ARCTIC DEPOSIT
The Arctic deposit (Arctic) is a polymetallic volcanogenic massive sulfide (VMS) deposit in the Ambler Belt that spans 0.4 square miles and extends 820 feet below the surface. It is one of the world’s highest-grade copper deposits, with an estimated average grade of approximately 5% copper equivalent. Arctic is at a feasibility stage, and current activities are focused on advancing permitting. Ambler Metals maintains an active partnership with NANA, meeting regularly with NANA representatives and local tribes to share updates on project plans and developments in the area.
LOCATION
Arctic is geographically isolated, with no current road access or nearby power infrastructure.
It is located approximately 22 miles northeast of Kobuk, 168 miles east of Kotzebue, and 162 miles west of the Dalton Highway.
The broader Ambler mining district is located in the southern Range Brooks range, in the Northwest Arctic Borough of Alaska.
GEOLOGY AND MINERALIZATION
First discovered in the 1970s, Arctic holds an estimated 46.7 million tons of probable mineral reserves, including copper, lead, zinc, gold, and silver.
Mineralization occurs as semi-massive to massive sulfide beds within graphitic and quartz mica schists, varying in thickness from less than 3.3 feet to as much as 59 feet. The deposit’s mineralization is predominantly coarse-grained sulfides, including chalcopyrite, sphalerite, galena, tetraedrite, arsenopyrite, pyrite, and pyrrhotite.
ESTIMATES
It is estimated that Arctic will produce about 10,000 tons of ore per day over a lifespan of 13 years.
The facility will include tailings management, waste rock handling, and water treatment, and the concentrate will be moved to ports in South Central Alaska.
Arctic is expected to create over 1,000 jobs in both construction and operations, ultimately bringing $550,000,000 to the state of Alaska.
