Amid growing interest in bullion as a hedge against the dollar and inflation and a renewed rally in gold and precious metals prices, Christian Science Monitor, documents gold’s journey around the globe in a fascinating and extensive photo-essay.

In spite of declines in silver, gold and zinc production during the first quarter of the year, Pan American Silver said Wednesday management "continues to believe in the accuracy of its forecast 2011 production." Silver production for the first quarter was 5.3 million ounces, a 6% decrease below management's forecast "due primarily to throughput and grade challenges at Huaron, Morocochoa, San Vincente and Manantial Espejo during the quarter," PanAm said.

Levon Resources announced that it has today closed a previously announced financing pursuant to which the Company has issued 20,600,000 common shares at a price of $1.95 per share for gross proceeds of $40,170,000. The company intends to use the net proceeds of the Offering for continued exploration of the Cordero property located in Chihuahua, Mexico, and for working capital.

Lakeside Steel Inc.today announced that it has completed its bought deal short-form prospectus offering of 44,275,000 common shares at a price of $0.52 per Common Share for total gross proceeds of $23,023,000. The Offering includes the exercise of the underwriters' over-allotment option in full.

Scorpio Mining achieved record mine operating earnings of $12.5 million in Q1 2011, an increase of 823% over mine operating earnings in Q1 2010 and 123% over mine operating earnings in Q4 2010. Net earnings were $6.6 million or $0.03 per share (basic) for Q1 2011 compared to $18.6 million or $0.17 per share (basic) for Q1 2010. The Q1 2010 net earnings included a $19.8 million gain on dilution and deconsolidation of Scorpio Gold Corporation ("Scorpio Gold"). Basic earnings per share of $0.09 in Q4 2010 was due to the inclusion of $12.4 million of non-cash corporate tax recoveries.

The city of Dubbo in New South Wales, Australia, has made a bid for a mining school in the area, Australian Mining reports.

The Centre for Sustainable Mining Practices would ultimately be a $20 million investment and the city’s initial $7 million bid has already been lodged with the federal government, according to the Daily Liberal. The Centre would use virtual technology to train students and John Walkom, chairman of the Orana regional Development Australia branch said the city would be an ideal location.

The Timmins Times reports Goldcorp Porcupine Gold Mines and Northern College have teamed up to offer the Basic Underground Hardrock Miner Common Core training program at Goldcorp's Holye Pond Mine. This new initiative could ease the demand for miners in hardrock underground mining and help with the current skills shortage.

"This is going to create a situation where we can train our next group of employees, our next group of miners," adding that they'll not only learn how to do their jobs, but how to do them safety so they can go home at the end of the day, said Rick Blakey, [the superintendent for Goldcorp's Hoyle Pond underground operation].

The gold bears and doubters - and the silver bears in particular - have had great success in driving the prices of these two precious metals downwards but are we looking at more of the same to come, or perhaps consolidation and another take-off? The pattern of price movements we are seeing currently, with strong upwards and downwards fluctuations for both metals.

The remaining opportunities are few, far between, and expensive. Meeting our GHG targets is not just an oil sands problem, but regulations will be required in the oil and gas sector and need to be announced soon.