PROFILE (August 19, 1991)

The crew at Crown Butte Resources’ New World project in Montana is not taking a break this summer. Five diamond drills and two reverse circulation drills are working on two of the property’s deposits: Miller Creek and Home-stake. At present New World boasts total preliminary reserves of 8.38 million tons grading 0.18 oz. gold (uncut) and 0.75 oz. silver per ton and 0.69% copper.

President David Rovig, 49, plans to begin construction work at New World in two years’ time. “The project is currently in the midst of the state and federal permitting process,” he told The Northern Miner. “If it does proceed according to the statutory schedule, we should expect to receive permits in early 1993.”

Born and raised in western Montana, Rovig graduated in 1964 from the Montana School of Mines, now Montana Tech. Rovig’s brother, Dan, now president of Glamis Gold, attended the same school.

In the 1960s Rovig work-ed for different mining companies and as an independent on various locations in North America and Chile. He then operated mines in Texas and Nevada in the early 1970s.

As western area manager for New York-based National Bulk Carriers during 1975-76, he lived in Butte, Mont., managed an underground polymetallic mine in Montana and handled other mining activities throughout the western U.S. In 1977, he became vice-president of mining, responsible for worldwide operations.

In 1980 Rovig co-founded Plexus Resources in Salt Lake City, Utah, and is now a director of the company. A professional engineer, he has been president and chairman of Crown Butte since 1987 when he co-founded the company. At present Crown Butte, 60% own-ed by Noranda Inc.-controlled Hemlo Gold Mines, is a one-project company, which is not actively seeking deposits outside the New World area.

Rovig’s wife, Diane, and their three children have lived in Billings, Mont., since 1977.

“My wife and children come with me occasionally on mine tours,” he says. “I make it a point to do `rock talks’ for grade school classes whenever the opportunity presents itself.” Playing racquet ball is Rovig’s “mind cleanser.” Rovig says the prospects for mining and exploration are always “improving soon.”

He explains: “By that, I mean people in the mining and exploration business are the classic eternal optimists, but also the nature of the business is such that at almost any given time, one segment or one commodity is showing improvement or promise of improvement.”