Gold sank in Thursday trading after minutes from the Federal Reserve’s mid-December Federal Open Markets Committee meeting revealed rising concerns among Fed officials about the cost of continued stimulus efforts. Some Fed officials had suggested easing the purchase of mortgage back securities by the end of the year.

Gold futures for February delivery fell 0.8% to $1,674.60 on Thursday, according to CME Group. Gold traded as high as $1,690.50 and as low as $1,661.20. Gold bullion closed in London at $1,668, according to BullionVault.

Silver futures for February delivery dropped 0.9% % to $30.69 per ounce. Thursday’s high for silver was $31.10, while the low was $30.03.

Gold and silver funds sank in Thursday trading.

• The SPDR Gold Trust (NYSE:GLD) dropped 1.2%.
• The iShares Gold Trust (NYSE:IAU) slipped 1.3%.
• The iShares Silver Trust (NYSE:SLV) sank 2.5%.

Gold and silver mining ETFs also fell during the day.

• The Market Vectors Gold Miners ETF (NYSE:GDX) tumbled 4.2%.
• The Market Vectors Junior Gold Miners ETF (NYSE:GDXJ) declined 3.2%.
• The Global X Silver Miners ETF (NYSE:SIL) slid 3.3%.

Gold mining shares moved lower, with Goldcorp (NYSE:GG) falling the hardest.

• Agnico-Eagle Mines (NYSE:AEM) fell 3.4%.
• Barrick Gold (NYSE:ABX) dipped 3%.
• Eldorado Gold (NYSE:EGO) sank 4.5%.
• Goldcorp tumbled 5.1%.
• Kinross Gold (NYSE:KGC) dropped 4.5%.
• Newmont Mining (NYSE:NEM) slid 2.7%.
• NovaGold Resources (AMEX:NG) declined 2.1%.
• Yamana Gold (NYSE:AUY) retreated 4.6%.

Silver mining shares also slipped on Thursday.

• Coeur d’Alene Mines (NYSE:CDE) sank 5.4%.
• Hecla Mining (NYSE:HL) dropped 3.9%.
• Pan American Silver (NASDAQ:PAAS) tumbled 4.5%.
• Silver Wheaton (NYSE:SLW) declined 3.8%
• Silver Standard Resources (NASDAQ:SSRI) declined 5.1%.

As of this writing, Christopher Freeburn did not hold a position in any of the aforementioned securities. Adrian Ash of BullionVault contributed to this report.