large underground mining isn't cheap ..., page-14

soory guys but most of your posts are ill informed.

The Cadia East project is a block cave.

Block caves require massive infrastructure, long lead times to eastablish the draw points, but once this infrastructure is established the effect of econonomies of scale kicks in. Block caves can have production costs that are lower than open pit costs.

Block caves can also have production scales that greater than open pit.

Block caves are best suited to large disseminated ore bodies, massvive amounts of draw points are set up, the first part is fired and when the ore is drawn more ore will come down as the orebody breaks under its own weight. Imaging underground production without drill and blast. In the mining industry block caves are known as "rock factories" but they require underground crushers and conveyors too handle (big money) the large amount of material.

also the idea of mining through low grade to get to high grade is utter bullsh^t, mining is performed according to the NPV formula whereby the high grade is targeted and taken asap!