LETTERS TO THE EDITOR — Spirit Lake frustrates shareholder

I am a highly frustrated shareholder of Spirit Lake Explorations and have followed the company since the 1960s.

Management in June said an incline was being considered at a cost of $1.5 million to obtain a 1,500-ton sample for metallurgical testing (T.N.M., June 29/92). An expensive test.

This incline, to be placed between two of the major ore veins, would almost certainly preclude further mining of a large portion of both veins since the incline would, in parts, abut the footwall and hangingwall respectively. Furthermore, mill tests run by Lakefield Laboratories in the 1950s showed the ore to be free-milling on fine grind.

If Spirit Lake really wanted to get 1,500 tons for a mill test, why not get it from the many surface exposures of the veins?

A 300-ft. shaft NE of the subject veins (there are at least four) and a drive toward the veins were put in decades ago. This shaft should be rehabilitated and the crosscut extended to explore underground, since it could eventually serve as a production shaft.

Having studied the geology of Spirit Lake’s Wawa property in Ontario, I feel a mine could be made — possibly a rich producer.

John Nisco

Honduras