MINING SPECIAL SECTION
ter Creek heap leach went online in 2009, making it possible to recover grades of ore that weren’t economic to mill and extending the life the mine further. In a brief overview of his years at Fort Knox, Oleson writes: “The success [of the heap leach] is evidenced by producing nearly a quarter of a million gold ounces. This success extended the life of mine, ensuring continued employment for many people, which contributed to the economy and social well-being of Fairbanks.”
Community Connection
The mine’s close connection with the Fairbanks community is another boon, both Hill and Oleson say. The Fort Knox metallurgical staff worked closely with the mining schools at the UAF (University of Alaska Fairbanks) on ore processing procedures. “Half a dozen to a dozen papers were written on Fort Knox in association with the university,” Oleson says. “It’s been a very strong partnership.”
Fort Knox has hired many of its skilled employees through the mining schools, and Fort Knox employees frequently serve on UAF advisory boards. Kinross and Pogo are each funding a $1 million endowment at UAF for mining engineering research. They also support heavy equipment maintenance programs at Hutchison High School and teach a distance education class aimed at high schoolers in coordination with Pathways to Mining that seeks to link mines with potential future workers.
The History of Kinross Gold Corporation’s Fort Knox Mine Compiled by Julie Stricker 1901 1902 1902-1903 1910-1930
Felix Pedro discovered gold near Fish Creek Felix Pedro discovered gold on Pedro Creek Fairbanks gold rush begins Small scale drift & placer mining along Fish Creek, intermittent lode mining in Fish Creek Valley 1916 Approximately 200 tons of stibnite shipped from the Hindenburg prospect 1920s Tanana Valley Gold Dredging Co. (Old English Co.), moderate-scale dredge operations 1929 90-mile Davidson Ditch completed, diverting 80 million gallons of water each day for dredging 1930s Fairbanks Exploration Co. (F.E. Co.) begins large-scale dredge operations 1942 Federal government closes all non-strategic mining 1960s Placer mining resumes in Fish Creek 1984 Geologist discovers visible gold on Fort Knox claims 1987-1991 Fairbanks Gold Ltd. & Gilmore Gold Inc. progress with exploration/pre-development programs 1990 AMAX acquires Hindenburg (True North) prospect 1991-1992 Initial drilling on the Hindenburg (True North) property began 1992 AMAX purchases 100 percent of Fort Knox project, Fairbanks Gold Mining, Inc. (FGMI) is formed as a subsidiary and is responsible for exploring, developing, and operating Fort Knox 1992-1995 Further exploration, engineering, environmental, and feasibility studies 1993-1994 La Teko acquires 100 percent interest in the True North property 1994 State and Federal environmental review completed and permits issued 1995 Construction begins along with pre-strip mining 1996 First gold pour (December 13) 1997 FGMI declares commercial production 1998 Kinross Gold Corp. and AMAX merge – Fort Knox mine now 100 percent Kinross owned Fort Knox is awarded Sentinels of Safety Award by US Department of Labor 1999 1 million ounces of gold produced at Fort Knox 1 million man-hours worked without a lost time incident Kinross acquired La Teko and 35 percent interest in True North, purchased the remaining 65 percent interest in the claims from Newmont True North mine now 100 percent Kinross owned 42
2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006
2007 2008 2009
2010
2011 2012 2013
2014
2015 2016
Mining begins at True North 1 million man-hours worked without a lost time incident achieved a second time 2 million ounces of gold produced at Fort Knox True North is awarded Sentinels of Safety Award by US Department of Labor Kinross merges with TVX and Echo Bay, making Kinross the 7th largest gold producer in the world 1 million man-hours worked without a lost time incident achieved a third time Mining at True North suspended Reclamation begins at True North Produced 3 millionth ounce of gold from the Fort Knox Mine 1 million man-hours worked without a lost time incident achieved a fourth time Poured 4 millionth ounce of gold 1 million man-hours worked without a lost time incident achieved a fifth time 2 million man-hours worked without a lost time incident achieved for the first time Walter Creek Heap Leach facility commissioned and first gold poured 3 million man-hours worked without a lost time incident achieved for the first time Ore Processing group awarded Sentinels of Safety Award by US Department of Labor Achieved 4 years no lost time incident 4 million man-hours worked without a lost time incident achieved for the first time Produced 5 millionth ounce of gold Heap Leach Expansion Second CIC building commissioned Produced a record 421,641 ounces True North reclamation completed Poured 6 millionth ounce of gold Safety Award for Outstanding Dedication to Safe Quality Production for reaching 2.6m hours without a lost time incident - Presented by the International Society of Mine Safety Professionals Received Interstate Mining Compact Commission Reclamation Award for True North Poured 7 millionth ounce of gold Celebrates 20 years of production
Alaska Business Monthly | November 2016 www.akbizmag.com