To do so, some of the steps the firm will take will be to identify what works well in higher-performing mines and apply them as possible in lower-performing mines.

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Xstrata's skill has been in buying lower-quality mines and running them more efficiently.

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Projected operating costs are expected to be lower than other mines because metals are closer to the surface, Begic said, with platinum assets about 80 meters below the surface.

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Get the indium price up high enough and those lead mines will reopen and replace lead production from mines with lower indium content.

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Revenue hit a record high even though gold-mining output was down from the year-ago quarter due to factors such as mine sequencing and lower ore grades in certain mines.

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The decline was primarily due to the mining of lower grade ores in the existing mines.

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These newer mines generally have a lower PGM content and different palladium-to-platinum ratio than the nickel-rich ores.

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This is due to lower throughput capacity at Goldstrike in Nevada as autoclaves are modified, along with mining in lower-grade ore zones at several mines.

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His improved, more efficient engine powered mines and factories, making coal, tin and copper available at lower prices.

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