I don't believe that the mentioned "African Gold Zimbabwe" is AFG, but the article does demonstrate rapid resurgence of E&P in Zimbabwe:

Mining Giants Plan Massive Diamond Prospecting

The Herald (Harare)

January 22, 2004
Posted to the web January 22, 2004

Harare

MINING giants, De Beers Zimbabwe Prospecting Limited and Circle Three Mining Corporation are proposing a massive diamond prospecting project that will see the two companies prospecting for the mineral in Gweru, Harare, Bulawayo and Kadoma mining districts.

The two mining companies intend to prospect for diamond in areas covering a total of 448 180 hectares.


Another company, African Gold Zimbabwe, has also undertaken to prospect for gold on two areas measuring 120 550 hectares within the Harare and Gweru mining districts.

De Beers Zimbabwe Prospecting Limited, Circle Three Mining Corporation and African Gold Zimbabwe have applied to the Mining Affairs Board for an exclusive prospecting order for 12 areas under the four mining districts.

In the latest issue of the Government gazette, the Mining Affairs Board said De Beers, Circle Three Mining and African Gold Zimbabwe intend to prospect for diamonds and gold over an area of approximately 568 730 hectares from the three areas.

"The applicants intend to prospect for diamond within the areas, which have been reserved against prospecting pending determination of this application.

"Prospecting authority is sought upon registered base mineral blocks within the reservation," read part of the notice.

One of the two diamond prospecting projects to be undertaken by Circle Three Mining measures 65 000 hectares and is bounded by a line commencing on the Zimbabwe-Zambia border approximating five kilometres.

All areas, which have been earmarked for prospecting are within the 15 000 hectares and 65 000 hectares range and are mostly in the traditional mineral bearing areas of the country.

The proposal to prospect for diamond in the country comes at a time when the US$41 million Murowa Diamond Mine has started to operate following the successful relocation of 141 families which were on the mining site.

Mining is one of the sectors which has been depressed over the last five years but some of the players in the industry have said investors should look at non-traditional minerals.

An example that is often given is that of platinum, which is fast becoming the world's most lucrative mineral.

The mining of diamond in Zimbabwe is also fast gaining pace and it is expected that some of the mining projects would create a lot of employment.

Relevant Links

Southern Africa
Mining
Zimbabwe

The bubble has truly burst as far as African Diamonds is concerned. We will hopefully see the same sky high rise here if not more soon. In addition may see some investors switching from AFD into AFG now with all the imminent good newsflow to come.

Investtech Analysis:

Neutral (Long term) - Mar 15, 2004
Has risen 1260% since the bottom on 7 Apr 2003 at 0.63. Has broken through the ceiling of a falling trend channel. This indicates a slower falling rate initially, or the start of a more horizontal development. Has risen strongly since the positive signal from a inverse head and shoulders formation at the break through the resistance at 2.00. The objective at 6.40 is now met, but the formation still gives a signal in the same direction. Positive volume balance, i.e. high volume in days of rising prices and low volume in days of falling prices, strengthens the stock further in the short term. The stock has support at p 3.00. The average difference between the lowest and highest price of an average month is 62%. The risk is therefore high.

Neutral (Medium term) - Mar 15, 2004
Has risen 1260% since the bottom on 7 Apr 2003 at 0.63. Has broken through the floor of a rising trend channel. This indicates a slower rising rate at first, or the start of a more horizontal development. The stock has support at p 2.00 and resistance at p 15.00. High risk.

Negative Candidate (Short term) - Mar 15, 2004
Has risen 467% since the bottom on 31 Oct 2003 at 1.50. Is within a falling trend. Continued negative development within the trend channel is indicated. RSI is, however, oversold, which indicates a potential short-term reaction up. The stock has support at p 4.00 and resistance at p 15.00. The average difference between the lowest and highest price of an average month is 62%. The risk is therefore high.

RSI is, however, oversold, which indicates a potential short-term reaction up - rises before the news comes would be nice.

Soft dollar, Spain terror jitters buoy COMEX gold
Reuters, 03.15.04, 2:45 PM ET


NEW YORK, March 15 (Reuters) - New York precious metals rose Monday as investors sought safe alternatives to a dollar weakened by security concerns and mounting evidence that al Qaeda planted the bombs that killed 200 in Madrid last week.

COMEX April gold ended up $4 at $399.60 an ounce. It traded from $396.00 to $401.00 after tumbling Friday, only to find solid support near $395.

"It's clearly currency, clearly a bit of a bounce off of what happened last week and the horrific event that we saw in Madrid," said Andy Montano, a director at bullion dealer ScotiaMocatta in Toronto.

Spot gold rose to $399.25/9.75, from $394.50/5.60 late Friday. The afternoon fix in London was $398.10.

"We continued to see reasonably good physical off-take on dips and we've been stuck in a $395-$405 range for quite a long time. It feels like an eternity," Montano said.

Gold stalled in the morning after better-than-expected data showing February U.S. industrial output rose 0.7 percent, while the capacity utilization rate rose to 76.6 percent.

But it stretched its gain late in the day after the Bank of Japan said it was mulling ending by the end of March its large-scale intervention to keep the yen from rising versus the troubled greenback.

The weaker dollar lowered the price of precious metals for overseas investors.

The dollar plunged below 110 yen before steadying at 110.37/40. Earlier, it fell to $1.2317 per euro, and was last quoted at $1.2244/49.

The perception of increased security and political risk enhanced gold's allure as insurance.

If al Qaeda did mastermind Thursday's commuter rail blasts it could claim to have caused Sunday's election backlash that removed Spain's ruling Popular Party and brought the Socialist Party into government.

The government of departing Prime Minster Jose Maria Aznar was a staunch ally of the United States in Iraq, despite widespread popular disapproval of Spain's role in the war.

Incoming leader Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero indicated he would pull Spain's 1,300 troops out of Iraq.

Many believed the government was trying to exploit the attacks for political gain by rushing to blame the militant Basque separatist group ETA, despite reputed claims of responsibility by a group linked to al Qaeda.

"People are playing defensively in the sense that gold is still a safe-haven commodity, and with the possibility that this is al Qaeda, people are becoming a little more friendly," said a bullion trader, who added that the euro was seen as a "safe-haven currency."

May silver went up 7.7 cents to $7.14 an ounce, trading from $7.075 to $7.165. Spot silver was quoted at $7.11/13, up from the close at $7.03/06 Friday. The fix was at $7.105.

NYMEX April platinum gained $6.90 to close at $914.00 an ounce. Spot closed at $910.00/915.00.

June palladium rose $1.20 to $279.75, reaching another contract high at $287.00. Spot fetched $276.00/281.00.

Copyright 2004, Reuters News Service

Current Price 8.5-9.5 pence.

I know this is Oldish News to some on here, but I thought it would bear the re-telling

Ashanti Gold Belt Play(released 29th January 2004)

African Gold has taken a 90-day option on the Konongo Gold Mining lease, which covers the northeast portion of the Ashanti Gold Belt in Ghana. The fully permitted mining lease is 125 sq. km. and covers 20% of the strike length of the Ashanti Gold Belt.

The Directors believe that there is outstanding potential in the Konongo lease. A shallow resource of 860,000 ounces of gold at 2.33 g/t has already been defined by over 1900 drill holes. This resource is likely to grow substantially from drilling at depth and from extensions of the existing operations.

Metallurgy is good and mine infrastructure including roads, buildings, and water supply is excellent. There is a CIL processing plant on site

A detailed due diligence is underway which will cover not only Konongo but some adjacent prospects which are also on offer to African Gold.



Note, that other properties are being evaluated, 2 more leases have been announced, a 4th is to be announced shortly, and other properties are being evaluated.

Of course we will need to see some return for our capital, but my guess in a year or so, AFG may well be over 50p. and that's why the insitutions are on board.

Remember, how much the New directors have invested, and how much the insitutions have invested. THEY will not be looking for a measly few thou' after investing those kind of sums.

This has never been a get rich quick share, but it certainly could be a get rich slowly share..:))

MACD to cross in the next day or so, and the rise should be STRONG looking at the charts. BOTTOM now reached, and support level is here IMHO. Price tested the lows, and was found wanting. Rebound to 11p on NO NEWS and if news is released we should see 15p-20p if it as good as I feel.

EXPLORATION

GHANA

Four major properties have been identified and obtained in Ghana.
ZIMBABWE

The Inez property and surroundings are largely unexplored.
A 150,000 exploration programme over 15 months is required to evaluate the potential of:
the Dalmeny mine some 6km from Inez.
the old Mahogony mine on the Inez claims.
the recently discovered Green Reef on the Inez property.
A 70,000 ton surface ore body grading 3.5g/t lies 12km from Inez called the Eve. The possibility of quarrying the ore, transporting it by truck to Inez and processing through the big mill is being evaluated. The project will be a 50/50 joint venture with the owner of the orebody.
Ten prospecting licences (EPOS) have been acquired.


OTHER OPPORTUNITIES

Proposals to acquire producing and late stage projects in Africa are under appraisal.



http://www.africangoldplc.com/

The Inez Mine is located 25 km east of Kadoma in the gneissic-granites terrain south of the Chiqatu (Hartley) greenstone belt. A large number of small gold mines have been worked in this area over the past 100 years.

In December 1993, Afgold acquired a two year option to purchase various claims and properties comprising the Inez mines and complex. As prospecting results proved to be substantially better than original expectations the mine was purchased in July 1995.

The Inez Mines complex comprises the old original mine called the Main, the Inez East last mined in the late 40's, the operating mine, Inez North section, as well as a 200,000 ton plus tailings dump.

Inez produces ore from the east section of the Inez. The Main and North sections are not been worked.

Inez has a processing plant with a daily capacity of 250 tons of which only 30 tons are being used.

It was planned to produce 100 tons a day from the East, 50-60 tons from the North and the balance coming from the Main.

Low gold prices and lack of cash restricted underground development which has greatly reduced available ore.

The plant has been processing development ore at low grades.

Investment is needed to develop mineable ore. The investment will be entirely in development. No plant is required.

Estimated gold reserves are 725,000 tons containing over 200,000 ozs of gold.

Existing milling facilities can produce over 1,000 ozs a month.

An investment of 300,000 is required to develop the East, pushing the North to the 10th level and opening the Main.

It will take 15-18 months to complete the development which is currently on hold due to the political situation.

http://www.africangoldplc.com/

GOLD AND AFRICA


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

After 20 years in the doldrums, gold is back in favour.
At prices above $ 400 an oz, many known gold properties become economic.
The supply demand balance for new gold suggests further price rises.
Africa is the centre of gold production. It holds many deposits and has the skills, expertise and knowledge to develop them.
Afgold is well positioned. Existing and new directors have a wealth of experience and contacts.

http://www.africangoldplc.com/

FINANCIAL INFORMATION

2,100 Shareholders, listed on AIM.
200 million shares in issue. 250 million fully diluted.
20% controlled by directors.
Three market makers, Merrill Lynch, Winterflood and Share Capital.
Nominated Advisors: Rowan Dartington.
Stockbrokers: Rowan Dartington, Walker Crips.

http://www.africangoldplc.com/

Investtech Analysis:

Neutral (Medium term) - Mar 16, 2004
Has risen 1276% since the bottom on 7 Apr 2003 at 0.63. Has broken through the floor of a rising trend channel. This indicates a slower rising rate at first, or the start of a more horizontal development. RSI is oversold, which indicates a potential short-term reaction up. The stock has support at p 2.00 and resistance at p 15.00. High Risk. The average difference between the highest and lowest price of a moving trading month is 62%.

Negative Candidate (Short term) - Mar 16, 2004
Has risen 473% since the bottom on 31 Oct 2003 at 1.50. Shows a weak development within a falling trend channel. A further negative development is indicated, and there is resistance against the ceiling of the trend channel. RSI is, however, oversold. The stock can still fall further, and we should see an increasing RSI before this is used as a positive signal. The stock has support at p 4.00 and resistance at p 15.00. High Risk. The average difference between the highest and lowest price of a moving trading month is 62%.

Neutral (Long term) - Mar 16, 2004
Has risen 1276% since the bottom on 7 Apr 2003 at 0.63. Has broken the ceiling of the falling trend, which indicates a slower initial falling rate. Has risen strongly since the positive signal from a inverse head and shoulders formation at the break through the resistance at 2.00. The objective at 6.40 is now met, but the formation still gives a signal in the same direction. The stock has support at p 3.00. High Risk. The average difference between the highest and lowest price of a moving trading month is 62%.

Technical Analysis: African Gold (AFG.L) Last Time Updated Tuesday March 16
Short Term Commentary

Short term trend is strongly bearish, trendline slope is negative. Levels over 10.01 can act as a resistance if price bounces up.

Medium Term Commentary

Medium term price trend for African Gold is still bullish this week. This stock overperforms the FTSE 100 INDEX by 138.92 %. Volatility has been decreasing during last month. Be alert to the proximity of support 9 , and a possible rebound from this level.

http://uk.biz.yahoo.com/tech/a/afg.l.html

Safe-haven buying lifts COMEX gold before Fed stands pat
Reuters, 03.16.04, 3:15 PM ET

NEW YORK, March 16 (Reuters) - COMEX gold rose Tuesday, sought as a safe-haven since the Madrid train bombings with its advantage over the dollar reinforced after the close, when the Federal Reserve refrained from tightening monetary policy.

Gold held strong even as the dollar cut losses before the Federal Open Market Committee concluded its regular meeting by holding interest rates at 45-year lows, as expected.

The Fed said it can be patient in ending the accomodative policy which contributed to the dollar's slide this year and made non-interest-bearing hard assets like gold more attractive by comparison.

April gold ended up $3 at $402.60, trading from $399.20 to $404.70. Estimated volume was a moderate 40,000 contracts.

Spot gold closed at $402.00/2.80, up from $399.25/9.75 late Monday. London's afternoon fix was $402.50.

"I don't think there is any other factor out there other than the fundamentals that are impacting the dollar, whether it be terrorism, the low interest rates or the twin deficits," said David Rinehimer, head of commodities research at Citigroup Global Markets.

He continued, "They are variables that are impacting the dollar and that's going to have an inverse relationship to price of gold."

Dealers said gold was in a $395-$405 range, and was joined at the hip with the euro, which rose to $1.2372 overnight, but was last unchanged from the previous close at $1.2264/69.

April gold hit a 15-year high at $432.30 on Jan. 6 as the euro was rallying toward February's record high at $1.2927.

The dollar was plagued by security concerns as it became clearer that Islamic extremists linked to al Qaeda were behind the 10 bombings which killed 201 in Madrid last week.

The attacks swung Spanish voters against the government of the Popular Party in Sunday's general election and brought the Socialists into power.

Incoming leader Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero ran against Spain's role in the U.S.-led war in Iraq and said he would probably pull Spain's 1,300 troops out of Iraq by mid-year unless the United Nations takes charge there.

With speculators having liquidated most of the record long position held in gold late last year, and geopolitical uncertainty back as a top theme in global markets, dealers saw plenty of scope for funds to play gold as a safe haven again.

"I don't think the magnitude of the long position will approach what it was last year, but I think it could start to climb a little bit," said a bullion dealer, citing "interest rates and an increase in terror around the world."

Floor brokers said a strong bullish signal would be a close above the 100 day moving average, which is a technical trend indicator on the charts, currently located at $402.80.

May silver went up 2.7 cents to $7.167 an ounce, in a $7.125-$7.21 range. Spot silver last fetched $7.13/15, up from $7.11/13 previously. The fix was at $7.155.

NYMEX April platinum fell $11.60 at $902.40 an ounce. Spot closed at $899.00/904.00.

June palladium rose $1.85 to $281.60, holding near Monday's contract high at $287.00. Spot was last priced $277.00/282.00.

Copyright 2004, Reuters News Service

Gold prices climb to one-week high
Fed decision likely to lift Wednesday's trade, analyst says

By Myra P. Saefong, CBS.MarketWatch.com
Last Update: 4:22 PM ET March 16, 200

SAN FRANCISCO (CBS.MW) -- Gold futures climbed Tuesday, sending prices to their highest closing level in a week and taking the total gain for their two-session climb to $7 an ounce.

Investors, hit by weakness in the U.S. dollar, sought refuge in the precious metals. Futures trading closed 45 minutes ahead of the Federal Reserve's decision to stand pat on interest rates -- an announcement that had been widely expected. See full story and read the full Fed statement.

Gold for April delivery traded as high as $404.70 an ounce on the New York Mercantile Exchange, a level not seen since March 9. It closed at $402.60 an ounce, up $3. The contract already climbed $4 in the previous session.

Gains in gold Tuesday came as the dollar fell against the European and Japanese currencies. A report indicated that the Bank of Japan is considering an exit strategy for its dollar-buying interventions. See Currencies Report.

But "there are several factors besides just the weaker dollar correlation of why gold is higher," said John Person, head financial analyst at Infinity Brokerage Services, pointing out that the weaker dollar is like "just the means not the ends."

"The true value lies in demand, and that is what makes gold an exciting investment vehicle right now," he said.

Prices have been correcting since they peaked in January above $430, but Person believes they're on they're way to the $450 and maybe the $475 level, "on this leg of the next bull wave."

"Gold is acting bullish on the bet that there is inflation," he said. The concept of "little inflationary pressures" is difficult to see given the height and speed of the overall commodity price climb.

Fed influence

The Federal Reserve's decision to leave overnight interest rates unchanged at 1 percent -- a 45-year low -- could provide support for the gold market Wednesday, an analyst said.

"The Fed did not change much in their previous stance," said John Person, head financial analyst at Infinity Brokerage Services.

But "this leaves the door open for an accommodative stance for a longer period of time," which should, in turn, be "bullish for gold as it may accelerate inflation since we are in a loose monetary situation," he said.

"Lower interest rates have been positive for gold and may remain so," he said. With that, he believes the market will react with a "positive tone" Wednesday.

Silver, copper climb again

Ahead of the Fed announcement, silver and copper futures climbed along with gold. Those metals have now posted gains in four of the last five sessions.

"Presently, some precious metals markets are being driven solely by momentum and speculative fever, such as silver, platinum and palladium," said Leonard Kaplan, president of Prospector Asset Management.

On Tuesday, May silver rose 2.7 cents to close at $7.167 per ounce. May copper climbed by 1.7 cent to end the session at $1.366 per pound.

"Silver remains complete[ly] uncorrelated from gold, and is still benefiting fully from the rally on base metals," Frederic Lasserre, an analyst at Societe Generale said in a note to clients.

But while China and India are "monster buyers of industrial metals" amid economic expansion, "speculative interest in these metals has far out-shadowed basic fundamental supply and demand considerations," said Kaplan.

On the supply end, copper supplies were down 1,085 short tons at 231,818 short tons as of late Monday, according to Nymex. Silver stocks were down 10,297 troy ounces at 122.8 million troy ounces.

Gold inventories stood at 3.57 million troy ounces, up 41,293 troy ounces from the previous session.

June palladium also tacked on $1.85 to close at $281.60 an ounce. But Platinum for April delivery closed at $902.40 an ounce, down $11.60.

Mining indexes hold gains

After falling more than 2 percent in the previous session to one-month low, key indexes for metals mining shares closed higher Tuesday.

Mining equities were apparently unaffected by the Federal Reserve's interest rate decision.

The Philadelphia Gold & Silver Index ($XAU: news, chart, profile) and the Amex Gold Bugs Index (HUI: news, chart, profile) each tacked on 1.2 percent to close at 97.44 and 218.29, within the session's trading range.

The CBOE Gold Index ($GOX: news, chart, profile) closed at 83.95, up 1.1 percent.

Leading the indexes higher were shares of Durban Deep (DROOY: news, chart, profile), which climbed 4.5 percent and Barrick Gold (ABX: news, chart, profile), up 3.2 percent. Shares of Bema Gold (BGO: news, chart, profile) and Coeur d'Alene Mines (CDE: news, chart, profile) gained around 3 percent.

Myra P. Saefong is a reporter for CBS.MarketWatch.com in San Francisco.

My BUY order of 117061 @ 8.5p @ 16:19 has just come thru as a SELL. I think these are very cheap as institutions have bought in @ 9p.