As a reader of The Northern Miner for more than 20 years, I am aware that you strive for accurate reporting. However, your article on Profile Resources’ Waseka Mill (T.N.M., June 9-15/03) contains an inaccurate characterization of Montana’s environmental protection legislation.
The article claims there has been a blanket ban in Montana on gold milling using cyanidation since 1998, when voters passed legislation prohibiting cyanide milling circuits in both new and expanded gold operations.
The language in the Metal Mine Reclamation Act reads: “Open pit mining for gold and silver using heap leaching or vat leaching with cyanide ore-processing reagents is prohibited except as described in subsection (2).”
Further: “A mine described in this section (2) operating on Nov. 3, 1998, may continue operating under its existing operating permit or any amended permit that is necessary for the continued operation of the mine.”
Thus, cyanide vat or heap-leaching of gold or silver mined from an open pit is prohibited, except for mines that were already operating (such as Golden Sunlight) when the voters passed the initiative. The use of cyanide to process ores underground is not prohibited, and new permits are at least theoretically possible. Furthermore, contrary to the statement in the article, a mine with an existing permit could amend the permit to expand operations.
The Waseka mill is approved under a Small Miner Exclusion Statement to operate with gravity flotation circuits. Profile Resources has not yet applied to use cyanide in the mill.
Another article (T.N.M., June 23-29/03) mentions Yogo sapphires, and states: “There have been further attempts to mine the deposits commercially, but, to date, all attempts have ended in economic failure (including one by a now-defunct Canadian junior, American Gem).”
Vortex Mining continues to mine Yogo sapphires underground from part of the dyke. Sidestepping the issue of whether American Gem is defunct or not, the company’s operations involved more abundant lower-grade placer sapphires at El Dorado Bar, Dry Cottonwood Creek, and Gem Mountain — not Yogo sapphires.
Warren McCullough
Chief Executive
Environmental Management Bureau
Helena, Mont.
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