The Kensington mine accident that killed Juneau resident Joe Tagaban last week is the eighth U.S. mining fatality in 2011, according to the Mining Safety and Health Administration. It was also the first explosives fatality for the year. An updated report from MSHA indicates Tagaban was waiting on a ramp for the blast to be…
Energy & Mining
Kensington mine back in full operation
The Kensington Gold Mine is back in full operation, following a week closure in an area where a miner was killed last week. Mine owner Coeur Alaska says all underground activities are at full capacity. But according to the Mining Safety and Health Administration, no blasting can be conducted in production stopes until the agency…
Coeur official says mine housing will promote local hire
Company officials say 72 percent of Kensington employees are Alaskans, while 61 percent live in Southeast. But just a little over half – 53 percent – live in Juneau.
Coeur applies to build more dorms at Kensington
Coeur Alaska wants to build more employee housing at the Kensington Gold Mine. On Tuesday, the Juneau Planning Commission reviews Coeur’s application to modify a 2004 allowable use permit, which set conditions for the mine within the city and borough. In addition to construction of a new three-story, 96-bed dormitory, modifying the permit would allow…
Exploratory drilling underway to map out gold at Herbert Glacier
A pair of Vancouver-based mining companies in a joint venture to explore the Herbert Glacier area say they’ve found high-grade concentrations of gold. Assays of test drilling showed gold concentrations averaging 1.08 ounces per ton. Some samples came back as high as 4.14 to 6.63 ounces per ton. Initial assays were announced last month with…
Report: Underground rock blast kills miner
A preliminary report indicates that rock from an underground blast struck the miner who was killed yesterday (Wednesday) at the Kensington Gold Mine. The Mine Safety and Health Administration and mine owners Coeur Alaska are investigating the accident and death of 30-year-old Juneau resident Joe Tagaban. According to MSHA (M-SHAW), Tagaban was working near a…