First drilling starts at high-grade Cliff Mine

Patricia Jones

Petroleum News contributing writer

Western Warrior Resources Inc., a Calgary-based exploration company, announced Oct. 6 the start of the first-ever exploration drilling program at the shuttered Cliff Mine, located on tidewater seven miles west of the coastal community of Valdez, Alaska.

The company plans to take an estimated 5,000 feet of core samples in a series of holes 650 to 800 feet deep from surface at the nearly 100-year old mine, acquired by Western Warrior in 1997. (See story in Aug. 31 Petroleum News.)

Bruce Evans, Western Warrior president, told Petroleum News on Oct. 8 that he and his crew of six were currently transporting equipment and supplies by “large landing craft” or barge to the site. “It saves us a bit of money,” he said.

Exploration crews will stay in Valdez, taking a 20-minute boat ride each day from the port of Valdez to the project site overlooking Shoup Bay, Evans said.

About $350,000 will be spent on this season’s drill work. Depending on initial results, more could be spent, he said. “This has never been drilled, so we don’t really know what to expect,” he said. “It all depends on what we find.”

E. Caron Diamond Drilling will operate the diamond core drill rig, for the roughly 30-day program.

According to an Oct. 6 press release, the drill program is designed to confirm the known and projected ore shoot extensions below the existing shallow mine workings.

The Cliff Mine produced a reported 52,000 ounces of gold, with an average grade of 1.74 ounces of gold per ton of rock, before shutting down in the midst of World War II.