** Australian mining stocks .AXMM rise 0.7% to highest since Dec. 16, set for fourth straight day of gains

** Iron ore prices climb to a four-week high IRONORE/

** BHP Group BHP.AX and Fortescue FMG.AX gain 0.6% and 1.9%, respectively, hitting about 1-month peaks

** Rio Tinto RIO.AX down 0.4%; fell as much as 1.8% earlier

** Rio Tinto and Glencore GLEN.L held merger talks last year but discussions no longer active, Reuters reports

** AXMM declined over 18% in 2024 vs a 7.5% rise in the benchmark index .AXJO

(Reporting by John Biju in Bengaluru)

((John.Biju@thomsonreuters.com;))