Is drift mining a practical way to mine nowadays?

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Re: Is drift mining a practical way to mine nowadays?

Post by Geowizard » Sat Feb 17, 2024 3:44 pm

What are Prefeasibility and Feasibility Studies?

Who is the investor?

A few references are probably in order...

https://investingnews.com/daily/resourc ... y-studies/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mining_feasibility_study

Terms like "due diligence" and "reality check" pop up. Another term "Capital appropriation" comes into consideration!

Wiki provides many valuable take-aways in the form of "references" at the end of their articles.

"The Hardrock Miner's Handbook" is a good reference:

https://www.stantec.com/content/dam/sta ... %205_3.pdf

Don't go away! :)

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Re: Is drift mining a practical way to mine nowadays?

Post by Geowizard » Sat Feb 17, 2024 4:09 pm

I made a major GOLD discovery;

This discovery popped up on the radar beween twelve and fourteen years ago depending on who gets credit for discovering what and when.

Read about it here:

https://www.usgoldmining.us/project/whi ... d-project/

Mining in Alaska;

https://www.usgoldmining.us/project/mining-in-alaska/

I downloaded their TRS for reference.

https://www.usgoldmining.us/_resources/ ... p-2022.pdf

It's an early report but the content is relevant for GOLD prospectors "nowadays" interested the wide array of technical questions that need answers when going into GOLD mining. It provides a glimpse into many considerations involved in the process of getting from here to there! :)

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Re: Is drift mining a practical way to mine nowadays?

Post by Joe S (AK) » Sun Feb 18, 2024 5:29 am

No, I believe that "Nowadays" refers to the inherent danger of drifting in the current context of modern, personally acceptable levels in the dangers resulting in severe injury or death.

Back into at least the last century, many, many what we now consider dangerous acts were the standard and the risks of mining like that considered commonplace.

For example a drift operation, typically with one or possibly two workers, would be conducted with minimal or non existent safety shoring. Often underground pillars would be left unworked in excavating the bedrock pay leaving JUST the minimum natural support behind as workers carefully bypassed the lost pay to keep working the continuing underground stream bed. One little slip, miscalculation or such meant that the miner's gamble just turned out to be a busted flush. Rarely would the victim's death be noted by others in the frantic pace of the others' ongoing search for their own fortune (or at least a couple of meals to fend off starvation).

Add to that, simply cutting an active underground water flow which could drown a miner in quick order or when the stream bed's pay pinched off and upon retreating from the workings the last deed to recover as much of the various column's locked up pay could easily cause a mis-calculation and a cave in.

Yes, the life of a miner was cheap back then and it's loss often not mentioned.

How about things like Mercury amalgamation to recover very fine Gold Dust? Perfectly OK a hundred or even 50 years ago but nowadays we don't do that. Teach the theory and the concept but don't be so arrogant and foolish as to use it in a nowadays operation.

Yes, a hardrock operation in Arizona is certainly NOT an OMG deep shaft with laterals deep in frozen surface muck somewhere in Alaska but they BOTH have unacceptable levels of danger in the realm of current thinking.
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Re: Is drift mining a practical way to mine nowadays?

Post by Geowizard » Sun Feb 18, 2024 3:11 pm

Practicality and safety;

Back in the old days, miners had a hard time keeping any help because people were getting hurt and killed in the mines. It wasn't practical to have to keep retraining replacements!

Nowadays, there is a culture of Safety.

Current thinking in Drift mining and mining in general nowadays operates on a culture of safety, not on a culture of fear. :o

Mining companies across the world have developed a new approach to mining.

Alaska is no exception. Look at these Underground operations in Alaska and the Safety Culture that they perpetuate. Check it out!

Coeur Mining at the Kensington Mine.

https://s201.q4cdn.com/254090064/files/ ... Report.pdf

Northern Star - Pogo Mine.

https://www.nsrltd.com/sustainability/s ... erformance

Hecla Mining Company - Greens Creek Mine.

https://www.hecla.com/sustainability/safety-health

Niblack Project LLC -

http://niblackproject.com/

http://niblackproject.com/s/Sustainable ... pment.html

Don't go away! There's more! :)

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Re: Is drift mining a practical way to mine nowadays?

Post by Joe S (AK) » Tue Feb 20, 2024 8:11 pm

And so you extend that "Safety is All" culture to one or maybe two men sinking a shaft somewhere in the puckerbrush?

Today's miners are better educated than those miners from the distant past. In addition, today's miners aren't forced to choose between starvation, barely getting by with minimal safety or returns for their efforts.

No, while drift mining can be a bit more bottom line productive than stream sluicing (even with a little motorized equipment) but the dangers often outweigh the results.

I am firmly reminded of the warnings I came upon long ago when I first started mining. Back then I was advised that a huge nugget is absolutely worthless when tightly grasped in a miner's cold, dead hand.

So, Pishon, while drift mining was done long ago, by relatively desperate guys, it's just too dangerous to consider today unless extensive care is used to offset those dangers.

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Re: Is drift mining a practical way to mine nowadays?

Post by Geowizard » Thu Feb 29, 2024 5:26 pm

It's a necessity;

Drift mining is not only practical, it's an absolute necessity!

Veins, shear zone hosted, intrusive Gold Related (IRG) deposits dominate the scene so far as gold deposits are concerned. These deposits are by necessity exclusively mined economically using drift mining methods. Only the low grade disseminated deposits are mined economically using open-pit methods. Doesn't mean they are all economic or sub-economic. Doesn't mean drift mining is the only way. There are conditions where it is the only way.

Is it dangerous;

Airplanes are dangerous. Automobiles are dangerous. Electricity is dangerous. There are many dangerous things that are managed routinely to make them safe. Safety in mining is no exception. Through a program of engineering, management and proper, well understood safe practices, drift mining is perfectly safe.

I can prove it;

Two years ago, I launched a hard rock mining campaign! Will it work? Will I die? Is it practical nowadays?

Stick around and find out! :)

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Re: Is drift mining a practical way to mine nowadays?

Post by Geowizard » Thu Feb 29, 2024 5:58 pm

Social Governance;

Mining in the 21st century involves social responsibility to others including the environment. Drift mining is the most socially and environmentally friendly method of mining!

No fish are harmed. No waterways are involved in underground mining. The mining is out of sight, out of view, out of ear shot with little or no impact outside of the underground workings. Methods are employed to backfill mined out areas underground. Water flow underground is sealed off to prevent incursion of water and prevent outflow that can cause groundwater contamination.

After discovery, an underground GOLD deposit can be drilled. In many cases, shallow drilling is permitted with minimal time or expense in the permitting process. Drilling is low impact on the environment. Holes are filled and sealed as per the permitting requirements. Next, a mine design is developed. Mine design takes into consideration competency.

Are you competent and is the rock competent?

Drift miners and the companies involved are skilled in the process of drift mining. That's their profession. Being professional comes from having the proper tools, education, management, planning, technical skills and experience necessary to do the job properly and safely.

Stick around. There's more! :)

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Re: Is drift mining a practical way to mine nowadays?

Post by Joe S (AK) » Mon Mar 04, 2024 8:26 am

Here are two guys working in interior Alaska who are dropping a shaft this winter. Something those who are interested in drift mining might find interesting.

https://youtu.be/tAeFy0-NLus?si=HVo91oxK4OUFvRur
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