Commodity boom has a dark side as cost creep erodes windfall

New Gold Inc. (TSX and NYSE AMEX:NGD) today announces fourth quarter 2011 gold production of 100,671 ounces which resulted in record annual production of 387,155 ounces during 2011. The company, once again, met its gold production guidance range of 380,000 to 400,000 ounces during the year. Quarterly and annual total cash cost per ounce sold, net of by-product sales, were $561 and $448 per ounce, respectively.

Comment from Jeff Nichols suggests that Chinese gold production and consumption may be considerably higher than the statistics released by the country would indicate.

NovaGold Resources Inc. (NYSE Amex:NG)(TSX:NG) ("NovaGold" or the "Company") today announced that it has entered into an agreement with a syndicate of underwriters, led by RBC Capital Markets and J.P. Morgan Securities LLC under which they have agreed to purchase from NovaGold and sell to the public 26,400,000 Common Shares at a price of US$9.50 per Common Share.

Vietnam's central bank wants to "mobilize" gold from citizens which it says are hoarding 300 – 500 tonnes to free up funds for socio-economic development in the communist country.

Originally the Bogoso/Prestea oxide plant in Ghana operated from 1990 to 2008, until it was sidelined due to a lack of an adequate oxide ore supply required to keep the plant afloat. After three years of being put on care and maintenance, Golden Star Resources (TSX:GSC) (AMEX:GSS) announced the re-commissioning of the oxide plant at Bogoso/Prestea, a move that’s expected to generate up to 70,000 ounces of gold in 2012.

Scotgold Resources announced Tuesday it expects to receive a mining lease from the Crown for the Cononish gold and silver project, the only one of its kind in the UK,  in May this year. Production could start early in 2013.

Eurasianet reports two new studies say the massive Kumtor gold mine, controlled by Canada's Centerra's and the Kyrgyzs government, as a matter of routine ignores environmental legislation endangering species such as the snow leopard and is damaging Central Asia’s water supply.

WINNEMUCCA, NEVADA--(Marketwire - Jan. 31, 2012) - Paramount Gold and Silver Corp. (NYSE Amex:PZG)(TSX:PZG)(FRANKFURT:P6G)(WKN:A0HGKQ) ("Paramount") today reported new assay results from ongoing core drilling at its 100%-owned San Miguel Project in Mexico. The reported drill holes come from the high-grade gold and silver deposits of Don Ese North and La Union.

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwire - Jan. 31, 2012) - Argus Metals Corp. (the "Company" or "Argus") (TSX VENTURE:AML) reports that the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission has granted and signed Argus' PL29/2011 licence. This licence allows for the exploration of uranium, gold and precious elements. PL29/2011 is west of, and contiguous with Argus' PL53/2009 licence, which also allows for the exploration of uranium, gold and precious elements. With PL29/2011 in place, Argus now holds the full 10 x 1 kilometre extent of the Kaituma uranium target and plans to execute a drill program on the project as soon as technically and financially feasible.