Mine Tours Again Featured At The Silver Summit 2009

Wallace, Idaho – Underground tours of the world’s leading deep-shaft silver mines once again will be featured as part of The Silver Summit this year. Silver Summit 2009 will be held September 24-25 at the historic Davenport Hotel in Spokane, Washington. Tours will be conducted the morning of Wednesday, 23 September, the day before The Silver Summit’s official opening.

“Once you have descended a mile beneath the earth’s surface and experienced the hard-rock miner’s environment, you’ll have a story to tell your grandchildren. This is an opportunity few laymen investors ever get, and has become one of the most popular aspects of The Silver Summit’s pre-conference activities,” said Shauna Hillman, director of The Silver Summit.

Companies hosting The Silver Summit mine tours this year include Hecla Mining Co., U.S. Silver Corp., SNS Silver Corp., New Jersey Mining Co., and The New Bunker Hill Mining Co. Tours will be conducted at Hecla’s Lucky Friday Mine, U.S. Silver’s Galena Mine, SNS Silver’s Crescent Mine, New Jersey’s Golden Chest Mine, and the Bunker Hill Mine.

Tour fees of $100 per person will be donated entirely to the non-profit Women in Mining Education Foundation and are tax-deductible. Transportation between the Davenport Hotel and the mines will be provided as part of the ticket fee.

“Availability of these tours is quite limited, as we are imposing upon the mines’ daily production schedules. We are grateful to the participating companies for opening their portals and shafts to the public for this one very special day every year,” continued Ms. Hillman. “We are pleased to donate these proceeds to the WIM’s Education Foundation, as it lights the path toward a better understanding by schoolteachers and their pupils of mining’s vital role in our everyday lives,” Hillman added.

A mine tour may be arranged by telephone only with The Silver Summit office at +1 208 556-1621 during business hours Pacific time. Deadline to reserve and confirm a mine tour is Friday, Sept. 11. Tours are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Compliance with customs and rules of the hosting mine-operator is mandatory and will be explained during registration. MSHA-required training for underground visitors will be provided by the companies.