Alaska's Rich Mineral Resources

Alaska's Rich Mineral Resources. Vignettes in History. , Alaska's heritage has evolved from its abundant supply of minerals. Centuries before the Russians settled here, Alaska natives utilized various minerals for carved utensils, ornaments, religious objects, and weapons., The Russians discovered gold in Alaska during the mid 18[3]0's. After the purchase of Alaska by the United States in 1867, Canadian and American prospectors continued the "quest" for gold throughout the state. The Klondike gold strike of 1896 captured the imagination of people from all corners of the globe. There were dozens of back-to-back mining stampedes in Interior Alaska after the Klondike rush., These gold rushes of the early 1900's were accompanied by other developments of base metals such as copper, lead, and zinc. The completion of the Alaska Railroad in 1923 paved the way for expansion of the minerals industry., In the mid 1900's interest increased in strategic and critical material minerals including tin, tungsten, platinum, antimony, mercury, chromium, nickel, cobalt, asbestos, and uranium. Several "world class" mineral deposits were discovered in Alaska during the mid to late 1900's., Alaska's infrastructure was built up largely as a result of mineral development throughout the state. Transportation and communication networks developed around mining activities. Most of Alaska's communities began as a result of mineral exploration and mining. Development of these resources has provided the foundation for the state's cultural and economic well-being., Mineral resources have played an important role in Alaska's history. Development of these resources will continue to play a key role in Alaska's future. In addition, these resources will help the United States become self-sufficient in mineral products for general societal and defense purposes. As economic and market conditions dictate, Alaska will provide the nation and other parts of the world with substantial quantities of base and precious metals, strategic metals and minerals, and critical materials., By national and international standards, Alaska remains under-explored. Therefore, the "quest” for Alaska's rich mineral resources will continue during the next century as it did the century before. The state's dramatic geological path indicates that several mineral resource "bonanzas” are yet to be discovered.