RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: Hole Assay Tim CAPEX for solution is insane,
even with the overburden, done in stages, you end up just moving the new overburden to become the fill.
There is so much land available to store the overburden, that it's almost a non-issue.
Why have a mine have open pit half solution, when just exceeding the normal spend on an open pit, is still cheaper than solution.
Labour is cheap, machines can be leased, infrastructure is F-ing expensive.
Seriously, look at ETF trucks, and you'll see that using modern specialized equipment can reduce the OPEX of an open pit mine substantially.
An no matter which way you swing it, it's still cheaper than anywhere else in the world.