Mining News: Silver miner prevails in survival battle 11/22/2009
Hecla emerges from 'near-death' purchase of Greens Creek Mine to post record revenues, profit from acquisition of stellar asset
Hecla Mining Co. has repaid the US$380 million it borrowed to buy out Rio Tinto plc's 70.3 percent interest in the Greens Creek Mine. The purchase, which gave the Idaho-based miner 100 percent interes...

Mining News: Optimism surges among Alaska miners 11/22/2009
As metals prices climb and world demand resumes upward trend, mineral industry prepares for period of robust activity in 2010
Metals markets continue to climb out of the basement as the world demand for metals resumes its upward trend. Fueled by this growing demand, numerous Alaska precious, base and rare metal projects repo...

Mining Explorers 2009: Hecla replenishes Greens Creek silver 11/01/2009
Miner splits drilling activity between reserve expansion and new mining area to northeast
After spending $750 million to buy out Rio Tinto's 70.27 percent interest in the Greens Creek Mine in April 2008 and then watching base metal prices plummet, Hecla Mining Co. chose to be prudent in i...

Mining News: Alaska explorers hit potential pay dirt 08/30/2009
Miners report encouraging exploration results in their search for a range of commodities, from the expected to the unpronounceable
They say when it rains, it pours, and that is just what is happening with news from field programs all over Alaska. Results from summer 2009 programs are pouring in from the Brooks Range to Prince of...

Mining News: Mining industry gears up for new season 05/31/2009
Worldwide economic uncertainties persist, though metals prices are climbing and some investors are snapping up bargain properties
Spring has arrived in Alaska and the mining industry is heading to the hills to do its work. Compared to last year, the state is a quiet place in the sun due to drastically reduced exploration and dev...

Mining News: High hopes for Nunavut's next mine 04/26/2009
Low-cost gold producer tackles challenges of Canadian arctic in bid to bring modern gold production to the Far North territory
Nunavut Territory's next mine appears to be a winner. On track to begin initial gold production in early 2010, the Meadowbank Project promises to deliver the best of what those who pressed for the cre...

Mining News: Mining pay ranks No. 2 after oil and gas 03/29/2009
New industry statistics reflect importance of sector's contribution to Alaska, local governments and Native corporations in 2008
There are some new stats out from the State of Alaska that I thought you might like to see. For 2008, the Alaska mining industry accounted for 3,500 direct jobs and 5,500 indirect jobs. The industry d...

Mining News: Base metal price slump stings industry 02/22/2009
Drop in industrial metal values hammers Alaska, Northwest Canada producers, explorers; analysts hope stimulus will hasten recovery
The plummet in base metal prices in 2008 will be felt across Alaska and Northwest Canada's mining sectors. Miners of the far north reaches of North America enjoyed a bounty when base metal prices reac...

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: Hecla gets extension for bridge loan 12/28/2008
Bank accepts mine plan and gives silver miner more time to repay $40 million short-term obligation from Greens Creek purchase
Hecla Mining Co. now has until Feb. to pay off the remaining balance on the $240 million bridge loan it took out to purchase Rio Tinto's 70.27 percent of the Greens Creek Mine near Juneau, Alaska. In...

Mining News: Alaska mining industry faces credit crunch 11/30/2008
High-quality exploration, development projects will likely survive despite worldwide shortage of venture capital, financing
Let me start this month's mining update by saying I am not a chartist nor do I believe economic cycles are controlled by cosmic forces known only to the mystics. That said, I do believe in cycles beca...

Mining News: Producing mines in Alaska 10/26/2008
NovaGold Resources Inc.'s Rock Creek gold mine began production Sept. 19. Crews began feeding the 6,500-metric-ton-per-day-mill at 25 percent capacity with a ramp-up to full production targeted for ye...

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: 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: Greens Creek transforms Hecla 08/31/2008
Hecla will produce 35 percent of U.S. silver, while lowering political risk with Alaska mine purchase and Venezuelan assets sale
Hecla Mining Co.'s purchase of the remaining 70.3 percent interest in Greens Creek Mine from its partner Rio Tinto earlier this year resulted in both cash losses and increased silver production for th...

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...

Been there, seen it, says geologist 04/06/2008
Robert Meneley's account of petroleum exploration in Canada's Arctic Islands provides a salutary reminder of exploration risk
Exploring for oil and gas on paper can be an entertaining exercise. But until someone augurs a drill bit into the ground, it is impossible to say with any confidence whether a promising looking prospe...

MINING NEWS: Junior to resume exploration in Southeast 03/30/2008
Bravo Venture Group chases Greens Creek-style prospect on Woewodski Island after acquiring 100 percent ownership of property
Bravo Venture Group Inc. March 17 said it has acquired 100 percent interest in the Woewodski Island volcanic massive sulphide project in southeast Alaska following successful renegotiation of certain...

MINING NEWS: Power trio speaks out on Alaska mining 03/30/2008
Albanese, Murkowski, and Irwin share their perspectives on Alaska's mining industry at AMA conference in Fairbanks
Attendees of the Alaska Miners Association Fairbanks Biennial Mining Conference had the honor of hearing the views of three heavyweights on many issues facing Alaska's mining industry. Tom Albanese, C...

MINING NEWS: Hecla Mining posts strong 2007 results 03/30/2008
Hecla Mining Co. Feb. 21 posted 2007 income applicable to common shareholders of $52.2 million, or 43 cents per common share, on revenue of $222.6 million. Though the results reflected nearly a 24 per...

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: Alaska hums with 'over abundance' of news 02/24/2008
Curt Freeman's Alaska mining news summary: Updates include year-end profits, resource estimates, exploration plans and one sale
As is commonly the case in late January, an over abundance of news has come out in the last month, in part to coincide with year-end financial releases and in part to coincide with the annual Cordi...

MINING NEWS: Hecla Mining grabs rest of Greens Creek 02/24/2008
Long-awaited purchase of Rio Tinto's majority interest in silver producer gives Idaho-based partner chance to target resource base
Hecla Mining Co., longtime minority share owner of the Greens Creek Mine, Feb. 12 said it agreed to purchase for $750 million the remaining 70.3 percent interest in the Southeast Alaska operation t...

MINING NEWS: Greens Creek metals mine goes on block 12/30/2007
Southeast Alaska operation played critical role in career of Rio Tinto CEO Tom Albanese, but distinction will not prevent sale
Rio Tinto Plc, parent of the company that owns a majority of the Greens Creek Mine, said it would like to sell the Southeast Alaska investment. The move, however, is not expected to affect the profit...

MINING NEWS: Greens Creek touts strong output, longevity 11/25/2007
Mine's geologists, engineers adopt new technologies to improve efficiency of underground operation, offset declining ore grades
Though owners of the Greens Creek Mine on Admiralty Island 18 miles south of Juneau say the underground operation ore grades have begun declining after some 15 years of production, they estimate the m...