St Barbara Limited (ASX:SBM) is understood to have opened a data room for three parties eyeing its PNG-based Simberi mining operations. DataRoom understands the suitors are from Western gold producing countries, including Canada and the US. St Barbara is likely to reap a price between $50 million and $100 million for the operations, sources said.

The Perth-based gold miner is weighing asset sales after being in merger talks with Genesis Minerals, which is keen to acquire St Barbara's Gwalia operations in Western Australia's Leonora area, but not those it owns overseas. There is also market chatter that St Barbara is in early talks with the Canadian regulator about listing the operations.