Wednesday, August 29, 2007

Nevada Gold Miner Missing in Ground Collapse

More than 3 weeks now since Crandall Canyon, and no good news. MSHA, the state and Congress have announced their investigations.

This morning the Times-News, Twin Falls, Idaho, reports a Nevada gold miner is missing after a ground collapse:

ELKO, Nev. - An unidentified miner is missing after a ground failure at the Getchell underground mine occurred about 2 a.m. Tuesday at Barrick Gold of North America's Turquoise Ridge Mine near Golconda.

According to Lou Schack, Barrick's director of communications and community affairs, the miner is an employee of the contract firm Small Mine Development....

The miner was operating a bolter - a piece of equipment that drills and installs rock bolts used to stabilize areas where mining occurs - when the ground failed, said Schack.

The bolter was partially buried by debris, said Schack.

Mine Safety and Health Administration representatives are on site and managing the rescue effort.

There are two underground mines on the site - Barrick employees work the Turquoise Ridge operation and SMD runs Getchell....

...the incident...is similar to a recent event at Newmont's Midas Mine. Dan Shaw, a loader operator, was killed June 19 when he and his loader fell roughly 100 feet following a ground failure.

Thirteen days later his body was recovered in an MSHA-led operation. That accident remains under investigation....

Hoping for the best.