Strategies for gold reserves replacement: the costs of finding and acquiring gold.

According to Metals Economics Group’s (MEG) 22nd edition of Corporate Exploration Strategies (CES), the estimated total 2011 budget for nonferrous metals exploration surged to $18.2 billion.

The 2010 dollar volume of large ($25 million minimum) acquisitions totaled $50.7 billion—the third-highest annual total in 10 years—a whopping increase of 260% over 2009’s $14 billion, and 23% over 2008’s $41 billion. According to Metals Economics Group’s (MEG) recent Strategic Report, the 2010 total signifies a general return of confidence to the industry after a period of significant strategic retrenchment and caution due to the worldwide recession and sharply lower metals prices that began in late 2008 and lasted into early 2010.