It is reported there's been another round of job cuts in Western Australia's mining industry with Consolidated Minerals set to shed more than 180 staff and contractors by mid December 2008.

Underground operations at Consolidated Minerals Beta Hunt nickel project in Kambalda in the Goldfields have been suspended until market conditions improve.

A skeleton staff will oversee the mine's care and maintenance from mid-December. Up to 25 staff will stay on at the firm's Coobina site to maintain the chromite mine until demand picks up. The news follows recent retrenchments at other WA mines including those run by Mount Gibson and Magellan Metals.