Everything is BIG at Round Mountain

While on break during my recent orientation training at Round Mountain Gold Mine, I was looking around the training room and spotted what appeared to be either a prop from Pirates of the Carribean or a worn ball off a bearing on one of the big haul trucks here at the facility. When I asked the instructor what it was he told me that they used the steel spheres at the mill-----as media for grinding the rocks down. The SAG mill (semi-autogenous grinding) pulverizes the rocks so that the gold particles can be removed. This "tumbler" is just a tad bigger than the 'ol rock polishing tumblers. The mill is 36 feet across and processes approximately 10,000 tons of ore-bearing rock per day!!

Got to go outside the Admin building today and onto the mine property. This photo was taken looking west over the top of the Admin building and is stitch together from 5 photos. I don't think there is a pickup less than a F-250 on site. To the left, the large hill there is one of the leap heaps. Each "terrace" 50' on the hill and they are permitted for 400' from grade. The hill on the left I believe is just waste rock but I will find out more in the days to come I'm sure. The guard shack is the small building to the left and you can see employee parking lots. And just as a reminder for any visitors----left hand driving, honk once before starting your vehicle, honk 3 times before you back up and honk 2 times before moving forward (Had my safety class today can you tell?)

Fresh Mountain Air

Looking back west as I enter the office one morning this past week. The closest mountain is ~4-5 miles away and another 4,000 feet higher than where I am standing.

Humble little homestead in the high country

Got the keys to the trailer. Looks like no one has been around for a year or so. The maintenance guys are painting, cleaning, etc. inside. Actually pretty nice. Around 1400 square feet and 4 bedrooms + office.

There's gold in them there hills!!!!!!

Getting the blog going. Trying to post more than just a few pictures so I'll be experimenting with linking photo albums, videos, webcams, etc.