 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
Current Issue Links
CR Briggs reopens mining facility
as the value of gold increases
as the value of gold increases
“The gold mining industry is really a roller-coaster,” said Kenneth Mann, vice president of CR Briggs Corp.
and general manager of the newly reopened Briggs Mine.
Gold mining is known for its “boom and bust” communities, gold rushes and an association with
sporadic wealth and uncertainty. Ironically, the Briggs project seems to be providing a surge of stability in a
faltering economy.
The sprawling plant sits in the Panamint Mountains eight miles south of Ballarat, a ghost town boasting a
population of one resident.
In accordance with his roller-coaster analogy, Mann described how CR Briggs survived through gold’s
fluctuating prices during eight years of production in the area (1996-2004). The project was then shut down
despite the large deposits of gold left at the site.
After an extensive environmental reclamation process, many assumed the project wouldn’t reopen.
However, gold’s recent surge in value led the company to reopen the mine in 2009.
and general manager of the newly reopened Briggs Mine.
Gold mining is known for its “boom and bust” communities, gold rushes and an association with
sporadic wealth and uncertainty. Ironically, the Briggs project seems to be providing a surge of stability in a
faltering economy.
The sprawling plant sits in the Panamint Mountains eight miles south of Ballarat, a ghost town boasting a
population of one resident.
In accordance with his roller-coaster analogy, Mann described how CR Briggs survived through gold’s
fluctuating prices during eight years of production in the area (1996-2004). The project was then shut down
despite the large deposits of gold left at the site.
After an extensive environmental reclamation process, many assumed the project wouldn’t reopen.
However, gold’s recent surge in value led the company to reopen the mine in 2009.
By JUSTIN COSNER
Special to the News Review
Special to the News Review
“A lot of the mobile equipment
was still left from the last operation,”
Mann said about the reopening, “we
just needed to add to the existing
fleet.”
The project is also operating at
near its peak strength of 125 workers.
“We are just now at about 109
employees,” Mann said, “and we are
looking at a five-year mine life.”
When asked about the stories
surrounding the “big one,” an often-
rumored untapped vein talked of in
the old mining town of Randsburg,
Mann chuckled and added his doubts.
“It’s probably more lore than fact,”
he said, adding that Canyon
Resources, the corporation behind
Briggs, is always researching
possible areas of operation.
Mann said that the process of
extracting gold has remained
remarkably unchanged throughout
this area’s mining history.
“Developing projects is slower,”
he said, “and obviously we are able to
move things in bigger volume, but the
technology is relatively the same as it
was.”
Open-pit mining essentially takes
dirt and sifts out the precious metals.
Where this process was once done
by the panful, heavy machinery at the
plant handle loads of several tons at
a time.
was still left from the last operation,”
Mann said about the reopening, “we
just needed to add to the existing
fleet.”
The project is also operating at
near its peak strength of 125 workers.
“We are just now at about 109
employees,” Mann said, “and we are
looking at a five-year mine life.”
When asked about the stories
surrounding the “big one,” an often-
rumored untapped vein talked of in
the old mining town of Randsburg,
Mann chuckled and added his doubts.
“It’s probably more lore than fact,”
he said, adding that Canyon
Resources, the corporation behind
Briggs, is always researching
possible areas of operation.
Mann said that the process of
extracting gold has remained
remarkably unchanged throughout
this area’s mining history.
“Developing projects is slower,”
he said, “and obviously we are able to
move things in bigger volume, but the
technology is relatively the same as it
was.”
Open-pit mining essentially takes
dirt and sifts out the precious metals.
Where this process was once done
by the panful, heavy machinery at the
plant handle loads of several tons at
a time.
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Dore, a mixture of silver and gold, is poured into bricks as the
last step in the process at CR Briggs. The final product is then
sent for further refining. Photo by Laura Austin
last step in the process at CR Briggs. The final product is then
sent for further refining. Photo by Laura Austin
One thing that has changed in mining’s history is the environmental responsibilities associated with post-
commitment “to the community and the wildlife.”
Mann said his commitment to the community is long term. “I’ve been here for 15 years. Lots of the
employees’ kids went through the school systems here.”
The environment seems important to the company as well. The project is considered a “zero discharge”
facility by the state and according to a CR Briggs pamphlet, though there are no threatened species in the
area, Briggs has funded studies of Nelson’s bighorn sheep and Townsend’s big-eared bats and has
measures in place to preserve the ecosystem for these two “species of concern.”
Mann is enthusiastic about opening a new operation called “the Reward Project” six miles south of Beatty
off U.S. Highway 395. He said permits are in hand and prospects look good for the project, ready to start in
another historic mining area.
commitment “to the community and the wildlife.”
Mann said his commitment to the community is long term. “I’ve been here for 15 years. Lots of the
employees’ kids went through the school systems here.”
The environment seems important to the company as well. The project is considered a “zero discharge”
facility by the state and according to a CR Briggs pamphlet, though there are no threatened species in the
area, Briggs has funded studies of Nelson’s bighorn sheep and Townsend’s big-eared bats and has
measures in place to preserve the ecosystem for these two “species of concern.”
Mann is enthusiastic about opening a new operation called “the Reward Project” six miles south of Beatty
off U.S. Highway 395. He said permits are in hand and prospects look good for the project, ready to start in
another historic mining area.