44 www.resourceworld.com
A U G U S T / S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 7
A
slight upswing in commodity prices is translating into more
mineral exploration spending and improved mining revenue
in Alaska. The state has consistently ranked as one of the top
10 jurisdictions for mineral exploration and mining in the annual Fraser
Institute Survey of Mining Companies. According to the Alaska Department
of Natural Resources Geological and Geophysical Division, in 2017, there
are five major mines, 150 active placer operations, one coal mine and 23
active exploration projects. The department also reports there are 7,400
documented mineral prospects under claim in Alaska and investment in
grass roots mineral exploration is on the upswing.
"This year, we've seen a larger spend at the few investment projects,
and even more excitingly, exploration activity began at approximately a
dozen new deposits where activity had not occurred in at least the last
three years. A large part of this is improved commodity prices – explor-
ers are gaining more access to capital, majors are more comfortable with
investing in exploration, and new investors are appearing," said Deantha
Crockett, Executive Director of the Alaska Miners Association
Alaska is the second largest gold producing state in America, with
Alaska mining and mineral
exploration update
by Robert Simpson
The State of Alaska ranks in the top 10
in the world for minerals including:
COAL 13% of the world's coal 2
COPPER 4% of the world's copper 4
LEAD 4% of the world's lead 6
GOLD 8% of the world's gold 5
ZINC 6% of the world's zinc 6
SILVER 4% of the world's silver 9
Source: USGS 2015 estimates
Upswing in mineral exploration
expenditures and mine production
predicted for 2017
