North of 60 Mining News - The mining newspaper for Alaska and Canada's North

Fortunately for Alaska, there are relatively few abandoned mine sites in the state that pose a hazard to the public. Historically, placer mining was widespread in Alaska, which means there aren't too many deep adits where necks can be broken. But t... — Updated 6/24/2007

If Edwin Warren's diary is anything to go by, most miners in Alaska in the early 20th century were more interested in spending their paychecks on booze and debauchery than writing eloquent accounts of their daily lives and natural surroundings.... — Updated 6/24/2007

The open pit Minto mine in the Yukon produced its first copper-gold concentrates in late May as part of the equipment commissioning process. Production is forecast to ramp up to full capacity during the third quarter of 2007, Vancouver-based... — Updated 6/24/2007 Full story

The decision was taken months ago, but now the reasons for it have been explained. Nothing the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals has said in its May 22 ruling on Kensington mine is likely to bring encouragement to the project's developers or employees... — Updated 5/27/2007

Two Vancouver-based companies have announced a partnership to develop British Columbia's largest mining project, Galore Creek, just across the border from Alaska. NovaGold Resources, which has been developing the copper-gold project for the past... — Updated 5/27/2007

Usually when agencies try to assess the environmental risks of an abandoned mine, they're looking for a particular result: they want to hear that the risks aren't serious enough to merit an expensive cleanup program. In the case of the Salt Chuck... — Updated 5/27/2007

After removing a strongly worded criticism of the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, Alaska's House of Representatives unanimously passed a resolution encouraging Coeur d'Alene Mines to pursue all legal avenues that would enable it to proceed with... — Updated 5/27/2007 Full story

The mining industry in British Columbia surpassed itself in 2006, with revenues at an all-time high, according to the annual survey by PricewaterhouseCoopers. Net income for companies active in the province totaled C$2.3 billion, by far the... — Updated 5/27/2007

Alaska's newest mine has a new general manager, just a few months after shipping its first gold doré. Cliff Nelson, 51, replaces William Burnett at Nixon Fork, a historic underground mine near McGrath. Burnett first worked at Nixon Fork as a mine... — Updated 5/27/2007 Full story

Buoyed by the purchase of Bema Gold, Toronto-based Kinross is also happy with the performance of the Fort Knox mine near Fairbanks. Even a seep from the tailings dam that could potentially have damaged that mine's near-pristine environmental record... — Updated 5/27/2007

Taking recommendations from shareholder Teck Cominco, Toronto-based Tahera Diamond Corp. is making rapid changes to its operations at the newly opened Jericho mine in Nunavut. For now, the cost of producing diamonds far exceeds their value, accordi... — Updated 5/27/2007

Vancouver-based Northern Dynasty, whose sole asset is the Pebble project in southwest Alaska, is the only junior mining company to remain in the top five on the TSX Venture Exchange or TSX-V by market capitalization for two years straight. The... — Updated 4/29/2007

Vancouver-based New Gold plans to develop its New Afton copper-gold project into an underground block cave mine, based on a feasibility study the company released April 2. New Afton is located six miles west of Kamloops in south-central British... — Updated 4/29/2007

As production steadily increases, investment in mill upgrades is making a big difference in the quality of lead and zinc concentrates at Teck Cominco's Red Dog mine in northwest Alaska. Bringing in new equipment and enhancing systems is always a ch... — Updated 4/29/2007

AFter years of exploration, permitting and construction, the day when a junior company brings its first mine into production should be a cause for celebration. Many juniors never even see such a day. But it is also the moment of truth, when all... — Updated 4/29/2007 Full story

The problem of bringing power to NovaGold's remote Donlin Creek project in southwest Alaska is one of the main bones of contention in the Vancouver-based junior's never-ending battle with its joint venture partner, Barrick Gold. Toronto-based... — Updated 4/29/2007

Stornoway Diamond Corp. is aiming to become one of the few successful middle-tier diamond exploration and development companies, following its amalgamation with Ashton Mining and Contact Diamond Corp., which concluded in mid-January. The Vancouver-... — Updated 4/29/2007 Full story

When Polaris Minerals developed its plan for the Orca quarry on Vancouver Island, the company expected that the initial market for the sand and gravel would be California, where demand for concrete is apparently insatiable. But by the time the... — Updated 4/29/2007 Full story

Canadian junior mining companies are increasingly the targets of friendly (and occasionally not-so-friendly) takeover bids, but it's more unusual for the purchaser to be located on the other side of the planet. That is the case for Ontario-based... — Updated 3/25/2007 Full story

Should the mining industry's tax rate in Alaska be compared with that of the much larger oil and gas industry, because they both deal with non-renewable resources, or is it fairer to align mining with industries like fishing and tourism, which... — Updated 3/25/2007 Full story

For a change, Alaska's large mines received praise from an environmentalist during public testimony in the legislature about House Bill 156, the mining tax bill, March 21. Kate Troll, executive director of the Alaska Conservation Alliance, which... — Updated 3/25/2007

Vancouver-based NovaGold Resources got some encouraging news on all three of its major projects recently. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reissued its permit for Rock Creek; Galore Creek received its British Columbia Environmental Assessment... — Updated 3/25/2007

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit is preparing to rule against construction of the tailings facility at Kensington gold mine near Juneau. The court made the announcement March 16 in a separate ruling that denied the U.S. Army Corps of... — Updated 3/25/2007

A bill in the Alaska Legislature that would place severe restrictions on water use in the Bristol Bay area is undergoing revision by its sponsor, Rep. Bryce Edgmon, D-Dillingham. House Bill 134, was motivated by concerns about the possible... — Updated 3/25/2007

Alaska's newest mine, Nixon Fork, produced its first gold doré in January. The doré is being shipped via Fairbanks to Xstrata's Horne smelter in Rouyn-Noranda, Quebec. Mechanical delays which were encountered during the commissioning process h... — Updated 2/25/2007 Full story