Australian mining firm explores potential vanadium deposit near Juneau

An Australian mining company has applied to the U.S. Forest Service for a round of exploratory drilling for a rare element about 35 miles southeast of Juneau.

Northern Cobalt, Ltd. is looking for vanadium in Southeast Alaska. It’s a rare mineral that has commercial value for use in steel alloys and state-of-the-art rechargeable batteries used in industrial plants and power grids.

A recent promotional video by the mining company touts the economic potential for a “vanadium bearing magnetite system” it says is consistent with many of the economic vanadium deposits currently in production around the world.

The mine claims are near Snettisham southeast of Juneau in the Tongass National Forest. Recent filings with the Forest Service say the land has no active federal mining claims.

Read more: https://www.alaskapublic.org/2019/07/05/australian-mining-firm-explores-potential-vanadium-deposit-near-juneau//