Mining News: New year, decade brings opportunities 01/17/2010
Alaska mining industry will continue to supply world's demands for mineral resources, despite ups and downs in global markets
As we plunge headlong into a new year and a new decade, the broad economic indicators for the mining industry suggest continued strong prices for most commodities in 2010 followed by slightly lower av...

Mining News: Rough days may be ahead for mining 04/26/2009
Experts: Raising venture capital will be industry's biggest challenge in 2009, while juniors lacking cash on hand will fade away
Last month we talked about economic impacts of the Alaska mining industry. This month, the world mineral exploration industry is in our crosshairs. Halifax-based Metals Economics Group reported that...

Mining News: Alaska mining project roundup 01/25/2009
Alaska saw robust mining activity in 2008 across the full spectrum of the industry, from small placer operations to major producers, and from exploration programs to advanced development projects. Her...

Mining News: Gold bucks trend by holding its own 01/25/2009
Global financial turmoil fails to tank production, investment in precious metal around the world even as costs continue to rise
Despite the strong price and increasing investment surge for gold, Gold Fields Mineral Services reported in it's Gold Survey 2008 summary that global gold mine production dropped 4 percent in 2008 to...

Mining News: Junior mining companies active in Alaska exploration 10/26/2008
Full Metal Minerals Ltd. has 11 exploration projects spanning Alaska. The company's two primary projects are the Lucky Shot high-grade gold property about 90 miles north of Anchorage, and the LWM zinc...

Mining News: When the dust settles... 10/26/2008
AMA director Borell predicts Alaska will become more attractive to mining companies and reflects on important events of 2008
Alaska's mining industry captured the attention, not only of Alaskans but also the country during the past year when a controversy over the proposed Pebble Project in Southwest Alaska bubbled to the s...

Mining News: Alaska mining industry faces credit crunch 10/26/2008
High-quality exploration, development projects will likely survive despite worldwide shortage of venture capital, financing
The national sucking sound of venture capital exiting the mining industry has now expanded to a worldwide sucking sound as virtually all of the world's economies fight the massive, unprecedented credi...

Mining News: Juniors struggle to survive financial storm 10/26/2008
Small miners adjust strategies as markets melt down; analysts predict half will fail, creating new opportunities
The financial markets haven't been kind to junior mining and exploration stocks lately. During the past six months, five of Alaska's junior explorers have lost more than three-quarters of their averag...

Mining News: Opportunities will mushroom for the bold 09/28/2008
Largest melt-down since the Great Depression brings uncertainty to U.S. economy; Alaska mining industry sure to feel effects
With termination dust settling ever lower throughout Alaska, the bulk of the 2008 exploration season has been completed, but lots of results are still pending from projects around the state. As the ex...

Mining News: Miners head into second half of 2008 08/31/2008
As commodities prices slide and costs increase, evidence mounts that industry's economic 'super-cycle' wasn't especially 'super'
Several drilling programs started in the last month and several others began reporting initial results from programs commenced earlier in the summer. Two of Alaska's operating mines reported strong op...

Mining News: Upgrades at Golden Summit to free gold 06/29/2008
Freegold begins first full season of bulk sampling at Interior property; gravity-plant upgrades may produce higher recoveries
Freegold Ventures Ltd. has started its first full season of bulk sampling at the Golden Summit property outside of Fairbanks with an upgraded version of the gravity-based gold recovery plant first use...

Mining News: No better place for gold discoveries 06/29/2008
Miners are busy across Alaska with mineral projects, from prospecting to feasibility studies as state's resource count soars
Everyone who is planning to work on Alaska mineral projects in 2008 is busy doing just that as the longest day of summer quickly approaches. Programs ranging from grass-roots prospecting to multimilli...

MINING NEWS: Drills turn on projects across Alaska 05/25/2008
Operating mines post strong financials as companies announce new acquisitions, joint ventures and new plays in prospective areas
The game is afoot all across Alaska with the drills turning to the right on projects all across the state. The operating mines turned in strong first-quarter results and several new acquisitions, join...

MINING NEWS: Gold properties with golden neighbors 04/27/2008
Freegold pursues June exploration of Pogo-style Rob property, while confidence builds on drill results from nearby Golden Summit
Freegold Ventures Ltd. is returning to explore the gold-rich hills of the Goodpaster Mining District this summer and follow up on its quest for mineral riches near Fort Knox. The busy miner outlined i...

MINING NEWS: High-grade assays continue at Freegold's Golden Summit project 04/27/2008
Vancouver, B.C.-based Freegold Ventures Ltd. April 24 posted results from drilling in Fence 6 North at its Golden Summit Project about 20 miles north of Fairbanks. The work is a continuation of a 40,0...

MINING NEWS: Drizzle follows perfect storm of news as 2008 mining season gets under way 04/27/2008
Last month's perfect storm of news from around the state has blown itself out so that this month we are getting only a drizzle or two. Why? Seems straightforward to me. If you have a budget, you alrea...

MINING NEWS: Columnist offers apologies for lengthy discourse; no quick fix possible with 'sack full' of news 03/30/2008
Let me extend my apologies to all those looking for a quick summary of the Alaska mining industry this month. There is nothing "quick" about the tome you are about to read, but don't blame the messeng...

MINING NEWS: Freegold nabs acreage for Golden Summit 02/24/2008
Junior sees flat-lying tract as ideal location for sample processing plant, essential to long-term development of rugged property
Freegold Ventures Ltd. Jan. 28 said it has completed the purchase of a strategic parcel of land adjoining its Golden Summit property outside Fairbanks and less than 5 miles from the Fort Knox gold...

MINING NEWS: December activity in Alaska leaves little time to catch breath; outstanding results will blur transition to New Year 12/30/2007
In days gone by the Alaska mining industry thought of December as a time of decreased activity and a chance to catch your breath before the New Year started. Well, in case you have not noticed, those...

MINING NEWS: Most exciting industry developments in a decade highlight '07 Alaska Miners Convention 11/25/2007
For those of you who could not attend the Alaska Miners Association convention in Anchorage in early November, you missed what I understand was a record attendance and presentations on some of the mos...

MINING NEWS: Mining News Summary: '07 summer exploration results set stage for 'one heck of a 2008' 10/28/2007
The results from Alaska's summer field campaigns continue to pour in from all over the state, while field crews wind down their summer work and kick off their winter programs. If the results released...

MINING NEWS: 'Termination dust' prods explorers to wrap up busy exploration season 09/30/2007
Even though the concept of global warming is a welcome idea to many companies working in Alaska, its effects are not being felt fast enough to allow companies to complete all of the work they had hope...

MINING NEWS: Freegold advances trio of Alaska projects 09/30/2007
Exploration programs being carried out at Golden Summit, Rob and Vinasale; bulk sampling at Golden Summit will generate capital
Vancouver-based Freegold Ventures is exploring claims in three Alaska locations this season - Golden Summit near Fairbanks, Rob in the Goodpaster Mining District, and Vinasale near McGrath, the compan...

MINING NEWS: Alaska Mining News Summary: 'Holy Cow!' Explosion of activity across state 08/26/2007
As the late, great Phil Rizutto used to say when something amazing happened on the baseball field: "Holy Cow!" The last month has seen an explosion of activity across Alaska with companies working in...

MINING NEWS: High summer busy time for deals, as well as exploration, development activity 07/29/2007
It is high summer in Alaska and the wheeling and dealing are nearly as frenetic as the exploration, development and production going on all around the state. New deals continue to be cut on old and ne...