Red Dog mine

The Red Dog mine is a large zinc and lead mine located in the CDP of Red Dog Mine, part of the Northwest Arctic Borough of the U.S. state of Alaska. Located about 80 miles (130 km) north of Kotzebue, the facility is operated by the Canadian mining company Teck Resources on land owned by the NANA Regional Corporation.

The mine is the world's largest producer of zinc and has the world's largest zinc reserves. Red Dog accounts for 10% of the world's zinc production. Red Dog accounted for 66% of the mineral value produced in Alaska in 2018. In 2008 the mine produced 515,200 tonnes (507,100 long tons; 567,900 short tons) of zinc, 122,600 tonnes (120,700 long tons; 135,100 short tons) of lead, and 283 tonnes (9,100,000 ozt) of silver, for a total metal value of over one billion dollars. At the end of 2008 the mine had reserves of 61,400,000 tonnes (60,400,000 long tons; 67,700,000 short tons) of zinc at a grade of 17.1% and lead at a grade of 4.5%, as well as significant additional zinc and lead in the less well-measured resource category.

According to a 2007 EPA report, the mine, which produces from an open pit, was mining the Aqqaluk ore body, immediately adjacent to the previous pit. Aqqaluk contains an additional 56 million metric tons (62 million short tons) of lead and zinc ore. The expansion was expected to keep the mine operating until 2031.