The mining newspaper for Alaska and Canada's North
The mining newspaper for Alaska and Canada's North
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From college students seeking their first job in the minerals industry to executives of the world's leading mining companies, a record-setting 7,003 people packed the Westin Bayshore Hotel in Vancouver, B.C., Jan. 24-27 to attend the Association for Mineral Exploration British Columbia's 2011 Mineral Exploration Roundup. "The theme this year is 'Exploring Today for Tomorrow's Resources' - it couldn't be more important a theme, and it couldn't be more important an activity,"...
There are some new stats out regarding mining's impact on Alaska that the McDowell Group Inc. produced for the State of Alaska. For 2010, the Alaska mining industry accounted for 3,500 direct jobs and 5,500 indirect jobs. The industry paid US$350 million in payroll with the average salary totaling US$95,000 per year, which is double the statewide average for all sectors. Mining salaries were higher than all other sectors except for the oil and gas sector. The industry paid...
One soil at a time," said Shawn Ryan, describing the gold-hunting technique he has perfected in a decade of working what has become the hottest exploration play in Canada. After collecting more than 200,000 soil samples since 2003 and leading at least two junior mining companies to the most significant gold discoveries in the new White Gold District of Yukon Territory, Ryan is happy to share the particulars of his slow and careful approach to prospecting. The former Dawson City prospector, who recently moved to Whitehorse,...
Victoria Gold Corp. made considerable progress in 2010 toward building a gold mine at its Eagle Gold Project in central Yukon Territory, including reinforcing a pledge of environmental responsibility to the First Nation of Na Cho Nyak Dun with a quick trip across the border to Alaska. Managers of the Toronto-based junior invited members of the First Nation of Na Cho Nyak Dun to tour a new heap leach processing project at the Fort Knox gold mine hundreds of miles to the west near Fairbanks. The reason? If all goes well, Victor...
Two years after explorers stampeded to Yukon Territory in search of gold and other minerals the rush is showing no sign of abating. In fact, the exploration frenzy appears to gather fresh steam with every new mineral discovery reported in the territory. And the pipeline of discoveries is flowing, fast and furious. Junior mining companies and prospectors also continued to stake hordes of claims in 2010 right up to Dec. 23, stopping only when Government of Yukon mining recorders called a halt for the holidays. The excitement su...
A pair of gold discoveries led a torrent of exploration news pouring out of Yukon Territory this year as numerous newcomers joined old hands in the hunt for the yellow metal and other lucrative minerals. "We've entered a new phase of exploration. People are using soil sampling as an unbiased targeting method that is resulting in discoveries of new mineral potential," Yukon geologist Mike Burke, told more than 500 participants in the Yukon Geoscience Forum Nov. 22. The areas where people are looking are expanding as miners...
Alaska's mining industry is entering the final lap for what has turned out to be a more robust than expected year for exploration, development and production. Strong worldwide demand for mined products has certainly helped push metallic and energy minerals prices up, but all is not rosy for Alaska's mineral industry. A recent CNBC report placed Alaska dead last of all the states in terms of overall business attractiveness. We were a dismal 46th of 50 in terms of cost of doing...
As mining heats up in Yukon Territory, professionals from around the globe are finding new roles in the region and employing a host of unique experiences and perspectives in pursuit of exploration, development and production of the territory's minerals. This growing international contingent covers the industry spectrum and hails from around the globe. Their presence is most evident in exploration camps scattered across the Yukon; however, the new manager of Yukon's sole producer, Capstone Mining Corp.'s Minto Mine, is a...
As termination dust falls across most of Alaska, the curtain has come down for the bulk of the exploration projects around the state; however, mine development programs as well as mine-site exploration continue apace as does some exploration work in tropical Southeast Alaska. With few exceptions, preliminary conclusions drawn from 2010 work indicate that 2011 is going to be a busy year. And though a lot of exploration and development is still going on for gold, copper...
Mining is becoming increasingly important to Alaskans looking for good-paying jobs. Not only does the industry provide high wages, the geographical diversity of the mines provides employment opportunities to oftentimes economically challenged rural regions of the vast state. According to the Alaska Department of Labor & Workforce Development, the number of mining jobs in Alaska has jumped 40.3 percent since 2000, almost triple the statewide average employment growth of 14.1...
With all eyes pointed north, the mineral industry in Yukon is having a banner year in 2010. A number of regions are continuing to attract high-profile attention. With two new mines starting production and encouraging discoveries throughout the territory, the year has been very exciting. Exploration Claim staking in the White Gold area, the Dawson Range and the 60 Mile area has been robust in 2010 with many new companies (more than 20) involved in the staking rush. Kinross Gold Corp. issued a friendly takeover offer for...
The Last Frontier, as Alaska has long been labeled, is as applicable a moniker today as it was to prospectors who ventured to the territory at the end of the 19th century. Alaska is considered one of the most mineralized provinces on Earth, but due to an inter-related combination of Arctic weather, rugged terrain, limited infrastructure and high exploration costs, the state's vast mineral potential remains at the edge of exploratory expansion. Though the Far North state...
Diamonds continued to dominate mining production in Northwest Territories in 2010, but other hardrock mineral projects led most of the mineral exploration activity during the year. Yet 2010 is shaping up to be a year of recovery for nearly all of the territory's miners. Rough diamond production from Harry Winston's 40 percent share of the Diavik Mine totaled 650,000 carats in the second quarter, up significantly from 570,000 carats a year earlier. Rio Tinto plc controls 60 percent interest in Diavik, Canada's largest diamond...
Since International Tower Hill Mines Ltd. began exploring Livengood in 2007, it has outlined nearly 20 million ounces of gold resources. The junior continues this brisk pace as it contemplates building a mine at the Interior Alaska project. In order to focus its attention on developing the rapidly advancing project, Tower Hill has transferred its non-Livengood exploration assets into Corvus Gold Inc., a new company under the direction of Tower Hill Vice President of...
Kinross Gold Corp. is a partner of choice for many junior explorers investigating gold prospects in Alaska and northwest Canada. The Toronto-based major has formed various alliances with a number of juniors exploring for gold in the Tintina Gold Belt, the prolific 145-million-acre (58.7-million-hectare) mineral region that hosts Kinross' Fort Knox Gold Mine and huge gold deposits including Donlin Creek and Livengood in Alaska as well as significant gold showings in Yukon...
Primed for booming exploration for several years, the Yukon Territory appears to have hit big in 2010, both literally and figuratively. Emerging as one of the world's mining hot spots, the Northwest Canada jurisdiction is reporting industry investment exceeding C$120 million. Propelled by record gold prices and key gold discoveries, as well as surging demand in Asia for base metals and a mining friendly government, miners flocked to the territory in growing numbers, bringing generous exploration budgets and fresh theories...
Since its inception in 2007, Millrock Resources Inc.'s modus operandi is to seek out early-stage mineral prospects in Alaska and Arizona, complete initial exploration and then joint venture the projects to other industry players. Utilizing this project generator model the junior has amassed a portfolio of 10 gold and copper projects, seven of which received partner-funded exploration in 2010. Estelle, Millrock's flagship gold property in Alaska, had been the one caveat to the...
KRX: TSX-V President and CEO: J. Greg Dawson, M.Sc., PGeo. Non-Executive Chairman: William M. Sheriff Chief Financial Officer: Justin Blanchet, CA Operating under the philosophy that it will maximize the chance for success in a high-risk business by concentrating on the right commodities in mining-friendly jurisdictions with high mineral potential, Copper Ridge Explorations Ltd. owns or has the option to acquire an interest in nine mineral properties in Alaska, Yukon and British Columbia. The junior also holds a royalty inter...
DDMI President and COO: Kim Truter DDMI Superintendent, Geotechnical Engineering: Sarah Greer DDMI Chief Geologist: David Eichenberg The Diavik Diamond Mine is an unincorporated 60/40 joint venture between Diavik Diamond Mines Inc., a subsidiary of London-based Rio Tinto plc, and Harry Winston Diamond Mines Ltd., a subsidiary of Toronto-based Harry Winston Diamond Corp. Both companies have headquarters in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories. Diavik Diamond Mines manages the mine, which began diamond mining underground in...
FVL: TSX-V President and CEO: Kristina Walcott Chief Financial Officer: Gordon Steblin Vice President, Exploration: Michael Gross Weighed down with about C$11 million in debt in mid-2009, it appeared Freegold Ventures Ltd. would become another casualty of the market collapse. Stepping into the leadership role, former Freegold Vice President of Corporate Development Kristina Walcott leveraged the value of the company's four gold assets in Alaska and Idaho. Over the course of a few short months, the new president and CEO...
TRC: TSX-V President: John Robertson With four gold properties located next door to Kinross Gold Corp.'s Fort Knox gold mine, Teryl Resources Corp. is one of the largest landowners in the Fairbanks Mining District, and a favored joint venture partner for Kinross' Alaska subsidiary, Fairbanks Gold Mining Inc. Since their partnership began at the Gil Project (Kinross 80 percent and Teryl 20 percent), the gold producer and the junior have outlined some 10.1 million tons of ore with an average grade of 1.25 grams of gold per...
UW: TSX-V President: Adrian Fleming Chairman: Michael Williams Director: Rob McLeod Underworld Resources, organized in 2005 in British Columbia, is a mineral exploration company focused on expanding its new gold discovery in Yukon Territory. Underworld acquired an option over the White Gold and Black Fox properties located 95 kilometers south of Dawson City in May 2007. First drilling was completed in 2008 with discoveries at the Golden Saddle and Arc targets. In 2009, the company also acquired an option to acquire a 100...
VIT: TSX-V President and CEO: Chad Williams Board Chairman: T. Sean Harvey Chief Geologist: Marcus K. Johnston, Ph.D. Victoria Gold Corp., organized in 1981, is a gold exploration company focused on value growth per share through efficient exploration, project development, accretive acquisitions and effective marketing. Its strategy is to maintain a low-risk profile through project diversification and sound financial management and by operating in secure jurisdictions like Yukon Territory. In June 2009 the Toronto-based...
Massive earthmoving equipment, explosives, enormous mills pulverizing rock into dust, chemicals, metal-liquefying furnaces and extreme weather conditions - mining in Alaska is fraught with peril. Yet, according to the Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development, only the state's oil fields provide a safer workplace than Alaska mines. According to a state report on occupational injuries, 1.8 percent of miners in Alaska were injured in 2008, compared to the statewide...
As we near the end of September and the metals market remains robust, the mining industry is breathing a sigh of relief as we remember the market meltdown of early September 2008. Although nobody is suggesting that the larger economy is in any way out of the woods yet, the worldwide demand for metals and metal products continues to expand. For example, the gold price hit US$1,274.95 earlier this month, well above the previous record of US$1,261 hit on June 28. Some believe...
