I found the original restarting by BaseResult very difficult to understand in purely technical terms. I could never understand the balance between development of the Tuckingmill Incline, and proven reserves. This all makes a great deal more sense, and it's interesting in that it implies that dewatering the lower levels is not a primary target.
I suspect the term '20 miles radius around Crofty' should be regarded as journalistic licence. Crofty owns a wide range of old setts and you could probably find some parts of its holdings that far away.
It may, for all I know, include parts of the Carnon Valley and United Downs. There are reserves known at Carnon Valley, after all. Wheal Jane and Mount Wellington didn't close because they were worked out, but because their system of work was unviable. Concord was always suspected of being a tax dodge of some kind. Pendarves simply couldn't work the prevailing conditions at a profit.
I would also assume that the general topography and geology of the St Just area precludes the sort of thing described.
the Wide Formation is nothing new. The problem was always to define it in sufficient terms to mine it by available methods.
I can't comment on the whole polymetallic concept, because I don't have the information.
however on the general principle that it is better to do something rather than nothing, good luck to 'em. They are paying proper wages doing state-of-the-art work, in pursuit of an activity paid for, out of their own pockets, by people who are in the business of being right about this sort of thing.
There are seriously experienced people down there, working for a lot less than they could earn elsewhere ( at least in some cases ) because they believe in what they are doing; there are much worse ways of spending your time.
''the stopes soared beyond the range of our caplamps' - David Bick...... How times change .... oh, I don't know, I've still got a lamp like that.