Some mines are marginal mines, and for these they can only mine low grade ore and being so they will be forced to close down their operations and place their mines under care and maintenance.
Others have been mixing normal ores with low grade ores and these ones in order to survive have to resort to mining only normal grade ores, in which case they will become more efficient producers.
My understanding is that mining have been automated as much as possible meaning that their main problem lies with capital costs rather then wages. For instance, the iron ore trans no longer are manually driven.
Rio Tinto backs 'driverless' train plan - Sydney Morning Herald www.smh.com.au/.../rio-tinto-backs-driverless-train-plan-20120219-1th...? Feb 20, 2012 - Rio Tinto has gambled on technology by approving a $A483 million plan to make its iron ore trains 'driverless' within three years. ... reskilling but you don't need a team of truck drivers to sit and operate one computer,'' he said.
