When the ancient Roman scholar Publilius Syrus said, “No pleasure endures unseasoned by variety,” he could well have been referring to mining companies. One trick ponies, as recent events are sure to prove again, live and die the by price of a single commodity, and as such, are more vulnerable to sudden or unexpected market movements than are polymetallic companies.

The year 2007 was certainly a year to be remembered by investors familiar with Montello Resources (TSX.V: MEO). The company and its JV partner Pennine Petroleum Corp. (TSX.V:PNN) have achieved success at their Pincher Creek operations in Alberta, with one new well completed and scheduled to soon become a producer.

Nevada is the home of the new business model in gold mining: Find a past-producing mine where lots of known ore-grade material was left behind during the deflated gold price era in the later nineties, and put it back into production. It’s a straightforward approach (for mining) that has a well established track record. Harvest Gold (TSX.V:HVG) is planning just such a revival for the Rosebud Mine.

Investors in True North Gems (TSX.V: TGX) were treated to a rare gift this Christmas past when the company reported the discovery of a new sapphire prospect complete with a 139 carat blue sapphire on its Beluga sapphire property in Nunavut, Canada.

Aesop, the ancient Greek fabulist, was known for his kernels of wisdom – usually aimed at children. He advised that “it is thrifty to prepare today for the wants of tomorrow,” and suggested that rewards come when you “put your shoulder to the wheel”. Even though the mining business is hardly child’s play, it’s obvious that Tribune Uranium Corp’s (TSX.V:TCB) management has integrated this age-old advice into its vision as it looks forward to a year of steady growth.

Russian mining and exploration have had a long road toward real openness since Glasnost and Perestroika were decreed by the then president of the Soviet Union Mikhail Gorbachev. And forefront of juniors making headway in modern day Russia is Golden Reign Resources (TSX.V:GRR).

Teryl Resources Corp. (TRC.V: TSX) is a diversified explorer with interests in oil and gas as well as minerals. In a global mining bull market, companies, particularly on their lows, are often undervalued. The Teryl share price recently started acting like a seismograph in the first stages of registering a tremor on the TSX charts.

Astral Mining Corp.’s (TSX.V:AST) management may well have exceeded its target. Both management and investors are likely over the moon given that the company, along with joint venture partner Kootenay Gold (TSX.V:KTN), announced some stellar results from the latest round of drilling at the Jumping Josephine (JJ) Gold Project in southeastern BC.

As per its December 4 news release, True North Gems has wrapped up its 2007 drilling program with the completion of the final four drill holes on the Sarfaq and Ridgetop ruby prospects at its Fiskenaesset Ruby Project.

With money jingling in its pocket, Universal Power Corp. (TSX.V:UNX, FSE:3U2A) is ready to start exploring both in Africa and also a world away in northern Canada.

The first results from this year’s exploration are telling Goldcliff Resource Corporation (TSX.V: GCN) that the historical Hedley gold district still has plenty of life left in it.

Teryl hopes to increase revenue and market capitalization for Teryl through further exploration. It helps that Teryl is now mining in a stretch of desert foothills that once yielded approximately $1 billion in copper.