Progress has slowed down on a mine project in the advanced stages of exploration north of Haines. Constantine Metal Resources announced a belated and quiet work season this summer.
The Klehini River valley near the Palmer Project north of Haines. Photo by John S. Hagen.
Drillers are usually on the mountain at the Palmer Project twenty-four hours a day and seven days a week by mid-summer. But this year the Canadian metals company has no plans to drill. That’s only happened twice before—in 2011 and 2012—since exploration began in 2006. It means there’s far fewer workers at the mine project this year.
No drilling also means the company is spending less money on the project this year than last year. Still, it’s leaning on its Japanese partner company to help finance the roughly $2 million price tag for summer work. The company will sacrifice equity in exchange for the cash.
The Palmer Project promises to be a diverse metals mine with copper, gold, zinc, silver, and barite. Critics argue that mining could harm the nearby Chilkat River’s salmon run, but many residents hope a metals mine could bring high paying jobs to the region.
Last summer the company employed about sixty people, roughly half of whom were locals. This year Constantine has just one full-time and three part-time employees. The company may make additional hires, according to staff.
Constantine’s vice president will step down, but remain with the company as a part-time consultant. The company did not announce a replacement.
Field work this year will include surface evaluation of new prospects, surface mapping, core logging, and selected sampling. The company will prepare five acres of land for future underground exploration.
Even though the company has state permits to begin construction of a large underground tunnel at the site, it will not begin that construction this year. The permits for Constantine’s underground exploration are valid while under review by the state Department of Environmental Conservation.
This article incorrectly stated that Constantine Metal Resources has only skipped one year of drilling in 2012. It has been corrected to reflect that the company did not drill in 2011 or 2012. Language has been added to clarify that the vice president will continue to work for the company as a part-time contractor.
