To: Metacomet who wrote (66679 ) 8/12/2009 12:39:22 PM From: E. Charters 2 Recommendations Respond to Producing. Well that is news. Rather hopeful. They have done it before, so I guess they can do it again. My reservations are their production team. Mill team is 60-40, but mining team and overall mining management is a question I am not sure they have resolved yet. Their mill desperately needs upgrading as the Zardoz atmospheric leaching system is way out of date, and may be losing gold. They need in depth practical experience who will pinch pennies appropriately, but not lacking in imagination. These days you have to be quite innovative to succeed. It is some hard to find the simple approach that is sufficiently skilled in the basics, yet broad enough in approach to try something new where it is needed. I see a lot of slack and wastage in the industry. There is precious little academic education in mining lore and keeping economics going. I was taught to measure the ore carefully and do in time in house assaying of the sections, and to stay tight on the ore outline. Controlling waste, costs, dilution, etc is paramount. Keeping men efficient and motivated is a big one too. Training and safety is a constant ongoing need. Skilled men are scarce. No matter if you are taking open cuts or shrinkage backs, you need careful control, planning, good attention to detail. I found assaying and determining the geometric extents of ore often weak links in the chain and not enough attention paid to methodology. Even in open pits you just can't follow the diamond drilling. Pit bottom determination is paramount and here since most people don't have good methods, and are playing mill roulette with catch as catch can geology, you need innovation. Mining has always been about practical innovation, that is why it is where it is today if it is anywhere past the 19th century. That development attitude needs to be continued. Few realize this need, and think they can get away with a casual approach to methodology, equipment, training, safety and man management. You need to apply all science and take a serious attitude, like the whole operation were launching a moon mission. Only then will you shave the nickels with the proverbial hatchet, head off the many lurking disasters and pull in the profits.
