The opening of the adit is unobtrusive. It's easy to assume countless hunters and explorers had traipsed right by without a sideways glance. But beyond the moldy, green timbers that shroud the opening near Juneau's south side, beyond the pitch blackness within, is a mine shaft that extends nearly a half-mile into the mountain - one that miners cut by hand during the winter months of 1930 and 1931.

Mining built Juneau, and with the Kensington mine's imminent opening, mining will play a bigger role in the future as well.

ANCHORAGE - Blood tests of more than 2,700 Alaska workers tested for lead showed amounts that federal health officials consider unhealthy.

Federal inspectors from the Mine Safety and Health Administration are flying into Juneau today to observe repair work underway at Greens Creek Mine on Admiralty Island. The mine has been closed since Monday after a shift supervisor spotted problems in the main access tunnel.Mozilla/3.0b6Gold

Greens Creek Mine is back in business today, after a four-day closure. The mine shut down Monday after supervisors noticed deteriorating rock in the main access tunnel. Repairs have been made and federal inspectors, sent to Admiralty Island to observe the support work and look for other problem