Kinross Gold's (TSX:K, NYSE: KGC) shareholders have given the acquisition of African-focused gold producer Red Back Mining (TSX: RBI) a thumbs up, after the deal met some concern from critics over its US$7.1 billion valuation.

The merged company will have 10 mines and 4 development projects, operating across 8 countries, and in combination with the longer term production increases, the transaction will give Kinross two well established mines

Kinross has cut its 2009 production guidance to between 2.3 million and 2.4 million GEO, due to delays on the expansion of the Paracatu gold mine in Brazil.

For now, the stock is leading the global Tier 1 global gold mining group, on signs that heavyweight investors are active in the background.

Two numbers point to the potential of Castle Peak Mining. These are five and 50. In short, there are five mines within a 50 km radius of the firm's Akorade project with a total of 50 mln ounces of gold reserves and resources.

Gold producer Great Basin Gold (TSE:GBG)(AMEX:GBG) Tuesday posted a 27% increase in revenue to $33 million for the quarter that ended March 31, compared with the same quarter a year earlier. The company cited a 7 percent improvement in ounces sold, as well as an 18 percent increase in the realized gold price.

Sunridge Gold (CVE:SGC)(OTCQX:SGCNF) Monday unveiled "positive" results of a feasibility study for its 100 percent-owned Debarwa volcanogenic-massive-sulphide (VMS) copper-gold-zinc deposit, part of the Asmara project in Eritrea.

Gold Resource Corp (AMEX:GORO) announced late Thursday record results for its first quarter that it said set a "strong base" for the company, with gold equivalent production quadrupling year-over-year and mine gross profit more than tripling.

Trelawney Mining's (CVE:TRR) recent acquisition deal by Iamgold Corp (TSE:IMG) (NYSE:IAG) could signify the start of a series of buys in the junior Canadian gold space, with the $585 million deal providing a "wake-up call" for gold producers with cash to spend, says mining research analyst Peter Campbell of Jennings Capital.