Gold

Newmont Mining Corporation (NYSE: NEM) ("Newmont" or the "Company") today announced enhancements to its industry leading gold price-linked dividend policy, announced initially in April 2011. Under the enhanced policy, Newmont's annual dividend has the potential to increase to $4.70 per share if the Company's average realized gold price reaches $2,500 per ounce. The enhanced policy will continue to link the quarterly dividend rate to changes in the gold price but will also provide an additional step up of 7.5 cents per share when the Company's realized gold price for a quarter exceeds $1,700 per ounce and a further step up of 2.5 cents per share (10 cents in total compared to the existing policy) when the Company's realized gold price for a quarter exceeds $2,000.

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwire - Sept. 19, 2011) - Aurizon Mines Ltd. ("Aurizon") (TSX:ARZ)(NYSE Amex:AZK) is pleased to report the discovery of two new high grade mineralized gold zones at the Marban Block property, located in the Malartic gold camp, Abitibi region of Quebec. "These are extremely encouraging results for us," said George Paspalas, President and CEO of Aurizon. "The original premise for entering into the Marban joint venture was to test for both extensions of the current known gold mineralization in the top 300 metres, and to test for vertical extension at depth. These results confirm that premise." VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwire - Sept. 19, 2011) - Aurizon Mines Ltd. ("Aurizon") (TSX:ARZ)(NYSE Amex:AZK) is pleased to report the discovery of two new high grade mineralized gold zones at the Marban Block property, located in t...

Adelaide Now reports BHP Billiton wants to "future-proof" its massive Olympic Dam project, including using driverless haulage trucks and this week put out a recruitment ad for an executive to oversee the high-tech initiative. The system would mean operators can be in a control room on the site or even in the comfort of a city office hundreds of kilometres away. BHP Billiton is in the final stages of the approval process for the $30 billion expansion of its existing underground operation at Olympic Dam to create a new open pit mine that would be the worlds biggest – trucks will haul overburden 24/7 for five to six years just to reach the ore body. The combined operations would mine 72 Mt ore per year and would produce 750,000 tonnes refined copper, 19,000 tonnes uranium oxide, 800,000 gold ounces and 2.9 Moz of silver per year.

Research firm Metals Economics Group reports gold continues to be top exploration target accounting for more than 50% of global exploration of non-ferrous metals for the second consecutive year in 2011. Latin America is set continue to be the industry's favorite regional exploration destination in 2011, while Canada will remain the top overall country. Copper will account for roughly a fifth of 2011 nonferrous exploration budgets that is expected to exceed US$17 billion for expenditures related to precious and base metals, diamonds, uranium, and some industrial minerals. It represents an increase of about 50% from the 2010 total and a new all time high.

New economic numbers from India, the latest forecasts for the country's voracious appetite for gold, iron ore and in particular coal and its plans for a sovereign wealth fund to look at mining deals abroad mean that the GVK-Rinehart tie-up could be the first of many.

Both gold and silver gained on the bullion market on Saturday as bargain hunters returned to the market. While gold surged by Rs 420 to Rs 28,160 per 10 grams, silver went up by Rs 1,100 to Rs 64,400 per kg. Trading sentiment in Mumbai improved after gold rose the most in a week on Friday in New York. However, many analysts say the gold price could continue to weaken into next week possibly going as low as $1,700/oz as indicated by technical chart patterns that have turned bearish, investors turning to riskier assets like shares, the dollar gains further and concerted efforts to shore up Europe's banks may begin to show fruit. Volatility in the gold market is increasing and the gap between gold’s highs and lows this year, have reached more than $600, the largest since the 1960s.

Speaking in Arequipa at Peru's premier mining conference industry executives said on Friday a drive by Peru's leftist president to raise mining royalties should not derail multibillion-dollar investments, but added that the viability of smaller, less efficient operations will be affected. Peru's Buenaventura and US-based Newmont said their $4.8 billion Conga mine, the most expensive mine in Peru's history, was on track to come on line in 2014 while others including Barrick Gold, Xstrata, Anglo American and Gold Fields reiterated their commitment to the country.

Gold futures returned to above $1,800 an ounce Friday as investors sought the perceived safety of the precious metal ahead of the weekend and news emanating from Europe injected a dose of uncertainty back into markets. Gold for December delivery added $33, or just under 2%, to settle at $1,815 an ounce in afternoon trade. Reuters reports between gold’s highs and lows this year, there is a more than $600 gap, the largest since the 1960s, though its 32% range is below the 42% range seen in 1980.

Rio Tinto PLC (RIO) plans to sell "a lot" of the output from the Oyu Tolgoi copper and gold project in Mongolia to China, and is in discussions with smelters in China, Rio Tinto's U.S. Copper Chief Financial Officer said Friday at an industry event."Talks are still underway, and there's no definite plan right now," Kay Priestly told a Metal Bulletin conference in China. With the Oyu Tolgoi mine strategically located close to China where demand is high, so "it's certainly our plan to transport a lot of the products to China," Priestly added.