A squabble over the future of Australian assets, including the Kalgoorlie Super Pit, is derailing merger talks between the world's biggest gold-mining companies. A plan for an all-stock merger between Barrick Gold and Newmont Mining was to be announced this week but talks broke down over the weekend. The companies could not agree on how to spin off their jointly held assets in Australian and New Zealand, which include the iconic Goldfields mine, run by Kalgoorlie Consolidated Gold Mines. Reports out of the US suggested the merger could be revived but not before yesterday's self-imposed deadline for an agreement. Sources close to the deal were reported as saying Barrick was to offer Newmont shareholders a premium of 13 per cent more than Newmont's average share price over the latest 20 trading days.