Alaska
The BLM’s mineral assessment program are regional “mining district” studies. These studies determine the type, amount and distribution of mineral deposits, and use that data to make resource estimates where possible. The studies involve locating, sampling, surveying and mapping historic mines, prospects and occurrences, and followup on newly discovered mineralization.
Current Mining District Studies:
- Delta River: The BLM-Alaska conducted mineral investigations in the 2.9-million-acre Delta River Mining District that extends across the eastern Alaska Range from about Delta Junction on the north, to Paxson on the south. It is accessible via the Richardson, Denali and Alaska highways. The investigations included mineral occurrence surveying, mapping and sampling; airborne and ground-based geophysics; stream sediment geochemistry; and economic, engineering and environmental analysis. The BLM produced a final technical report on the Delta River district mineral assessment study TR 57 (plate 1 and plate 2) in 2007.
- Bristol Bay: The Bristol Bay district mineral assessment study began in 2005 and contains the single largest group of state claims, specifically those of the Pebble Copper property. It includes 8.2% of active state mining claims, but only 0.02% of active federal mining claims. Although about 45% of the land is federal, only 6% of the land is BLM-managed and almost no MILS or active claims are situated on the BLM land. The other federal lands in the district are managed by the F&WS (15%) and the NPS (23%). Open file report
- Admiralty: The Admiralty district mineral assessment study began in 2006 and contains the most active federal claims of any unstudied district in Alaska (12.9%). It has about 0.2% of the state claims. Eighty percent of the district is made up of federal lands; much of it is included within the Admiralty National Monument. About 14% of the district is native land, less than 1% state, and about 5% private.
- Mineral Assessment of the Aniak Mining District Study
- Mineral Assessment of the NYAC Mining District Study
- Mineral Resources of Native overselections in ANILCA units. We are developing GIS coverages of the AHTNA selections near and within Denali National Park and Preserve. Mineral coverages will then be laid over the over-selections. This process is complete for lands in the Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve (report and map).
- Mineral Assessment of Lake Todatonten Special Management Area Study. The mineral inventory of the area was conducted as a part of the ongoing Koyukuk Mining District investigation.
- Final report for Mineral Assessment of Chichagof/Baronof Islands is available.
- Final report for Mineral Assessment of the Stikine Area, Central Southeast Alaska - BLM TR51 (report and map) is available.
 |
Related Links:
|