It's been a tumultuous year in mining and the most read articles of 2019 show an industry grappling with technological change, market volatility and climate change, but still unafraid to take moonshots.

The permit allows the company to complete a third phase of development that will ramp up mine production to 26.5 million tonnes of iron ore per year.

The World Wildlife Fund found that more miners operating in the country are starting to report their efforts to reduce their carbon footprint.