Great work environments stem from a combination of factors. People, timing, attitudes, market conditions, the list goes on. Often though, the reaction to these combined forces through unique programs and approaches are what create a truly memorable work experience. Here, I highlight a simple and elegant program implemented by a great geologist at a great mine site that directly contributed to the culture, comradery and overall success of the site. The OSL program implemented by Daniel Curtis at the Long Canyon Mine is one of my favorite examples of a great value share that drives positive outcomes for the bottom line, culture, empowerment, and ownership.

The Long Canyon Mine in the Pequop Mountains of Nevada was a gold mine operated by Newmont Corporation and Nevada Gold Mines from 2016 to 2022. It produced approximately 200,000 ounces annually as one of the lowest cost gold mines in the world during that time. Many who were working at the site during its time will attest to the energy and enthusiasm felt for the site and the work we did during its heyday. I had the pleasure of working on site in multiple capacities from 2019 to 2022 and can attest to the culture and atmosphere. One of those projects that’s just lightning in a bottle. Right place, right people, right time.

The ore body differed from the other Carlin-style disseminated deposits of the I-80 corridor in that the ore-bearing material was highly oxidized, making ore identification, production geology, and ore body knowledge a fun and interesting exercise. Finding and mapping the red oxidized ore material amid the dolomitic waste material was easier than typical. The deposit also had little in the way of sulfides and potentially preg-robbing material, leaving heap leaching operations clean and recoveries efficient and predictable.

A skilled geologist who had done start up exploration geology for the project and was now leading production geology, Daniel had built strong rapport with the front-line operators at Long Canyon over the years as the site came online. For their part, the front-line operators at Long Canyon were a first-class bunch, welcoming to newcomers, accepting of feedback, open to new ideas.

As with any mine and its block model, Long Canyon contained small pockets of ore that were hidden in blocks of waste when viewed through the model. Realizing this, Daniel implemented a program among some of Long Canyon’s most seasoned shovel operators. Here’s the program basics:

If a shovel operator realized that they were in an extended area of the dig face with oxidized ore that was modelled as waste, they were empowered to tag it as “Operator Selected Leach”. This OSL material was still hauled to the waste rock dump but was placed in a special area for future sampling by the production geology team. If the samples came back above cut off grade, they were hauled to the leach pad on a back haul route. Especially useful if we had a queue at the shovel or needed to get a truck going after being downed. If the samples came back as waste, no harm done, the material was already in the right place.

The OSL program became a part of the production workflow, with mine operations, projects, geology, and environmental all in tune about how it functioned. It was simple, effective, and generated tens of millions in additional revenue over its lifetime. It empowered operators, giving them a sense of ownership. It forced the production geology team to develop front line relationships, learn the ore body so they could teach it, and add significant value to the site beyond the block model data resolution.

Although the oxidized ore made this program unique and it couldn’t be implemented everywhere, the spirit, enthusiasm and cross-functional comradery of the OSL program could be replicated at other mine sites to generate the on-site ownership required to make a project successful. The Long Canyon Mine is in Care & Maintenance now, with residual leaching winding down. The OSL program is just one example of a myriad of great programs and interactions that were present during Long Canyon’s run and made it such a wonderful place to work during its time.