Gold’s surge has been one of the big stories of the past 18 months. But prices are plunging and the birth of a new ASX giant shows more pain may be coming.

The Perth-based miner has cleared the way for Genesis Minerals to combine with Vault to create a $12.6 billon gold producer.

Gold’s surge has been one of the big stories of the past 18 months. But prices are plunging and the birth of a new ASX giant shows more pain may be coming.

Chairman Raleigh Finlayson says the synergies created by the union with Vault Minerals suits an era of lower gold prices.