When Western Metals went bust in 2003 their Pillara ops were bought by a competitor and closed to keep the zinc price up
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/mining-energy/xstrata-and-teck-to-shut-pillara-mine/story-e6frg9df-1111116923954
Also there is a vast diference in the economics of a byproduct of large scale low grade operations and a boutique small tonnage high grade deposit.
pro bono publico