This time of year has been traditionally weak for gold and it's made worse by the fact that the yellow metal gets constantly suppressed by central bankers. (aka, the 'Fed').
There are a lot of mom and pop operations here in Montana. I've seen some sprout back to life. There's gold in the mountains west of Missoula, for example. 10 years ago you'd never know gold was there. Now all the claims are clearly marked and various small operations began operating. There are signs out that say 'no high banking.' I have not been down there for some time, but they were operating when gold was closer to $2k.
Gold will come back. It is taking a breather after a long run. It will go ballistic if and when the dollar collapses. I'm thinking 'when' but I can't tell you 'when' that might occur.
A nation of sheep will beget a government of wolves. — Edward R. Murrow