LOVELOCK - Florida Canyon Mine, under the ownership of Jipangu Inc., recently minted a silver and gold coin commemorating 25 years of continuous production at the mine. Employees were given the newly minted coin at their annual Jipangu Anniversary Dinner on Nov. 12, by Tami Matsufuji, owner of Jipangu Inc.
This was the sixth dinner held by Jipangu. This year's event was held at the Martin Hotel in Winnemucca. Women In Mining provided beverage service. The evening kicked off with the opening of the Taru (a traditional celebration sake-drum), and a toast from Matsufuji, congratulating the mine employees on their safety record, 25 years of continued mining at the site and six years with Jipangu Inc.
The Florida Canyon Mine marked 25 years of continuous production in August 2011, a feat almost unheard of in the mining industry.
"We've been here 25 years and we're still going strong," said Florida Canyon Mining, Inc. President of Florida Operations and General Manager Joel Murphy.
The mine opened in 1986 with a life expectancy of three years and the hopes of pulling 200,000 ounces of gold out of the ground. Now, 25 years later, the mine has poured 2,239,575 gold ounces as of the end of 2011.
"This is a story of continued exploration and trying the best we could," said Jipangu Exploration Manager Richard Larsen.
Because of 25 years of continuing exploration, Florida Canyon Mine is looking at another 10 years of mine life.
"That is at current production rates," Murphy clarified.
The mine currently has more permits in the works that could increase that 10-year outlook, Larsen said.
Florida Canyon Mining, Inc. added the Standard Mine to its holdings in 1998. The mine was put on hold for permitting purposes shortly after the acquisition, but is currently in full production.
Florida Canyon has 1,962 acres of public and private land permitted and has control of 16,880 acres between the Florida Canyon Mine and the Standard Mine, both of which are owned by Jipangu Inc.
Jipangu has added to the mine's long list of firsts. Florida Canyon Mining, Inc. is the first mine to be listed on the Japanese Stock Exchange.
Other amazing firsts for the mine include being the first area mine to enact a Behavioral Based Safety Program. This is a program where the employees encourage each other in safety practices. Apparently, the program is a success. As of Dec. 31, 2011, Florida Canyon Mine employees accomplished the milestone of working 1,068,776 hours in 1,052 consecutive days with no lost-time accidents.
The same program has enabled the Standard Mine to have over 1,874 no LTA.
"This illustrates all employees' commitment to safety and maintaining a positive safety culture," Florida Canyon Human Resource Manager Elaine Truhls said.
Florida Canyon is also the first area mine to use geothermal power. Murphy said that the power generated by the geothermal well only amounts to around 5 percent of the power used by the mine, but the company has been working closely with Presco Energy, sharing data from the mine's geothermal well that may help them with resurrecting a geothermal plant close to the mine that was shut down years ago. Excess geothermal water from Florida Canyon's well is used to water down the leach pads.
"We are permitted to tap into the geothermal water so we're not impacting the ground water of the local residents," Larsen added.
"Even though we're a mine we try to stay on the cutting edge of green technology. This is something we are pretty proud of," Murphy said.
"We're ahead of the other mines in this aspect because we are doing the geothermal instead of coal," Larsen said.
Excess geothermal water from Florida Canyon's well is used to water down the leach pads.
Another exceptional thing about the Florida Canyon Mine is its multi-generations of employees. Murphy said that there are employees currently working at the mine whose fathers worked at the mine when he started in 1986. There are even some of the younger employees whose fathers and grandfathers have worked at the mine, he added.
"This is unique in the mining industry," Larsen said. The mine employs 168 workers, five contractors and five to seven temp employees.
"That is 25 years of steady employment and a steady contribution to the tax base of Pershing County," Murphy said.
So how has the mine been able to stay around so long? Cost effectiveness, Larsen says. Larsen attributes being able to be cost effective to the company's unique safety program, employee morale and good management.
"We're probably one of the most cost-effective mining organizations. We have to be one of the best or we wouldn't be here now," Larsen said.
The future of the mine is looking good, according to Larsen. The company is working on permits to put in another leach pad at the Florida Canyon Mine and started more drilling and exploration in October.
"We'll probably have even more that the expected 10 more years. That's why we're doing the drilling now," Larsen said.
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