Gold

Statistics Canada revealed today that the provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan led the country in economic growth in 2011, buoyed by the extraction and exploration of their natural resources.

"What is new is the growing awareness of its implications for our nation, particularly in a highly competitive world economy in which the demand for minerals continues to grow, especially in fast growing economies led by China and India."

Canada-based Nautilus Minerals Inc. announced today that its common shares are now trading on the OTCQX International for greater access to the U.S. capital markets.

Humanitarian funds raised by Randgold Resources chief executive Mark Bristow's trans-African motorcycle safari in 2010 have been used to make a food donation to people in the north of Mali, which has been afflicted by an uprising by Touareg rebels.

Blueglass, an internet marketing agency, produced the following infographic tracing the history of gold investing. Readers are asked to draw their own conclusions as to whether gold is a suitable investment tool.

US copper giant Freeport McMoRan has been ordered to settle claims worth $6.8 million for polluting areas around the Morenci Mine in Arizona.

Brazil-focused Belo Sun Mining (TSX:BSX) was up 6% today after the Toronto-based company released an updated resource estimate on its Volta Grande gold project.

Barrick Gold (NYSE:ABX)(TSX:ABX) announced today the sale of its entire 20% stake in Highland Gold Mining Limited (LON:HGM), the AIM-quoted Russian gold producer, at a price of 120 pence per share to undisclosed institutional investors.

Ecuador needs at least 300 mining engineers and geologists in the near future to be able to deliver on its recent mining contracts, but only about 40 such professionals graduate annually from six universities that offer those programs, according to the agency that regulates Ecuador’s mining industry.