Chris Ellison's Mineral Resources has strengthened its claim to prized export capacity at Port Hedland after pulling off a deal with Brockman Mining aimed at supplying iron ore to its proposed light rail network and Cape-sized berth development.

The joint venture will unlock iron ore from Brockman's long-stranded Marillana project. It will also help to underpin MinRes' core mining services business as well as its plans to invest $1.4 billion to $1.6 billion in the Pilbara Infrastructure Project.