SI
SI
discoversearch

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor.  We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community.  If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.
Gold/Mining/Energy : Montello Resources
 Public ReplyPrvt ReplyMark as Last ReadFilePrevious 10Next 10PreviousNext  
To: Jesse who wrote (2321)8/20/1998 10:44:00 PM
From: JP  Read Replies (1) of 4256
 
<<at minimum 800 times 800 times 80 equals about 51 million cubic meters of wet stuff, say with a specific gravity of 2.50.
That's 127 million tonnes of material to move and store in a stable pile. Since the stuff may be flowing, stabilizing dams may be necessary. _ Let's be generous, and say the operation costs down around $5.00 per tonne. That's over $600million for overburden removal.>>

Ouch -remind me not to let you quote on my basement. Of course the less the overburden the better -but the more diamonds per tonne the better as well. An open pit mine may not be the best approach but I am not going to try to second guess Kennecott. Depending on how the diamonds are distributed in the pipe - you may not open pit even the Ashton pipes. There are two types of mines -open pit at approx.$35US per tonne in NWT, and Underground at $50US per tonne in the NWT.
The Legend block is not the nicest place to find diamonds - a lot of it is muskeg - I've built several pipelines thru that area. If Kennecott is lucky -they will be close to a road - otherwise they could spend $30 to $50 million on a road. It is still better than trying to build in the NWT.
If you want to try to second guess the breakdown of the feasability study - be my guess -but if it becomes a commercial mine and Montello only goes to $20 instead of $40 - I won't be crying about overburden.
JP
PS - If the overburden dictated viability -Kennecott would not be wasting money drilling. Same for Ashton.
Report TOU ViolationShare This Post
 Public ReplyPrvt ReplyMark as Last ReadFilePrevious 10Next 10PreviousNext  

HomeMailHotSubjectMarksPeopleMarksKeepersSettings
Terms Of UseContact UsCopyright/IP PolicyPrivacy PolicyAbout UsFAQAdvertise on SI
© 2025 Knight Sac Media.  Data provided by Twelve Data, Alpha Vantage, and CityFALCON News