| Abstract |
The economic viability of four depleted mines near Kennicott, Alaska, was assessed as if they were discovered in 1972. Modern conventional mining and processing methods were assumed for the operation and standard cost procedures were used. Concentrate from the venture was assumed trucked from the mill to Valdez, Alaska, over existing public roads, then barged to Tacoma, Washington, for smelting and refining. The required price for copper and silver was found to be 34.7 cents per pound and 104.0 cents per ounce, respectively. Using the same data and assuming the present road system did not exist, but a 148-mile private road from the operation to Valdez, Alaska, was required, the required price for copper was found to be 57.4 cents per pound and for silver 172.0 cents per ounce. The average May 1972 price for copper was 52.6 cents and for silver 158.3 cents, so building and maintaining a private road would have made the latter venture uneconomical. (Modified author abstract) |
