According to a new report by MarketWatch, gold's allure is shifting to a new generation. Many people in their 20s and 30s have little faith in equities and, unlike older investors, are more inclined to consider alternative investments. Others seek tangible, hard assets as a counterweight to stocks, bonds and cash in the aftermath of the 2008 US financial crisis. And these new investors are not just gold hoarders of the doomsday variety.

Reuters reports Canadian gold miner IAMGold is on the look-out for acquisitions and while it is not itself up for sale, its chief executive said on Friday the company represents good value right now. IAMGold has in the past said interested in various stage projects, from exploration through to production and just over the last fortnight has put money into three South American juniors. IAMGold produces roughly 1 million ounces per year from operations in Africa and North and South America and sees bullion topping out at $2,000 an ounce this year or next from current levels around $1,790.

Rainy River Resources' received a 3.2% bump on Friday after the Toronto-based company released a highly positive preliminary economic assessment of its property in Western Ontario. Friday's move also came after Canaccord Genuity upgraded the stock to speculative buy. Rainy River is up more than 9% over the last two days and is worth some $600 million on the Toronto big board. The study envisions an open pit and underground operation that would have life-of-mine average annual production of 329,000 oz of gold and 497,000 oz of silver. In the first four years of the 13-year mine-life, the average cash cost net of silver credits is estimated at $417/oz of gold generating over $1.6 billion free cash flow at current metal prices.

Reuters reports the US move to put off a decision on TransCanada Corp's proposed $7 billion Keystone XL pipeline for 18 months is a significant blow for Ottawa, which has strongly backed the project. The Canadian government and the Alberta oil industry will now turn their attention to the 1,170km Northern Gateway pipeline project from Alberta to a new marine terminal in northern British Columbia to serve Asian markets. But the $5.5 billion project which has significant Chinese backing, is already almost a year behind schedule and would not go into operation in 2017 at the soonest. Even this schedule is optimistic: starting in January, an unprecedented 4,000-plus people – mostly greens – will speak for a collective 650 hours at public hearings.

While peace in Afghanistan still looks to be a utopian dream, AFP reports that developing nations like China and India are eager to make resource deals in the troubled country even before the guns fall silent: While an end to the fighting seems remote for now, mining lots are being quickly parcelled out among Afghanistan's resource-hungry neighbours, potentially sparking a new "Great Game" for control of its battle-worn ground. According to mining ministry documents seen by AFP, Afghanistan is planning to sell extraction rights for up to five mines every year until the departure of the last foreign combat troops in 2014 -- a rattling pace, say experts.

Global commodities trader Glencore (LON:GLEN) is making inroads into South African coal. Reuters reports that Glencore has signed a deal to buy energy trader Mercuria's 15 percent stake in South Africa's Optimum Coal Holdings (OCH) in its drive to acquire the whole company worth around $1 billion, sources close to the agreement said. Completing the Optimum acquisition would make Glencore South Africa's fourth-largest coal exporter, without including Xstrata's tonnage, for which it provides advisory services.

Vancouver, B.C., November 10, 2011— (TSX:GVC) Glacier Media Inc. is pleased to announce that, through its affiliates, it has acquired a 50% interest in InfoMine Inc. (www.infomine.com), a leading online provider of rich information and intelligence to the global mining industry.

Treasury Metals (TSE:TML) failed to generate excitement this week from news that it has doubled the resource estimate at its Goliath gold project near Dryden, Ontario. The stock barely moved on Wednesday, opening and closing at $1.05. It was down around 5 cents in mid-day trading on Thursday.

The Australia Women in Resources Alliance (AWRA) has been formed to encourage more women to find a career for themselves in the mining industry. A series of strategies will be launched to increase retention of women, and attraction of women to the industry, reports Australian Mining.

[Australian Mines and Metals director Minna Knight says] "AWRA will build on many of the industry initiatives and networking groups already doing things for female resources workers, this project now gives us an opportunity to unite all these organisations under one banner and take a nationally co-ordinated approach." This announcement comes as the Women in Industry Conference in Sydney this week looked to address the under representation of women in these industries.