Celebrating mining in Alaska: Alaska Miners Association marks 75 years.

• Author: Crockett, Deantha
• Position: SPECIAL SECTION: Mining

In 2014, the Alaska Miners Association (AMA) is celebrating its 75th Anniversary. Of course, mining roared to life much earlier than 1939 in the land now organized into the state of Alaska. Somewhere along the line, miners across Alaska began to see value in uniting efforts to promote their livelihoods, a fact that couldn't be more true 75 years later.

We have much to celebrate. Alaska is rich with mining history, and I am faithful that our future will be too.

Many of the Alaska Business Monthly readership has either seen me deliver a presentation or read an article I've written that starts out with discussion of the importance of minerals in our lives. Now, I may sound like a broken record, but I continue to be amazed by the common disconnect between using mined products, yet opposing mineral extraction.

Without question, every one of us depends on minerals each day. Look at the platinum, aluminum, copper, gold, and silver used to construct an iPhone and the rare earth elements that make it vibrate. Look at the zinc used in something as simple as sunscreen and as complex as the galvanizing of guardrails. One cannot dispute that mining has something to do with everything.

The amenities and necessities in our lives will ensure the demand for minerals remains constant, so no doubt mining activity will resume for years to come. Alaska has one of the strongest and most stringent permitting processes in the world, which ensures that minerals developed in the state will supply the world from a domestic source with an excellent environmental and safety track record. It is also a crucial part of Alaska's economy. Alaska's six large-scale mines and hundreds of small placer operations all provide Alaskans with good jobs, contribute to local and state government revenues, benefit Alaska Native Corporations, and support hundreds of Alaska small businesses.

Examining Barriers

I am often asked what it will take to further Alaska's mining industry and increase the amount of operating mines in the state. I will be honest. Right now, we have a lot of barriers that keep Alaska from being a top jurisdiction for investment dollars. These barriers are worthy of examination.

Access to capital investment dollars is limited across the globe. Large global mining companies and other investors have limited capital, and in the last few years, I've become quite familiar with the term "tightening the belt" in reference to mining investment. A limited amount of capital...