Where Gold Flows – Places Where Gold is Produced

Some of the Gold Bars and Gold Coins produced by the Australia Mint

Investing in various gold investments like gold bars, coins, accounts and funds is one thing but digging a bit deeper and learning where actual gold comes from is another story.

Today, many people are getting interested in not only what they are investing in but where the actual investment comes from. This is evident in the growth of ‘conflict-free’ diamond industry, and this situation is also applicable in the gold production, trade and over-all industry. Today, people are demanding more transparency when it comes to the origins of gold.

At the moment, there are a finite number of countries producing gold in the world. These countries produce gold on a scale large enough to be considered commercial mining. These countries are:

•    Argentina
•    Australia
•    Brazil
•    Canada
•    Chile
•    China
•    Colombia
•    Ghana
•    Indonesia
•    Kazakhstan
•    Mali
•    Mexico
•    Papua New Guinea
•    Peru
•    Philippines
•    Russia
•    South Africa
•    Tanzania
•    United States
•    Uzbekistan

Within these countries, there are privately and publicly owned enterprises that control the mining, refinement and distribution of the gathered gold. Last year, global production increased by 3%; this was brought about by an increase in Australian output and other countries like Mexico and Argentina.

Gold Production Players

In any industry, there are always the top players who can influence the material they are trading and the market where the materials are sold or traded. The gold industry has its own top players and a quick rundown follows:

1. Barrick Gold Corporation

Barrick Gold Corporation has a worldwide presence. It has nearly 30 mines across continents that include North and South America, Africa and Australia. At an estimate, Barrick is producing gold at a rate of about $450 per ounce.

According to many analysts, Barrick is a major industry player, if not the top industry player. It has the resources to continuously seek new sources of gold. In addition, the company is cited as one of those companies who produce gold in a ‘socially responsible manner’. The headquarters for this industry giant is Toronto, Canada.

2. Newmont Mining Corporation

With a presence on 5 continents, it’s easy to see why Newmont is on the list. Some of the top producing places for Newmont Mining Corporation include North and South America, Australia, Asia, and Africa. Newmont Mining is present in numerous countries that include the US, Peru, Indonesia, Ghana and Mexico. The company is expanding and new endeavours are being undertaken in places like Turkey, Haiti and the Kyrgyz Republic, to name a few.

Like Barrick, Newmont has a lot of resources at its fingertips – a very good advantage as the rate for locating new sources of gold has dramatically dwindled in the past decade. The headquarters for this S&P 500 Index, Fortune 500 and Dow Jones Sustainability World Index member is in Denver, Colorado.

3. AngloGold Ashanti Ltd.

Located across 10 countries, AngloGold spent a total of $199.9 million in exploration programs last year. The company already has a successful mining enterprise on 4 continents. This particular enterprise claims to value and prioritize care for the natural environments where it operates while still maximizing gains for shareholders. This year, AngloGold is set to produce more than 4.5 million ounces of gold.

4. Gold Fields Limited

This gold producer sits on locations in South Africa, Australia, Peru, and Ghana. Unlike other companies, this producer focuses on exactly one aspect of the gold trade – production. In addition, the company is also involved in copper mining. The total mineral resources for Gold Fields are set just under 300 million ounces. The headquarters for this industry giant is in Johannesburg, South Africa.

These companies might have earned the top spots for producing gold but there are still some names worth mentioning. Just to name a few more gold producers and their respective headquarters’ location:
•    Newcrest- Melbourne, Australia
•    Yamana Gold – Toronto, Canada
•    Kinross – Toronto, Canada
•    Goldcorp Inc. – Vancouver, Canada

Sharon Freeman is an Australian freelance writer and blogger.  She has been writing about investing and other financial related companies like www.ausmint.com. She can be reached at http://sharonit.net/.