Posted on 04/06/2006 11:40:43 AM PDT by rellimpank
The Climax mine will pour molybdenum once again. Owner Phelps Dodge of Phoenix on Wednesday said it would spend $200 million to $250 million to resume strip-mine operations at the top of Fremont Pass - after shuttering it for more than 20 years.
The company expects to begin harvesting the stainless steel-hardening mineral by the end of 2009. It plans to produce up to 30 million pounds of molybdenum per year for at least 20 years and hire 300 to work in the mine.
(Excerpt) Read more at rockymountainnews.com ...
Seems like metals have come up enough in price to consider running marginal mines again.
Last time I was up there was around 1986, during field camp (geology). I was astounded at how much of that mountain had been mined (not that I was against, I was just in awe of all the work that had been done).
--well over half a billion tons is a lot of rock moved--
Moly-be-damned
Climax, steel-hardening, shaft,....no. I'm gonna go get a soda instead.
Any word on transport?
There are rails to that site, but the UP (former D&RG)
mainline is closed (but tracks still there) and
disconnected from the spur (former C&S, now L,C&S tourist),
and the final 1/2 mile or so needed work the last time
I saw it.
--the railroad from Leadville is operated to a point above Birdseye Gulch as a summer tourist ride--
Good. More stainless steel means a better price for Ruger's SP101.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.