some links that provide some info about the production/supply/demand scenario being accentuated and affected by the current price of gold China surprisingly is the world's largest producer but, although the state buys at world prices, gold remains in the country - no outside sales, production is many small mines and international companies can't mine there 'Peak Oil and Peak Gold' by Roland Watson - April 23/06: http://news.goldseek.com/GoldSeek/1145804580.php the chart link he provides is to the World Gold Council site - couldn't find the map but the video 'Gold - The Supply Side' is recent; the site has a lot of current data, reports and studies: http://www.marketknowledge.gold.org/ 'Peak Gold, Easier to Model than Peak Oil ? - Part I' by Luis de Sousa - Nov 25/09 has a lot of charts: http://europe.theoildrum.com/node/5989 'Barrick shuts hedge book as world gold supply runs out' Ambrose Evans-Pritchard Nov 11/09 http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/...hedge-book-as-world-gold-supply-runs-out.html the current estimated per ounce production cost of gold is $500