Gold

IBTimes Gold put together a list (with photos) of the world's 10 largest gold mines based on production data. Without giving away the results, IBTimes Gold says despite some difference of opinion, the Grasberg mine in Indonesia tops the list as world #1.

The Royal Canadian Mint displayed its $1-million face value, 100 kg Gold Maple Leaf Bullion coin at Richmond Hill on Thursday. It […]

Anglo American (LON:AAL) increased its interested in De Beers from 45% to 85% by buying out the Oppenheimer family for US$5.1 billion. De Beers is looking to Anglo American for better operational management. "Anglo American is well positioned to enhance the value of De Beers through its expertise and scale in such areas as technical, supply chain and financial management functions as part of a simplified and more integrated ownership structure," said the company in a statement.

Peru can remain competitive with neighbouring Chile despite a recent decision to hike mining taxes. Peru, the world's third largest copper producer, is able to offset its higher tax on mining companies (which is 3.8 percentage points higher than Chile's) recently imposed by new President Ollanta Humala, because it has cheaper labour and electricity costs, reports Bloomberg:

South Africa's mineral resources minister Susan Shabangu is on a road show in Australia and the UK to quell fears of mine seizures and drum up new investment for the country. So far few are suspending their disbelief over nationalization.

Stock in Formation Metals (TSE:FCO) plunged 13% today after a European bank decided to terminate its loan agreement with the Vancouver-based company. The $79.5 million loan from BNP Paribas was to go towards construction of Formation's Idaho cobalt mine. Formation said the credit facility was terminated without the closing of the subject financing.

Sulliden Gold Corporation Ltd. ("Sulliden", the "Company") (TSX:SUE)(OTCQX:SDDDF)(BVLAC:SUE) is pleased to announce that it has entered into an agreement with National Bank Financial Inc. and Cormark Securities Inc. as co-lead underwriters on behalf of a syndicate of underwriters to be formed (the "Underwriters"), for the issuance of 43,353,000 common shares (the "Shares") of the Company, on a bought deal basis, at a price of $1.73 per Share for gross proceeds of $75,000,690 (the "Offering").

The State of Alaska has filed a constitutional challenge in Alaska Superior Court to strike down a municipal ordinance recently enacted by ballot measure in Southwest Alaska's Lake & Peninsula Borough. By a margin of just 34 votes, local voters supported a ballot measure put forward by anti-Pebble activists that would restrict future development that affects more than one square mile of land within the 31,000 square mile borough.

Reuters reports leaders in Peru's Cajamarca region demanded on Wednesday that Newmont Mining and partner Buenaventura abandon their $4.8 billion Conga project after talks with the central government broke down. The president of Cajamarca said massive protests will be held next week. In October, Newmont was forced to briefly shut down adjacent Yanacocha, South America's largest gold mine over the protests. Conga would be the biggest investment ever in Peru mining and is a crucial test for the country's new president Ollanta Humala, who campaigned on ending conflicts over natural resources.