Gold slide rocks markets

The national economic recovery may be anemic, but it's having one effect on Nevada. Precious metals prices are plunging.

Gold and silver are experiencing what an April 19 NASDAQ statement called “a spectacular slide in prices.” Share prices for Barrick Gold, a Nevada operator, were down to $20 at one point, a price it has not seen in almost five years.

Precious metals prices traditionally rise in hard times and fall during prosperity.

Mining is not a large part of Nevada's economy any more, but it is very important to some of the small counties.