The past two days, I've talked with dozens of miners, from geologists, to engineers, prospectors, suppliers, consultants, and so on. There is an overall sense that the mining industry is prospering with a long term bright futu
re. But that's tempered with an underlying concern about the current economic crises and a frustration
that the nation does not recognize or appreciate the challenges mining faces in maintaining America's economy and national security.[top, Leica Geosystem's US office is in Tucson]
One shorter term problem in Arizona is the high price of sulfuric acid used in heap leach operations. Companies are eagerly looking for new supplies of sulfur.