Lee Ann Munk

An annual gathering for people involved in Alaska’s resource sectors, with keynote speakers, panel discussions, and more than 100 exhibitors.

The program combines technical sessions, a mining trade show, poster sessions, a Core Shack and Prospectors Tent, and policy discussions. Technical subjects include Alaska geoscience and mineral-resource data; exploration projects involving gold, antimony, lithium, tin, tantalum, niobium, nickel, graphite and copper; remote mine access and infrastructure; and mine operations and engineering. Policy sessions address Alaska permitting, mining’s economic impacts, FAST-41 coordination, water-reservation regulations, Alaska’s energy and critical-minerals future, cross-border mining collaboration, and industry collaboration on wildlife habitat. Other presentations cover permafrost and mine remediation, machine learning for safer mining and subsurface gas operations, mine-waste geomembranes, freight costs, geophysical mapping, mine engineering data, NEPA reform, Clean Water Act jurisdiction, and mine-road stabilization. The program also includes a discussion of Alaska’s resource future and regulatory priorities, a session on Kinross Alaska’s partnership with Interior Alaska, and an Alaska general-election recap. Bill Groffy, the Bureau of Land Management’s principal deputy director, and Emma Pokon, EPA Region 10 administrator, are among the featured officials.

The program combines technical sessions, a mining trade show, poster sessions, the Core Shack, the Prospectors Tent, AMA policy discussions, and updates on operations and development projects in Alaska. Technical programming covers geoscience investigations, early exploration projects, advanced exploration highlights, policy issues, and operations and development projects. Additional programming includes a Mining District Breakfast emceed by Paul Manuel, a University and Friends Breakfast, keynote luncheons, an HR Roundtable, History Night with the Alaska Mining Hall of Fame Foundation, a closing banquet, industry awards recognizing Alaska mining leaders, and support for Alaska Resource Education. The Core Shack theme, “Built to Deliver – Advancing Alaska Mining,” features core samples, project insights, discoveries, and exploration work. The Prospectors Tent showcases independent prospectors and early-exploration projects, mineral prospects, maps, photographs, and rock samples. Educational short courses address geology and processing of critical minerals for electrification; education, workforce development, and communities; leadership skills for high-performing teams; and consultant agreements, privilege, and information management for Alaska mining. Named presenters include George Case (US Geological Survey - Anchorage), Chris Jenikins (US Geological Survey - Spokane), Ehsan Vahidi (University of Nevada - Reno), Beki Toussaint and Taylor Burgh (Alaska Resource Education), Mike Heatwole (Pebble Partnership), Maureen Breeze, M. Stephen Enders, and Jill Nelson (Brooks & Nelson), and Cody Doig (Stoel Rives).