CLEARLAKE>>> At the Judge’s Breakfast on Thursday Diane Watson, owner and operator of Silverado Compliance Solutions, shared a brief history and some of her own experiences in modernized commercial mining.
After 22 years Watson retired from her position as supervisory special investigator for the US Department of Labor Mine Safety and Health. She shared that during her lengthy career in the industry, “I was deeply involved in mine rescue and regulated the industry basically.” She said, “I Investigated fatalities, injuries, discrimination complaints and things of that nature including high dollar, high violations by mining companies.”
Watson began the presentation asking, “How does mining effect your daily life?” Many attendees noted their cell phones and others mentioned all of the coffee cups we wouldn’t have without mining. Watson said, “Mining effects our daily lives, almost everything we use including our toothpaste. Even the windshields in your car, they are made of Trona.” But how does a mine work? Watson shared some of the differences of today’s mining, mainly surface mining versus modern mining. Clearlake Lava was used as an example of everyday uses of local mining resources. Yet it takes a lot to power and operate these modern mines, that can be miles deep underground requiring electrical utilities, water, ventilation, and mass systems of shafts and elevators for transporting both employees and large scale equipment. As a solution in today’s mines, you often see large solar fields that serve to power the mines, selling off whatever excess power has been generated.
Focusing on gold, coal, and copper as they are high on the demand list, Watson explained the process of mining from building interior walls using rock bolts like anchors with screening to retain stability, on to cutting through swaths of rock removing the valuable minerals within using massive equipment, much of which is electrically powered and driven remotely. All the way to the physical and chemical processes of separating the valuable material and eventually making a slurry for further processing. Watson stated, “Today they are using mostly remote controlled stuff to keep workers safe.”
Watson also shared much of the modernized equipment used by miners, including monitors for oxygen levels and water quality. “Coal mining was historically incredibly dangerous, now incredibly safe.” Shared Watson, noting how in the past coal miners were plagued with black lung disease and relied on canaries to ensure there was enough oxygen to occupy a space. Today every mine is required to have on site mine rescue teams and refuge chambers that can hold individuals and keep them safe during emergencies. Coal mining is still a common practice in the states as Watson shared “Fifty one to 52 percent of power in this country still comes from coal.” Though many other countries mine coal, according to Watson here it is the safest as we have enforced regulations.
Gold mining is also in high demand with Nevada being the fourth largest gold producer in the world. Brought up by local resident and business owner Lisa Wilson was the closure of the McLaughlin Mine, owned by Homestake located in Lower Lake. “The mine stopped producing, but they left about, I want to say 2,000,000 ounces of gold out there probably, maybe more.” Continuing she explained that the mine became “too unsafe to mine” and coupled with a drop in gold prices the company subsequently laid off all employees in 1996 and fully shuttered in 2001, leaving behind three employees to monitor water conditions. Watson noted “It’s basically a placA be for students to study now.”
