Major Mines

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Alaska-Mining-economic-benefits-22-kensington 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:

Alaska-Mining-economic-benefits-8 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:

Alaska-Mining-economic-benefits-11 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