In a meritocracy, the pure, rich cream floats to the top. It’s where people are selected competitively according to merit, talent, motivation and effort, based on the idea that positions of responsibility and prestige should be earned. Kootenay Gold and its team are an example of just that.

NioGold Mining (TSX.V:NOX) has just finished drilling over 10,000 metres of a planned 40,000 metre drill program on its wholly owned Marban Block property. This initial round of the program is investigating gold mineralization in the area immediately surrounding the past-producing Marban Mine. All of the holes indicated that the geologic features that helped establish the Marban Mine are also present in the ground around the mine.

All dreams, rumors, and other Fleetwood Mac references aside, Bayfield Ventures (TSX.V:BYV) really is at the “Edge of 17” as it gets set to drill its newly acquired parcel of land adjacent to Rainy River Resources’ (TSX.V:RR) #17 gold zone. Management has successfully negotiated a deal to tie up certain patent mineral rights totaling 80 acres (known as Parcel #15961) in the Richardson Township.

Astral Mining on Oct. 18 released a report on the ongoing Phase II drilling program at its Jumping Josephine gold prospect in southern British Columbia. Astral’s on-site geotechnical team has sampled JJ Main Zone quartz stockwork over more than 540 meters of strike and down to a maximum depth of 152 m, diamond drilling a total length of some 3,333 m. Management expects that a minimum 12 more holes will be drilled during the Phase II program before calling it quits for the season.

With just a few days left for Diwali and Dhanteras, gold prices have already zoomed to new peaks and marketmen expects them to soar further well past Rs 11,000 per 10 gram level as the festivities approach closer.

Grenville is progressing toward its eventual goal of production on Silveria. A partner providing a mill will be an important next step to secure cash flow from the project, however, even more important for the Grenville team at this point is to determine the value of the mineralized rock they send through the mill.

PMI Gold (TSX.V:PMV) has closed its deal with Nevsun Resources (Barbados) to acquire the Kubi Gold project in Ghana’s Ashanti Gold Belt. This latest acquisition rounds out the company’s existing portfolio to four past-producing Ghanaian gold properties, giving PMI control of a total 698 sq km in the Golden Triangle.

Goldcliff Resources is making solid progress on exploration programs this year, and the company’s recent activity underscores that fact.

When ValGold’s team of more than thirty exploration experts first hit the field in northern Venezuela a year ago, the company planned to prove up a reasonable sized resource just north of Crystallex’s Tomi Mine. Assay results from 2007, coupled with historical drill results from previous property owners, now suggest that ValGold has completed the first big step in achieving that goal.

Teryl Resources (TSX.V:TRC) is set to take flight as it moves into the next stage of an ambitious drilling program on its Gold Hill property near Bisbee, Arizona. The company has just signed a drilling contract for the project, with work to commence as soon as a drill becomes available.

It’s an apt scenario for Kootenay Gold’s (TSX.V:KTN) management and shareholders, as they await Phase I drilling results on the company’s Promontorio Silver Project in Sonora State, Mexico.

A brand new entry in the global uranium exploration ring, Universal Power Corp. (TSX.V:UNX) began trading under its new name and symbol on October 2nd of this year. Universal’s unique mix of Uranium, Silver and Iron Oxide Copper Gold (“IOCG”) prospects gives investors a unique blend of exposure to upside across various in-demand commodities