To drive to Caborca using Mex 2 from Phoenix way of Gila Bend /Ajo/Lukeville’s border fence into Sonoyta Sonora you move N to S down a valley with low Mts to the W and distant Mts to N & E along AZ border. Beyond that low range to W lies pretty flat grape vineyards up to Cortez Sea. Is where San Felix sits near sea. Rancho sits on E side of the short peaks on the Mex 2 valley floor. Noticeable quartz veins run to the top and Julio vein is a streak seen from Mex 2. Actually tells you have arrived. Few million years the quartz has gravitated down to valley so as you drive into area is across rough small white stone rubble which with desert dirt and sand is the quartz stock zone. That’s the placer feed ore only needing separated roughly to wash out gold. On other side of the peak it falls back down to desert over 30 mi to sea where both Fresnillo Noche Bueno and La Herradura mine same gravity flow other way to W not E. On up to veins you cross next shear zone shallow depth will be crushed to heap or high grade milled. Next you hit 5 to 6, kilom. long veins with Julio shaft and shallow pit workings. Higher you go richer it gets and veins run into the mountain still little explored or drilled.
It’s very much like Comstock mountain side falling sharply to S . Even long after most working stopped due depth and heat, dredges 1940’s – 50’s worked the Dayton Carson River desert floor for placer gold but using mercury recovery polluted a super fund site along US 50 for miles and miles. Comstock has plan to open pit upper Spring Valley which was GSPG original idea just not enough value to run as profitable placer. To compare, quartz stock zone is well worth the placer effort just as ore assay higher up is for milling and crushing. Lots less silver than Comstock for one.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonoyta
Question asks
“is sta. elena
so very rich that they would take on such an enormous risk
from the governance point of view? well…maybe, but given
our current geological info, the “richness” of the
property is still by no means a certainty — certainly not
from any legally enforceable point of view. not yet,
anyway….so….if you are newmont or even some
smaller established mining entity, would YOU put yourself in
a subordinate position to paul thompson? i don’t think i
would…”
I don’t think many understand the status of the mine development PROCESS. What is being asked is about an early on decision to mine based on sparse geology then feasibility .That period would be least 5 years ago. All is DONE
It needs nothing more to make metal but build the process. It’s fully documented with enough reports to turn dirt as is underway with the placer. ALL permission is now complete and any sane miner in the bid is seeking best deal possible. So is Paul who owns it. So about 7 years effort to get here is DONE. So what do you take in return to share in the $1.3 billion to be made? Mexus has totally no need to give away the bigger share and management. I think has NEVER been the issue. It’s what do you get for $7 mill backing . Just the 2 flow charts are as good as you see in Joint ventures based on proven facts what can be possible slow or fast. The bidder is on the fast track path or would not be there with some $ 7 mil. I’m well satisfied with the low and slow and more ours if they fall through in end. Them’s powerful worms on the hook or jucy carrot on the stick.
This is typical now a days. Gold streaming like Sandstorm don’t give shit to be in charge. Front the cash to take at their set price. Problem is PT wants a contractor WITH the cash so’s not to need to spend the cash for people and things they already have at hand. He has the folks approved by Unions even, which a miner would value highly for no labor disputes. Least until time is making big money to extort some to continue as always happens Let the day come I say. 8
http://www.sandstormgold.com/news/release/index.php?&content_id=402