North Bay Resources Inc (NBRI)

[inmine]

Foxwoods, you are correct to assume that the engineer/manager must be accountable for performance, however a lack of skill and experience of miners in driving raises in various ground conditions is also a factor imo. The geo and engineer can point the direction, but the miner at the face must make the minute by minute judgement about hole spacing, angles, charging, timing, as well as be able to efficiently install timber that doesn't get knocked out during blasts, etc...

Engineers can calculate blasting and timbering needs to a point, and I have known some very intelligent and bright mining engineers, but nearly all of them don't know how to drill with a jackleg, or catch some nasty ground before it falls, like a highly experienced miner in the trenches can.