1991

The El Indio complex has reserves that will last for at least another 10 years. At the 3700 level, the deepest mine access, the San Paulo drift is being extended to confirm mineralization and to set u…

At the rarefied elevation of 4,000 metres above sea level, you learn to adjust physiologically. You regularly take extra gulps of air to compensate for that occasional, uncomfortable breathless feelin…

LAC’s exploration efforts are divided into three informal components. Two are already functioning and a third only recently was initiated. The first such component has a worldwide mandate for “pure ex…

Thayer Lindsley had an undisputed talent for finding and developing mines. Patience, however, wasnt one of his strong points. As president of the rapidly expanding Ventures Group in the early 1940s, L…

Rockbolts are rare at El Indio. You might find them in the service bays, along with screening or shotcreting. But they are not in evidence in the main drifts or in stopes. Only where drifts cross faul…

Labor costs run between US$500 to $1,000 per month for unionized workers at El Indio. Workers also benefit from an incentive program, similar to mining bonuses at Canadian operations, and a profit-sha…

Arsenic has been the bugbear at El Indio since its inception. Currently, 93% of the arsenic is captured before it goes out the roaster stacks. LAC is working to increase the gas capture to 98%. Accord…

LAC Minerals was criticized at the turn of the 1980s for “speculating” on the gold price by hedging gold production. For the mining industry back then, this was a true innovation — and heresy. Hedgin…

GOLD FIELDS DRILLING AGAIN Due to difficulties with overburden there have been no further results from drilling in the new west ore area at Malartic Gold Fields. Hole No. 154, located 100 ft. west of …

Aeroquip (Canada) Inc. has introduced MatchMate Plus, a trademarked crimp hose assembly system that includes a new one-piece global fitting and other enhancements to its popular Match Mate system. The…

If ever there were to be a country-wide award for flexibilty in processing plants, for adapting to changing times, then LAC Mineral’s Est Malartic mill would be the run-away winner. The mill was built…

Heap leach ore at El Indio is a byproduct of mining in the Tambo open pits. Low-grade ore running on average 1.2 g per tonne — waste rock were it not for heap leaching — is piled in 6-m lifts up to …