On the other hand I do mean Newmont.
Sure they may be held back by the US - Venezuela 'mutual admiration' but I read into the Newmont comments as preparing their shareholders for possible venture into Venezuela.

<"Exploration is not only becoming tougher and riskier but more expensive and it is becoming more and more difficult to find gold in any SURFACE quantity,&quot; van Kersen said.>

The capital letters in the above quote from the Reuters article is my emphasis.
Could it be a Freudian slip by van Kersen or a deliberate statement?

Why use 'any surface quantity' instead of just plain 'in any quantity'. Plainly they have open pit mines on their mind and where are those possible open pit mines?.