They are and have been mining for quite some time I did't find the news release from a few years ago but this one is on the web site under the pic of gold nuggets found there.
A Wealth of Gold
Photos on September 7th, 2009 Comments Off
The 41.5 troy ounce gold nugget sits among the day’s catch as they await their final journey to the marketplace. $100,000 worth of collector’s items and jewelry-grade gold nuggets will be sold to Alaska’s tourists and will travel worldwide to adorn the neck of a beautiful lady. But not ol’ grandad. He sits in a place of honor on the mantelpiece of a castle in Spain. A journey from a place frozen in time and darkness beneath a mile of ice to be admired by the eyes of man as he tips a glass and pays his homage.
Lightning cracks the blackened sky,
Hear the thunder chariot ride
All brave men with hearts of war
Ride the path of mighty Thor