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

A new resource estimate for Northern Dynasty's Pebble project in southwest Alaska makes it one of the world's most important copper-gold-molybdenum deposits, the company said Feb. 20. Inferred resources in the Pebble East deposit have increased nea... — Updated 2/25/2007

Alaska's Department of Natural Resources has refuted a legal challenge to Vancouver-based Northern Dynasty Minerals' exploration plans for the Pebble project this year. The company has already drilled over 600 holes, but formal opposition to the co... — Updated 2/25/2007 Full story

Seven Alaska legislators are endorsing two new bills on the protection of salmon and wildlife that would effectively block the development of the proposed Pebble mine. Rep. Bryce Edgmon, D-Dillingham, who ousted incumbent Carl Moses on a coin flip... — Updated 2/25/2007

Exploration spending in British Columbia hit a record high of C$265 million in 2006, a figure that the province's mining minister, Bill Bennett was proud to announce at the recent Mineral Exploration Roundup in Vancouver. Unfortunately for... — Updated 2/25/2007 Full story

Miners in the far north can no longer trample on the rights of indigenous residents as some did in the past. Any company operating on or near aboriginal land must work closely with local communities, whether ownership issues have been decided, as... — Updated 2/25/2007 Full story

Vancouver-based Sherwood Copper is rapidly developing the Minto copper-gold project, the first new hard rock mine in the Yukon. Minto is on land belonging to the Selkirk First Nation, which numbers about 600 people, many of whom live in the nearby... — Updated 2/25/2007 Full story

Following a positive preliminary assessment report for its Selwyn zinc-lead project in eastern Yukon, Vancouver-based Pacifica Resources announced that it planned to split into two new companies. If shareholders approve the reorganization,... — Updated 2/25/2007

A proposed mine just across the border from Juneau could use barges for the transport of equipment, supplies and mineral concentrate, eliminating the need for a new 100-mile road to Atlin. Vancouver-based Redfern Resources' surprising plans for... — Updated 2/25/2007

Campaigners against the Pebble copper-gold project in southwest Alaska look set to spend more money than ever in 2007, but for mining junior Northern Dynasty it will be business as usual, with work at the site scheduled to restart in early... — Updated 1/28/2007

A broad spectrum of Alaskans who support the proposed Pebble mine have formed a non-profit organization to inform the public about Northern Dynasty's copper-gold project in the Bristol Bay region. Truth About Pebble was officially launched at a... — Updated 1/28/2007

The Alaska Minerals Commission has made a long list of recommendations in its report for 2007, from funding for the Department of Natural Resources and education programs to ensuring that the Pebble project receives an objective legislative and... — Updated 1/28/2007

Ontario-based Wolfden Resources rounded off 2006 by making progress in Nunavut - it received a land use permit and water use license for the Izok project, and submitted a Comprehensive Proposal for the High Lake project to federal and territorial... — Updated 1/28/2007 Full story

Alaska's Donlin Creek gold project is still several years from becoming an operating mine, but it has already made a huge impact on the lives of people in the surrounding rural communities. Since making a commitment in 1996 to employ as many Native... — Updated 1/28/2007

Taseko Mines' Prosperity gold-copper project in south-central British Columbia could have a mine life of 19 years at a milling rate of 70,000 metric tons per day, according to a pre-feasibility level study that was completed in January.... — Updated 1/28/2007 Full story

Alaska's Board of Fisheries has declined a proposal to recommend to the Legislature that a fish refuge be created near the Pebble project site. Instead, the Board will establish a three-person committee to review the current protections for fish... — Updated 12/24/2006

Mining companies spent an all-time record $103.9 million on exploration in Alaska in 2005, a big jump from the $70.8 million that was spent the previous year, and a long way from the relatively modest $27.6 million in 2003. At least 16 projects... — Updated 12/24/2006

A newly expanded company is making Alaska its exploration target, and it's backed by a mining heavyweight. Vancouver-based International Tower Hill Mines was barely a glimmer on anyone's radar screens until last summer, when South African major... — Updated 12/24/2006 Full story

A Panel of three judges from the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco heard arguments Dec. 4 for and against tailings disposal plans for Kensington gold mine near Juneau. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the U.S. Forest Service and... — Updated 12/24/2006

NovaGold Resources took on Barrick, the world's largest gold producer, and won, but equally tenacious opposition from some residents of Nome has cast a shadow over the Vancouver-based junior's first mine construction project. Just after Barrick wit... — Updated 12/24/2006 Full story

A geologist at the Red Dog lead-zinc mine in northwest Alaska died in an accident Dec. 15. Jeffrey Huber, 51, was killed when a boulder fell from the side of an open pit, causing massive head and chest injuries. Huber was conducting routine grade c... — Updated 12/24/2006

Alaska's governor-elect, Republican Sarah Palin, made the annual miners' convention in Anchorage the venue for her first official engagement after the election, promising to listen to the industry as she selects her advisors. Palin's predecessor,... — Updated 11/26/2006

An investor attending the Alaska Miners Association convention in Anchorage mentioned that he was listening intently to all the exploration talks because he was looking for the next Full Metal Minerals. In other words, a junior company that breaks... — Updated 11/26/2006 Full story

Everyone likes to announce something big at the Alaska Miners Association annual convention, and Mystery Creek Resources was able to do just that Nov. 10 with the news that the mill at Nixon Fork gold mine is being commissioned. The company, a subs... — Updated 11/26/2006

Two Canadian mining companies traded accusations in November as they hurtled toward the latest deadline in Barrick's hostile takeover bid for NovaGold. The world's largest gold producer upped its offer from $14.50 per share to $16 per share and... — Updated 11/26/2006

In a week when lead and zinc hit record-breaking high prices, it was particularly appropriate for Vancouver-based Teck Cominco's president and CEO, Don Lindsay, to be visiting Alaska for the seventh time. The state is home to the world's largest le... — Updated 11/26/2006