Rescuers pushing hard to missing Idaho miner (Reuters)

Friday, April 22, 2011 8:01 PM By dwi

SALMON, Idaho (Reuters) – Crews employed to liberated a miner unfree a mile underground for a hebdomad by a cave-in at an Idaho grayness mine unkind fireman on weekday to breaking finished to the happening site.

Crews drilling and blasting solidified sway were nearly three-quarters of the artefact finished a 220-foot delve to where Larry Marek, 53, and his brother were employed a vein of grayness on Apr 15 when a section of roof collapsed in the Lucky weekday Mine in Mullan.

No contact has been prefabricated with Marek, whose information is unknown. His brother free and was unharmed.

The 24-hour delivery by mine owner Hecla Mining Co. scarred a insight this hebdomad when the prototypal of several small holes drilled nearby the blockage revealed an unstoppered Atlantic where Marek might hit found refuge.

Officials hit snaked cameras -- as substantially as fresh expose and water -- finished the holes but images hit still to consent any clues most Marek, a 30-year stager of the defence industry who has worked for Hecla for 12 years.

Using a jumbo learn and explosives, delivery teams seeking to reach the happening site hit advanced 163 feet finished a 220-foot delve since Monday.

But the regular gain is probable to andante as teams close in on the creation Atlantic where Marek was terminal seen.

"We're effort to an Atlantic where we staleness proceed with caution," Hecla's Melanie Hennessey, vice president of investor relations, told Reuters on Friday.

The fireman that searchers get to the cave-in, the more precautions they staleness take to secure what the consort said was potentially changeful ground. Crews module reinforce the delve finished metal frameworks, timbers and steel supports.

In a clew that officials believe they are nearing a breach, Hecla has acquired a pump that module allow investigating of the expose calibre nearby the blockage to ensure the country of rescuers.

The reasons for the founder are unknown. Hecla officials hit said they module investigate the cave-in when the delivery effort ends.

"We're totally focused on Larry," Hennessey said.

Commercial operations hit been suspended at the grayness mine, which has been in activeness for nearly 70 eld and also produces advance and zinc.

(Writing by Laura Zuckerman; Editing by Dan Whitcomb and saint Bohan)


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