Mining News: Geologists must resist 'pigheadedness' 12/19/2010
Technology advances, ore deposit models fail to trump boots on the ground and keen observation in mineral exploration successes
As the last days of the decade tick by, I am tempted to look back on 2010 and distill the year in a few sentences. I'll resist and opt for a bunch of sentences similar to some I recently dumped on the...

Mining News: Alaska could become US REE capital 11/21/2010
Tech-metals expert Lifton declares HREE-enriched Bokan most important domestic REE deposit; urges Alaska to invest in supply chain
The swift development of Ucore Rare Metals Inc.'s Bokan-Dotson Ridge deposit in Southeast Alaska is vital to providing the United States with a domestic supply of critical rare earth elements. This is...

2010 Mining Explorers: Ucore Rare Metals Inc. 10/31/2010
UCU: TSX-V President and CEO: James Mackenzie Vice President, Project Development: Harmen Keyser Vice President and CFO: Peter Manuel At the behest of lawmakers at both the state and federal levels,...

Mining News: Alaska copper exploration makes comeback 10/31/2010
Resurgence in 2010 rivals heady 1970s when explorers focused on the bright metal, while prospecting for gold was an afterthought
As termination dust falls across most of Alaska, the curtain has come down for the bulk of the exploration projects around the state; however, mine development programs as well as mine-site exploratio...

Mining News: A little gold might be a good idea 09/26/2010
Some analysts say recent run-up in prices may be just the beginning as European, U.S. economies grapple with unwieldy debt burdens
As we near the end of September and the metals market remains robust, the mining industry is breathing a sigh of relief as we remember the market meltdown of early September 2008. Although nobody is s...

Mining News: REEs become rarer on China export cuts 07/25/2010
The Far East country chokes global supply of the high-technology metals prompting the U.S. to stimulate domestic production
China, which mines the majority of the global supply of rare earth elements within its borders, has, over recent years, increasingly restricted its exports of the unique minerals to non-China-based pr...

Mining News: Kensington joins ranks of big producers 07/25/2010
New mine will boost Southeast Alaska economy; Murkowski promotes legislation to support mining of strategic rare earth minerals
Two seminal events related to the Alaska mining industry occurred in the past month. First, in late June, Coeur d'Alene Mines Corp. reported the commencement of production at it Kensington gold mine...

Mining News: Alaska climbs higher in Fraser rankings 05/30/2010
State makes impressive showing among 72 mining jurisdictions worldwide; industry response to annual index results lacks enthusiasm
The annual Fraser Institute "Report on Mining Companies, 2009-2010" was recently released to a thundering silence. Several oddball items may help explain the lackluster response, but Alaska fared well...

Mining News: Bill urges 'restart' of U.S. REEs mining 04/25/2010
Colorado lawmaker advocates stimulating domestic rare earth elements industry, calls for stockpiling minerals deemed critical
Rare earth elements have become a hot topic among United States policymakers. The growing demand for the unique properties of these metals in "green energy" technology and military applications, coupl...

Mining News: Alaskans make pitch at top mining show 03/28/2010
Some 22,000 reps of companies, governments and agencies from around the world rolled out projects in Toronto to see and be seen
I recently attended the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada convention in Toronto where a buoyant, project-hungry crowd of 22,000 created enough of its own hot air to start the Greenland...