Exploiting A Small Orebody Vauze Mines lttl.

CIM Bulletin, 1964

Orebodies occur in an infinite variety of grades, shapes and sizes, and take many millions of years to grow. When extraction starts there is only one possible end - the mine sooner or later will run out of ore and shut down. If the mineral industry is to supply the ever increasing demands of modern civilizations, more and more metals must be found and mined. This will require a never-ending search for ore, and the development of every economic body, large or small. To justify the mining of a small orebody, it first of all . must pay its way. If the size of the burden imposed by the capital cost estimates is not carefully worked out, an otherwise promising situation could be killed. The very nature of mining, as a transient industry, releases a steady stream of good used equipment, and the trained personnel to install and operate it. All manner of plans and layouts, which can be utilized at a new property, are available. Working these and other economies into the estimates will sometimes make enough difference to give a prospect the green light. To illustrate some of these economies, this paper first follows the steps taken to bring the Vauze mine into production, with an ore estimate of only 184,000 tons. A generalization is then attempted, with special emphasis on some of the main points covered in a feasibility study. It is hoped that this treatment of a very diverse subject will act as a guide for the layman, a help to the student, and possibly a point of argument for the expert.

Keywords: copper, plant, rhyolite, rock bolt, zinc, Cost, Equipment, Mine, Mines, Ore, Ores, Plants, Production