The Project
Located in Western Alaska, Donlin Gold sits 10 miles north of the community of Crooked Creek in the Yukon Kuskokwim (YK) region. The deposit contains an estimated 40 million ounces of gold, making it one of the largest known undeveloped gold resources in the world.
The project is located on lands owned by Calista Corporation and The Kuskokwim Corporation. Donlin Gold is expected to provide thousands of jobs during the three- to four-year construction phase and create long-term, generational opportunities for the region. During the estimated 27+ years of operations, a wide range of positions will be available.
Plans for the open-pit mine include a power generation plant, water treatment plant, two port sites, an access road connecting the port to the mine site, housing facilities, an airstrip, and a natural gas pipeline. This infrastructure would serve as a significant economic driver for the YK region.
Donlin Gold estimates the proposed mine could produce an average of 1.1 million ounces of gold annually during operations. At this level, Donlin Gold would be among the world’s highest quality gold producers.
Alaska Native Land Ownership
During the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act land selection process, Elders from the village of Crooked Creek selected lands 10 miles north of their village due to the area’s known mineral potential. Today, the land where Donlin Gold is developing the mine is owned by Calista Corporation (Calista) and The Kuskokwim Corporation (TKC).
Calista and TKC are communicating with Donlin Gold about ways to preserve their traditional way of life and provide economic opportunities for their Alaska Native shareholders and the YK Region. Donlin Gold is committed to developing the project in a way that goes beyond legal requirements to protect the environment and provide significant benefits to Alaska Native shareholders.
The DATROC, made up of representatives from TKC, Calista, and Donlin Gold, was formed to ensure that everyone’s interests are heard when Donlin Gold explores and develops the project.
Project Timeline
The project continues to make progress on federal and state permitting requirements, and ongoing permitting will be required throughout the life of the project. For more detail on Plans and Permits required for operation, please visit the Plans and Permits page. The next key milestones for the project include launching and completing the Bankable Feasibility Study (2026-2027), followed by engineering and site construction. Check back here for progress updates, and visit the Community Conversations page to learn about upcoming events and opportunities to add your input.
Upcoming Activities
- Updates on drill results will be available soon.
- Preparations are underway for the Bankable Feasibility Study (BFS) update.
- Options are being explored to bring natural gas to the project and the YK region.
- Hiring for critical roles to support the next phase of project development.
- Ongoing Public engagement to update stakeholders on the project.