First responsible, conflict-free artisanal gold supply chain operational in Congo

South Africa's Harmony Gold (HARJ.J),the world's fifth-largest gold miner, sees the price of gold rising to $1,800 an ounce in 2012, its chief executive said on Thursday. The spot price of gold has been at record peaks, surpassing the $1,500 an ounce mark, and Chief Executive Graham Briggs said it could even go higher.

Minefinders Corporation Ltd. (TSX:MFL)(NYSE Amex:MFN) today announced updated gold and silver mineral reserves and resources for the Dolores Mine. Fiscal 2010 marked the first meaningful exploration drilling program at Dolores since the commencement of the development of the mine in 2006 and this is the first update of reserves and resources for Dolores since 2008.

Mexico massively ramped up its gold reserves in the first quarter of this year, buying over $4 billion of bullion as emerging economies move away from the ailing U.S. dollar, which has dipped to 2-1/2-year lows. The third biggest one-off purchase of gold by any country over the past decade took Mexico's reserves to 100.15 tonnes -- or 3.22 million ounces -- by the end of March from just 6.84 tonnes at the end of January, according to the International Monetary Fund and Mexico's central bank.

NioGold Mining Corporation (TSX-V: NOX) is pleased to report on the on-going exploration drilling program within the southern portion of company's wholly-owned Malartic Block property, located in the Malartic gold camp, Abitibi region of Quebec. The first three holes of the program intersected two important altered, veined and sulphide mineralised shear zones cutting sedimentary rocks.

Lake Shore Gold Corp. (TSX:LSG) today released production results for the first quarter of 2011. Ore processed in the quarter amounted to 148,400 tonnes at a grade of 4.89 grams per tonne ("gpt") at a recovery rate 95.8% for recovered gold of 22,300 ounces. Gold poured related to mill production totaled 25,900 ounces. Total gold sold during the first quarter of 2011 was 34,000 ounces at an average gold price of US$1,387 per ounce. Image by Lake Shore Gold

While most fund managers seemed to stick with the status quo and remain in gold and silver last week, some notable hedgies are taking profits and looking elsewhere, reports the Wall Street Journal. Sources tell the paper those include: George Soros. His $28 billion hedge fund firm, now run by Keith Anderson, believes deflation is less of a threat. Flickr image is from the World Economic Forum.

The Zijin Mining Group , one of China's biggest gold producers, has been ordered to pay 30 million yuan ($4.62 million) by a local court in Fujian province for a toxic spill last year that caused severe environmental pollution. The local court in the city of Long Yan has also issued prison terms ranging between three years to 42 months to five of Zijin's staff who were found to be involved in the incident, Zijin said in a statement on Wednesday.

Alexco Resource Corp. (TSX:AXR)(NYSE Amex:AXU) today reported the first full quarter production results from its newly commissioned Bellekeno mine and mill in the Keno Hill Silver District, Yukon. First Quarter Highlights: * Silver Production of 447,524 ounces * Lead Production of 3,682,304 pounds * Zinc Production of 1,334,144 pounds

Kirkland Lake Gold Inc. (TSX:KGI)(AIM:KGI), an operating and exploration gold company, is pleased to announce a record drill hole intersection from one of the underground exploration programs on the company's 100% owned Macassa property. This particular drill hole, which was targeting the east `08 Break Zone from the 5300 foot level of the Macassa Mine, intersected the New South Zone within a previously defined resource area of the South Mine Complex (SMC). Image by Kirkland Lake Gold Inc.