Release of Environmental Assessment
Mosquito Consolidated Gold Mines Limited reported that the U.S. Forest Service released yesterday an Environmental Assessment (EA) regarding the CuMo Project. This release is a step toward further exploration of what may prove to be a very significant molybdenum deposit in Boise County, Idaho.
“We have additional exploration work we need to do in order to confirm what we believe is a major molybdenum deposit” said Shaun Dykes, the project manager. “The release of the EA is another step in an ongoing public process.”
Dykes emphasized that the company currently does not have a mine plan. Mosquito requires the information that will be obtained by completing additional exploration on the property in order to assess the ultimate scope of the reserves.
The release of the EA begins a 30-day public comment period. The Forest Service is in charge of that process.
If authorized by the Forest Service after comments are considered, Mosquito could be allowed to build up to 13.3 miles of temporary roads and drill more than 200 holes. This reflects an upper limit on what is authorized. The actual amount of road and drill hole construction will depend on results, as the exploration proceeds. Mosquito is confident that the actual road miles and number of drill holes will be substantially less than the upper limit described in the EA.
The EA also indicates that exploration activities will be designed to ensure no significant trees are cut in the process. It should also be noted that current access roads will be maintained but not widened.
Mosquito will post a bond sufficient to ensure reclamation of the temporary roads and drill pads at the end of the project. The exploratory drilling will take place approximately 14 miles northwest of Idaho City, in an already disturbed area.
The company also will be contracting with local providers, to undertake the technical support the company needs to complete the work.
Check out their new website that is specifically related to CuMo exploration –
www.cumoproject.com.
Molybdenum is used principally as an alloying agent in steel, cast iron, and super alloys to enhance hardening ability, strength, toughness, wear, and corrosion resistance. Molybdenum plays a significant role in contemporary industrial technology, which increasingly requires materials that are serviceable under high stress, expanded temperature ranges, and highly corrosive environments.
Moreover, molybdenum finds significant usage as a refractory metal in numerous chemical applications, including catalysts, lubricants, and pigments. Molybdenum is rapidly becoming a critical metal in the development of green technology and alternative energy. In addition it is extremely useful in the protection of critical components for water desalination systems.
Mr. Shaun M. Dykes, M.Sc. (Eng), P.Geo., is the Exploration Manager and Director of Mosquito. He is the designated qualified person for the CuMo Project, and prepared the technical information contained in this article.
I wonder if folks realize the extent of this project. They are talking about removing an entire mountain. When fully operational, how are they going to transport all this material? Options are few, either down to highway 17 or highway 21. We are talking about dozens of fully loaded trucks traveling each day on existing roads. The Garden Valley Translator District has a repeater site on Grimes Pass, only a couple of miles away from the proposed mine which is accessed by the Pilot Peak road. Existing access roads are primitive, including Grimes Pass. Improvments to allow such trucking will be extensive and impact environmental concerns. I'm not saying this project should not proceed, but the community should be fully aware of the negative impacts on Boise County.
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