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Show They Mine The High-Grade And Lov-Grade Ores f ' Ah I M ":lxh - r Wk . ' I. f vvA-u- j i -, - V t V V. ' i ; . - -1 ihrJL n rz? ! ; Miners in one of Utah's mines, where low-grade ore is a problem. All mines contain various amounts of low grade ore, a term given to the grade which la too low grade to ship or mill. The values are there, but the operating cost Is. too heavy to warrant mining. min-ing. The amount of ore In a mine Is therefore largely determined by operating costs encountered In handling It. i.abor costs, supply costs, sometimes pumping costs, shipment costs, treatment costs, and taxes all are a determining factor fac-tor In the situation. -Low grade ore is a problem. In some instances it Is necessary to mine the product and store it on the dump, but most often it Is left in the mine. When It is piled on the dump It Is generally stored separate from the mine waste, in the hope tha. It may be of value at some future time. Therefore, the higher the cost of operating a mine, tll smaller the mineable ore body becomes and the smaller the ore reserves and the smaller the mining industry. In Utah mines have adopted a policy of mining as much low grade as possible with the view of lengthening the life of the enter prise rather than "gutting" tha high grade ore for a temporary showing. It becomes a tragedy when low grade ores are left in the ground because miners can seldom come back and take this ore out. Unless the low grade is mined with the higher grade, the great majority will remain underground forever. Thus much potential wealth is lost. , |