ASX listed base metals developer Metalicity Limited has nailed two large copper exploration project positions in the sought after Paterson Province of the eastern Pilbara region in WA.

The company now has a foothold over nearly 2200 square kilometres in the mineralised corridor with its Desert Queen and Mandora Beach projects that are located about 160km apart and surrounded by a grab bag of copper-gold mines and occurrences.

Desert Queen to the south is only 60km northwest of the behemoth Telfer gold mine that has produced over 32 million ounces of gold and 1 million tonnes of copper to date.

Conglomerate gold developer Novo Resources has outlined an aggressive exploration program for its emerging Egina gold project, located south of Port Hedland in the Pilbara region of Western Australia.

Over the coming months the conglomerate gold trailblazer plans to undertake systematic sampling in areas of previously unworked gold-bearing lag gravels within a granted mining lease at the property.

Additionally, Novo will complete a comprehensive sampling program on gravels already excavated by the previous owners which contain appreciable amounts of fine gold, based on its preliminary test work.

Employment across WA has reached its highest level in three years, with new figures showing the jobs market strengthening.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics reported this morning that the State’s jobless rate edged down to 6 per cent in September.

Interestingly, WA’s top turnover area’s over the year were in the mining regions of Port Hedland, Karratha and East Pilbara, given values across these regions saw considerable declines coming out of the mining boom 10 years ago, resulting in less housing turnover; recent years have seen transaction levels increase and declines in the region ease. The capital city areas of Mandurah and Claremont were also on the list where 4.1% and 4.0% of dwellings transacted over the year respectively.