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Climax Mine Status <br />May 30, 2007 <br />'Open pit mining commenced in 1972 <br />'Collapse of the molybdenum market in 1982 <br />'Reduced production levels through 1987, at which time the mine was idled; mine reopened briefly in 1995 <br />'Intensive focus on reclamation from 1993 through 2007 <br />'Resurgence in the molybdenum market began in 2003 and prices have remained high <br />Climax Mine Statistics: <br />'Mined and milled 470 million tons of molybdenite ore <br />•60,000 employed over 76 years <br />•3,200 peak employment in 1979 <br />•81 deaths, mostly in underground mining accidents during the early years, but with 15 fatalities from 1973- <br />79 attributed to inexperienced workers and low morale <br />•51,133 tons milled in one day in February 1976 <br />'Open pit blasting used 300,000 pounds of ANFO blasting agent per shot, and each shot broke ahalf- <br />million tons of rock <br />• 10,000 acre-feet of water treated and released each year <br />•$52 million reclamation bond <br />Reclamation CLallenges: <br />'Elevation and Climate: virtually the entire site is between 11,000 and 12,000 feet; the average growing <br />season is less than 45-days <br />'Pre-conservation era mining practices and lack of topsoil <br />'Acidic mill tailing and mine waste rock <br />'Acid Rock Drainage <br />