> From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Organization: The Other Media > > =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= > S O S > =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= > > ----------------------------------------------------------- > K O L A R G O L D F I E L D S > ----------------------------------------------------------- > > Dear friends, > > July 28, 1997 > > We are writing this note to request you to kindly pass on > the following queries to appropriate persons or organ- > isations to help us with required information on CIP > technology in gold mining. We need information on > Production Process, patterns of employment and issues of > environment and safety. > > Details are found in the following note on KGF. > > Looking forward to your prompt response and action. > > With very warm regards, > > Yours sincerely, > > > E. Deenadayalan > > ************************************************************ > > The Kolar Gold Fields(KGF) is a premier gold mining area > in India, located in Karnataka, and operated by the Bharath > Gold Mines Limited (BGML), a Central Government Public > Sector Undertaking. The mines have a recorded history of > nearly 2000 years of operation. Owing to a faulty process > of extraction, defective and outdated technology and deep > mining there has been an escalation in the production cost > of gold over time, rendering it uneconomic. Moreover the > production during the first decade of this century was > around 45 g/t while at present it is only 2.2 g/t. Thus the > Union Government has decided to either close it or operate > it with a reduced work force by launching a joint venture > company and using CIP technology for gold recovery from > the tailings. It is to be noted here that BGML, during > their initial phases of operation, employed about 32,000 > workers whereas at present the workforce has been reduced > to about 6000 only. The closure or the retrenchment of > workers will eventually create a catastrophic impact on the > inhabitants of Kolar Gold Fields. > > The Citizens of KGF have sought help from outside to > collaborate with them in their campaign against the closure > of the mines. > > We, at our end, on behalf of The Other Media, are trying > to develop scientific and effective arguments to counter > the closure of mines. > > In this regard it may be noted that there are vast mounds > of tailings which can be exploited either to extract gold > or for some other purposes. Studies have shown that there > is about 33 million tonnes of dumps accumulated over the > years which may be a source of 24 tonnes of gold through > the CIP technology. > > Thus we would be highly grateful to you if you kindly > furnish us with the following information at the earliest > :- > > ---------------- > A. PRODUCTION > ---------------- > > - A detailed description of the gold production process to > recover it from the tailings > > - A brief outline of the CIP technology involved in the > recovery of gold > > - How much capital is to be involved in its installation > and how much is the operation and maintenance > cost? > > - To what extent is this CIP technology viable in the > Indian context and to what concentration should the gold > be present in order to recover it from the > tailings? > > - What is the rate of return of gold from the tailings? > > ---------------- > B. EMPLOYMENT > ---------------- > > - How mechanized or labour-intensive is this CIP > technology? > > - What is the work-force required to operate this? > > - What type of skills are expected from the labourers for > this technology? > > - What would be the average capital/job created? > > --------------------------- > C. ENVIRONMENT AND SAFETY > --------------------------- > > - The CIP technology basically involves working with > tailings with a high cementation of cyanide. Thus what > are the hazardous processes and substances involved > in CIP technology? > > - What are the occupational hazards involved in the > process? > > - What are the precautions and safety measures to be > adopted by the management? > > - What is done with the concentrated cyanide? Can it be > put to any economic use? > > - Are there any environmental hazards involved in this > process? If yes, what are those and how are those to > be controlled or prevented? > > ........................................................... > <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< End of Message >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> > +--------------------------------------+ > | T H E O T H E R M E D I A | > |--------------------------------------| > | K-14(F.F), Green Park Extn. | > | New Delhi-110016 | > | India. | > | Ph : 91-11-6863830/6856640 | > | Fx : 91-11-6858042 | > | Email : [EMAIL PROTECTED] | > +--------------------------------------+ >
