Top Strategist: A Shocking Revelation About Gold Mining CompaniesMac Slavo Yet, as investors the world over buy up as much physical gold as they can get their hands on, the companies that produce the gold have seen their stock prices decimated. Whether its the work of the shadow banking system or because Wall Street has convinced Main Street to dump their shares, precious metals have seen a significant drop from their historical highs just a couple years ago. Top Casey Research strategist Marin Katusa gives us a shocking revelation about just how hard gold mining companies have been hit: I have a document [from our leasing agent] that says because of the junior mining shut downs theres over half a million square feet available in downtown Vancouver for office lease available at a big discount. Do you know what it was a year and a half ago? Less than 50,000 square feet. When youre in the valley of darkness, the right trade is the lonely trade, its not an easy trade to do. It seems that the masses have been convinced the recession has ended and good times have returned. Theyve dumped their ownership in gold companies and jumped into broader stock markets full force. Everyone else is doing it, so it must be the right thing to do. Whatever steps youve taken to insulate yourself against the impending destruction of our currency, national credit worthiness and financial markets, there have probably been times when youve felt like a loner. But sometimes its good to be the loner. This is where the real opportunities are found. And right now, as we sit on the cusp of a global economic crisis, its those of us in the valley of darkness that are preparing ourselves for a brighter future. You can read more from Mac Slavo at his site SHTFplan.com, where this first appeared. 