Archive of: Mining

Company aims to strike it rich by mining asteroids

A group of high-tech tycoons wants to mine nearby asteroids, hoping to turn science fiction into real profits.

SETH BORENSTEIN,AP Science Writer

Students take mine tour as part of mining class

Most high-schoolers don't start class at 5 a.m. — on a Saturday, at that. But on March 17, 18 students embarked on a field trip with life-changing potential.

LIBBY STRINGER,Capital City Weekly

Ruling delays southeast Alaska mine exploration

Exploration work at a southeast Alaska mine is being delayed by a federal court ruling last month in a California lawsuit filed against the U.S. Forest Service.

Canadian company explores Livengood gold prospect

Soon after prospectors began searching for gold around Livengood more than a century ago, a distinctive 1,800-foot-tall hilltop in the area was given a hopeful name: Money Knob.

JEFF RICHARDSON,Fairbanks Daily News-Miner

Japan, US, EU discuss the security of rare earth supplies

TOKYO (AP) — Officials from the United States, the European Union and Japan are pledging to work closer together on ways to ensure secure supplies of strategically vital rare earths and other critical materials.

By Elaine Kurtenbach, AP Business Writer

Miners busy with expansions, new projects

From far Southeast Alaska to the far Northwest, minerals companies are busy with projects. Alaska has seven producing mines now, one more than last year.

By Tim Bradner, Alaska Journal of Commerce

Bokan mine could meet rare earth needs

Whether it’s a commuter turning on a cell phone or the military engineering new defense systems, they depend on rare earth minerals. Until now, the United States has been relying on foreign suppliers to get them, but that may change eventually with a new mining venture in Southeast Alaska.

By Jonathan Grass, Alaska Journal of Commerce

Pebble debate breaks out between BBNC shareholders

JUNEAU — Sharp opinion differences over the proposed Pebble mine within the Bristol Bay community spilled out in Juneau March 19.

By Tim Bradner, Alaska Journal of Commerce

Mineral exploration spending tops $300 million in 2011

Mining is growing fast in its economic punch in the state, new studies by the industry show.

By Tim Bradner, Alaska Journal of Commerce

Probe targets foremen in 2010 W.Va. mine disaster

West Virginia mine safety officials issued 253 violations in their investigation of the Upper Big Branch disaster and targeted two foremen, saying their failures may have exacerbated the unsafe conditions underground before the explosion that killed 29 men.

VICKI SMITH,Associated Press