Concerns have grown that China could further restrict exports of the strategic minerals after it limited exports of germanium and gallium late last month.
The rise in gold production was driven by higher output at Carlin mine in Nevada and return to normal throughput levels on completion of maintenance work at the site.
Fortescue Metals was forced to make a statement on Thursday regarding the future of the company on news of the split between Andrew and Nicola Forrest.
Contained gold in open pit heap leach Measured & Indicated Resources increased 142% to 42.3 million tonnes at 0.70 g/T gold containing 959,000 ounces of gold.