Mining News: Tulsequah targets 2015 production start  01/22/2012
One year after going public, Chieftain Metals Inc. is blazing a trail through roadblocks that impeded past efforts to re-open the historical Tulsequah Chief Mine, a precious metals-rich volcanogenic massive sulfide project on British Columbia’s western border about 65 kilometers (40 miles) northeast...

Mining News: Miners see grade as king now, always  01/22/2012
After an extremely busy, productive year, the final weeks of 2011 and the first few weeks of the New Year were remarkably quiet for Alaska’s mining industry. But not to worry, it appears to be just a pause, while everyone catches their breath before heading into what promises to be another eventful...

Mining News: Mining critics call for reform – again   01/22/2012
It is axiomatic that the price of liberty is eternal vigilance, and we who stand watch over America’s mining industry know all too well that there is little the Detractors would rather do than to shut down this and all other basic manufacturing sectors. Witness a recent op-ed in the New York Times...

Mining News: If fighter pilots can do it, so can you  01/22/2012
After seeing the movie “Top Gun” some years ago, I’ve often wondered what the U.S. military could be thinking to turn over $30 million fighter jets, not to mention world peace in many cases, to the dubious discretion of testosterone-laden young men. “The Debrief Imperative,” is a new management manu...

Mining News: Junior turns up Golden Range of targets  01/22/2012
Ocean Park Venture Corp.’s 2011 exploration at the Chisna project in eastern Alaska has revealed Golden Range, a district-scale iron-carbonate zone rich in gold, copper and silver. Grab samples from this iron-carbonate zone that has now been traced for more than 12 kilometers (7.5 miles) have return...

Mining News: Giant mine development looms on horizon  01/22/2012
In the shadow of two new producing mines and startup of a gold mine on the near-horizon, a mega-mine project is quietly taking shape in a remote area of central Yukon Territory. The sprawling Casino property, where Western Copper and Gold Corp. has spent the past five years aggressively exploring a...

Mining News: Port interests more potential users  01/22/2012
One byproduct of the recent revival of the mining industry in Yukon Territory is the ongoing success of the rehabilitated Skagway Ore Terminal at Alaska’s Port of Skagway. Originally built in 1968 to accommodate ore shipments form Yukon’s Faro lead-zinc mine, the terminal closed in 1997 after the F...

Mining News: Tower Hill eyes Livengood Bench placers  01/22/2012
International Tower Hill Mines Ltd. has pushed back the publication of a prefeasibility study for its Livengood gold project to sometime later this year. While the PFS has been delayed by about six months, the company says it is still on track to begin recovering gold from the Interior Alaska projec...

Mining News: College could leverage assets in center  01/22/2012
Yukon Territory is poised to take its largely successful campaign to attract and encourage a robust mining industry to the next level by developing a new center for mineral research and mine training in the North. Yukon College, the territory’s focal point for higher education and training, is condu...

Mining News: Mine output nears C$500 million in value  01/22/2012
The value of mineral production in Yukon Territory is expected to soar in 2013 to more than C$1 billion when the third of three producing mines hits its stride with commercial output of about 1,700 metric tons per day. The territory, meanwhile, is enjoying the economic benefits of having three high-...

Mining News: Heatherdale to buy partner, produce PEA  12/25/2011
By consolidating ownership of the Niblack copper-gold-silver-zinc-silver project on Prince of Wales Island in Southeast Alaska, Heatherdale Resources Ltd. is taking long strides in advancing the volcanogenic massive sulfide project toward development. “After three years of successfully operating the...

Mining News: Explorers chase signs of Carlin gold  12/25/2011
It is still early days in the exploration play for gold in eastern Yukon Territory, but a score of companies got a jump on competitors in 2011 by targeting promising occurrences of gold and pathfinder elements in a frenzy of unprecedented claim staking and reconnaissance. The early explorers rushed...

Mining News: Recent mining revival sparks déjà vu  12/25/2011
I was tempted to make a few 2012 predictions now that 2011 is nearly gone, but I decided not to when I came across the following lines and was struck by how closely they mimic our current mining climate: “On a more local level, several old Alaska properties have been rejuvenated by new players to t...

Mining News: A timely wish: Gold bless us, every one  12/25/2011
As probably everyone who follows this column realizes, I spend most of my life looking at the world through the wrong end of the telescope. On the other hand, with apologies to Dr. Seuss: “Oh, the things you will see.” During the recent noise masquerading as the selection process for the president...

Mining News: New NovaGold leaders focus on Donlin  12/25/2011
NovaGold Resource Inc. has made tectonic shifts in its leadership and corporate structure. Shedding all of its assets except for the Donlin Gold project in Southwest Alaska, the restructured company is singularly focused on bringing this 40-million-ounce gold deposit into production by the end of th...

Mining News: Excitement builds at new NovaCopper  12/25/2011
Rick Van Nieuwenhuyse, who is stepping down as the president and CEO of NovaGold Resources Ltd., is jumping into the driver’s seat of NovaCopper Inc., a vehicle designed for the continued exploration of NovaGold’s Ambler project and other prospects in the Upper Kobuk region of Northwest Alaska. “My...

Mining News: Prairie Creek Mine gets environmental OK  12/25/2011
The Mackenzie Valley Environmental Impact Review Board has approved a proposal by Canadian Zinc Corp. for protecting the environment during operation of the Prairie Creek Mine in the Northwest Territories. The move, which comes after more than three years of review, is seen as perhaps a major milest...

Mining News: Chamber signs MOU with two First Nations  12/25/2011
The Yukon Chamber of Mines recently signed a memorandum of understanding with the First Nation of Na-cho Nyak Dun and the Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in to create a framework within which the industry and aboriginal groups will work together for their respective goals. The First Nations said they seek to preser...

Mining News: Governor pushes to gain access to west  12/25/2011
Much of Alaska’s resource wealth is locked up in more than 350,000 square miles (906,000 square kilometers) west of the state’s contiguous road system. Alaska Gov. Sean Parnell has included some US$50 million in his fiscal 2013 state budget proposal to support measures aimed at gaining access to muc...

Alaska News Nuggets  01/26/2012
GOLD – International Tower Hill Mines Ltd. Jan. 26 said it has selected Samuel Engineering, Inc., to provide process engineering services for its feasibility study on the Livengood gold project locate...Comments

British Columbia  01/26/2012
INVESTOR RELATIONS – Brixton Metals Corp. Jan. 24 said it has retained the services of Brisco Capital Partners Corp. to provide investor relations services. Brisco will initiate and maintain contact w... Comments

Northwest Territories  01/26/2012
DIAMONDS – BHP Billiton is extending its review of whether or not it will sell its Ekati diamond mine as production at the ageing diamond mine begins to slow, Northern News Services reported Jan. 25.... Comments

Nunavut  01/26/2012
GOLD – Commander Resources Ltd. Jan. 26 reported results from the deep sensing, 3-D induced polarization survey conducted at the Kanosak gold prospect during the 2011 field season. The survey results... Comments

Nunavut (continued)  01/26/2012
GOLD – Newmont Mining has laid out plans for some major new gold mines in the Kitikmeot region of Nunavut, CBC News reported Jan. 22. The company has been working at its Hope Bay property near Cambrid... Comments

Yukon Territory  01/26/2012
SILVER – Silver Range Resources Ltd. Jan. 26 reported results from the final 15 diamond drill holes completed at the Keg Main zone and 11 reconnaissance drill holes from the Keg East, Rebel, Owl and... Comments

Yukon Territory (continued)  01/26/2012
GOLD – Tarsis Resources Ltd. Jan. 19 reported final 2011 exploration results from its White River property in western Yukon Territory. Highlights from this work include strongly anomalous gold values... Comments

Yukon Territory (continued)  01/26/2012
MEETING – The annual Mineral Exploration Roundup got underway Jan. 23 in Vancouver, according to CBC News. While a British Columbia organization puts on the event, the North garnered much of the spotl... Comments

Heatherdale consolidates ownership of SE Alaska VMS project  01/19/2012
Heatherdale Resources Ltd. Jan. 18 reported the successful completion of the acquisition of Niblack Mineral Development Inc. Heatherdale has acquired all the outstanding common shares of Niblack in e... Comments

Junior discovers high-grade gold-silver zones in Nunavut  01/19/2012
Uranium North Resource Corp. Jan. 12 reported that its 2011 exploration program on the Nowyak property in Nunavut has focused the company on a newly discovered zone of high-grade gold and silver mine...Comments

Alaska News Nuggets  01/19/2012
NAME CHANGE – Caribou Copper Resources Ltd. Jan. 19 said it changed its name to Caribou King Resources Corp. to reflect the company’s broader interests in both base and precious metals opportunities.... Comments

British Columbia  01/19/2012
HONORS – The Association for Mineral Exploration BC Jan. 13 saluted Robert Hunter (1927-2007) and Robert Dickinson who were jointly inducted into the Canadian Mining Hall of Fame Jan. 12 in recognitio... Comments

Northwest Territories  01/19/2012
DIAMONDS – Harry Winston Diamond Corp. Jan. 17 reports that the Diavik Diamond Mine recovered (100 percent basis) 1.6 million carats in the fourth quarter of 2011 from 600,000 metric tons of ore proce... Comments

Nunavut  01/19/2012
DIAMONDS – Peregrine Diamonds Ltd. Jan. 18 reported new microdiamond results from the CH-31 and CH-59 kimberlites at the Chidliak project on Baffin Island. A cumulative 4.12-metric-ton sample collecte... Comments

Yukon Territory  01/19/2012
GOLD – Argus Metals Corp. Jan. 19 released an updated NI 43-101-compliant resource estimate for the “Main Zone” gold deposit at the Hyland gold project located 74 kilometers (46 miles) northeast of Wa... Comments

Yukon Territory (continued)  01/19/2012
GOLD/SILVER – Monster Mining Corp. Jan. 18 reported final results from its 2011 drill program at the Keno-Lightning project located near Keno City and adjacent to the east of Alexco Resources’ operati... Comments

NovaGold files Donlin Gold study, anticipates permitting  01/12/2012
NovaGold Resources Inc. Jan. 12 said it has filed an NI 43-101 technical report regarding the feasibility study update on its 50 percent-owned Donlin Gold project located in Southwest Alaska. Highli... Comments

Hecla’s Lucky Friday closed for 1 year on safety concerns  01/12/2012
The Mine Safety and Health Administration has ordered the Silver Shaft at Hecla Mining Company’s Lucky Friday silver mine in Idaho closed for removal of built-up material in the shaft. This order is...Comments

Alaska News Nuggets  01/12/2012
GOLD/COPPER – Millrock Resources Inc. Jan. 12 said Brixton Metals Corp. has terminated its option agreement concerning the Cristo gold-copper property in the Kahiltna region of Southwest Alaska. The... Comments

British Columbia  01/12/2012
DIVIDEND – Silvercorp Metals Inc. Jan. 10 reported that it has received a RMB 269 million cash dividend payment (equivalent to US$43 million) from its 77.5 percent-owned Chinese subsidiary, Henan Foun... Comments

Northwest Territories  01/12/2012
POLYMETALLIC – Fortune Minerals Ltd. Jan. 12 reported positive results of a mini-pilot plant test that was conducted on ore from the company’s Nico gold-cobalt-bismuth-copper project in the Northwest... Comments

Nunavut  01/12/2012
SECURITIES – The Ontario Securities Commission Jan. 9 charged the two men who launched a bid to acquire Baffinland Iron Mines Corp. of insider tipping and trading. In an 18-page statement of allegatio... Comments

Yukon Territory  01/12/2012
GOLD – Golden Predator Corp. Jan. 12 reported results of the final six core and 28 reverse circulation drill holes from 2011 exploration of the North Slope Zone at its Brewery Creek project in central... Comments

Yukon Territory (continued)  01/12/2012
GOLD – BCGold Corp. Jan. 9 said it has signed an option agreement to acquire a 100 percent interest in the 4,500-hectare (11,120 acres) Off-White Gold property situated along the Klondike Highway, abo... Comments

Canada  01/12/2012
REGULATIONS – The Mining Association of Canada Jan. 10 praised the Canadian government’s recent announcement of improved timelines for the review process of major projects as described by the Hon. Jo... Comments

Fleming to lead proposed Smash, Prosperity amalgamation  01/05/2012
Smash Minerals Corp. and Prosperity Goldfields Corp. Jan. 5 announced a proposed business combination of the two junior exploration companies. Assuming completion of the transaction the amalgamated... Comments

Shear secures new water license for Jericho Diamond Mine  01/05/2012
Shear Diamonds Ltd. Dec. 22 reported that the Nunavut Water Board has issued a positive decision on the water license application for the Jericho Diamond Mine in Nunavut. The NWB has recommended to...Comments

Alaska News Nuggets  01/05/2012
GOLD/SILVER/COPPER – Alix Resources Corp. Jan. 5 said that all data from the 2011 work at the Golden Zone gold-silver-copper property in the Valdez Creek Mining District in Southcentral Alaska are now... Comments

British Columbia  01/05/2012
GOLD – China Minerals Mining Corp. Dec. 5 announced the engagement of Equity Exploration Consultants Ltd. to evaluate the Cassiar Gold Corporation assets in planning for an upcoming summer 2012 explor... Comments

Northwest Territories  01/05/2012
REEs – Avalon Rare Metals Inc. Dec. 23 said has retained SNC-Lavalin to complete a feasibility study for its Nechalacho rare earth elements project. Avalon COO Brian Chandler said, “This is an importa... Comments

Nunavut  01/05/2012
URANIUM – Titan Uranium Inc. Jan. 4 said it has entered into a letter of intent with Mega Uranium to sell all of Titan’s Canadian exploration properties, in exchange for 10 million common shares of Me... Comments

Yukon Territory  01/05/2012
GOLD – Golden Predator Corp. Jan. 5 reported further results of 19 core and RC drill holes from the North Slope Zone at its Brewery Creek gold project located 55 kilometers (34 miles) east of Dawson C... Comments

Yukon Territory (continued)  01/05/2012
COPPER – Copper North Mining Corp., the new junior recently spun out by Western Copper Corp., Jan. 3 reported that it will not proceed with a notice of appeal that it filed in the courts in March. Cop... Comments

Seasons Greetings from North of 60 Mining News  12/22/2011
Dear North of 60 Mining News readers, Mining News Editor Rose Ragsdale and I would like to wish you and your loved ones a Merry Christmas and a Golden New Year! We hope that this Holiday Season affor... Comments

Air service fined for illegally flying anti-Pebble candidates  12/22/2011
The Alaska Public Offices Commission is fining the private air service of Bob Gillam US$25,500 for flying candidates opposed to development of the massive Pebble copper-gold-molybdenum project into v...Comments

Five REEs tops DOE critical materials list; clean energy at risk  12/22/2011
The U.S. Department of Energy Dec. 22 released the 2011 Critical Materials Strategy. The report – intended to inform policymakers and the public – examines the role that rare earth metals and other k... Comments

BHP sells majority stake in Chidliak to partner  12/22/2011
Peregrine Diamonds Ltd. and BHP Billiton Dec. 20 reported entering into a binding agreement in which the junior will purchase BHP Billiton’s 51 percent participating interest in the 8,580-square-kilo... Comments

Alaska News Nuggets  12/22/2011
GOLD – Teryl Resources Corp. Dec. 22 announced the TSX Venture Exchange has accepted for filing documentation of an asset purchase agreement between Teryl Inc. and Kinross Gold Corp. subsidiary Fairba... Comments

British Columbia  12/22/2011
POLYMETALLIC – Bravo Gold Corp. Dec. 21 said it has discovered new high-grade gold mineralization at the South Reef zone of the Homestake Ridge project in northwestern British Columbia. The South Reef... Comments

Northwest Territories  12/22/2011
MANAGEMENT – Tyhee Gold Corp. Dec. 19 reported that effective immediately David Webb has been replaced as the company’s president and CEO, and as president and director of Tyhee N.W.T. Corp., the comp... Comments

Nunavut  12/22/2011
FINANCE – North Country Gold Corp. Dec. 20 said it has closed the bought-deal private placement financing was led by Canaccord Genuity Corp. and a syndicate of underwriters including RBC Dominion Secu... Comments

Yukon Territory  12/22/2011
GOLD/SILVER – Smash Minerals Corp. Dec. 19 said it has completed and filed on SEDAR an updated NI 43-101 technical report for its Whiskey gold property located in the White Gold District. The report,... Comments

Yukon Territory (continued)  12/22/2011
GOLD/SILVER – Smash Minerals Corp. Dec. 19 said it has completed and filed on SEDAR an updated NI 43-101 technical report for its Whiskey gold property located in the White Gold District. The report,... Comments

NovaGold cuts 110.6 m of 2.6 percent copper at Bornite  12/15/2011
NovaGold Resources Inc. Dec. 13 reported new drill results from drilling on the Bornite target located on the recently consolidated 180,000-hectare Upper Kobuk Mineral Project located in the Ambler Mi... Comments

Pontius, Tower Hill and Canadian explorers win honors  12/15/2011
The Association for Mineral Exploration British Columbia Dec. 14 announced the 2011 recipients of its annual awards presented to individuals or teams for significant contributions to the mineral expl...Comments

Prairie Creek gets environmental green light  12/15/2011
Canadian Zinc Corp. Dec. 9 reported that the Mackenzie Valley Environmental Impact Review Board has approved the proposed operation of the Prairie Creek Mine in the Northwest Territories. The Macken... Comments

Alaska News Nuggets  12/15/2011
GOLD – Kiska Metals Corp. Dec. 15 announced results from three reconnaissance drill holes at the Muddy Creek prospect at the company’s Whistler Project about 160 kilometers (100 miles) northwest of An... Comments

British Columbia  12/15/2011
GOLD – Thompson Creek Metals Company Inc. Dec. 14 said it has entered into an amended and restated purchase and sale agreement with Royal Gold, Inc. to sell an additional 15 percent of the payable gol... Comments

Northwest Territories  12/15/2011
REGULATORY PROCESS – The NWT & Nunavut Chamber of Mines Dec. 9 praised a recent decision by the Mackenzie Valley Environmental Impact Review Board that development of the proposed Prairie Creek mine i... Comments

Nunavut  12/15/2011
OPTION/COPPER – Commander Resources Ltd. Dec. 14 reported that it has received the initial 2 million shares and C$50,000 cash from Aston Bay Ventures Ltd. as part of the C$15 million option agreement... Comments

Yukon Territory  12/15/2011
SILVER – Silver Range Resources Ltd. Dec. 14 announced results from initial drilling at the Snap zone, part of its wholly-owned Silver Range project. The Snap zone lies 29 kilometers (18 miles) south-... Comments

Yukon Territory (continued)  12/15/2011
PRECIOUS GEMS – True North Gems Inc. Dec. 12 reported the discovery of a 4.7-kilometer-long (2.9 miles) extension to the highly mineralized Ruby Island Trend. This ultramafic to mafic intrusive layer... Comments

Greenland  12/15/2011
PRECIOUS GEMS – True North Gems Inc. Dec. 12 reported the discovery of a 4.7-kilometer-long (2.9 miles) extension to the highly mineralized Ruby Island Trend. This ultramafic to mafic intrusive layer... Comments

Donlin Gold feasibility complete; permitting expected in 2012  12/08/2011
NovaGold Resources Inc. Dec. 5 reported the completion of an updated feasibility study for the Donlin Gold project. This study, compiled by AMEC Americas Ltd., revises the feasibility study completed... Comments

AK governor proposes more than $50M to access resources  12/08/2011
Alaska Gov. Sean Parnell Dec. 6 unveiled a fiscal 2013 budget proposal that contains funding for increased access to Alaska’s mineral, oil and gas resources. “Better transportation corridors will ope...Comments

Regulators investigate anti-Pebble financier’s air service  12/08/2011
Alaska regulators are trying to decide whether an air service owned by Pebble-opponent Bob Gillam broke election laws by flying candidates into remote Southwest Alaska villages to campaign, according... Comments

Alexco cuts thick zones of silver on Berminingham property  12/08/2011
Alexco Resource Corp. Dec. 8 reported interim results from its 2011 drilling program at the Bermingham property, located adjacent to the historical Hector Calumet mine within the Keno Hill Silver Dis... Comments

Alaska News Nuggets  12/08/2011
GOLD – Millrock Resources Inc. Dec. 8 reported results from drilling at the Shoeshine, Shadow and Discovery prospects of the company’s Estelle gold property about 170 kilometers (105 miles) northwest... Comments

British Columbia  12/08/2011
COPPER/GOLD – Imperial Metals Corp. Dec. 7 reported that drilling results from exploration of the Gully Zone indicate the mineralized system extends at least 1,000 meters west of the current Red Chris... Comments

British Columbia (continued)  12/08/2011
TRAINING – A total of C$10 million in skills-training funding is being made available to British Columbia sector and industry groups over three years to allow them to play a leading role in developing... Comments

Nunavut  12/08/2011
FINANCE – Peregrine Diamonds Ltd. is pleased to announce that it has completed C$6.08 million of a rights offering announced Nov.1. An aggregate of 7,156,662 units, each unit comprising one common sha... Comments

Yukon Territory  12/08/2011
GOLD – Ryan Gold Corp. Dec. 5 reported significant drill results from its initial phase of exploration drilling at the Ida Oro project. Significant gold intervals were intersected in six of 11 first-p... Comments

Yukon Territory (continued)  12/08/2011
GOLD – Ryan Gold Corp. Dec. 5 reported significant drill results from its initial phase of exploration drilling at the Ida Oro project. Significant gold intervals were intersected in six of 11 first-p... Comments