COMMENTARY — Activity in Alaska heats up

Alaskan exploration expenditures in 1994 were reported as US$31.1 million, up slightly from US$30.3 million in 1993. Although more exploration expenditures were reported in the southeastern region of the state than in any other area, there were more programs and a higher level of activity in the eastern interior and western regions.

Most of the southeastern work was carried out underground at the Alaska-Juneau and Greens Creek mines. Except for the underground work at the Nixon Fork mine near McGrath, exploration was carried out from the surface. Several factors — activity in the Fairbanks area; successful exploration at the True North deposit; the final permitting of the Fort Knox mine; and anticipation of the release of information from the Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys’ airborne geophysical survey — prompted the filing of many new claims and prospecting sites in the state.

Activity was reported at the Illinois Creek deposit in western Alaska, as well as at Vinasale Mountain near McGrath, near Rampart on the Yukon, at the Golden Zone mine near Cantwell, in the Nome area, and in the Ambler mineral belt.

Among the major companies that have been active for several years and reported exploration programs throughout the state are Kennecott, Cominco, Alaska Exploration, Amax Gold, American Copper & Nickel and WGM. Newcomers exploring in Alaska are Addwest Minerals, Apollo Resources and USMX. Returning to the state, following a brief absence, are Placer Dome and Newmont Mining.

After several years of relative quiescence, exploration for coal showed a resurgence in 1994, with most activity occurring in the coal fields of northwestern Alaska.

Mineral development expenditures in 1994 were US$44.9 million, compared with US$27.7 million in the previous year.

Major projects were reported at the Red Dog zinc-lead-silver mine, at the Kuchiak coal mine and at the Nolan gold placer mine in the northern region, as well as at the Nixon Fork high-grade gold mine near McGrath, at Illinois Creek and at the Fort Knox bulk-minable gold mine and the Eldorado Creek underground placer in the eastern region. The Kensington and A-J hard-rock gold mines and the Greens Creek underground polymetallic mine in the southeastern region also saw major activity.

— From “Alaska’s Mineral Industry,” an annual publication of the state’s Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys.