Yes, horizontal orebodies are more difficult to mine in any circumstance and I don't like them, but I have mined a few without trouble. There's an argument that the SA mines have been uneconomic since the '70's and have been kept running as a social concern. my own observations support this argument, but it is hotly denied by the owners.
And Old Pirate, ahhh, Old Pirate. The problem there was unwillingness to do the right thing at the Resource estimation and SS level. What did I write above? "without completing a competently prepared and disciplined FS or neglects a SS, then run or start shorting" and " the geo must demonstrate not only geological continuity (look, pa! I can measure this in three dimensions!) but grade continuity".
