MOLYBDENUM MINING: Max reopens after brief shutdown

BRITISH COLUMBIA - The Max molybdenum mine near Revelstoke has reopened, according to owner Roca Mines of Vancouver. Underground work was temporarily suspended on Aug 26, 2010, due to sloughing stope walls on the 830 and 805 levels.

Roca said in announcing the shutdown, "Increased wall sloughing activity has been observed in these areas over the past 24 hours. Rock mass conditions at these levels were previously observed to be less than that generally seen in the mine and a number of changes were made to the mine plan and scheduling as a result." Production and development activity was halted although the problem was contained in the stope and did not affect the ramp or other parts of the mine to which people have access.

The BC Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources allowed mining to resume on Sept. 3 following an independent geotechnical review of the conditions.

Further information and pictures of the Max project are available at www.RocaMines.com.