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Revett CEO: ‘Next Few Weeks Critical at Troy Mine’

By Beacon Staff

Miners at Lincoln County’s Troy Mine are developing a new underground tunnel to reach copper and silver ore, according to Revett Minerals, Inc. CEO John Shanahan. If that effort fails, Shanahan said it could be a year before the mine reopens.

Production at the Troy Mine stopped in December after a series of rockslides. In May, Revett laid off more than half of its work force and today about 75 people are working at the mine.

“We’re still hopeful that we’ll be able to get back into operation,” Shanahan said. “We’re taking our time, but we’re committed to running a safe and viable operation.”

Shanahan said crews are developing a tunnel called the “D drive” and the next few weeks will be critical in knowing if the new route to the ore will be adequate. If miners can use the D drive, production could begin during the fourth quarter of 2013.
“That would be the very, very best situation,” he said.

But if the D drive does not work, Shanahan said a new tunnel would have to be constructed and that could take a year to complete. Even with all of the delays, he said the Troy Mine is still a viable operation. The mine first opened in 1981 and closed in 1993. Revett reopened the mine in 2005. The company is also developing a larger copper and silver mine near Rock Creek.

“(The delays) are the frustrating part. There is still 10 to 15 years of mine life here and that’s why we want to move forward and get it,” Shanahan said. “But we will not compromise safety.”

Shanahan said officials have also inspected the ground above the mine and there is evidence of movement at the surface. Rain, freezing temperatures and a series of small seismic events led to the rockslides inside the mine in November and December. All production ceased on Dec. 1.

Although the company was not producing copper or silver, Revett kept most of its employees busy with maintenance and cleaning projects above ground, in hopes that the shutdown would be temporary. In May, more than 100 people were laid off.

Shanahan said his company knows how important the mine jobs are to Lincoln County and stressed that Revett was there to stay.

“These certainly have been a difficult six months because we want to start producing again,” he said. “But it’s important for the community to know that we will never compromise safety.”