Two of the world’s biggest mining names have tightened their grip on the next generation of West African gold developments, using a string of strategic investments to build a soft empire in the gold exploration hotspots of Côte d’Ivoire and Guinea. And it has experts, explorers and market analysts asking the question – who’s next? The latest move from Lundin (family fortune +US$7bn) and China’s Zijin (market cap US$64bn) has seen the Swedish mining dynasty partner with TSX-listed Montage Gold Corp and Zhaojin Capital – a subsidiary Chinese State-owned gold miner in which Zijin holds a 20% stake – to acquire a ... (full story)