With gold prices reaching highs well above US$2,500 per ounce, market stocks in the precious metal’s field are ramping up activity, and many are seeing their value climb rapidly.
These opportunities are supported by high-quality projects in secure jurisdictions. One such area under the radar of many investors is Alaska, with its rich geological history and land that offers placer (extracting gold from riverbeds and streambeds) and hard-rock mining opportunities.
Expanding a high-grade gold deposit in Alaska
A promising junior miner in this region is Grande Portage Resources Ltd. (TSXV:GPG).
This mineral exploration company is primarily focused on the New Amalga Mine Project (formerly known as the Herbert Gold Project) – recently renamed to honor the local gold mining heritage. The historic Amalga Gold Camp, 6.5 km from the project site, produced tens of thousands of ounces of lode gold in the early 20th century.
The property, which is approximately 25 kilometres north of Juneau, Alaska. Grande Portage holds a 100 per cent interest in the property, which is part of the prolific 160 km long Juneau Gold Belt. This belt has historically produced more than 8 million ounces of gold, making it a highly prospective area for gold exploration.
The New Amalga Mine Project property is characterized by at least six main composite vein-fault structures containing ribbon structure quartz-sulfide veins. These structures are open to length and depth, indicating significant potential for resource expansion.
Updated mineral–resource estimate
Grande Portage recently updated its NI 43-101 Mineral Resource estimate for the New Amalga Mine Project. At a base case cut-off grade of 2.5 grams per tonne gold (g/t Au), the estimate includes:
- Indicated resource: 1,438,500 ounces of gold at an average grade of 9.47 g/t Au (4,726,000 tonnes).
- Inferred resource: 515,700 ounces of gold at an average grade of 8.85 g/t Au (1,813,000 tonnes).
- Indicated resource: 891,600 ounces of silver at an average grade of 5.86 g/t Ag (4,726,000 tonnes).
- Inferred resource: 390,600 ounces of silver at an average grade of 7.33 g/t Ag (1,813,000 tonnes).
These estimates highlight the high-grade nature of the New Amalga deposit and its potential for significant economic returns.
Conceptual mining plan
To determine the optimal development pathway for the New Amalga Mine Project, Grande Portage engaged OreLogic LLC, a consulting firm specializing in mine planning and project development. Led by Kyle Mehalek, former chief mining engineer at Hecla Mining’s Greens Creek Mine, OreLogic brings extensive expertise to the project.
The conceptual mining plan focuses on developing a selective underground mining operation to extract high-grade material with minimal dilution. Given the project’s proximity to tidewater and existing infrastructure, off-site processing is considered the most favourable configuration. This approach offers several benefits:
- No tailings disposal facility: Eliminates the need for a tailings disposal facility near the mine.
- No permanent waste rock storage: All waste rock from mine access development will be returned underground for stope backfill.
- No on-site processing reagents: No use of gold processing reagents at the site.
- Reduced environmental footprint: Dramatically reduced land usage and overall environmental impact.
- Simplified closure and reclamation: Greatly simplified post-mining closure and reclamation.
- De-risked permitting process: De-risking of the environmental review and permitting process.
- Minimized construction CAPEX: Lower project construction capital expenditures.
The plan includes underground mine design, development and production scheduling, surface facilities design, ore transportation and logistics planning, ore marketing evaluation and internal financial modeling.
Goldbelt partnership
Grande Portage has signed a letter of intent with Goldbelt Inc. to explore the development of an ore terminal at Goldbelt’s Cascade Point site, approximately 53 km northwest of Juneau. This terminal would support the direct shipping ore platform, which is considered the most promising pathway for advancing the New Amalga Mine project.
Cascade Point is accessible via Glacier Highway and is planned to accommodate the ore terminal and a future Alaska Marine Highway System ferry terminal. This strategic location offers flexibility for concurrent or sequential development of both projects.
Investment corner
Grande Portage Resources Ltd. presents a compelling investment opportunity for those interested in high-grade gold exploration. The company’s 100 per cent interest in the New Amalga Mine property, combined with its strategic development plans and partnerships, positions it well for future growth.
The updated mineral resource estimate and the conceptual mining plan underscore the project’s potential for significant economic returns.
Investors would be wise to deepen their due diligence into Grande Portage (TSXV:GPG) soon, as the company’s stock opened Tuesday trading at $0.24 per share and has risen more than 2 per cent since the year began.
For the latest on the company, visit Grande Portage.com.
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