Despite the challenges associated with working during a global pandemic, mining and mineral exploration continued in the Northwest Territories (NWT).

Diavik Mine and Gahcho Kué Mine continued to operate, while Ekati Mine ceased operation in March. At the time of writing this abstract, a deal for the purchase of the Ekati Mine in under evaluation. 

NorZinc Ltd. continued to advance their proposed Prairie Creek project, which has all permits in place for mine construction and operation. Fortune Minerals Limited NICO project saw a renewed exploration effort. Mountain Province Diamonds Inc. carried out additional drilling and geophysics on their Kennady North project. A drilling program at by Nighthawk Gold Corp’s Indin Lake project yielded multiple high grade gold intercepts. Osisko Metals filed a positive PEA for their Pine Point project and continued to carry out exploration drilling. Vital Metals continued to work on the Nechalacho rare earths project, targeting production in 2021. Gold Terra continued to explore their Yellowknife City Gold project with an emphasis on their Crestaurum deposit and the Campbell Shear structure.

The Government of the Northwest Territories Mining Incentive Program (MIP) funded 20 projects with $1 million in total program funding, indicating continuing interest in NWT mineral exploration.