Alaska has six producing mines and eight more advanced exploration projects. These major mines are economic engines for regions that have few employment opportunities.
Exploration
- $275 million spent on exploration
- $2.3 billion spent on exploration since 1981
Development
- $270 million spent on mine construction and other capital investment.
Production
- $3 billion in gross mineral production value from Red Dog, Greens Creek, Fort Knox, Pogo, Kensington, Nixon Fork and Usibelli Coal mines, placer mines, and rock, sand, and gravel operations
- More than 300 placer mines produced 85,000 ounces of gold
- $80 million in production value from more than 120 active rock quarries, and sand and gravel operations
- Export value of $2 billion, or 38% of Alaska’s total exports (2011)
Producing Mines:
Fort Knox Mine Gold
- Alaska’s largest surface gold mine
- Largest single property taxpayer in the Fairbanks North Star Borough
- Discovered in 1984, producing since 1996
- 548 employees in 2012
Greens Creek Mine Silver, zinc, gold, and lead
- Among the world’s top 10 silver producers
- Largest Southeast Alaska for-profit employer, in terms of payroll
- Discovered in 1975, producing from 1989 to 1993, and continuously since 1996
- 390 employees in 2012
Kensington Gold
- Kensington achieved record production for 2013 of 114,821 ounces in 2013
- 310 full-time, year-round employees
- Over $41 million in direct annual payroll & benefits budgeted for 2014
- 2nd largest private employer in terms of payroll in the City & Borough of Juneau
- Largest payer of property tax in the City & Borough of Juneau
- Exploration program currently underway to define and expand ore zones; $6.2 M budgeted in 2014 for exploration activities
- Focus for 2014 remains on safety, cost control and delivering a sustainable level of production
Pogo Mine Gold
- Discovered in 1994, producing since 2006
- 220 full-time employees and 200 contractors in 2012
- Paid more than $54 million in wages in 2012
- Capital spending exceeded $19 million in 2012
Red Dog Zinc, lead, and silver
- One of the world’s largest zinc concentrate producers
- Only taxpayer (payments in lieu of taxes) in the Northwest Arctic Borough
- Discovered in 1968, producing since 1989
- 604 employees (including 137 contractors) in 2012
Usibelli Coal Mine Coal
- Alaska’s only operating coal mine, exporting half of its production in 2012
- Fuels 40% of Interior Alaska’s electricity
- Founded in 1943
- 124 employees in 2012
Advanced Exploration Projects:
Bokan Mountain Rare earth elements
- Drilling program started in 2007
- Preliminary economic analysis released in late 2012
- 190 potential production jobs
Chuitna Coal
- Currently in the permitting process
- 300-350 potential production jobs
Donlin Gold Gold
- Discovered in 1988, continued exploration since 1995
- Permitting process began in 2012
- Up to 90% Calista shareholder hire at its camp operation
- Up to 1,400 expected production jobs, depending on the production timeline
Livengood Gold
- Placer mining began in 1914, lode deposit discovered in 2007
- Feasibility Study complete in mid-2013
- Approximately $200 million invested to date,
- including $58 million in 2012
- Estimated 500 potential production jobs
Niblack Copper, gold, silver, and zinc
- Ongoing exploration for more than 25 years
- $35 million invested since 2009
- 200 potential production jobs
Pebble Project Copper, gold, and molybdenum
- Discovered in 1987, ongoing exploration, engineering, and environmental studies since 2002
- Work program of approximately $100 million for 2012
- Over 130 local hires in 2011 and 44 individual scholarships to region residents in 2012
- Approximately 1,000 potential production jobs
Upper Kobuk Mineral Projects Gold, silver, copper, and zinc
- Intermittent exploration from 1965 to 1998, renewed efforts starting in 2003
- Preliminary economic assessment released in 2011; pre-feasibility study now underway
- Average of 84 employees in 2012
Wishbone Hill
Coal
- First mined in 1916
- Project feasibility study completed in November 2011
- 75-125 potential production jobs