Mining’s old guard needs strong medicine
A new report details subpar investor returns in the mining industry over the last decade, particularly big cap diversified companies which have not adapted to new realities.
A mine blast has killed two workers and injured at least 20 in Ouray, Colorado, the Denver Post reports.
A recovery operation is underway to retrieve the bodies which are reported to be trapped underground.
The accident occurred early Sunday morning at the Revenue-Virginius silver mine, owned by Silver Star Resources.
Ouray News reports that the injuries were a result of miners breathing in gases and chemicals in the air following a blast. The mine manager told the local news organization that a “powder smoke incident” triggered the accident.
The mine employs about 100 people and began production earlier this year, according to Watch Newspaper. The historic mine extends two miles into the mountainside.
Watch also reported that as of August work was progressing “feverishly, with three shifts of miners working 20 hours a day, seven days a week, and surface workers putting in 10-hour days, five days a week.”
3 Comments
allritejack
This is most unusual and can only be from a ventilation failure, possibly resulting from the blast.
Marcel Beaudoin
Yes, very misleading, badly written article. Men were gassed by blast smoke, not killed by blast. A “powder smoke incident” WAS the incident; there is no such thing as an accident: all are preventable. Also, there is an indication that safety was compromised due to a “feverish” work schedule, but schedule of 20 hours per day seems reasonable.
ram upadhyay
The main reason appear to be failure of ventilation system. This was definitely prevetible.