RE: Question ? - Are there any tailings ponds from the Tin & Copper?10 Mar 2021 13:40
Many thanks CK. I wondered how close Cornish Metals would come to 40k tonnes per annum, if both SC and UD were being mined? If the 40k tonnes being sorted ore represented 4% of the tonnage mined that would mean 1m tonnes output per annum. If both mines were to start operations at the same time there would be cost savings as someone posted previously- e,g. lorries bringing ore from UD to Crofty for processing could take a load of UD +SC waste back to Wheal Jane. Having a smelting plant to process both sets of output might make it a viable proposition, would improve the UK's resiliance and save transporting the ore halfway around the globe and back.
Pages 10and 15 UD & SC of the IPO presentation :-
https://cornishmetals.com/investors/presentations/
suggest to me that there are potentially, if drilling gives positive results, over 20m tonnes of potential at SC and more at UD.
So at 1m tonnes per annum the mine would have a 20+ year life. I note the agreements announced yesterday, were for 23 and 25 years.
A smelting plant might, as you suggest, take in ore from other companies. Strategic metals in Eastern Cornwall is one local possibility. But if the plant were built at a port, then shipments could come from afar. Plymouth has just been granted freeport status and is connected by rail links............ Any more thoughts?