THE ALASKA MINER JOURNAL: The publication is member-only news mailed to AMA members, eight times a year, in months when the Magazine is not published. The Alaska Miner Journal is dedicated to those who work in and support the mining industry in Alaska, its commitment to the people, and the resources of our state. Our goal is to disseminate information on responsible mineral development, educating the public about the value of mining, providing information for our membership and the general public, providing policymakers the information they need to understand the mining industry and monitor political and regulatory processes affecting mining in Alaska.
Coal mining since 1943.
September 2021 Volume 49, Number 9
Journal of the Alaska Miners Association
The Circle Mining District summer picnic is one of the highlights of the summer season in Central, Alaska. Look for more photos from the picnic in the Fall issue of The Alaska Miner!
Photo by Dave Weber, Craig Taylor Equipment
AMA has elected to move forward with an in-person Convention, but anticipates changes may be necessary to adapt to conditions the first week of November. Please see Page 4 for more details.
Going Forward With Convention 2021
Eric Cole Sales Rep. Juneau Branch
Alvin Ott Product Support Fairbanks Branch
Eric Cole Sales Rep. Juneau Branch Eric Cole Sales Rep. Juneau Branch
Alvin Ott Product Support Fairbanks Branch Alvin Ott Product Support Fairbanks Branch
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Celebrating Restoration on Resurrection Creek
Photos Courtesy Trout Unlimited
Kinross Gold and Trout Unlimited on Aug. 13 celebrated a successful partnership with the U.S. Forest Service and National Forest Foundation to do restoration on Resurrection Creek in Hope. They teamed up with Hope Mining Company, which operates downstream, to reclaim the historically mined acreage which resulted in increased salmon numbers and species this year. The creek draws vast schools of pink salmon each July, and is a very popular spot for Alaska families introducing kids to salmon fishing. For video footage and more about the partnership, see resurrectioncreek.org. Representatives from Kinross Gold, Trout Unlimited Alaska, the U.S. Forest Service Regional and the State help cut the ribbon on the restoration project at Resurrection Creek in Hope.
www.alaskaminers.org I The Alaska Miner I September 2021
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A Message from the Executive Director
Dear AMA Members, Supporters, and Friends, I write to you to provide an update on what you’ve been waiting for: the status of AMA’s Annual Convention in November. First, thank you to the many of you who participated in our event survey. As the conditions surrounding the pandemic have changed significantly, with our community cases on the alarming rise and with hospitals overwhelmed, we were forced to look at our event in a different fashion than when we began this spring. Ultimately, the AMA Convention and Executive Committee came to you with a survey to ask your thoughts on the following areas of concern: n Can the AMA Annual Convention be held in a way that keeps attendees and communities safe and healthy?
We have elected to move forward with an in-person event, but we anticipate changes may be necessary to adapt to the conditions we encounter the first week of November. AMA will employ whatever protection measures and safety protocols are necessary to safely execute our event. It is impossible to know exactly what we will face two months from now. Cases, hospital capacity, and vaccination status could be improved, like what was seen in Europe when the Delta Variant emerged. If so, we are prepared to loosen restrictions for the event. However, we may see the situation worsen, and if that is the case, we will respond with tightened restrictions. We are currently working with the venues, local government, and health resources to develop a Mitigation Plan for the event which will constantly adapt to the
conditions. Some elements of this Plan may or may not include, and is not limited to: n Potential requirement to submit proof of vaccination, special exemption of vaccination, and/or proof of negative COVID test prior to event n Potential event policy that all attendees must wear masks with zero tolerance policy and third-party security monitoring n Potential to eliminate breakfasts, luncheons, Icebreaker Reception, Banquet and other dining-related events from the Convention schedule n Offering of virtual access to events for any participant who cannot or would prefer not to attend in-person To reiterate, none of this is a foregone conclusion. But we are prepared to make these decisions as the situation warrants. We commit to open communication with you
n If an event is held in-person, can we maintain our reputation as an industry that constantly adapts with current conditions to achieve our mission in the most safe and responsible manner? n How can we proceed in a way that maximizes the financial benefits for the Association, but also for the vendors and attendees that invest resources in their in- person participation? This survey saw greater response than any AMA survey in the last 10 years. Your feedback provided honest opinions, new ideas, and outside-of-the-box suggestions. The Convention and Executive Committees reviewed the responses and met to discuss a path forward. And while it is clear that no decision could be made that would truly make everyone happy, we believe we have found the best compromise and the best fit for our event and for AMA.
Executive Board Bill Jeffress, President SRK Consulting, Anchorage Bartly Kleven, First Vice President Kinross-Fort Knox, Fairbanks Lorali Simon, Second Vice President Kim Aasand, Treasurer Aasand & Glore LLC, Anchorage
Branch Chairmen Ted Hawley, Anchorage Lorali Simon, Denali Jen Wieland, Fairbanks
The Alaska Miner is the official journal of the Alaska Miners Association, published eight times a year exclusively to our members.
It is published in partnership with the Alaska Miners Association by Fireweed Strategies LLC, 4849 Potter Crest Circle, Anchorage, AK 99516.
Liz Cornejo, Haines Jim Clark, Juneau
We actively seek contributions from our members and the mining industry. Please email story ideas and photos to Lee Leschper. Advertising Rates and New Tips For advertising information, or to submit news, story ideas and photos, call or email Lee Leschper at 907-957-6025 or Lee.Leschper@FireweedStrategies.com Alaska Miners Association Staff Deantha Skibinski, Executive Director Jennifer Luiten, Membership and Fundraising Director Darlene Strickland, Bookkeeper/Membership
Houston Morris, Kenai Blake Bogart, Nome Andrew Spokely, Ketchikan/Prince of Wales
Committee Chairmen Kevin Adler, Convention
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Howard Grey and JP Tangen, Federal Oversight Mike Satre and Lorali Simon, State Oversight
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We Plan for an In-Person November Convention, With Focus on Safety
or after May 1, 2021. For flights purchased through April 30, 2021, change and cancellation fees are waived for all fares, including Saver fares with a waiver. Please contact Alaska Airlines directly with any questions specific to your ticket changes or cancellation. And we’re working with our hotels to ensure a flexible cancellation policy. We ask that you keep in mind that we’ve decided to move forward in faith that our industry can make the tough decisions needed to successfully pull off an in-person event and set an example that events can be done amid a pandemic. Therefore, we’ll gently but firmly say, if you aren’t prepared to wear a mask for several hours straight, or follow testing and vaccine protocols, or whatever else may be necessary to make the Convention possible, then this may not be the event for you. We will continue to update you with information about the event characteristics as they become available, we’ll be here to assist you with your planning needs, and we remain open to your feedback as we work toward what, we pray, is
each step of the way and every time a decision is made so that you are aware of requirements and are able to plan accordingly. What can you do to contribute to the success of the Convention? First, you can stay safe and healthy. We continue to encourage our members to get vaccinated to minimize their chances of feeling sick after a virus exposure. As an additional incentive, last week the State of Alaska kicked off an incentive program where Alaskans receiving the vaccine can be entered to win a series of 18 $49,000 cash prizes. We encourage you to share this news! See: www.giveakashot.com If you need information, visit dhss.alaska.gov. We understand vaccines are a personal choice between you and your medical professional, but they are a key part of the private sector being able to conduct normal business operations like our Convention. We understand that some people just cannot get the vaccine, but regardless, we encourage you to practice safe virus protocols as our we navigate the challenges of the pandemic this fall. If you get sick, stay home! This certainly applies to our event. There will be ways to participate virtually, and we will maintain a forgiving policy on refunds and pledge to assist in any way we can to accommodate you. Alaska Airlines has permanently eliminated change fees for fares purchased on
an-person event that concludes successfully. Thank you so very much for your support.
Deantha Skibinski, Executive Director
“We protect the environment because this is the land where we grew up.” – Evan Polty Jr. Lead Mechanic, Donlin Gold Born in Pilot Station and Resident of Russian Mission
Respectful development for all generations.
To learn more, visit us at donlingold.com
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Opportunity to Access Wealth in Tongass Can’t Be Wasted
By Robert Venables and Bill Jeffress Southeast Alaska is at a unique crossroads in its management of the Tongass National Forest. How will reimposition of the 2001 Roadless Rule impact development of natural resources like geothermal, hydroelectric, and mineral resources? As stewards of these public lands, we need deliberative and balanced Forest Service consideration of the best use of and access to these resources to protect and sustain Southeast communities, and their economic future. The Forest Service needs to carefully consider the serious ramifications that reimposition of the Roadless Rule will have on our nation’s efforts to increase local, high paying jobs and reduce our dependence on fossil fuels. Currently, mines operating within the Tongass National Forest occupy a footprint of roughly 320 acres. Even if there were a dozen more mines their size scattered throughout the Tongass, they would only occupy 3,840 acres in the 16.9-million-acre forest. Yet the future potential for the Tongass to help power America is enormous. For example, the Bokan Mountain Project is a rare earth prospect that would produce the minerals needed for batteries to power electric cars.
The Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for the 2008 Tongass Land and Resource Management Plan pointed out that the U.S. Bureau of Mines had identified 148 locatable mineral deposits in the Tongass. Of these 52 were ranked as having the highest mineral potential. Seven were ranked as having the next highest potential and at least one “critical” and “strategic” mineral. In addition to the 148 Identified Mineral Deposits, the 2008 FEIS described 930 “Undiscovered Mineral Resource” tracts. However, no mine can be developed unless it: 1) meets the strict environmental requirements of 36 C.F.R. Part 228 as analyzed under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process and 2) survives the inevitable litigation testing whether the analysis complies with NEPA. Mines making it through this process are not going to end hunting, fishing, and tourism on the Tongass. They will provide opportunities and jobs for citizens. The benefits of mining are evidenced by the Greens Creek and Kensington Mines which, which combined provide more than 800 jobs with average annual wages over $115,000. Mining provides high-paying, year-round employment on the Tongass. The potential for many more high-paying mining jobs on the Tongass is enormous. A 1991 United States Geologic
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Survey (USGS) study estimated a value for Discovered Minerals of $37.1 billion, and a value for Undiscovered Minerals of $28.3 billion. Obviously, the escalation in metals prices that has taken place since has dramatically increased these numbers. Clearly the Forest Service should be concerned about how reimposition of the Roadless Rule would affect mining. The Response to Comments in the 2001 Roadless Rule interpret Section 294.14(d) in a way that creates uncertainty about the construction of roads to access future hydropower and support facilities in Inventoried Roadless Areas (IRAs). Some respondents were concerned about the impact of the rule on special uses and requested clarification regarding the ability to construct or maintain roads in inventoried roadless areas to access electric power lines or telephone lines, pipelines, hydropower facilities, and reservoirs. The response was the proposed rule stated that the rule would not suspend or modify any existing permit, contract, or other legal instrument authorizing the use and occupancy of the National Forest System lands. Existing authorized uses would be allowed to maintain and operate within the parameters of their current authorization, including any provisions regarding access. The 2020 FEIS identified 19 geothermal resources in Southeast Alaska. “Because of the potentially significant environmental impacts
that road construction could cause to inventoried roadless areas” the Final 2001 Roadless Rule denies access to new leases for geothermal resources (along with other minerals subject to the Mineral Leasing Act of 1920). The Final Rule contained no discussion of the impact of the loss of geothermal energy to rural Southeast Alaska communities. For these reasons the Forest Service (and public) should work toward a management result that acknowledges the opportunities provided by the vast wealth of multiple resources that surround us. Work to solve real needs and access to critical resources, and not be swayed by the red herring of “large-scale old growth” clear-cutting which has not occurred for decades and still would not, even with a full exemption. Access for mineral exploration and renewable energy is essential to developing and maintaining vibrant communities, strong economies and a healthy environment in Southeast Alaska. Robert Venables is the Executive Director for Southeast Conference, the Economic Development District for Southeast Alaska. Southeast Conference plans for the success for each economic sector in Southeast Alaska. Bill Jeffress is a Mining Consultant and President of the Alaska Miners Association, a professional membership organization representing miners from across Alaska.
On track to develop Alaska’s next gold mine in partnership with Kinross and the Alaska Tetlin Native Tribe
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November Convention Plans Continue; Thank You to Our Sponsors!
Our AMA 2021 Annual Convention and Trade Show is scheduled as an in-person event for Nov. 1-6, 2021 at the Dena’ina Center and the Marriott Hotel in downtown Anchorage, Alaska. Thank you to our loyal sponsors for their generous support to make the convention possible! The week will begin with two short courses: State Mining Claims 101 Chaired by Ramona Monroe, Stoel Rives LLP; and Alaska’s Strategic, Critical, and ‘Green’ Minerals Chaired by Tom Bundtzen. AMA will have one track of Technical Sessions Tuesday, Nov. 2 - Thursday, Nov. 4: Tuesday Morning: Geoscience Session Tuesday Afternoon: Junior Exploration Updates Wednesday Morning: AMA Policy Session Wednesday Afternoon: Advanced Exploration Updates Thursday Morning: ANCSA Session Thursday Afternoon: Advanced Projects and Operating Mines Updates The Core Shack and Prospectors Tent are currently extending invitations to participate. If you’d like to exhibit or have questions please contact Varina Zinno, vzinno@ calistacorp.com and Jerad Anderson, janderson@
avidiangold.com. Trade Show booths are quickly filling up. If you were a vendor in 2019, reserve your spot now to secure your booth location! After receiving such positive feedback, and worldwide attendance from the 2020 virtual event, AMA plans to incorporate a hybrid portion of the Convention so attendees can participate virtually in real-time. Please continue to check the AMA website for up-to-date information regarding the convention at AlaskaMiners.org.
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AMA Celebrates Mining Day at the State Fair
Thanks to all these volunteers who helped support Alaska Mining at Mining Day at The State Fair! Cathy Giessel Kari Nore Cindy Sand Christine Hopkins Stephen Connelly
Lorali Simon Laura Orenga de Gaffory Jerry Birch Rebecca Lasley Rebecca Logan John Shively Melanie Welsh Rosita Johnson Bob Loeffler
Nicole Tickett Darlene Strickland Abe Williams Shalon Harrington Rader Crockett Marleanna Hall Dan Graham Brenna Schaake
A BIG THANK YOU
To all the volunteers who helped with Mining Day at the Tanana Valley State Fair and the Alaska State Fair. You are all rock stars!
AMA and the Council of Alaska Producers teamed up again Aug. 21 to sponsor Alaska Mining Day at The Alaska State Fair. Several dozen AMA members and other volunteers spread the good news of mining in Alaska by handing out thousands of bright green “Alaska Mining Rocks” backpacks. This year our timing was perfect, as the first Saturday of the Fair brought brilliant weather with sunny skies and massive crowds — all the better to remind Alaskans of mining’s contributions. Even with COVID-19 precautions that prevent our popular gold panning booth, it was a great day for Alaska mining. Thanks to all the volunteers who helped make this possible!
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Thank You to Our Volunteers and Partners for a Great Event!
Photos by Lee Leschper
Follow Alaska Miners Association on Twitter: @AlaskaMiners And on Facebook: AlaskaMiners
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Hecla Mining Company Reports Positive Second Quarter Results
Hecla Mining Company recently announced very positive second quarter 2021 financial and operating results, including sales of $218 million, a 31% increase with the largest source being silver, plus a gross profit of $59.3 million, an increase of $25.2 million. The Greens Creek Mine in Southeast Alaska played a significant role in that success and produced 2.6 million ounces of silver and 12,859 ounces of gold with the mill operating at an average of 2,362 tons per day, marking another quarter of consistently strong performance. The decrease in silver production compared to the second quarter of 2020 was due to planned lower grades resulting from mine sequencing. Compared to 2020, cost of sales decreased by $2.2 million and the per ounce silver cash cost and AISC decreased by $7.83 and $6.43, respectively, due to higher by-products credits resulting from higher by-product prices, lower treatment costs from favorable changes in smelter terms and lower production costs, driven partially by lower COVID-19 related costs. The Company’s estimated 2021 silver production of 9.5 - 10.2 million ounces is unchanged and gold production increased from 40 - 43 thousand ounces to 43 - 45
thousand ounces. The estimate for 2021 cost of sales has been updated to $222 million. Estimated cash cost and AISC, each per silver ounce has been updated to ($1.00)- $1.00 and $3.25-$4.00, respectively, with lower costs due to anticipated higher by-product credits.5,6 “Despite the continuing pandemic, Hecla had near record results across a number of metrics improving on the consistent performance of the past two years,” said Phillips S. Baker, Jr., Hecla’s President and CEO.
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Padgett Named New Sullivan State Director
Plain of the Alaska National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR); implementation of the Dingell Act which provided for land allotments of up to 160 acres to eligible Alaska Native veterans and their heirs; approval of access to the Ambler Mining District under the Alaska National Interest Lands
U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan has named Chad Padgett as the new state director for his Alaska Senate office. “With nearly three decades spent working to improve the lives of everyday Alaskans, Chad Padgett has a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities we have in Alaska,” Sullivan said. “Chad brings with him a wealth of experience serving on the front lines looking out for the best interests of our communities and he will be a welcome addition to my leadership team.” Padgett comes to Senator Sullivan’s office from the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Alaska. As the career senior executive for BLM in Alaska, Padgett was responsible for the management of 72 million acres of federal lands in Alaska ranging from recreational lands to sole responsibility for the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska (NPR-A). He was instrumental in the approval of the Willow Project in the NPR-A and revisions to the NPR-A Integrated Activity Plan, opening more lands for oil and gas development in the reserve. Padgett also oversaw the implementation and eventual signing of leases under the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act for responsible oil and gas development on the Coastal
Conservation Act (ANILCA); and recommendation to revoke 28 million acres of public land withdrawals in order to fulfill remaining entitlements of the State of Alaska and Alaska Native Corporations under the Statehood Act, the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANSCA) and the Alaska Land Transfer Acceleration Act, which were signed by former Interior Secretary David Bernhardt. Prior to joining BLM Alaska, Padgett spent 10 years serving as state director for the Office of Congressman Don Young.
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Millrock, Coeur Reach Agreement on Apex Gold Project
Millrock Resources Inc. has announced that Coeur Explorations, a wholly owned subsidiary of Coeur Mining Inc., has entered into an exploration agreement for Millrock’s Apex gold project in Southeast Alaska. Apex is on the north side of Chichagof Island, about 70 miles southwest of Juneau and 75 miles southwest of Coeur’s Kensington gold mine. This property is home to the historical Apex and El Nido mines, which produced at least 34,000 ounces of gold from ore averaging around one ounce of gold per ton during sporadic operations between 1922 and 1940. According to United States Geological Survey reports, the ore was extracted from nearly 1,200 meters of underground workings on four levels. Surface exploration was done by WGM Inc. in the 1980s, but no drilling was carried out, and the property has been dormant since. Millrock secured an option on the core claim group in 2016 from Apex El Nido Gold Mines Inc. and subsequently staked surrounding lands, compiled information, and obtained drilling permits. The company says a swarm of quartz veins can be observed on the surface over a width of more than 200
meters above the Apex Mine portal. Within the swarm, four thicker veins were the subject of the historic mining efforts. Geological and geochemical features suggest the vein system has continuity for 2,000 meters to the northeast. The gold-bearing vein system has never been drill tested along strike or below the historic workings “From historic documents, we know that high-grade gold ore was previously mined, but there has never been a single exploratory hole drilled,” said Millrock Resources President and CEO Greg Beischer. “It seems likely that the known high-grade gold-bearing quartz veins will continue along strike and in the down-dip direction.” Under the agreement, Millrock will assign its rights under the existing option agreement with Apex El Nido Gold Mines to Coeur Explorations, which will be responsible for making cash payments and funding exploration expenditures to keep the underlying option agreement with Apex El Nido Gold Mines in good standing. Coeur may determine not to proceed to exercise the option at any time, but if it makes all the payments and expenditures, it will vest with a 100% interest in the underlying claims. — Shane Lasley,North of 60 Mining News
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Convention Sponsors (as of press time)
Our loyal sponsors are critical to the success of every AMA annual convention. Many thanks to these fine companies and
organizations that have already committed to sponsoring our convention this November in Anchorage!
GOLD
NANA Northern Star (Pogo) LLC Oxford Assaying & Refining Corp Ruen Drilling, Inc. Soloy Helicopters, LLC Taiga Mining Co Inc. Teck Alaska Red Dog Operations
Coeur Alaska-Kensington Mine Construction Machinery Industrial, LLC Contango ORE Inc Gold Buyers of Alaska dba GBA Assaying & Refining Hecla Greens Creek Mining Company Kinross Alaska
SILVER
HDR • Hy-Tech Drilling • Perkins Coie LLP
COPPER Alaska Minerals Inc. • Matson • Pebble Limited Partnership • SRK Consulting
COAL Advanced Supply Chain International, LLC • Alaska Business • Alaska Land Status, Inc. Austin Powder Company • Avalon Development Corp. • Colaska • ConocoPhillips Core Geoscience LLC • Denali Industrial Supply, Inc. • DOWL • GeoMetallica • Graphite One (Alaska) Lynden • McKinley Research Group • Mining and Petroleum Training Service Owl Ridge Natural Resource Consultants • Sealaska Corporation • SLR International Corporation
GRAVEL
ACZ Laboratories, Inc. • Borell Consulting Services LLC • Energy Laboratories Inc.
SPECIALTY BANQUET WINE: Orica Alaska CONVENTION BAGS: Boart Longyear
LOUNGE: GCI Power Lounge PROGRAM: PIP Printing
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AMA Convention 2021
AMA Trade Show Exhibitors
u North Coast u Northspan Drilling Ltd. u Orica USA Inc
u Contech Engineered Solutions u Crowley Fuels u Delta Industrial Services Inc. u Delta P Pump u Denali Industrial Supply, Inc
Our annual Alaska Mining Trade Show is the largest in Alaska. Thanks to all of these fine organizations who have already reserved space for our 2021 Trade Show and Convention. u ACZ Laboratories, Inc. u Advanced Supply Chain International, LLC u Alaska Aggregate Products LLC u Alaska Business u Alaska Earth Sciences u Alaska Horn and Antler u Alaska Industrial Hardware, Inc. u Alaska Minerals Inc. u Alaska Railroad u Alaska Resource Education u Alaska Roteq u Alaska Rubber & Rigging Supply u Alaska Steel, Co. u Alaska Support Industry Alliance u Arcticom LLC u Austin Powder Company u Automatic Welding & Supply Corp. u Beacon Occupational Health and Safety Services, Inc. u Boart Longyear Company u Boreal Environmental Services u Bruker Nano Analytics u Colaska u Construction Machinery Industrial, LLC
u Osborne Construction Company u Oxford Assaying & Refining Corp. u Pebble Limited Partnership u Petro Marine Services u Pollux Aviation Ltd u Rain for Rent u Redpath USA Corporation u ROTAK Helicopter Services u Roughstock Mining Services u Ruen Drilling Inc u Samson Tug & Barge Co., Inc. u Sandvik Mining and Rock Technology u SLR International Corporation u SMS Equipment Inc.
u DGI Geoscience US Inc. u DMC Mining Services
u Dyno Nobel Inc. u Elemetal Direct
u Energy Laboratories Inc. u Equipment Source, Inc. u Fairweather, LLC u Fireweed Strategies u Frontier Supply u Gold Buyers of Alaska dba GBA Assaying & Refining u Golder Associates Inc. u Graphite One (Alaska) Inc. u Horst Expediting & Remote Operations, Inc. u Hy-Tech Drilling u International Directional Services (IDS) u ISCO Industries u JCM Industries, Inc. u JH Fletcher & Co. u Lynden u Major Drilling America, Inc. u Mascott Equipment u Microcom u Midnight Sun Drilling Inc. u Millrock Resources Inc. u Motion & Flow Control Products
u Soloy Helicopters, LLC u Sophie Station Suites u SRK Consulting
u Stantec Consulting Services u State of Alaska Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys u Surveyors Exchange Co. u Techline Alaska
u TOTE Maritime Alaska u Trijet Precision Cutting u TTT Environmental, LLC u US Ecology Alaska, LLC u Zonge International Inc.
Need to reserve your space for our trade show? Email Christy Andresen christy@logisticsllc.com, and Darlene Strickland darlene@alaskaminers.org or call 907-270-9231 today!
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Corporate Members
Please support and thank these companies who have renewed their support and corporate membership in AMA. Their continued support makes possible all the work we do in and for the mining industry. A & D Drilling ACZ Laboratories Inc. Advanced Supply Chain International LLC AECOM Ahtna Inc. AIDEA Alaska Aggregate Products LLC Alaska Airlines Alaska Business Coastal Helicopters Coeur Alaska - Kensington Mine Colaska Hy-Tech Drilling USA Ltd. Hyak Mining Company IBEW Local 1547 Idaho Mining Association Industrial Pumps of Alaska Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada RAM Enterprise, Inc. Ravn Alaska
Colorado Mining Association Columbia River Carbonates Commonwealth North, Inc. CONAM Construction Company ConocoPhillips Alaska Inc. Constantine Metal Resources Ltd. Construction Machinery Industrial LLC Consumer Energy Alliance Contango ORE, Inc. Cook Inlet Region, Inc. (CIRI) Craig Taylor Equipment Company Crowley Fuels LLC Cruise Lines International Alaska Cryopeak LNG Solutions Cummins Sales & Service Dawson City Chamber of Commerce Delta Constructors Delta Industrial Services Inc. Denali Industrial Supply Inc. DGI Geoscience US Donlin Gold LLC Dorsey & Whitney LLP DOWL Dowland-Bach Corp Doyon, Limited DXP Alaska Pump & Supply Eastern Oregon Mining Association Ecological Land Services Inc. Energy Laboratories Inc. Equipment Source, Inc. ERM Alaska ESS Support Services Everts Air Cargo F.R. Bell & Associates, Inc. Fairweather LLC First Bank First Things First Alaska Foundation Frontier Supply Company GCI Business General Refining Corporation Geosyntec Consultants Geotemps Inc. Global Equipment Services Gold Buyers of Alaska: GBA Assaying & Refining Granite Construction Company Graphite One Inc. Graymont Great Northwest Inc. Greater Fairbanks Chamber of Commerce Ground Truth Americas Inc. Hagglunds Products and Solutions, a Bosch Company Haines Development, Inc. HDR Hecla Greens Creek Mining Company HighGold Mining Ltd Holland America Line - Princess Cruises
Redpath USA Corporation Remote Made Easy (PSSA) Remote Site Services Inc. Resolution Minerals Ltd Resource Development Council Rotak Helicopter Services Roughstock Mining Services LLC Royal Gold Inc. Ruen Drilling Inc. Ryan Air Inc. Samson Tug & Barge Sandvik Mining and Rock Technology Satellite Technical Service Sealaska Corporation Shoreside Petroleum Inc. SLR International Corporation Society For Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration Soloy Helicopters LLC Sophie Station Suites - Fountainhead Hotels Sound Quarry Inc. Sourdough Fuel/Petro Star Inc. Southeast Conference SRK Consulting Stantec Consulting Inc. Stoel Rives LLP Sundance Mining Group Swick Drilling North America T & J Enterprises Inc. Taiga Mining Company Inc. TDX Corporation Teck Alaska Inc. - Red Dog Tectonic Metals Inc. Temsco Helicopters Inc. The Alaska Support Industry Alliance The Silver Institute TOTE Maritime Alaska Inc. Tower Hill Mines Inc. - Livengood Project Trilogy Metals, Inc. Tyler Rental Inc. Ucore Rare Metals Inc. University Redi-Mix US Ecology Alaska, LLC Usibelli Coal Mine Inc. Utah Mining Association Visit Anchorage Weir Minerals Wells Fargo Bank Alaska Western Alaska Copper & Gold Company Western Pacific Crane & Equipment
Institute of Northern Engineering International Directional Services Ipop LLC ISCO Industries Juneau Economic Development Council Just Refiners USA, Inc. Kinross Alaska Klondike Placer Miners’ Association Knight Piesold & Company Lignite Energy Council Lupine Enterprises Lynden M-W Drilling, Inc Madison Lumber & Hardware Inc. Mascott Equipment Company Matson McKinley Research Group
Alaska Coastal Aggregates LLC Alaska Commercial Fishing & Agricultural Bank Alaska Forest Association Alaska Frontier Constructors Inc. Alaska Industrial Hardware Inc Alaska Oil and Gas Association Alaska Policy Forum Alaska Power & Telephone Company Alaska Railroad Corporation Alaska Resource Education Alaska Rock Products Association Alaska Roteq Alaska State Chamber of Commerce Alaska Trucking Association Ambler Metals LLC American Exploration & Mining Association American Land Rights Association Anchorage Chamber of Commerce Anchorage Sand & Gravel Inc. Arctic Pipe and Utilities Arcticom LLC, a BSNC Company Arizona Mining Association Aspen Hotels of Alaska Associated General Contractors of Alaska Association for Mineral Exploration British Columbia Aurora Geosciences (Alaska) Ltd. Automatic Welding & Supply Avidian Gold Corporation AVTEC - Alaska Vocational Technical Center BDO USA, LLP Beacon Occupational Health and Safety Services, Inc. Big Ray’s Alaska Inc. Blackwolf Copper & Gold Ltd. Bobcat of Juneau Boreal Environmental Services Boyer Towing Inc. Brenntag Pacific Brice Inc. Brilliant Media Strategies Alaska, Inc. Builders Choice Modular, LLC C & R Pipe and Steel Inc. CalCIMA Calista Corporation Carlile Chamber of Mines of Eastern British Columbia Chugach Alaska Corporation City of Ketchikan
Metco Alaska LLC MFCP/Jackovich Millrock Resources Inc.
Mitsubishi Materials USA Corp Montana Mining Association Motion Industries, Inc. NANA National Mining Association Nevada Mining Association New Mexico Mining Association NMS North Coast Electric North Star Terminal & Stevedore Co. LLC Northern Air Cargo Northern Industrial Training, LLC (Anchorage) Northern Industrial Training, LLC (Palmer) Northern Star (Pogo) LLC Northrim Bank Northspan Drilling Ltd. Northwest Mine Supply Northwest Pump Northwest Territories & Nunavut Chamber of Mines Nova Minerals Limited NovaGold Resources Inc. Orica USA Inc. Oxford Assaying & Refining Pathfinder Aviation, LLC PDC Engineers/RESPEC Pebble Limited Partnership Peggy Petroleum Products Perkins Coie LLP Petro Marine Services PND Engineers Inc. PolarX Limited Property Rights Foundation of America, Inc.
White Rock Minerals Ltd. Wolseley Industrial Group Women’s Mining Coalition World Trade Center Alaska Wyoming Mining Association
Yukon Chamber of Mines Zonge International Inc. www.alaskaminers.org I The Alaska Miner I September 2021
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New and Renewing Members
Thank you to all the AMA corporate and individual members who joined or renewed their membeship to the association in July. You make AMA possible!
Corporations Alaska Power &
Ravn Alaska Samson Tug & Barge Sandvik Mining and Rock Technology Swick Drilling North America Temsco Helicopters Inc. Tower Hill Mines Inc. - Livengood Project US Ecology Alaska, LLC Western Pacific Crane & Equipment Operator J Michael & Linda James Professional Kent Dawson J P & Valerie Tangen
Bryan Babb Samuel (Randy) Bailey Eric Ball Tony Barajas John Barry Gregory A Beischer Randy Beltz Charles Bempong Rodney Blakestad F Lynn Blystone Jeremy Brans Peter J Browne Eric Cannon Robert & Kathleen Christensen Nathan Chutas Richard Clement Albert H Clough Shawn Colburn Richard Cole Will Collingwood Tom & Donna Cooper Jeff Cox
Judd & Gail Edgerton Edward M Edson Brian Erickson Isaac Fage Aaron Finney Elizabeth Freeman Michael Garrett Ryan Goodrich Bruce Hellenga Bruce G & Linda Herning Blake Hillis Josh Horst Mark Huffington Mike Huston Sarah Ingram Craig Jennison Jacob Kalmbacher Lucky Kirkendoll Bartly Kleven Al Kubena Tisha Kuhns
Melody C Mcallister Bob Morrell Joelle Nadell Susan Neale John & Agnes Odden Douglas Olerud Steven Olson Bill Orchow David Pfau David K Poole Hunter Propsom Chris Puchner Richard & Cherie Solie Dave Stewart Taylor Taipale Deborah D Tompkins Eric Tasker & Joan Travostino Bob S Tucker William & Misty Tweet Cecil Urlich
Telephone Company Arcticom LLC, a BSNC Company Blackwolf Copper & Gold Ltd. Calista Corporation Constantine Metal Resources Ltd. Crowley Fuels LLC Delta Industrial Services Inc. Dorsey & Whitney LLP Ground Truth Americas Inc. Hecla Greens Creek Mining Company Kinross Alaska Mascott Equipment Company Millrock Resources Inc. M-W Drilling, Inc North Star Terminal & Stevedore Co. LLC Orica USA Inc. Pathfinder Aviation, LLC Petro Marine Services
Max Vietmeier David Watkins Steven Wenk Wayne Westberg Debra Whitbeck Jerry Zieg
Individual Lonnie Adams Caitlyn Alvidrez
Brian LaPlaunt Travis Latiolais John Lukens
Jason Custer Aaron Debrah Randy DeFosse Curtis Dufendach
Keith Arens Kelly Arnold
Michael MacArthur J Garfield MacVeigh
Missed an issue? All issues of The Alaska Miner Journal are online at the Alaska Miners Association website: alaskaminers.org/monthly-journal. Help us spread good news about mining!
Not yet a member of the Alaska Miners Association? Or have not yet renewed your membership for 2021? Renew today so you don’t miss a single issue of The Alaska Miner or this year’s 2021 Alaska Miners Handbook and Service Directory, available only to AMA members. Call or email Jennifer Luiten, Membership and Fundraising Director 907-270-9232. jennifer@AlaskaMiners.org.
Arctic Trace ® Submersible Heat Trace Freeze Protection System "Inside the Pipe or Vessel" www.arctictrace.com (907) 522-3004 A pplications: Monitoring Wells Commercial Water Line Deep Well Tracing Gutter & Drain Waste & Vent Septic Tank & Sewer Outfall
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September 2021 I The Alaska Miner I www.alaskaminers.org
America’s Security May Depend on Critical Minerals, But Workers Scarce
Around 20 percent of workers in the mining, oil and gas sector are over 55, according to the BLS. In 2015, 43% of surveyed professionals in oil, gas and mining firms said the loss of talent due to an aging workforce would become a problem in the next six to 10 years, according to a Society for Human Resource Management study. Now it’s six years later and Hammond says this percentage is much higher. Recruiters are now scrambling to find qualified replacements to fill positions in critical mineral mining, says Russell Sullivan, a managing partner at Accelerated Data Decision, a recruiting firm that works closely with mining employers. Geological engineering programs are also having a hard time recruiting students, says Hammond. Critical minerals have become increasingly important in recent years because they are key components in high- tech personal devices, green technologies like solar panels and defense systems like jet fighter engines. The U.S. imports most of its critical minerals, and both the Trump and Biden administrations have sought to boost domestic mining of these minerals. To fill the needed positions, employers are raising pay. Still, young people aren’t entering the industry at a sustainable rate. It’s going to take more than a marketing push to retain younger mine workers, Hammond says. It’s going to take education about the role of mining. Gaze at any item in your living room, kitchen, or garage. Odds are half of its parts were pulled from the ground — the lithium from minuscule phone batteries, the aluminum buried inside of coffee makers, the gold in TV circuit boards, says Joyner. They didn’t appear in midair. “We’ve had at least two generations who have been raised through the Harry Potter notion of commodities,” says Hammond, the mining economist. “You wave your wand and they just appear. Where are you going to get the materials to build all of those windmills?” Sicurella is an intern on NPR’s business desk
This recent story by a National Public Radio reporter tells America what Alaskans have known for a long time — America needs mining but is very short of the miners to do that critical work. BY SAVANNAH SICURELLA, National Public Radio America’s mines are open for business. Not for coal necessarily, but definitely for the critical minerals seen by the Biden administration as essential for economic and national security, like lithium to power batteries or aluminum for wind turbines. But there’s a hitch. Companies are struggling to hire miners. Mining and geological engineering employment is estimated to grow 4% percent from 2019-2029, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. As demand keeps rising for these minerals, there are fewer skilled employees to fill job openings in the industry. “We need more workers,” says mining consultant Catherine Joyner. “It is not going to be sustainable for our industry if it stays at the level that it is.” Like many employees in the U.S., mine workers have used the pandemic to reassess their careers. Many have pivoted to new professions or retired completely, says mining economist David Hammond. Mining for critical minerals and metals is not easy work. In both underground and surface mines, workers operate heavy machinery as big as houses and deal with explosives. On the professional side, engineers, metallurgists, and mine managers design and coordinate mine operations. Jobs in the industry are well-compensated. The average salary of an underground mining machine operator and extraction worker is $56,000, and mining and geological engineers make upwards of $90,000, according to May 2020 figures from BLS. Alaska miners in 2020 earned on average $112,000.
Rainer Trucking Inc. P.O. Box 72905 Fairbanks, AK 99707 EMAIL rainertruckinginc@yahoo.com PHONE (907) 457-2000 FAX (907) 455-4614
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Mining Salvage and Reclamation
(907) 222-3985 • Toll Free (877) 414-3985 jpt@jptangen.com • www.jptangen.com
www.alaskaminers.org I The Alaska Miner I September 2021
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Alaska Mining Calendar
Alaska Earth Sciences Comprehensive Geologic Services
p Geologic Consulting p Geologic Staffing p Geological Engineering p Reporting (including 43-101) p Logistics/Operation Coordination p Remote Site Management p GIS Services • Geologic Consulting • Geologic Staffing • Geologic Engineering • Reporting (including 43-101) • Logistics/Operation Coordination • Remote Site Management • GIS Services • Permitting Assistance • Community Engagement • Claims Staking • Claims Administration • Equipment Rental p Permitting Assistance p Community Engagement p Claims Staking p Claims Administration p Equipment Rental
Dedicated to responsible development of Alaska’s resources.
Alaska Earth Sciences Comprehensive Geologic Services
p Geologic Consulting p Geologic Staffing p Geological Engineering p Reporting (including 43-101) p Logistics/Operation Coordination p Remote Site Management p GIS Services
Dedicated to responsible development of Alaska’s resources.
n AMA and other organizations are planning for some events this fall and winter, and are hopeful for them to be in person.
Convention at Dena’ina Center in Anchorage
p Permitting Assistance p Community Engagement p Claims Staking p Claims Administration p Equipment Rental
n Dec. 6-10: American Exploration & Mining Association
11401 Olive Lane, Anchorage, Alaska p 907-522-4664 www.alaskaearthsciences.com Dedicated to responsible development of Alaska’s resources.
11401 Olive Lane, Anchorage, Alaska p 907-522-4664 www.alaskaearthsciences.com
Annual Meeting in Reno, Nev.
n Nov. 1-6:
AMA Annual
AMA Branch Meetings
n AMA branch meetings are
n See branch
events updates here: www. alaskaminers.
being held together as one statewide meeting.
— JUNEAU, ALASKA — AVAILABLE STATEWIDE
org/ama- member- branches
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