Gold Production from Beginning to End

Book excerpt: Gold mining is arguably one of the most misunderstood industries in the field of investing. Many investors lack a basic understanding of how gold is produced and have unrealistic expectations about how long it actually takes. They are confused when mining companies encounter hurdles that must be overcome. Some seem to think that starting a mine is like turning on a switch. As a result, the prices of gold mining stocks are subject to wide volatility. In this book, you will learn what it takes to produce an ounce of gold from beginning to end. You will read about all four stages of gold production, from exploration and mining to processing and refining. The topics covered include the different types of gold deposits and how they are found, as well as drilling techniques and how deposits are classified. Other topics include mining methods, such as bulk extraction and sublevel stoping, and an overview of special techniques used to process refractory ore - the most difficult type of ore to process. Finally, you will learn about dore bars, gold purity requirements, and the exchanges that specialize in buying and selling gold."