NORANDA SETS TEMPORARY MINE SHUTDOWN
<Noranda Inc> said
production will remain shut down at its fire-damaged copper
mine here until it can completely examine the mine.
    The fire, which started Wednesday and burned itself out
late yesterday, killed one miner and trapped 56 others
underground for about 24 hours. The 56 were eventually brought
safely out of the mine.
    Company spokesman Dale Coffin said the investigation could
take from a few days to several weeks, but would not be more
specific.
    Noranda said that, when it resumes production, it plans to
operate the mine at about one-third of the normal 72,000 metric
tons annual finished capacity.
    The fire weakened part of the mine's support structure,
Coffin said.
    Noranda said if it decides to keep the mine open, it would
take four or five months before it could resume full
production.
 Reuter
