Core Insights - Gold has experienced a significant rally in 2025, gaining over 50% year-to-date, driven by strong demand from central banks and retail investors [1] - The price of gold reached a record high of nearly $4,400 per ounce before experiencing profit-taking, with expectations of US interest rate cuts and inflation fears contributing to its recent rise [2] - The top 20 gold projects collectively contain over 900 million ounces of gold, valued at approximately $3.7 trillion at current prices, despite many facing challenges in moving to production [3] Project Summaries - **KSM Project**: Seabridge Gold's Kerr-Sulphurets-Mitchell (KSM) is the largest project with 88.7 million ounces of contained metal, federally approved for a decade, and has seen over C$550 million invested in early-stage construction [4] - **Grasberg Mine**: Operated by Freeport McMoRan, this mine ranks second with 87.7 million ounces and has faced operational challenges, including a deadly accident [5] - **Olympic Dam**: BHP's complex in South Australia ranks third with 78.9 million ounces and plans to invest A$840 million in expansion projects [6] - **Pebble Project**: Northern Dynasty Minerals' Pebble project has 68.8 million ounces but has been stalled for over a decade due to environmental concerns [7] - **Nevada Gold Mines**: A joint venture between Barrick and Newmont, this project ranks fifth with 66.7 million ounces and has a complex history of mergers and acquisitions [8] - **South Deep**: Gold Field's South Deep mine in South Africa has 52.1 million ounces and is expected to remain operational past 2100 [9] - **Muruntau**: Operated by Uzbekistan's Navoi Mining, this project has 48.2 million ounces and plans to increase output by 30% over the next five years [10] - **Sukhoi Log**: Polyus' project in Siberia has 48 million ounces and is currently under construction with an estimated cost of $6 billion [11] - **Norte Abierto**: A joint venture in Chile with 44 million ounces, formed from the merger of two mines owned by Barrick and Newmont [12] - **Olimpiada**: Polyus' largest asset has 43.9 million ounces and is undergoing expansion to extend its operational life [13] - **Donlin**: This Alaskan project has 40 million ounces and is undergoing a feasibility study after a change in ownership [15] - **Detour Lake**: Agnico Eagle's project in Ontario has 34.8 million ounces and is advancing plans for underground development [16] - **Cascabel**: SolGold's project in Ecuador has 31.2 million ounces and is backed by major industry players [17] - **Reko Diq**: Barrick's project in Pakistan has 29 million ounces and is expected to start production by the end of 2028 [18] - **Cadia East**: Newmont's mine in Australia has 28.6 million ounces and is advancing underground development [19] - **Pueblo Viejo**: A joint venture in the Dominican Republic with 25 million ounces, currently undergoing a $1.4 billion expansion [20] - **Natalka**: Polyus' project in Russia has 23.4 million ounces and is expanding its processing capabilities [21] - **KCGM**: This Australian project has 22.8 million ounces and is considered a key asset following a merger [23] - **Filo del Sol**: A project straddling Chile and Argentina with 22.3 million ounces, recently acquired by BHP and Lundin Mining [24] - **Pascua-Lama**: Barrick's project in Chile has 21.9 million ounces but faces significant environmental challenges [25]