The Fed's new near-zero interest rate policy and purchases under QE1 kicked off on 16 December 2008. On 15 December 2008 an ounce of gold cost $837.50.

A humourous look at grocery shopping in Canada's far north

Journalist Lindsay Bird writes about working in the camps near Fort McMurray, and comes away unimpressed

Greenpeace takes out ads saying investing in the mega-mine is "risky business" and calls into question the ability of India's GVK to pull off the project as the group "has never built a mine in Australia." State and federals officials call the campaign "deplorable and obnoxious." And that's just this week.

The 49-year-old boss of the world's largest mining company took home £9.8 million ($15.2 million) last year including bonuses, pension contributions and stock options.

The Spanish bailout is now being called 'voodoo economics' while EU finance officials are at the point of discussing limiting ATM withdrawals and doing border checks if and when Athens drops the euro.

The Qilalugaq Diamond Project includes the Qilalugaq kimberlite pipes and the Naujaat system of kimberlite dykes, and has been the focus of ongoing exploration and assessment work by Stornoway since it was optioned and subsequently acquired from BHPB Billiton Diamonds in July 2006 and July 2010.

US-based rare earth miners, Molycorp (NYSE:MCP), gets a foothold in Asia after completing its US$1.3 billion acquisition of Canadian-based Neo Material Technologies Inc. (TSX:NEM).

The Silver Doctors worry that Barrick Gold's Pascua Lama gold and silver mine might still not get built due to problems with glaciers in the region.