Gold

Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives by mining companies operating in emerging markets in South America, Africa and Asia have become a crucial part of doing business as “above-ground risks are quickly gaining equal footing to traditional geological and engineering considerations for mining projects.”

Felix Salmon, blogger for Reuters and gold skeptic, decided to find out if gold really is currency and went shopping with one gram of bullion in New York City.

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.