which oil and gas was tested in the Rimu B2, and the lower Tariki Sandstone, prior to any testing of the upper Tariki Sandstone interval.
Preparations continue for a long term production test of the Rimu Limestone interval in the Rimu-B2 well, with 4 (1/2)" liner set at 3516.9m.

CENTRAL NORSEMAN GOLD CORPORATION (7 FEBRUARY 2001)

The Directors of Central Norseman Gold Corporation Limited announce an operating profit after tax of $6.5 million for the 12 months ended 31 December 2000, which compares with the profit of $8.3 million for the year ending 31 December 1999.

While profit decreased for the year, cash generated by operating activities increased by 48% to $20.0 million for the year ending 31 December 2000, and cash reserves increased by $1.3 million to $10.2 million.

The average realised price of gold sold during the year was $558 an ounce which was in line with the average realised price for the preceding 12 months.

Production for the year was 109,724 ounces, a decrease of 1,905 ounces over the previous year.
The unit total cost of sales was $473 per ounce for the financial year, compared to $453 for the 12 months to 31 December 1999. The direct cash cost of production for the year was $297 per ounce.

Highlights during the year included the introduction of an innovative mining method developed by a team at Norseman for extracting ore at Bullen. The technique is being used to extract very narrow shoots of ore, down to as little as 35 centimetres, with significantly reduced dilution resulting in grade increases of 30 to 40 per cent. This technique will reduce our mining, haulage, mill and waste costs.
In December 2000, CNGC signed a joint venture agreement with WMC Resources Ltd to explore the Norseman tenements for nickel deposits.
Ore reserves have decreased to 267,600 ounces using a conservative evaluation price of A$440 per ounce. Resources (inclusive of reserves) are 1.6 million ounces, and are calculated in compliance with the AusIMM JORC code.
The Board has declared a final dividend in respect of the financial year ended 31 December 2000 of 1.0 cent per share fully franked. The dividend will be paid on 5 March 2001 to all shareholders on the share register as at 19 February 2001.

DELTA GOLD (7 FEBRUARY 2001)

Perpetual Trustees Australia Limited became a substantial shareholder in Delta Gold Limited on 05/02/2001 with a relevant interest in the issued share capital of 13,392,099 ordinary shares (5.02%).

PETROZ (7 FEBRUARY 2001)

Phillips Australia WA-248 Company Pty Limited increased its relevant interest in Petroz NL on 05/02/2001, from 184,919,150 ordinary shares (81.72%) to 187,985,575 ordinary shares (83.08%).

SUN RESOURCES (7 FEBRUARY 2001)

Waitaria #2 in PEP 38335, East Coast Basin, North Island of New Zealand, at 0800 hours 6 February 2000, is at 650 metres (2,152 feet) and is currently drilling ahead in 12(1/4)" hole to next casing point 1,372 metres (4,500 feet) which lies above target zone of interest. It is anticipated next casing point will be reached late weekend.

TAP OIL (7 FEBRUARY 2001)

Perpetual Trustees Australia Limited became a substantial shareholder in Tap Oil Limited on 05/02/2001 with a relevant interest in the issued share capital of 7,204,853 ordinary shares (5.30%).

WOODSIDE PETROLEUM (7 FEBRUARY 2001)

Woodside Petroleum Ltd, a Joint Venture partner in permit AC/P17, reports that at 0600 hours WST on 6 February the Audacious-1 exploration well located in the Vulcan Sub-Basin in the Timor Sea is preparing for a production test. Earlier, wireline logging operations were successfully completed.

WMC (6 FEBRUARY 2001)

WMC buys Yakabindie Nickel Project

WMC Resources Ltd has added the Yakabindie Nickel Project to its suite of nickel assets in Western Australia.
WMC Executive General Manager – Nickel, Alan Dundas said Yakabindie would potentially contribute 292 million tonnes at 0.52% nickel to WMC’s existing nickel resources.
Mr Dundas said the project, acquired from Rio Tinto, adjoins the company’s North Six Mile Deposit, located near the Mt Keith Nickel Operation.

Mr Dundas said WMC had paid Rio Tinto $25 million and would pay an additional $15 million upon gaining approval to mine.

ANACONDA NICKEL (5 FEBRUARY 2001)

Anaconda Nickel limited reports that its Murrin Murrin Nickel & Cobalt Operation achieved a new monthly production record in January 2001 of 1805 tonnes of nickel and 110 tonnes of cobalt.

The last 5 days of the month saw the refinery producing over 500 tonnes of Nickel, including a daily record of 87% of Design capacity.

The strong operating fundamentals of the plant continued with record recoveries in the CCD's (97%), reflecting more stable operation, and record Mixed sulphide precipitation efficiencies of 96%. The pressure leach autoclave trains continue to show improvement in terms of performance. The combined availability of the trains is steadily increasing as operational strategies are implemented.

Plant continuity is much improved and is providing a very solid platform on which to continue to build production volumes.

BENDIGO MINING (5 FEBRUARY 2001)

Bendigo Mining's operations were suspended following the tragic accident on 1 February in which Patrick Stevens, a maintenance operator, was killed whilst working on an underground truck.
A memorial service to honour Patrick was held this morning at the mine site with colleagues and family attending.
Normal operations have resumed this afternoon.
An investigation into the accident is being conducted by the relevant authorities and the Bendigo Mining team is cooperating fully with those inquiries.

BHP (5 FEBRUARY 2001)

BHP Limited (BHP), together with other participants in the North West Shelf Venture, today announced a Letter of Intent (LOI) with Tohoku Electric Co Ltd for the sale and purchase of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the North West Shelf (NWS) in Western Australia.
The agreement was signed by the six NWS LNG Sellers and covers the supply of 0.4 million tonnes of LNG per annum (mtpa) for a long-term period starting in April 2005.
The parties will now move to finalise a sale and purchase agreement by mid 2001.

BOLNISI GOLD (5 FEBRUARY 2001)

Further to the Company's announcements about the dispute that exists in respect of the Company's 50% interest in Quartzite Limited ('Quartzite') in Georgia, the Directors advise that JSC Madneuli representatives have exported the gold dore produced by Quartzite since July 2000 to Union Miniere Precious Metals ('Union Miniere') in Belgium for refining.

The Company has contacted Union Miniere who have confirmed that they have 'entered into a contract with the Georgian company JSC Madneuli for the toll treatment of gold dore bars coming from the Madneuli complex.'

Union Miniere have been advised that JSC Madneuli do not produce gold dore bars and that the export by JSC Madneuli represents theft of the Quartzite gold dore bars. Union Miniere have been requested to take no further action in dealing with or processing the stolen property.

The Directors are actively pursuing means of securing the return of Quartzite's gold dore bars for refining and sale in accordance with Quartzite's contractual obligations.

GLENGARRY RESOURCES (5 FEBRUARY 2001)

An Application for an Exploration Permit for Minerals (EPM) has been accepted by the Queensland Mines Department. The Application, (EPM 13505) is known as Westwood and is located 50 km south west of Rockhampton in central Queensland. It covers over 300 sqkm in area.
At Westwood, palladium(Pd) and platinum(Pt) minerelisation is known to occur associated with a layered intrusive suite (the Bucknalla Complex) with rock chip values up to 9.3 g/t Pd and 3.7 g/t Pt returned from previous sampling. Similar layered complexes, such as the Stillwater Complex in the United States of America, are known to host major economic deposits of Pd/Pt.

GOLDFIELDS (5 FEBRUARY 2001)

AMP Limited increased its relevant interest in Goldfields Limited on 04/02/2001, from 9,486,140 ordinary shares (5.02%) to 11,789,417 ordinary shares (6.24%).

MT GRACE RESOURCES (5 FEBRUARY 2001)

Mt Grace announced that the contract for Stage 1 of the Definitive Feasibility Study for the Batchelor Magnesium Project has been awarded to the Bateman Multiplex JV ("BMJV") which is a joint venture between Bateman Engineering Pty Ltd and Multiplex Constructions Pty Ltd.
BMJV will begin work on the Study immediately and Stage 1 is scheduled for completion in April 2001. The Company will award a separate contract for Stage 2 of the Study which will follow on after the completion of Stage 1. Stage 1 of the Study will be managed through Bateman Engineering's Perth office but significant input will come from Bateman's Titaco division and the Project's technology provider, Mintek, both in Johannesburg. Titaco is a world leader in the design and installation of DC plasma arc furnaces and offers broad international experience.

RIO TINTO (5 FEBRUARY 2001)

Preliminary Final Report - Summary:

RIO TINTO EARNINGS GROW 18 PER CENT TO US$1,507 MILLION

• Earnings of $1,507 million, up 18 per cent on previous year
• Operating cash flow up $0.4 billion to $3.4 billion
• Acquisitions announced totalling $4 billion create growth and synergies
• New projects and mine expansions under construction

"The year 2000 was a particularly active one for us, offering some excellent opportunities to expand our business," said Rio Tinto chairman Sir Robert Wilson. "Acquisitions in Australia across four product groups, in line with our strategy of seizing opportunities for synergy and increased shareholder value, will add significant growth in future years.

"These include the minority shares in Comalco, now wholly owned by Rio Tinto; North Limited with its iron ore and other assets; Ashton Mining Limited, our joint venture partner in the Argyle diamond mine; the Lemington coal mine in New South Wales and the agreement to purchase five Peabody Coal operations in New South Wales and Queensland.

"Global economic growth of around 4.7 per cent was the highest in a decade and resulted in continued growth in demand for commodities. Higher prices coupled with further efficiency gains of $82 million improved our financial performance, although this was offset by higher fuel costs of $61 million. Second half earnings at $830 million were 23 per cent higher than earnings for the first six months and brought the total for the year to a new record high."

STRATA MINING CORPORATION (5 FEBRUARY 2001)

Strata's 96% owned subsidiary Media Fusion Limited is the beneficial owner of a 90% interest in Exploration Licence 38/890, located 25 kilometres east of Laverton in the Northern Eastern Goldfields Region of WA.
Media Fusion Limited (90%), and Pocketmail International Pty Ltd (10%) have entered into an agreement with NiWest Limited (a subsidiary of Western Metals Ltd), to grant NiWest an option to acquire the rights to explore and mine for lateritic nickel and cobalt on the tenement.
Media Fusion Limited (90%) and Pocketmail Group Limited (10%) retain the rights to all other minerals on the tenement including gold, sulphide nickel, copper and platinum group metals.

County Investment Management Limited became a substantial shareholder in Western Metals Limited on 31/01/2001 with a relevant interest in the issued share capital of 22,152,242 ordinary shares (6.73%).

SUN RESOURCES (5 FEBRUARY 2001)

Waitaria #2 in PEP 38335, East Coast Basin North Island of New Zealand is at 557 metres (1,828 feet) and is currently involved in completing operations at 13(3/8)" casing point (ie installing BOP and testing) to drill ahead in 12(1/4)" hole late today.

WESFARMERS (5 FEBRUARY 2001)

The directors of Wesfarmers Limited today released the company's results for the half year ended 31 December 2000. On a normalised basis, net profit increased 25 per cent over the previous period to $111.8 million. The actual reported operating profit after tax increased 12 per cent from $100.1 million to $111.8 million, the lower increase reflecting the fact that the profit for the previous period included an abnormal gain of $10.3 million arising from the change in the corporate tax rate. Under new accounting standards, such abnormal items are no longer differentiated.

The most recent half year's result included profit on the sale of non-current assets of $3.3 million which compares with $13.5 million earned in the same period last year. At a divisional EBIT level, group profit rose a pleasing 35 per cent.

The result was achieved on operating revenue of nearly $2.0 billion which was 21 per cent higher than last year's $1.6 billion.

A significant factor in the growth was the inclusion, for the first time, of the result of the Curragh coal mine in Queensland acquired just prior to the commencement of the half year. As detailed below, most other business units reported first half results ahead of the comparative period last year.

The group's reported earnings per share of 42.2 cents for the half year was 13 per cent above the 37.4 cents in the corresponding six months last year. After adjusting for the abnormal gain in the previous period, underlying earnings per share rose by 26 per cent. Cash flow per share of 71.6 cents was also higher than last year's 60.0 cents.

WEST OIL (5 FEBRUARY 2001)

Puffin-6 well is expected to commence drilling on or about Thursday or Friday, 8th or 9th February.
This delay has been caused by operational problems associated with the current Operator using the Sedco 703. This has meant that the Sedco 703 has not yet been released to the AC/P 22 joint venture. This is expected today or tomorrow.

ZEOLITE AUSTRALIA (5 FEBRUARY 2001)

Zeolite Australia has obtained a right to purchase 20% of Arsenic Solutions Inc (with an ongoing option to purchase 100%), a total environmental solutions company for the arsenic remediation market.
Recent new legislation in the United States has lowered the allowable level of arsenic from 50 to 10 parts per billion, creating major commercial opportunities for Arsenic Solutions Inc.
ASi already possesses strong relationships including the commercial arm of the CRC for Waste Management and Pollution Control Limited (CRC) and other European chemical and environmental groups which are expected to provide significant synergies and additional benefits to Zeolite Australia in future.

ANGLO AUSTRALIAN RESOURCES (2 FEBRUARY 2001)

The prospectus dated 8 December 2000 for the issue of 12,000,000 shares at an issue price of 2.2 cents has closed fully subscribed.

CHARTERS TOWERS GOLD MINES (2 FEBRUARY 2001)

DECEMBER QUARTER - HIGHLIGHTS

• Drilling resumes in City area
• Directors study South African mine mechanisation
• Mining planned to resume by June
• Rights Issue fully subscribed

During the quarter ended 31st December, 2000 Charters Towers Gold Mines Limited (CTGM) obtained approvals from the Council of the City of Charters Towers for a resumption of exploratory drilling in the centre of the historic City. The work will be carried out at five locations and is a first step in an eventual further $25 million investment in redeveloping the central area of the Charters Towers gold field.

CLUFF RESOURCES (2 FEBRUARY 2001)

DECEMBER QUARTER - HIGHLIGHTS

• 66,000 carats of gem sapphire produced by Queensland Joint Venture
• Diamonds from fragmental rock at Monte Christo Mine
• $83,000 in Cluff jewellery ordered by shareholders