Mining billionaire Gina Rinehart spent the winter giving our Olympians a golden glow. On Thursday, she brought a little sunshine into the lives of Mineral Resources’ beaten-up investors.

MinRes shares leapt 10.4 per cent after the embattled miner announced a deal to sell two gas exploration permits and a half-stake in its existing gas business for $804 million up front, plus $327 million in further potential payments if certain conditions are met.