production of metals and min- erals. Every summer the divi- sion conducts geophysical sur- veys, geologic mapping, and geochemical sampling. The as- sociated datasets and reports are made available to the public on the division’s web site (dggs. alaska.gov). This includes: Geophysical Surveys Mineral Occurrence Reports An Annual Mineral Industry Report is also published. :ʯNPZQ;]ZUPN_8LYLRPXPY_ & Permitting supports the state’s Large Mine Permitting Team. Numerous state, federal and local government approvals are necessary to develop and operate large hard-rock mines in Alas- ka. In response, the state has developed its Large Mine Per- mitting Team to coordinate the permitting for state agencies, and when appropriate, integrate bT_SPʬZ]_^MdQPOP]LWLYOWZNLW agencies. The goal is to provide a robust, coordinated permitting process that is predictable, consistent, and responsive to the needs of agencies, applicants, and the general public. Geologic Maps Geochemistry Elevation Data The State of Alaska’s Geolog- ic Materials Center is a world- class facility for permanently archiving, digitally indexing, and making geologic materials available to the public and in- dustry. Access to samples and data can be particularly valuable for explorers new to Alaska, en- abling preliminary investiga- tions of exploration concepts. The facility has more than 500,000 surface samples, 2,200 minerals-related drill cores, 3,096 oil and gas well cores, thin sections, seismic and well surveys, and more. The Geologic
Materials Center’s entire collec- tion also is searchable online. Although it is not a part of the Department of Natural Re- sources, the Alaska Industrial Export and Development Au- thority (AIDEA) is an indepen- OPY_ ^_L_P OPaPWZ[XPY_ ʭYLYNP corporation that plays an active role in developing infrastructure for mining. Minerals-related projects to OL_PTYNW`OPʭYLYNTYRZQ_SP=PO Dog mine road and port in the 1980s and the purchase and up- grading of the Skagway Ore Ter- minal in Skagway, in Southeast Alaska. The port provides a crit- ical transportation and shipping facility that supports operating mines in Yukon Territory. Currently, AIDEA is working on obtaining authorization to construct and operate a 211-mile industrial road to provide access to the Ambler Mining District.
For the proposed project, AIDEA bZ`WO[P]XT_ʭYLYNPLYOM`TWO the road, with mineral indus- try users repaying the cost with tolls, similar to the model used to build the Red Dog mine road and port site. The Ambler Mining District contains a more than 60-mile- long volcanogenic massive sul- ʭOP A8> MPW_ bSTNS TYNW`OP^ Trilogy Metals’ Arctic & Sun- shine deposits; Teck’s Smuck- er deposit; Valhalla Metals’ Sun deposit; and other VMS deposits and prospects; as well as Trilo- gy’s Bornite carbonate-hosted Cu-Co deposit. The U.S. Bureau of Land Management is antici- [L_PO _Z ]PWPL^P _SP ʭYLW 0YaT - ronmental Impact Statement on the Ambler road in early 2020.
Tim Bradner is copublisher of the Alaska Economic Report and Alaska Legislative Digest
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13
January 2020
The Alaska Miner
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