barrick jv

Despite the lack of announcements from Barrick, the Tusker project is apparently emerging as a serious potential development. My geo friends suggest the grade of 1.15g/T, while lower than that produced in Barricks Australian operations, is still fine to mine. A lot of Barricks mines in South America, and some in North America are mining grades lower than the average of the Tusker resource, some lower than 50% less. So it all depends on the ability for open cut and the overall recovery in heap leach plants etc. With a few operations in Tanzania, some very close to Tusker, this project could well turn out to be a goer in the relatively near future. Provided an open pit was workable at that location and drainage of water entering the pit was not an issue.....interesting stuff. JUst hope I don't have to hold one for another 5 years to find out!