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 have been overcome and the gold mill is now operating at a capacity of 150 tons per day, Ontario-based St. Andrew Resources said in a release Jan. 25.

The next phase of the upgrade of the metallurgical circuit is under way, with the commencement of the installation of a cyanide leach circuit that will increase the percentage recovery of gold and also extract and re-treat the tailings from the previous operation at Nixon Fork. Re-treatment of tailings is expected to begin this summer. The company anticipates that Nixon Fork will produce 40,000 ounces of gold in 2007.