Another iron ore mine in Western Australia is being shut down amid plunging prices.
The Bluehills operation east of Geraldton will be suspended around mid-May, several months earlier than expected, mining contractor MACA said.
The owner, Sinosteel Midwest Corporation, had expected the mine to operate for five years when operations began in 2010.
The decision follows Atlas Iron's announcement on Friday that it will suspend its WA operations by the end of April as falling iron ore prices damage its bottom line.
MACA said its contract with Sinosteel, which generated $3.5 million revenue per month, will be terminated.
There is no change to MACA's financial year revenue guidance and it still expects full year net profit to exceed the previous year's $55.4 million, but the company's work in hand will fall by $30 million.
MACA shares were down 1.5 cents, or 1.8 per cent, at 82.5 cents at 1515 AEDT.
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