A Delaware judge postponed a decision over...

A Delaware judge postponed a decision over whether he should order Consolidated Gold Fields, a British concern friendly to Newmont Mining, to relinquish 16 million shares of Newmont stock it bought in a “market sweep” designed to scuttle a hostile takeover by Ivanhoe Partners, a group led by oilman T. Boone Pickens Jr. In a crowded hearing held at Pickens’ request, Chancery Court Vice Chancellor Jack B. Jacobs said he would consider the matter and issue a decision early today. The postponement at least froze temporarily a messy fight pitting one of the world’s biggest mining concerns against Pickens. Lawyers for Newmont and Consolidated Gold, told Jacobs that the frenzied stock purchases made last week were done legally and properly.