Canadian gold miner NovaGold Resources Inc. said Friday that it has struck a $60 million private placement deal with Electrum Strategic Resources and will use the cash to repay debt and fund exploration and development.

At Zeal we welcomed the new year by publishing the latest edition of our Favorite Gold-Producing Stocks Research Report. And looking back a lot has happened in the gold stock arena since the last installment.

Matthew Russell, President of Azteca Gold Corp. announces that on December 31, 2008 the Company closed a non-brokered private placement for gross proceeds of $1,183,302. The Company issued 23,666,044 units, each unit consisting of one common share and one-half share purchase warrant.

TORONTO, ONTARIO-- - High River Gold Mines Ltd. would like to provide an update on the operating status of its four gold mines, on its financial situation, and on recent personnel changes:

SPOKANE, WASHINGTON-- - Matthew Russell, President and CEO of Azteca Gold Corp. , has purchased on December 31, 2008 through a private placement, a total of 12,014,926 Units of Azteca at a price of Cdn $0.05 per Unit.

67 WALL STREET, New York - December 23, 2008 - The Wall Street Transcript has just published its Gold & Precious Metals issue, a report offering a timely review of the sector to serious investors and industry executives. This 84-page feature contains industry commentary through in-depth interviews with top management from 18 firms and 2 analysts. The full issue is available by calling (212) ...

Alpha Gold Corp. today reported that George A. Whatley, President and CEO of Alpha Gold, passed away on December 16th. Services were held Monday in Coquitlam, B.C.

GoldQuest Mining Corp.(Frankfurt: M1W) would like to announce that the Company has been given notice by Gold Fields Dominican Republic BVI Limited that it has earned its 60% interest in select GoldQuest exploration projects by completing the required US$5,000,000 of expenditures.

MONTREAL, QUEBEC-- - Midland Exploration Inc. is pleased to announce that it has completed a flow-through private placement for aggregate gross proceeds of $415,000, at a price of $0.50 per share, with accredited investors, directors and officers.

Gold Reserve Inc. announces that its Board of Directors has amended the Shareholder Rights Plan adopted on January 29, 2006 and confirmed by its shareholders on March 22, 2006 . The amendment is effective immediately and will be presented for confirmation at the next meeting of Gold Reserve shareholders.

SPOKANE, Wash.----Gold Reserve Inc. announces that its Board of Directors has amended the Shareholder Rights Plan adopted on January 29, 2006 and confirmed by its shareholders on March 22, 2006 .

Gold Reserve Inc. (NYSE Alternext:GRZ) (TSX:GRZ) announces

MONTEVIDEO, Uruguay----Uruguay Mineral Exploration Inc , a gold production and exploration company, announced today that it was informed that on December 12, 2008 the Company

Radisson Mining Resources is pleased to provide an exploration update on its 100% owned O'Brien/Kewagama Gold Project located near Cadillac, Quebec. The O'Brien-Kewagama Property contains the former O'Brien Mine, which was known for its high gold grades and was considered to be the most important gold producer in the Cadillac Mining Camp in Quebec when it was in operation from the early 1930s ...

First Gold Exploration Inc. announce it has increased by 2,565,000 the number of common shares reserved for issuance pursuant to its stock option plan. The number of common shares reserved for issuance under the Plan is now set at 4,190,000.

Dec. 16 (Bloomberg) -- Mwana Africa Plc , a miner of gold and nickel, stopped exploring for diamonds in the Democratic Republic of Congo after BHP Billiton Ltd.