Alaska's critical minerals remain in the spotlight
One Inc. $37.5 million to finalize a feasibility study for an all-American graphite material supply chain that would extend from the world-class Graphite Creek project near the west - ern shores of America's 49th State to the batteries that will power electric vehicles traveling the nation's high- ways. "I want to congratulate Graphite One for the diligent work that went into receiving this award, including the company's strategy to mine, re - fine and recycle graphite here in the United States," said Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, a longtime advocate of the Far North State's strategic and criti- cal mineral potential. "This award has the potential to open up significant opportunities for our state in terms of producing our abundant reserves of
critical minerals and metals." Thanks in large part to the U.S. Geological Survey elevating zinc onto the list of 50 critical minerals, the Red Dog mine, operated by Teck Resources Ltd. on Alaska Native-owned lands in the northwest corner of the state, is the largest critical minerals-produc - ing mine in the U.S. A previously little-known metal - loid also produced at Red Dog, how - ever, is where the subtext of Alaska's critical mineral production and po - tential falls between the lines of in- ternational news stories. "Alaska already plays a key role in meeting the nation's need for critical minerals," USGS Director David Ap - plegate said during the "Critical Min - erals in the Arctic: Forging the Path Forward" summit held in Washing -
Ongoing developments in global markets show value here at home BY SHANE LASLEY, NORTH 0F 60 MINING NEWS From the Pentagon's multi-mil- lion-dollar investment in Graphite One Inc. to China's restrictions on the exports of gallium and germani - um, Alaska's current critical minerals supply, and future potential was in the headlines and subtext of Ameri- can news stories over the past month. Alaska as a future source of min- erals critical to the clean energy tran- sition grabbed headlines after the mid-July news that the U.S. Depart - ment of Defense awarded Graphite
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The Alaska Miner
Fall 2023
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