LAST BUT NOT LEAST — Oracle Ridge running smoothly

Five months after operations resumed, the Oracle Ridge copper mine in southwestern Arizona is reported to be running smoothly.

Seventy-per-cent owner Southern Copper (VSE) placed the underground mine back in production in October, 1993, after a shutdown for mill modification and expansion to 1,000 from 750 tons per day.

Revenues exceeded the cost of operations by US$36,000 in January and a feasibility study is planned, to examine the economics of further expansion. Proven and probable reserves are estimated at 5.2 million tons grading 2.24% copper, up from the 1991 estimate of 4 million tons grading 2.33% copper.