Drill Results Map — Alaska

Alaska — home to some of the world's largest undeveloped gold, copper, and zinc deposits — is a prime target for junior exploration companies. Here's how to create a professional drill results map using Exploration Maps in 15–30 minutes.

Example drill results map created in Exploration Maps — Example drill results map exported from Exploration Maps — style your Alaska data the same way.

About Mining in Alaska

Alaska hosts some of the largest undeveloped mineral deposits in the world, including Donlin Gold and Pebble, alongside active gold, zinc, and copper producers.

Key minerals: gold, copper, zinc, silver, coal, platinum. Notable deposits: Pebble, Fort Knox, Donlin Gold, Greens Creek, Red Dog. Mining districts: Fairbanks, Juneau, Nome, Seward Peninsula.

The Alaska Department of Natural Resources administers mineral rights in Alaska. Claim data is accessible through Alaska DNR Online Mapping.

Getting Mining Data for Alaska

Portal	Formats	Notes
Alaska DNR Online Mapping	Shapefile, KML	Alaska DNR uses NAD83 geographic coordinates. The Mining Claims portal allows polygon export by claim group. Alaska spans UTM Zones 5–9 — ensure all boundary layers use the same coordinate reference system before merging, as zone mismatches cause significant positional errors across the state's vast extent.

How to Create a Drill Results Map for Alaska

For a full step-by-step guide to drill results maps, see How to Make a Drill Results Map.

Import your drill collar CSV (columns: hole ID, latitude, longitude, depth, assay)
Assign the Drillholes layer role
Import the property claims boundary as GeoJSON
Add callout labels to key holes showing hole ID and best intercept
Use Badge Label type to highlight the highest-grade holes
Configure the title with program name and date
Set the Landscape 16:9 ratio for news release figures
Export as PNG at 2× for email and PDF for the news release attachment

Labelling a drillhole with its best intercept in Exploration Maps.

Tip for Alaska: Large Alaska deposits like Donlin Gold and Pebble span many tens of square kilometres — zoom out to show the full project outline and use a regional inset showing the nearest hub community (Bethel, Fairbanks) and access route to communicate the remote, fly-in logistics immediately.

Recommended Settings for Alaska

Basemap: Light or Satellite
Design theme: Investor — Navy & White
Export format: PNG at 2× for investor presentations, PDF (Letter or A4) for NI 43-101 reports
Coordinate system: Ensure source data is in WGS84 (EPSG:4326)

Common Use Cases in Alaska

Exploration news releases
NI 43-101 technical reports
Investor day presentations
Analyst briefings

Frequently Asked Questions

What file format do I need for Alaska mineral claims data?

Alaska mineral claims boundaries are available from Alaska DNR Online Mapping and can typically be downloaded as Shapefiles or KML. Convert these to GeoJSON at mapshaper.org before importing into Exploration Maps.

Who regulates mineral claims in Alaska?

Mineral claims in Alaska are regulated by the Alaska Department of Natural Resources. All tenure and claims data can be queried through Alaska DNR Online Mapping.

What minerals are typically mapped in Alaska?

Alaska is known for its gold, copper, zinc, silver deposits. Key producing and exploration-stage properties include Pebble, Fort Knox, Donlin Gold. The main mining districts are Fairbanks, Juneau, Nome.

Can I export a Alaska drill results map for a NI 43-101 report?

Yes. Exploration Maps exports PNG and PDF at 2–3× pixel ratio, suitable for inclusion in NI 43-101 technical reports as required figures. The export includes north arrow, scale bar, legend, and title block — all standard map elements required for NI 43-101 compliance.