What I'm saying is not everything in the area is ISL. Contigious with the VD claims and owned by a major mining corp is a smelter and mill running the same mineralization as at VD. It's a heap leach operation.
ISL is NOT as cost effective/economical as heap leach. Recovery of copper in ISL is around 45-50% historical average. Heap leach is up to 85% copper recovery.
The most expensive part of underground mining is cost of the shaft. Some underground operations you can get away with a ramp/decline, very cheap compared to a shaft. There is already a shaft into Van Dyke.
CUU says ISL, a buyer might say 'Hey our mine is depleting at a rapid pace. The other mines in the area are rapidly depleting as well. Do you want jobs? Let us look at the economics of heap leach.'
Just because its under a town doesn't mean it can't happen. Just because CUU says its ISL doesn't mean a buyer will agree.
Just saying is all.
ttfn
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