Greens Creek Mine

Greens Creek Mine
Name	Greens Creek Mine
Location	Admiralty Island, Alaska, United States
Coordinates	57°45′00″N 134°30′00″W
Owner	Hecla Mining Company (operator), Sumitomo Metal Mining Co., Ltd., Doyon Limited
Products	silver, zinc, lead, gold
Opening year	1989
Type	Underground
Website	Hecla Mining Company

Greens Creek Mine Greens Creek Mine is a large underground polymetallic mine on Admiralty Island in the Alexander Archipelago, Alaska. The operation produces significant quantities of silver, zinc, lead and gold and is operated by Hecla Mining Company with partners including Sumitomo Metal Mining Co., Ltd. and Doyon Limited. The mine lies within the Tongass National Forest near Juneau and has been a major site in the history of mining in Alaska, affecting regional transportation, indigenous communities, and international commodity markets.

Overview

Greens Creek Mine is an underground polymetallic vein and replacement deposit on Admiralty Island, adjacent to the city of Juneau, Alaska, within the Tongass National Forest. The operation is owned and operated by Hecla Mining with partners including Sumitomo Metal Mining Co., Ltd. and Doyon Limited. The site is served by the Juneau International Airport and maritime access via Stephens Passage, and it is regulated under statutes administered by the United States Forest Service and overseen by the Alaska Department of Natural Resources and the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation. Greens Creek has been recognized in industry publications such as Mining Journal and Engineering and Mining Journal for its high-grade silver production and low-sulfur ore processing methods compared to other American deposits like Kennecott Copper Corporation operations and notable Canadian projects such as Red Dog Mine.

History

Exploration and development at the deposit were influenced by prospecting activities linked to the Klondike Gold Rush era and later reconnaissance by companies including Cominco Limited and Teck Resources interests. Development accelerated in the 1980s when Hecla Mining and partners invested in underground infrastructure, culminating in production startup in 1989. Greens Creek’s production history intersects with fluctuations in global metal prices driven by events such as the 1979 energy crisis, the Asian financial crisis (1997) and the post-2008 commodities boom. Ownership partnerships evolved with transactions involving Doyon Limited and international investors like Sumitomo Metal Mining Co., Ltd., reflecting trends in cross-border mining investment exemplified by deals involving firms such as Barrick Gold and Newmont Corporation in other jurisdictions. The mine’s regulatory milestones included permitting and environmental reviews involving the National Environmental Policy Act processes and interaction with Native corporations influenced by legal precedents like the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act.

Geology and Mineralization

Greens Creek is hosted in Mesozoic metavolcanic and metasedimentary rocks of the Alexander Terrane and lies within a regional geological framework that includes the Alexander Archipelago and the sculpting influence of Pleistocene glaciation. Ore occurs as volcanogenic massive sulfide (VMS)-style replacement and structurally controlled vein systems with sulfide minerals dominated by galena (PbS), sphalerite (ZnS), and pyrite (FeS2), with significant native silver and electrum associated with late-stage hydrothermal events. The deposit is compared in literature to other volcanogenic and epithermal systems such as Kuroko-type deposits in Japan and VMS examples like Bathurst Mining Camp in New Brunswick. Structural controls include faulting related to accretionary processes driven by the subduction history along the Pacific Plate margin and terrane accretion events similar to those affecting the Wrangellia terrane.

Operations and Production

Greens Creek operates as an underground mine using longhole stoping and mechanized development with ore processed at an on-site mill employing flotation circuits and paste tailings disposal methods. Annual production has placed the mine among the world’s top silver producers, with concentrate shipments routed through Juneau Port to smelters in markets including Japan and South Korea operated by firms such as Sumitomo Metal Mining Co., Ltd. and multinational smelting companies akin to Glencore. The operation utilizes power and logistics links to regional infrastructure investments similar to projects supported by Alaska Energy Authority and relies on skilled labor sourced from Juneau, Alaska and other Alaskan communities. Mine planning and reserve estimates follow reporting standards like those promulgated by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission and international codes observed by companies including Hecla Mining and peers such as Teck Resources.

Environmental Management and Safety

Environmental management at Greens Creek involves water treatment, tailings management, and wildlife monitoring coordinated with agencies such as the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation and the United States Environmental Protection Agency. Measures include engineered tailings containment, marine water quality monitoring in Stephens Passage, and reclamation planning consistent with practices advocated by organizations like the Society for Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration and Mine Waste Technology Program collaborations. Health and safety programs adhere to standards from institutions such as the Mine Safety and Health Administration and industry best practices promoted by bodies like the International Council on Mining and Metals. The site engages in acid rock drainage mitigation and biodiversity monitoring addressing species protected under statutes such as the Endangered Species Act, with attention to regional fauna including humpback whales and salmon populations managed under National Marine Fisheries Service jurisdiction.

Economic and Community Impact

The mine is a major regional employer affecting the economies of Juneau, Alaska, Sitka, and Southeast Alaska communities, creating linkages with service industries, shipping firms, and suppliers similar to contractors used by Alcoa and other industrial operations. Partnerships with Doyon Limited and engagement with Tlingit community organizations reflect the mine’s role in indigenous economic development paralleling initiatives seen with Native Corporations across Alaska. Revenues and taxes flow through state channels such as the Alaska Department of Revenue and contribute to infrastructure and social programs influenced by fiscal policies similar to state-level programs administered by the Alaska Permanent Fund Corporation. Greens Creek’s presence informs regional planning discussions involving tourism operators in Southeast Alaska and conservation stakeholders including The Nature Conservancy and the Alaska Conservation Foundation.

Category:Mines in Alaska Category:Silver mines Category:Lead mines Category:Zinc mines