The U.S. Bureau of Land Management has approved the development of the northern route to provide access to the Ambler mining district in northwest Alaska.
According to South32 (ASX: S32) and Trilogy Metals (TSX: TMQ; NYSE: TMQ), partners in Ambler Metals, the Record of Decision (RoD) approves the development of the northern, or "A" route, which is to be a 211-mile-long gravel private access road in the southern Brooks Range foothills to provide industrial access to the Ambler mining district.
Ambler Metals is a joint venture between South32 and Trilogy Metals focused on the polymetallic volcanogenic massive sulphide (VMS) style deposits of the Ambler district. South32 contributed US$145 million to the JV and Trilogy all the assets, the two most advanced being the Arctic and Bornite projects.
"The development of the road will unlock the world-class economic potential of the region by allowing greater access to the district and the potential development of the Arctic project, which is in a remote area of northwest Alaska," Trilogy Metals said in a press release.
"We look forward to continuing our partnership with Trilogy to unlock the value of the project's high-quality base and precious metals resources, working together to advance it through the current study phase," South32 CEO Graham Kerr said.
The US$799.6 million Arctic project currently has a mine life of 12 years. Its yearly average production is estimated to be 159 million lb. copper, 199 million lb. zinc, 33 million lb. lead, 3.3 million oz. silver and 30,600 oz. gold.
- This fast news item first appeared in our sister publication, MINING.com.