The Western Australian state government said Wednesday that it is seeking urgent advice on whether BHP Billiton Ltd.'s (BHP.AU) Perseverance nickel mine should be allowed to continue operating after two rockfalls this month.

BHP has already been issued with a notice prohibiting it from operating a section of the mine deemed to be at risk.

Western Australian Mines and Petroleum Minister Norman Moore said he had asked the State Mining Engineer for advice on whether there is any reason to stop the mine from continuing operations.

"This could mean that further, independent engineering studies are required to determine if those parts of the mine that are currently closed can be reopened," he said in a statement.

A spokesman for Federal Resources Minister Martin Ferguson said the minister would be seeking a briefing from BHP in relation to this latest incident and a spate of accidents at its operations in Western Australia.

A spokesman for BHP said that, after carrying out an assessment, the company has now restarted operations in most parts of the Perseverance mine but that operations close to the latest rockfall remain suspended while a comprehensive assessment is carried out.

-By Alex Wilson, Dow Jones Newswires; 61-3-9292-2094; alex.wilson@dowjones.com