| Show They Mine The High Grade i And P Low-Grade Low Ores i s 1 V h Y r r rr S kYl J I i s' s r eks rt Miners in one of Utah's mines where low grade ore is a problem ii iiI I All nt m mines i n e s contain various parlous amounts of oC low grade ore are a term given ghen to the grade which is too low grade to ship or mill The values are aie there but there there- but the operating cost is too heavy to warrant mm min min min- ing lag The amount of ore in a mine Is therefore largely determined by op operating costs encountered in handling It Labor Labor- costs supply costs sometimes pumping costs shipment costs treatment costs and taxes all are a determining factor factor fac Cae fac- fac tor in the situation Low grade ore is a problem In some some Instances it is necessary to tomine tomine tomine mine the product and store it on the dump but hut most often otten it is leftIn left lert leftin in the mine millu When it is piled on the tho dump it is generally stored separate separate from th 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 the smaller the ore body becomes and the smaller the ore reserves and the smaller the mining industry industry- In Utah mines have hae adopted a policy of mining as much low grade as possible with the thc view of lengthening the life liCe of the enterprise enterprise enterprise enter enter- prise rather than gutting the high grade grado ore for a temporary showing It becomes a tragedy when hen low grade ores are left leCt in the ground because miners can seldom come comeback comeback comeback back and take this ore are out Unless the low grade Is mined with the higher grade the great majority will remain underground forever Thus much potential wealth Is la lost |
