Mining News: Miners, like boats, rode tide in 2009 12/20/2009
But the fortunes of some mining companies foundered even as commodities prices marched steadily higher during the past 12 months
Although commodities prices have improved for the mining industry over the past year, 2009 has been the kind of year most of us hope not to repeat. The best analogy I can come up with is the one that...

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: Explorer seeks source of huge nuggets 11/01/2009
Silverado drills benches above the frozen, gold-bearing gravels of Nolan Creek
Silverado Gold Mines Ltd. is seeking the lode source of the more than 23,000 troy ounces of placer gold it has recovered from the frozen gravels at its Nolan Creek gold mine, located about 175 miles,...

Mining News: Recession walloped exploration spending 10/25/2009
As drought in available venture capital eases, miners seeking acquisitions would do well to accelerate the pace of purchases
As the active exploration season winds down in Alaska, both good news and bad is afoot and both sets of news turn out to be the same data. Double speak you say? Read on and judge for yourself. Halifa...

Mining News: Minerals gain momentum as season wanes 09/27/2009
Average rate of gold investment around the world nearly doubles in past eight years as demand for metals increases exponentially
Although Alaska's summer field season is quickly coming to an end, the mineral industry continues to gain momentum thanks to rapidly increasing metals prices, fueled in part by growing industrial dema...

Mining News: Miners miss out on ample opportunities 06/28/2009
Corporate philosophy favoring projects with near-term production prospects drives ongoing decline in worldwide gold output
I have been reading the tea leaves and think there is an extremely important sequence of events unfolding that represents a golden opportunity for Alaska. Please bear with me as I try to wade through...

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: 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: Active placer mining operations in Alaska 10/26/2008
Silverado Gold Mines Ltd. has recovered 26,879 ounces of placer gold from channel and bench deposits in the Nolan Valley through 2007. The largest nugget recovered from the property, located about 280...

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: 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: 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: Silverado seeks Arctic lode source 01/27/2008
Placer gold miner explores antimony rich deposit at its Nolan Creek Mine where large placer nuggets are being recovered
With gold nuggets weighing up to 41 troy ounces, Silverado Gold Mines Ltd's Nolan Placer Gold Mine is the type of place that would give even the well-seasoned miner gold fever! Located about 280 mile...

MINING NEWS: Prepare for 'wild and woolly' 2008 01/27/2008
Curt Freeman's Alaska mining news summary: Expect high commodity prices, worldwide demand for metals, strong investment
For any of you who have experienced that odd quiet before a big storm hits, I'd suggest you grab Toto and head for the root cellar because the "quiet" is about to end and the perfect storm is about to...

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: 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: 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: Alaska mining news summary: Exploration programs begin; trials, tribulations continue 03/25/2007
The trials and tribulations of Alaska's mining industry continued in the last month with one challenged mine given the green light to proceed, the other halted in midstride by the same legal system. I...

MINING NEWS: Alaska mining news summary: Tight personnel, equipment market in busy mining industry 02/25/2007
Okay, the lull is over. It lasted about 25, maybe 30 minutes, after I wrote those prophetic but ill-considered words in late January! Shortly after that point I was in Vancouver for the annual Cordill...

MINING NEWS: Alaska mining news summary: Plans under way for 2007 work 01/28/2007
Ahhhh, the calm before the storm! Over the last month the industry slowed and took a collective breath to enjoy friends, family and the holidays in anticipation of another busy year in the Alaska mine...

MINING NEWS: Mining news summary: Industry fall, winter programs include trenching, drilling, bulk sampling, mine construction 10/29/2006
Normally at this time of year the mining industry's seasonal peak of activity is over and the paucity of news coming from the bush is a function of the dwindling volume of work going on out there. Whi...