Local involvement in mining – including residents working at mines in Southeast, and Haines-based placer, gravel pit and reality TV operations – makes a $4.9 million annual contribution to the valley’s economy, a representative of Constantine Metal Resources said at the Haines Chamber of Commerce luncheon Friday.
Sherri Maust, who manages accounts and community relations for the Vancouver, B.C.-based company exploring a deposit near 40 Mile, gave an update on recent work, as well as an overview of the industry.
Maust said 78 residents are involved in mining. That includes 22 positions with Constantine, 16 at Greens Creek, 11 at Kensington, five placer operators and about 20 working in operations like gravel pits and road-building.
Constantine, operating here since 2006, recently formed a joint venture account with financier Dowa Metals and Mining of Japan and is evaluating the Palmer deposit, a copper and zinc formation near the Canada border. Dowa has provided about $20 million of the $29.5 million Constantine has spent to date on the local project, Maust said.
Maust said Constantine is at a “mid-evaluation” stage in developing a mine, comparing progress to date as being at the foot of a mountain. “Right now we’re more in the easy steps of exploration, and as we go, it will become more difficult to get to all these stages.” The peak of the mountain, she said, was completing final design and submitting permits for mining.
So far, 8.1 million metric tons of mineral resources have been identified in the area.
Maust said Constantine has spent nearly $4 million here since 2013, including paying $700,000 to 50 local businesses in 2016 and $362,000 in wages. The company also made $7,600 in local donations, she said.
She said Constantine’s goal is to be a leader in corporate social responsibility. “We accomplish that by following a very strict set of regulations – perfectly. We also want to be a source of economic diversity and strength. We want to support the community. And we hire as many locals as possible and give back to the community as much as possible.”
Besides drilling and testing core samples, the company is building a road for improved access and conducting studies on mountain goats and environmental concerns like water quality, Maust said.
Maust said Constantine takes an active role in the Alaska Miners Association. The local chapter of the group, revived in 2016, has 40 members. Its goals include education and workforce development. The group meets 7 a.m. Fridays at the Bamboo Room. “Our goal is to create a welcoming environment for businesses and industry, encourage economic activity that will create year-round jobs in Haines.”
Constantine does outreach in local schools and hires local students. “We visit the school and get students excited about rocks, geology and different job opportunities,” Maust said. “Mining offers different jobs – it’s not just geologists and it’s not just pretty rocks, and it’s not just accounting.”
Resident Jessie Badger also spoke, calling mining an “overlooked” industry. Badger’s uncle Merrill Palmer prospected the Constantine site and her son works for Constantine.
“Haines needs economic growth. That’s what we want to see. We’ve been a depressed community and we’re looking for a way up. I think we can have a healthy balance of viable, economic opportunities,” Badger said.