Aurcana Silver Corp (fka AUNFF)

[basserdan]

From Matt at the SH Aurcana Board....

"The Shafter model does not encounter the water table (aquifer) until year 2 of the mine schedule,according to the 2011 Shafter feasibility study.

The aquifer or water sits at the 900 level.I wrote a detailed post on this August 19 but here are the major points:

MINE DEWATERING MANAGEMENT
As the decline is developed below the water table in Year 2, mine water will be encountered and will progressively increase in quantity with depth to a maximum average of 350 gpm, with the possibility of short-term inflows of 700 gpm occurring as water-bearing structures are encountered.

Mine water will be disposed of by discharge to the environment. Point of discharge is chosen to be the headwater of the Arroyo del Muerto close to the western edge of themine property. The Arroyo del Muerto is a perennially dry watercourse that drains intothe Rio Grande approximately 18 miles distant.

Mine water from the decline and working faces will be clarified in one or more settling sumps underground to meet EPA standards for discharge. From the settling sump the mine water willbe pumped directly to the Arroyo del Muerto.

WATER MANAGEMENT-Page 53

The second phase is when the decline face encounters the water table at approximately 900 Level, prior to which the 20 million gallons of water standing in the test mine in Block 1 will be pumped out through the Gold Fields shaft. By dewatering the Goldfields Shaft and Block 1 test mine in this manner, the water table will be lowered in advance of the decline face toreduce the amount of ground water encountered. The second phase also entails mining operations simultaneously occurring above the water table in Blocks 2 to 5. Mining Block 1entails removing standing water (estimated at 20 million gallons) and groundwater inflows.This phase will produce a net excess of water of 350 gpm from ground water flowing into the underground mine which will be clarified in underground settling sumps to reach compliancewith EPA criteria and then disposed of by discharge to the environment in a dry creek at the south west corner of the property (Arroyo del Muerto).

Read more at http://www.stockhouse.com/bullboards/messagedetail.aspx?s=AUN&t=list&m=31400003&l=0&pd=0&r=0#mOMIbhQGzMySjA0M.99Ore

Production Schedule:
The first ore to be mined will be from Block 3, this being the part of the ore body most readily accessible from surface by a ramp, and which is also the shortest haul to the process plant.

Additionally, in order to balance geological risk and uncertainty, the mine has been scheduled to provide simultaneous production from the more well-defined parts of the ore body lying to the east of the portal (Blocks 1, 2, and 3) and from the less well defined parts of the ore body lying to the west of the portal (Blocks 4 and 5).

The ore zone is contacted after developing 1,500 feet of ramp, allowing ore to be produced in Year -1.

While Block 3 is being developed, Block 4 will be accessed for diamond drilling, exploration and extraction by driving horizontally to the west from the main ramp, at a point approximately 1,500 feet from the portal. Old workings will be used as much as possible for thisdevelopment work, as slashing is considerably cheaper, faster, and better ventilated thandriving headings in solid rock.

The main ramp will be driven to connect to the Gold Fields Shaft by the end of Year 1."

http://www.aurcana.com/i/maps/cross-section.gif

http://www.stockhouse.com/bullboards/messagedetail.aspx?p=0&m=31764373&l=0&r=0&s=AUN&t=LIST
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And....

"AUN are totally within their rights to do what is planned and permitted,already.

Poindexter`s mission is to see if he can pressure AUN into conserving as much of the aquifer as possible.

AUN`s mission is to operate at Shafter as long as they can while maintaining their good standing within the community.

There is too much at stake not to reach a compromise on this issue and I suspect that is what eventually transpires.

AUN`s social record in Mexico reads as nothing but stellar. I expect that will continue at Shafter."

http://www.stockhouse.com/bullboards/messagedetail.aspx?p=0&m=31764430&l=0&r=0&s=aun&t=list