By Anonymous MERGERS AND ACQUISITIONS Australian miner Oxiana Ltd. agreed to buy Zinifex for A$6.2 billion. The merger will form the world's second-largest producer of zinc. The offer values Zinifex shares at AS12.68 each.

By Tim Johnston Two of the largest Australian mining companies, Oxiana and Zinifex, have agreed to create an enterprise worth 12 billion Australian dollars that the companies hope will have the strength to compete in a rapidly consolidating resources sector.

SYDNEY, Australia, Jan. 24 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- At the Avebury Mine, drill hole A218 has intersected 3.0m @ 4.7% Ni within a thick zone of mineralisation assaying 17.0m @ 1.4% Ni, 100m below the base of the current Viking Resource (Figure 1 and 2).

SYDNEY, Australia, Jan. 14 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Allegiance Mining (ASX Code: AGM) today announced the upgrade and expansion of Mineral Resources at its Avebury Nickel Mine in Tasmania. Resources estimates increased by 10 per cent compared to previous estimates announced in April 2007.

SYDNEY, Australia, Jan. 11 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Company Announcement Office Australian Stock Exchange Limited Dear Sir/Madam Attached is a letter received from Allegiance Mining NL's major shareholder, Jinchuan Group Limited, in response to Zinifex's unsolicited takeover offer.