Abstract Laterites are regoliths developed under tropical to subtropical conditions and are host to key deposit types, notably bauxites (major sources of Al, derived from weathering of aluminosilicate rocks) and Ni-Co laterites (derived from ultramafic rocks). Research on the western Tethys region, where bauxites and Ni-Co laterites developed during the Mesozoic and Cenozoic, probably peaking at the Paleocene-Eocene thermal maximum when geology, paleogeography, and climate were ideal for the deep weathering of favorable lithologies, is reported in this article. Bauxites were developed on the rocks forming the continental margins to the various branches of the Tethys Ocean and were already forming in the Triassic, whereas the Ni-Co laterites developed on fragments of obducted ophiolite from the Tethys Ocean, which were only uplifted and exposed to weathering after the Jurassic. Residual lateritic bauxites are known in the region but karst bauxites are much more common. Ni-Co laterites are found as residual profiles, ranging from oxide, to clay-silicate, to hydrous-silicate types, but are also represented by distinctive, extensively redeposited clay-oxide ores. This diversity of styles probably reflects differences in topography and uplift history because the deposits all formed within a similar, restricted climatic time window. The bauxite belt extends from Spain in the west, through the type locality of Les Baux in France, and intermittently through the Balkans, Greece, and Turkey to Iran and beyond. Bauxite resources in Europe constitute around 2% of the world’s current known stock. Significant Ni-Co laterites are found in a more restricted geographic area stretching from Serbia to Turkey. The bulk of both Al and Ni-Co production currently comes from Greece, today accounting for around 1% of world production of both Ni and bauxite, and with published resources on the order of 650 Mt @ >50% Al 2 O 3 ; other mines are located in Turkey, Albania, and Kosovo. Ferronickel plants are located in Greece, but also in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, and Kosovo. The region has significant potential for the discovery of additional bauxite resources, although they would most likely be karst bauxites, less suited to large-scale mining efforts. Many undeveloped Ni-Co deposits are recorded in the region, with a recent focus to unlock the potential of oxide mineralization using novel hydrometallurgical technologies. Particularly noted is the potential for large low-grade redeposited lateritic Ni-Co-Fe deposits: Mokra Gora in Serbia, for example, has a resource of more than 1 Gt @ 0.7% Ni and 0.05% Co.

Abstract Mineral resources have been important to the Alaskan economy for hundreds of years. The Indians, Eskimos, and Aleuts used gold, copper, and other metals for jewelry, utensils, and weapons and as items of trade. The Russians, who arrived in 1728, showed only minor interest in minerals, focusing instead on furs. Nonetheless, records show that they mined iron ore on the Kenai Peninsula in 1793 and located gold there in 1834. In addition, the Russians were aware of copper-rich occurrences in the Copper River basin. The mining industry grew rapidly in Alaska after the United States purchased the region from Russia in 1867. By 1870, gold was being mined near Windham Bay and near Sitka, in southeastern Alaska. The first major hard-rock gold mining began at the Alaska-Juneau, Perseverance, and Treadwell mines near present-day Juneau following the discovery of placer gold near tidewater in 1880. Significant placer mining operations for gold soon spread northward into districts such as Fairban ks, Nome, Iditarod, and Circle. The exploitation of mineral resources, particularly gold, influenced the settlement and development of much of the state. Major cities such as Nome, Fairbanks, and Juneau, the capital, were originally built around early mining camps. By1996, more than 33 million oz of gold, as well as significant amounts of copper, lead, zinc, silver, and platinum-group elements, had been produced. In addition, there has been minor production of nickel. tin, mercury, and uranium Alaska is presently experiencing a renaissance in mining on federal, state, private, and native lands. From 1990 to 1996, the minerals industly had an annual value of approximately $600 million, with a record 1 billion in 1996. Nearly 3,500 year-round jobs were directly attributed to the minerals industq. Looking forward into the twenty-fi rst centu1y, the outlook is even better. Major mines such as Heel Dog are in production. Recently completed exploration at the Red Dog sedimenta1y exhalative deposit has significantly expanded the reserve base and major mine expansion is contemplated. The Nixon Fork gold skarn deposit was put into production in 1995, with the first ore poured in November. The Greens Creek mine resumed production in late 1996, following renewed exploration and development of the volcanogenic massive sulfide deposit. The Fort Knox gold mine, near Fairbanks, is under construction and is scheduled to yield ore by late 1996. In southwest Alaska exploration success has yielded a significant gold resource at Donlin Creek. In addition, the Kensington-Jualin project is