Driven by media coverage and intense public interest, organizers estimated about 1,100 people filed through two days of open house meetings on the proposed Ajax open pit mine.

"This is big. It's a great turnout," Maxine Leger-Haskell, spokeswoman for the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency said Tuesday evening.

Leger-Haskell estimated more than 300 people attended the open house at Coast Kamloops Hotel and Conference Centre Monday. News coverage of that first day more than doubled numbers Tuesday.

"We've had a lot of conversations. We've had people come back twice, with additional questions."

One of the conversations Tuesday evening was between KGHM-Ajax project manager Jim Whittaker and Aberdeen resident Tobi Danford.

The two sat at a table where Whittaker sketched out the design of the ore crushing facility to Danford, a mechanical engineer.

"I was wondering about the particle size and how they'll contain the dust," said Danford. "He explained the whole process."

Despite partial satisfaction about controlling dust at the ore-crushing facility, Danford said questions about dust from waste rock piles remain unanswered and she is not convinced the mine is a good fit for Kamloops.

"I'd still rather it not be here," she said. "There are a lot of negatives around it and the only positive is money."

Danford said the contribution to the municipality, at less than $5 million, "wont' be huge."

Another Aberdeen resident with a lifetime of experience in mining around the world was on hand on both days.

"This is probably one of the highest level environmental reviews I've seen," said Ken Graf.

Graf said he asked questions over the two days, confirming his view the mine will be good for Kamloops.

"I don't have a lot of concerns. The critical thing is it's a lot closer (to a city) than most. If they get the go-ahead they'll have to be good neighbours."

Jim Excell, CEO of partner firm Abacus Mining & Exploration, said the company is pleased with the questions and input over the two days. Public comments that go to the assessment office websites will be used to help guide consultants contributing to an environmental impact assessment that will likely be released later this year or in 2013.

One of the consultants on hand Tuesday, Darcy McGregor from Winnipeg-based InterGroup Consultants, will look at socio-economic impacts if the mine and its 400 jobs become a reality.

People at the meeting Tuesday asked the consultants to look at items as diverse as detailing impacts if the mine were to open and then suddenly shut due to copper prices, whether its presence will make it difficult to recruit some professions here and how it will impact real estate prices.

The company will look at the socio-economic impact of the mine, including the kind of jobs and business opportunities it would bring. It will also study impact on infrastructure and services — potential costs the mine would bring.

McGregor said some issues raised are more difficult to measure than others.

"We've heard concerns over perceptions of the city: 'We're a lively, vibrant recreational town. We don't want the perception we're a mining community.'"

He said the firm will talk with the City, local recreational organizations and "anyone who has an opinion" to detail those concerns.