SOUTH African gold mining giant AngloGold announced on Monday a formal challenge to US-based Newmont Mining Corp’s rival bid for Normandy Mining Ltd. AngloGold alleges Newmont has been misleading in its offer for Australia’s top gold mining company. “We consider that the comparative analysis which Newmont has presented in selling its offer and its characterisation of AngloGold are misleading in a number of ways,” AngloGold executive director and chief financial officer Jonathan Best said. Earlier this month Normandy formally rejected a $3,2-billion dollar (US$1.6 billion) takeover bid by AngloGold. Newmont’s rival bid is worth $3,8-billion. Normandy is Australia’s top gold producer and the seventh largest in the world. It owns major gold mines in Australia, including a 50% interest in Super Pit near Kalgoorlie, and the Yandal operations, both in Western Australia. It also owns or has stakes in mines in the United States and South America. Normandy Mining shares closed down one cent at 1,54-dollars. – AFP