The Globe and Mail reports in its Tuesday edition that Barrick Gold is looking at doing more deals with China's Shandong Gold Group, a sign that the world's biggest gold producer could be ready to pull the trigger on large acquisitions. The Globe's Niall McGee writes that Barrick said Monday that it is strengthening ties with state-owned Shandong, an arrangement that may see the duo team up on acquisitions or sell assets to each other. Barrick's last big deal was its disastrous $7.3-billion purchase of Equinox Minerals in 2011 (all figures U.S.). Before joining Barrick, executive chairman John Thornton headed up Goldman Sachs's Chinese operations, and one of his imprints over the past few years has been forging relationships with Chinese firms. Barrick said that Shandong is considering several new options, including possibly developing an open-pit mine at Lama on the Argentine side of the project. "It makes a lot of sense," said gold analyst John Ing at Maison Placements. Mr. Ing told The Globe that he believes the relationship between the two mining companies will be a lot more than merely teaming up on deals. The relationship will also be about Barrick tapping Shandong's technical expertise in mining.