Golden Minerals Company (AUMN)

[Picassa]

Until it completed the acquisition of ECU Silver Mining earlier this month, Golden Minerals was an exploration-stage miner with some interesting prospects in Mexico and Argentina but not much else to show for it. The ECU bid solidifies its presence in those regions but gives it mines that produced approximately 380,000 ounces of silver, 10,000 ounces of gold, 182,000 pounds of zinc, and 155,000 pounds of lead last year. Production is expected to fall in the fourth quarter this year, however, as Gold Minerals develops the mine further.