it would be good for goldminers as input costs would drop. The reason Gold companies were not a great investment since 2000 is that the gold/commodities ratio was in favour of other commodities like oil , copper etc.

I think the important thing to realise is the relative value of gold to other assets, I don't care is gold never gets over 1000$ again. I have some long term charts of the dow to gold ratio and the long term support is 5/1 ( a long way to go)

In TDC's case , to you want TDC competing for equipment with tar oil producers etc. or would you prefer a situation where staff/suppliers in the base metal area were competing for jobs with gold miners. This is why gold miners did well in the 30's