RE: earnings - you guys were way highI was way off, I admit, but there are some things buried within this release that I need to sit down and mull over. Its still a fantastic quarter. One negative is the comfirmation of the suspension of drilling at La Verde. One big positive is this:
"The final feasibility study for the Andacollo hypogene copper deposit is progressing well and remains on schedule for completion in the first quarter of 2006." If you look at pages 18 and 19 of last year's annual report it talks about how a 1998 pre-feasibility study indicated that development of this deposit, which would cost ca. $280-300 million, would realise annual production of 175 million pounds Cu and 55,000 ozs Au for a minelife of 16 years. This is equivalent to another Quebrada Blanca. In the past, on this Bullboard, I have stated that I view development of this deposit as giving Aur a reserve base that will continue to drive the company forward. So between Duck Pond and an expanded Andacollo, I fully expect to see Cu production approximately double in a few years.