Originally posted by Geo_Skip
Interesting Feasibility Study/metallurgy and geostatistical model.
Reading through, on a cursory pass, the data and statistics seem superficially OK...but parts of the metallurgical process bother me quite a bit. A
lot of energy and water are being used in the process, a good bit of it seawater. Significant amounts of hazardous chemicals are being added....yet
nowhere did I see an analysis of waste water disposal, sludge/solid waste disposal or energy input costs for the processing presented.
Those are critical issues. The studies are naturally paid for by the Mining Company which wishes to justify their planned mine....Was an independent
audit or the costs, statistics and metallurgical process preformed? What is the proposed fate of the waste generated?
Remember, metallurgical "Bench Tests" typically are no more than a cartoon of real world conditions, but when they FAIL no one is laughing.
Metallurgical processes produce both the salable metal product and a lot of by-products which are hazardous waste (and expensive to safely dispose).
Serious questions need to be asked because of the great potential for long term damage to water supplies and the health of local human and other
populations. |