MOLYBDENUM MINING: Second suspension at MAX mine

BRITISH COLUMBIA - Once again Roca Mines of Vancouver has been forced to temporarily suspend production at its MAX molybdenum mine near Revelstoke due to unstable ground conditions. Sloughing stope walls on the 830 and 805 levels led to an eight-day shutdown beginning on Aug. 26. The latest problem involves the collapse of the 830-850 level sill pillar. The company said that no workers or mobile equipment were in the area at the time of the collapse.

The stability of the sill pillar had been the focus of ongoing observation. Geotechnical monitoring conducted by mine personnel successfully observed increased activity in this area on Sept. 20. The sill pillar apparently failed progressively, initially occurring as ravelling in the evening and ultimately failing at approximately midnight. No other instability has been observed since that time.

Updates will be available at www.RocaMines.com.