“Northern exposure” The Red Dog experience

CIM Bulletin, Vol. 89, No. 1005, 1996

M. Naseem Mian and Curtiss O. Ehrsam, Cominco Alaska, Red Dog Mine, Kotzebue, Alaska

Alaska’s Red Dog Mine is strengthening its position within Cominco’s “Vision 2000” strategic plan by continually improving quality and quantity of production while reducing costs. Red Dog has evolved into a stable and mature operation, after six years of milling experience. A high grade, partially oxidized ore body in the severe Arctic environment, along with competing producers in a volatile metals market, are the continuing challenges facing Red Dog. The Red Dog Mine is striving to meet these challenges with emphasis on operator training combined with creative systems development and increased production. This paper describes developments in operations along with future plans.