Hello Luker.
Your reference to our ilmenite ore possibilities in the State of Virginia reminded me of a BBC/PBS television documentary series (“The Planets”) I viewed a few months ago. During one episode, the narrator discussed the possibility of mining the ilmenite ore present on the Moon. As well, online, Space Magazine confirms ilmenite ore is present on the Moon (in similar concentrations as those proven at Magpie). It calls the deposits “troves of titanium.”
Obviously, Magpie is a complete unknown to the BBC or to PBS or to Space Magazine. That’s understandable, given our managing directors’ continuing dedication to making as little effort as legally permissible to publicize the richness and size of our world class deposit at Magpie (on Planet Earth).
Space Magazine Article
However, that doesn’t stop me, here and now (on Planet Earth), from roughly estimating the transportation distances. So far as the State of Virginia, local roads and highways and rail links are well established. But, of course, what (if anything) we will find there is unknown.
On the other hand, the mountain of proven ilmenite at Magpie is approximately one hundred kilometers from the nearest shipping facilities at Sept-Îles. According to my calculations, that’s a considerably closer and easier transportation distance than the journey to the Moon and back, where there’s no shipping infrastructure or, for that matter, no infrastructure of any kind (nor air to breath nor protection from solar radiation).
I’ve only touched on what it will take to set up mining operations on the Moon. However those difficulties are child’s play compared to what it will take to get Dr. Smith to change his routine. That will require him (or his agent) to pick up the telephone and (on a continuing and regular basis) talk to the investment advisory companies of our industry (and target and update and mail out investment materials to them). Given my hard-earned experiences and the current cast of characters, I believe those to be inestimably difficult tasks, whose value will never be given a moment’s thought.
