Comstock Mining gets permit expansion

VIRGINIA CITY — Expanded mining, with the permitted acreage increased nearly sevenfold, was announced Wednesday by Comstock Mining, Inc.

The gold and silver mining company announced it had received unanimous approval from Storey County’s Board of Commissioners to expand mining and processing via an amendment to the firm’s special use permit.

“We can now invest with even greater confidence in the drilling and development of the plans for expanding eastward,” said Corrado De Gasperis, company chief executive officer.

The use amended permit expands the overall permitted boundary to more than 1,200 acres, up from 180, allowing for “substantial expansion” of mining and processing operations, including in the east side of the firm’s Lucerne holdings. According to the announcement press release, the change also:

Expands the permitted private property boundary to 400 acres, up from 78, for processing to the south and west of the existing processing facility in American Flat; allows ongoing mine definition and exploration to seek additional mineral deposits; allows for possible realignment of Nevada 342 to seek resources under and just east of its current location, and provides for other matters.

The company said the permit amendment applies to both surface and underground mining; processing and milling; mine definition; exploration and development, as well as other ancillary uses. The news release called it “most significant” in setting a foundation for the firm’s growth. Comstock, a public company, trades under the symbol LODE.