News in Brief
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FIRE RIVER GOLD CORP. - The CIL (Carbon in Leach) circuit construction has been completed and commissioning is under way. With operation of the CIL Circuit, ore recovery will increase to +90% from the current 70%. The circuit is designed to process tailings at approximately 250 tonnes per day. (Company press release, 3/20/12)
FULL METAL MINERALS - SRK Consulting (Canada) Inc. has been engaged to prepare an initial mineral resource estimate for the Pyramid copper-gold-molybdenum Porphyry Project and a new technical report to support its disclosure. (Company press release 2/07/12)
INTERNATIONAL TOWER HILL MINES LTD. - ITH started their 2012 drilling program at the Livengood Gold Project in February including a $2.1 million, 6,000 meter condemnation drill program, a $5.2 million, 3,000 meter program of geotechnical drilling and a $1.1 million, 3,000 meter district-wide exploration program. ITH also will postpone all further studies for placer gold extraction on its recently acquired placer claims to focus on advancing the Livengood gold deposit towards development and a production decision. (Company press release, 3/22/12)
MILLROCK RESOURCES INC. - Millrock has announced that Teck American Incorporated has met the requirements to exercise its option to earn a 55% interest in the Estelle gold project located northwest of Anchorage. The JV partners are planning a US$800,000 program during 2012 to drill 7 holes totaling 1,500 meters. Five of the holes will be drilled on Oxide Ridge where Millrock intersected a thick, low grade gold intercept during its 2011 drilling program. (Company press release, 4/02/12)
NOVACOPPER INC. - The shareholders of NovaGold Resources Inc. overwhelmingly voted to approve the spin-out of NovaCopper Inc. NovaGold will concentrate on being a pure gold company, focused on permitting, and developing the Donlin Gold Project. NovaCopper, to be led by Rick Van Nieuwehnuyse, will concentrate on developing the Ambler project which includes the Arctic and Bornite properties. (Company press release, 3/29/12)
POGO MINE GOLD STRIKE - Sumitomo Metal Mining Co. announced that test drilling has confirmed a new gold resource at the Pogo Mine. The “East Deep” ore body is located approximately 1000 feet northeast of the main deposit and is estimated to hold 1.283 million ounces of gold. (Company press release, 3/27/12)
Graphite One Resources Inc. - At its annual meeting Cedar Mountain Exploration Inc. shareholders voted to change the company’s name to Graphite One Resources Inc. The company is currently holds an option on the Graphite Creek Property on the Seward Peninsula. ( Company press release, 3/23/12)
Exploration Opportunities on Mental Health Trust Land: The Alaska Mental Health Trust Land Office (TLO) will be offering for competitive lease a number of blocks over the next year which have good mineral exploration potential. In May the TLO plans to offer its Ophir (11,912 acres) and Thorne Bay (4,720 acres) Blocks for competitive leasing. Look for public announcements from DNR’s Public Information Center and from the TLO website (http://www.mh trustland.org/) in May. The TLO will publish a prospectus for each property that will contain information on how to participate in the offering.
PEOPLE
ROBERT BROWN has been named by Usibelli Coal Mine Inc. as vice president for Southcentral Operations.
Ucore Rare Metals Inc. has appointed Randy MacGillivray as Senior Mine Permitting Manager for the Bokan Heavy Rare Earth project on Prince of Wales Island.
Former Donlin Gold LLC president, Doug Nicholson, has been appointed CEO of Oracle Mining Corp.
Former Doyon Ltd. minerals manager, Harry Noyes has been appointed to the board of directors of Curlew Lake Resources Inc.
Stephen Trimble of URS Alaska has been appointed to the Alaska Minerals Commission. He was appointed by the Senate.
Larry Westlake of Kiana, was appointed to the Alaska Minerals Commission by Governor Parnell. Westlake is appointed to a seat reserved for an Alaskan from a rural community.