The mining newspaper for Alaska and Canada's North
The mining newspaper for Alaska and Canada's North
Sorted by date Results 151 - 175 of 185
The Chuitna coal project has long been on the kill list for the environmental conflicts Industry. Litigation against the government is among the Enviro-Cons' favorite tools. For reasons that sometimes defy understanding, the courts view such litigation as somehow being in the public interest; and, accordingly, cut this particular ilk of non-governmental organization far more slack than can be justified by reason. At one point, a generation ago, it made a modicum of good sense...
Tom Kizzia has written a biographical account of the life and times of Robert Hale, who some folks will recall was a high-profile figure in the fight of in-holders to secure their statutory right to access their property in the middle of the past decade. Although the relevance of Hale to the history of Alaska was his conflict with the National Park Service in the Wrangell-Saint Elias National Park, Kizzia, unfortunately, takes the reader on a long and torturous frolic and deto...
The unseasonably, interminably, unspeakably cold spring that is delaying mineral exploration and development work in Alaska this year is being mimicked by a financial chill that is affecting Alaska exploration efforts just like it is the rest of the world. Not to put too fine a point on it, but from a mineral exploration standpoint, Alaska is shaping up to be as dead as a doornail this summer (ever wonder where that saying came from ... but I digress.). How dead? Try this statistic on for size: Of the 49 exploration projects...
As a co-chairman of the Federal Oversight Committee of the Alaska Miners Association for the past many years, it is interesting to me to see how the flow of new tinkering with the conduct of local affairs ebbs and flows at various stages of an incumbent federal administration. The federal government still owns more 27 percent of our nation's land, concentrated in the 11 contiguous western states and Alaska. About 225 million acres, or 62 percent, of our state falls into that category. Therefore, land management is of...
On the theory that making the loser pay for at least a portion of the fees and costs associated with litigation lacks merit, the Alaska Rules of Civil Procedure recite that on application and subject to judicial oversight, the prevailing party may secure an award of the costs and a portion of the attorney's fees incurred by the prevailing party at the conclusion of a lawsuit brought in the courts of this state. At first blush this might seem like a sound rule; however, it has always been subject to debate, primarily because...
At the end of October this year, the U.S. District Court for the District of Alaska handed down a case brought by Alaskan John Sturgeon, as another in a long list of decisions upholding the federal government's power to circumscribe our rights to use reasonable and appropriate methods of access to remote areas of the State. Without criticizing either the outcome or the reasoning that was used to achieve that outcome, this case, if it withstands appeal, will be just one additional landmark along the way to the apparent...
It's been deceptively quiet - with a few notable exceptions - within Alaska's minerals sector this year. Thanks to low metals prices and risk-averse investors, we haven't seen much new mineral exploration in Alaska in 2013. That's after a series of gangbuster years - 2011 set a record for investment in mineral exploration in Alaska. But at the Department of Natural Resources, we remain very bullish on the magnitude of Alaska's exploration potential and the future of Alaska's minerals sector. And we are working hard to make...
The mining industry is worth $8.3 billion to B.C.'s economy and supports thousands of well-paying, secure jobs for families in communities throughout our province. Mining builds communities. All across British Columbia, you will find communities sustained by mining projects. Today, the average salary in the mining industry is more than C$100,000, which provides stability and opportunity to thousands of families. Mining also employs more First Nations people than any other industry in Canada. Training partnerships are...
Northwest Territories is a land filled with vast mineral potential, rich in both resources and opportunity. Industry interest in this potential continues to rise and the Government of the Northwest Territories is actively working to ensure resource development is environmentally sustainable and benefits the residents, communities and businesses of the NWT. Currently, four mines are operating in the NWT: Dominion Diamond Corp.'s Ekati Diamond Mine, Rio Tinto's Diavik Diamond Mine, DeBeers' Snap Lake Diamond Mine and North...
Nunavut's exploration and mining opportunities consistently have attracted the attention of the major global producers. Natural Resources Canada determined that C$422 million was spent on exploring for minerals in Nunavut in 2012, and estimates that C$313 million will be spent in 2013. Exploration is underway for many minerals in Nunavut and much of the territory remains largely under-explored. These realities suggest that Nunavut's mineral production will increase substantially in the next decade. Nunavut has one operating...
In 2013, the mineral industry globally has been buffeted by financial challenges. Development infrastructure has seen major cost increases. Multinational corporations have had major write-downs of assets associated with falling mineral prices. Junior exploration companies have not been able to raise venture capital for funding projects as investors appear to be shying away from what is seen as a risk investment. Yukon was not exempt from these challenges. Most exploration programs were downscaled with emphasis on lower-cost...
A new federally collected royalty (read tax) on hardrock mining has recently been proposed as a part of Congress' solution to fix the national debt and manage the mining industry. A bill co-sponsored by U.S. Rep. Raul M. Grijalva, D-Ariz., would set a 12.5 percent royalty rate on the value of certain hardrock minerals on public lands. This proposal would rewrite the original 1872 mining law in the United States. The proposed U.S. royalties would be among the highest of any country in the world. Mining is today one of the...
B.C.'s mineral exploration and mining industry is booming, thanks in part to strong demand in Asia. Meeting demand is just one part of fostering a globally competitive sector. Equally important are our policies at home, where strong fiscal management, competitive tax rates, streamlined regulations and good local partnerships are helping to generate billions of dollars' worth of revenues each year. Worldwide demand for coal, metals and industrial minerals has increased dramatically and are expected to rise even more. B.C....
The Northwest Territories has been closely linked with the mining industry ever since B.A. Blakeney, a prospector on his way to the Klondike, staked the first gold mining claim here in 1898. And although the focus has shifted from gold to diamonds, the industry remains at the forefront of any discussion regarding the NWT's economic well-being: the territory produced over C$2 billion in total mineral shipments in 2011, a staggering total for a jurisdiction which has a population that barely exceeds 40,000 residents. Although...
An underlying motto for Nunavut this year is "Creating a Resourceful Future," a theme that can be interpreted as creating and building a future full of resources. Nunavut and its expansive geology are rich in many natural mineral resources such as gold, iron ore, base metals of lead and zinc, uranium and nickel to name a few. We have one operating mine, several properties that are potential mines under consideration, and several advanced exploration projects that are proceeding with development or feasibility work. These...
Mining continues to be a cornerstone of Yukon's economy, with extraordinary mineral deposits, including both precious and non-precious metals. The Government of Yukon is committed to providing an internationally competitive investment climate. To this end, we continue to provide regulatory certainty around environmental assessment, permitting and licensing of projects. Yukon's exploration and mining industries are settling in for the long term. After a record-breaking year for claim staking and exploration spending in 2011,...
Access to critical minerals and metals is vital to America's military strength and economic health. As we move further forward into the technology age, we need a range of non-fuel minerals - from antimony to zinc - for defense technologies that protect the homeland and project American power abroad. These same minerals and metals underpin our manufacturing sector too, and the cost of raw materials impacts everything from productivity and innovation to economic growth and job creation. Without smarter policies that increase...
A thriving minerals industry is essential for Alaska's economic growth. If Alaska were a country, we would be among the top 10 countries in the world for coal, zinc, copper, lead, zinc, and silver resources. By responsibly developing these resources, we have the potential to support the economies of entire regions of the state and help secure a stable domestic supply of minerals. The Parnell Administration is focusing on ways to advance mining opportunities in Alaska in an environmentally responsible way. A major step in...
Since the mid-1800s, British Columbia has been one of the world's major mining and exploration regions, and today, we are enjoying the results as mineral exploration is increasing. Mineral exploration spending more than doubled in 2010 to C$322 million from the year before, and B.C. was home to 13 percent of Canada's total exploration spending, up from 6 percent in 2001. Information and maps provided by geoscience agencies are the first step in the exploration sequence. This information reduces risk for companies and encourag...
The vast landscape of the Northwest Territories is blessed with an abundance of resources. It is a land filled with opportunity, and much of the mineral wealth remains untapped. Mineral explorers and producers are making best efforts to unlock this potential and seizing the opportunities that await them. The Government of the Northwest Territories strongly supports responsible and sustainable mineral development that yields substantial economic benefits to NWT residents, communities and businesses. Four mines are operational...
Yukon Territory continues to be in the limelight with the previous years' gold exploration successes leading to definition of gold deposits in 2011. Gold is the leading commodity in terms of exploration, but silver, base metals and tungsten are the leading commodities in terms of mine development. A number of regions are continuing to attract high-profile attention with two of Yukon's operating mines expanding their reserves and new discoveries continuing throughout the territory. The year has been very exciting so far. A...
A highlight for 2010 has been the startup of the Kensington gold mine in June. I first testified at a hearing on the Kensington project in Haines in 1990. Gold price fluctuations, environmental group attacks, financial markets, etc. all played a role in the saga. Coeur Chairman and CEO Dennis Wheeler should be commended for his diligence and determination to make Kensington into a mine. However, I am disappointed about one item at Kensington, and it does not involve the quality of the orebody, the work of the company or the...
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...
When I wrote a first editorial for Mining Explorers last year, it was on the occasion of Nunavut celebrating its first 10 years as a separate territory, and so it was fitting to review some of the accomplishments of the decade. Now, as we enter into a second decade, many of the fruits of those labors are coming to bear. That first decade, 1999-2009, wasn't, of course, without its share of both accomplishments and setbacks. Early in Nunavut's short life around 2002, three long-producing mines closed: the Polaris and Nanisivik...
The search for furs opened up the Northwest Territories more than 400 years ago, bringing explorers and traders to the North. In today's economy, it's the search for - and the development of - mineral resources that is the one of the main cogs in the NWT economy. It's an industry that contributes more than C$1 billion annually to our economy and creates more than 2,000 direct jobs. And while the past two years have been challenging for the mining industry everywhere due to the global economic crisis that has seen exploration...
