Gold Mining in Alaska

 Mining in Alaska is a huge factor to the economy one of the six top industries, along with Oil, Tourism, Fishing, Timber and Agriculture (Alaskas) Mining is a huge source of employment for the state with most mines only operating for a few months a year in the summertime. These mines are only able to operate in the summer due to Alaska's long, harsh winters. The metal in the dirt is also inaccessible when the ground is frozen and unable to be dug up 

Gold is found in the ground  near where streams and rivers used to flow, this dirt is referred to as pay, pay is gold rich dirt that is often found right above bedrock, this is often rich with gold flakes and small nuggets. These gold flakes are then separated from the ground using a wash plant or a trommel, washing the pay dirt and separating the gold out of the rest of the dirt and rocks. The gold is then moved into the sluice box with other small rocks and dirt, via a conveyor on the wash plant. 

After the gold goes into the sluice box, miners have to use a gold washer to separate the gold from the dirt and clean it. After the gold is cleaned it is weighed, melted down to a liquid and poured into gold bars, where it can be sold.

Alaska has many Gold mines throughout the state, some including the Red Dog Mine in the Northwest Arctic Borough, The Fort Knox mine in Kinross, The Pogo mine, south of Fairbanks and the Greens Creek mine, in Juneau.  (Alaskas) 

The economy is greatly benefited by Gold Mining in Alaska, as it creates over 10,000 jobs each year. With many of these employees making around 100,000 dollars per year. This doesn't include the local Government revenue for 2019 was about 17 million dollars and State Government revenue was over 148 million dollars. (Economy)

Citations 

"Alaskas Mining Industry." akrdc.org, Resource Development Council for Alaska,
     Inc., 2021, www.akrdc.org/mining. Accessed 26 Jan. 2021.

"Alaskas Mining Industry." Alaska.edu, Jan. 2012, www.alaska.edu/bor/files/
     120412Ref02_AK_Mining_Industry_Economic_Benefits.pdf. Accessed 26 Jan.
     2021.

"Economy." Alaska.gov, 2021, alaska.gov/kids/learn/
     economy.htm#:~:text=The%20oil%20and%20gas%20industry,dependent%20upon%20world%20o
     il%20prices. Accessed 26 Jan. 2021.