In other mining news, Gold was up again at Monday's close to $929.10 up $18.40 (2.020%) from last Friday's close. The continued suspension of mining in South Africa has kept the value of gold in the $900's for most of the past month. AngloGold Ashanti CEO Mark Cutifani said in a statement that "I think that we are starting to emerge from a crisis that had the potential to undermine the viability of the South African gold industry." Platinum, another high volume commodity (South Africa is the world's largest producer) saw record prices as well jumping to a whopping $1,733 an ounce before settling at $1,728.70.

Northgate Minerals Corp (AMEX: NXG | news | PowerRating | PR Charts ) closed trading on Monday at $2.95 (up $0.05 or 1.72%) with trading volumes of 1,507,274, to sit around the mid range of the 52-week values ($2.40 - $4.00). It is expected that Northgate's offer to acquire Perseverance Corporation Ltd. will close on February 18, 2008. President & CEO of Northgate, Ken Stowe, commented, "With the acquisition of two operating mines in Australia, Northgate's total metal production in 2008 is forecast to be over 400,000 ounces of gold and 64.4 million pounds of copper, all of which is unhedged, and will be sold at spot prices giving us maximum exposure in the current robust metal price environment.