In April, Doyon and Wiseman Metals held a community meeting in Tanana to provide updates about the latest developments on mineral exploration activities across Interior Alaska.
The collaboration between Doyon and Wiseman Metals began in March 2022 with the award of the Wiseman East Minerals Project through a competitive bidding process. This was followed by the Wiseman West Project in November 2022 and the Tofty Rare Earth Elements Project in December 2022. These projects marked the beginning of a long-term collaboration that benefits Doyon shareholders while also supporting responsible resource development. Doyon retains ownership of both surface and subsurface rights to all project sites and is the direct beneficiary of royalty income, were a project ever to become a mine.
Wiseman Metals is actively working on two exploration projects with Doyon. The Wiseman East Project shows strong potential for district-scale development, with mineralized systems that include copper, gold, silver, and molybdenum extending up to 12 kilometers. The Wiseman East project is located due east of the town of Wiseman, east of the Dalton highway.
The Kaazene REE Project is emerging as a significant carbonatite discovery in the historic Tofty mining district. These projects, while still in the exploration phase are designed to maximize long-term benefits for Doyon shareholders while adhering to strict environmental and cultural standards. The Kaazene Project is located near Manley Hot Springs.
Wiseman Metals also has a Cultural and Heritage Resource Program that places a strong emphasis on respecting Alaska Native heritage and traditions, while complying with legal and Doyon specific requirements. The company recognizes that evidence of human occupation in the Doyon Region dates back more than 14,000 years and approaches all field work as visitors on Doyon’s lands, ensuring care is taken to avoid disturbing cultural sites. All project employees receive specialized training to identify and preserve cultural artifacts. In the event of uncovering a potential historic site, photos, notes, and GPS coordinates are taken, and then the site is left undisturbed. The goal is to have as minimal impact as possible after reclamation when drilling is complete.
Consistent and respectful engagement with communities remains a top priority. Outreach efforts have included public meetings in Tanana, Manley Hot Springs, Fairbanks, Wiseman, Allakaket, and Alatna. Additional meetings have been held with stakeholders, including Tanana Chiefs Conference, K-Corp, Evansville, Inc., Minto Development Corporation, and Baan O Yeel Kon. More visits and community meetings are planned for 2025 to ensure that community voices continue to shape project development.
As part of its commitment to long-term region- wide benefits, Doyon and Wiseman Metals continue to support educational opportunities and workforce development for Doyon shareholders, through both scholarship donations to the Doyon Foundation, GeoFORCE, and the Alaska Native Science and Engineering Program (ANSEP), and by prioritizing shareholder employment in exploration projects. Increasing shareholder and local hires as more field activities become available remains a top priority.
The Kaazene Rare Earth Elements Project is a district-scale carbonatite discovery that may offer significant long-term value if developed responsibly. Over the next five to ten years, a thorough geological and economic assessment will be conducted to determine whether a viable deposit exists and whether it could be mined in a way that benefits shareholders and local communities while minimizing environmental and cultural impacts.
Carbonatite deposits like those at Kaazene are rare and geologically complex. Exploration in remote areas such as rural Alaska bring additional challenges – short field season, limited infrastructure, and high capital costs. Each project is also required to meet federal and state permitting standard, which ensures environmental compliance throughout the exploration process. While these factors require careful planning and execution, the potential long-term benefits for Doyon shareholders and local village communities make it a strong and worthwhile investment.
Rare Earth Elements (REEs) are used in a wide array of technologies, including electronics, wind turbines, and electric vehicles. Niobium, also present at Kaazene, is used in steel manufacturing to improve strength, heat resistance, and permanent magnets.
The REE exploration process involves geological mapping, surveys, and drilling to identify viable deposits.
In June 2023, two Wiseman employees spent four days sampling a previously explored area within Kaazene district to confirm the presence of REEs. During the August and September 2023 soil sampling program, landing zones were cleared for helicopter access, and two geologists supported by three local hires collected soil samples. In August 2024, additional samples were gathered for a metallurgical study. Planning is currently underway for the 2025 field season, which will continue to emphasize low-impact sampling, cultural sensitivity, and preservation.
