Deeper mines are tantalizing but costly

Decreasing ore grades mean miners might want to go deeper. Increased cost, labor shortages, and different safety considerations need to be addressed when planning to build a deeper mine. Stantec’s Steve Rusk outlines some of the intricacies of mining at depths below 1500 meters. 

“Just by going deeper, you have to be better at what you’re doing,” Rusk said. “The logistics have to be planned. Bad habits that survive in a shallower situation are not going to serve you well in a deep situation.”