UCore sets out its mine schedule

UCore Rare Earth published its hoped-for project development schedule, calling for nancing and design in 2019, construction in 2020 and a start of production in 2021 with output being ramped up over three years. The company’s mine is on south Prince of Wales Island but the rare earths process plant could be located in Ketchikan. Prices for rare earths are not at the level the company would like, however, but ways are being investigated to get the mine developed and limited production underway.

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BLM “scoping” on Ambler mine road

The U.S. Bureau of Land Management is wrapping up its “scoping” report for the Ambler road Environmental Impact Statement. The road would open up mining prospects to exploration and development. The EIS would likely fall under the new Department of the Interior accelerated EIS policy, which means once started it would be done within a year with the main document no more than 300 pages. The road would be 211-222 miles, connecting the Ambler Mining District to the Dalton Highway 400 miles north of Fairbanks.

Trilogy Metal’s Arctic project is one mining prospect that is far along. At nearly 5 percent copper equivalent it would be one of the highest grade open pit copper mines in the world.