23 September 1971 Record Mexico Mr. Alfredo Rodriguez 5847 Pentz Road Paradise, California 95969 Dear Al: I am writing to inquire if you are willing to undertake a consulting job for Utah involving perhaps two days of research. What I have in mind is preparation of a memo report describing the exploration companies presently working in Mexico plus observations about what they are looking for, type of survey, number of drills or shafts, together with pertinent comments you may care to make. You will recall that you provided us with similar information in late 1968 following the G.S.A. meeting in Mexico City. Enclosed is a copy of your transposed notes. What I have in mind is more or less the same type of memo, updating the old information and adding names of new entries. The purpose would be to show that the tempo of exploration effort and dollar expenditures has increased modestly over the past three years. While visiting with George Ordomec last week, he referred to a copper prospect he was drilling for a local company somewhere in Sonora -- with Boyles Brothers actually doing the drilling. I judge from this comment that Boyles is now well established and have a number of drills at work. Please note that back in 1968 you estimated there were over 30 core drills working under contract on various operation jobs. This is in addition to company drills at operating mines. Also enclosed is a map prepared by Fomento Minera showing the production of gold, silver, lead, copper and zinc from major mining centers to 1967. This map was distributed at the time of the G.S.A. meeting. I am now looking for an updated version of this same map. Can you suggest the name of office or individual in the Fomento office that I might write to for a 1969 or 1970 update. I enjoyed very much talking to you yesterday. And the above outline request for consulting research indicates our desire to take a reading on the tempo of activities in Mexico. Please call me if you have any questions in reference to the proposed memo outline. Yours sincerely, Weston Bourret WB:f Encl. Mexico RECEIVED SEP 28 1971 Paradise, California September 26, 1971 Mr. Weston Bourret Vice-President Utah International 550 California Street San Francisco, California 94104 Dear Wes; Thank you far your letter of September 23rd. I do appreciate your thoughts about up-dating the information on exploration activities in Mexico. However, on reflection, there does not appear to be much to contribute. The interval between our brief survey of 1968 and the present has been one of consolidation and expansion of the well based and financed projects, with others cancelled or "put on ice" for various reasons, principally lack of funds. The recently effective U.S. import duties, and the curtailment of funds for private foreign investment, have had a paralizing effect on the exploration and development of newly organized ventures in Mexico and not much change can be expected until this situation is relieved. Under present conditions, the traditional smaller, higher grade selective underground mines with a higher labor to output ratio,( lower tons per man-shift) and which require less investment in plant and equipment, are receiving more consideration than the mass-mined largge scale industrial projects. With any real improvement in the silver price level, many of these smaller operations may be expected to start up, with the usual high mortality rate, since men with the experience, skill and dedication to operate this type of mine are now rarely available. with reference to your request for a 1969 or 1970 version of the mineral production of Mexico, I do not recall having seen one, but will check with the mines dep artment next time in Mexico. Perhaps we could spend a few days getting up-dated on the most recent developments in Mexico this winter? with best regards, Sincerely Al Rodriquez A. I. Rodriquez