There has long been opposition to the prospect of a gold mine and processing plant being built at Skouries in the Halkidiki peninsula, with some residents objecting to what they say will be the destruction of the environment and of pristine forest in the area, leading to the loss of tourism and other local activities such as farming, the rearing of livestock and fishing.

NPR: Masked Intruders Raid Greek Gold Mining Company

Historically gold companies calculated total cash costs per ounce by including only mining, processing, selling and royalty costs, said Imaru Casanova, senior gold analyst and investment team member of the Van Eck International Investors Gold Fund (INIVX) and the Van Eck Global Hard Assets Fund (GHAAX).

FORBES: FOCUS: Some Fund Managers Like New 'All-In' Gold Miner Cost Metrics; Others Say More Is Needed

Two of Leibovit's long recommendations are a bottle-full of value in shares of Coca-Cola and the glitter of gold and uranium in shares of mining and processing outfit Cameco.

FORBES

But obsolete wood processing machinery and the continued fall of primary commodity prices including gold and cocoa, have taken its toll.

BBC: Anger lingers in president's homeland

Some growth has been companies processing lower-grade ore that may not have been feasible at lower gold prices, analysts said.

FORBES: Global Output From Gold Mines In Upswing Although Some Constraints Persist

In fact, Iran has established a financial and business infrastructure with Chavez's consent and encouragement that now includes banks, gold mining, a cement plant, a tractor and bicycle factory, a tuna processing plant and a joint oil venture.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Center For Security Policy