The Globe and Mail reports in its Saturday, Nov. 29, edition that for years, investing in Barrick Mining was about as profitable as panning for gold in a shopping mall fountain. The Globe's John Heinzl writes in the Stars and Dogs column that Barrick shares have finally started to shine now that gold prices are soaring and activist investor Elliott Investment Management has taken an approximately $1-billion interest in the struggling gold miner. With Elliott pushing to split Barrick into two companies -- one focused on lower-risk mines in the Americas and the other holding riskier properties in Africa and elsewhere -- there might be gold in those shares after all.