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Cross Gold Mine <br />December 2024 K-1 <br /> <br /> <br />Exhibit K Climate Information <br /> <br />Colorado is divided into two major geographical regions, the Eastern Plains, and the Rocky Mountains. <br />The facility is located along the eastern flank of the Front Range of the Southern Rocky Mountains at <br />an elevation of 9,000 to 10,500 feet above sea level. <br />The facility is located in sub-alpine terrain upslope of the Town of Nederland, Colorado, in the Coon <br />Track Creek sub-basin of Middle Boulder Creek basin. The topography of the mine site is fairly gentle <br />however many of the surrounding mountains are steep and rugged. Similarly, many of the nearby <br />drainages are deeply incised. The hills and ridges are covered mainly by residual soil and glacial tills, <br />which is drained by slightly to deeply incised creeks. Rock outcrop is generally rare, perhaps 5% or less <br />over the entire property. <br />The climate of this sub-alpine zone is cool, with summer highs reaching 75 °F only on the warmest <br />days. Frost may occur any day of the year. High winds are common throughout the year, with potential <br />gusts up to 130 miles per hour. Snow is a common occurrence for most of the year, except for July and <br />August. Average minimum winter temperatures are 20 to 30 °F and maximum summer temperatures <br />are 65 to 75 °F. <br />Annual precipitation averages 18 inches of rain and 139 inches of snow. April and May have the most <br />precipitation; summers are generally dry with brief but intense thunderstorms associated with the <br />Southwestern US Monsoon season. <br />Vegetation is typical of the Front Range, varying locally between heavy forest and mountain meadows. <br />The north facing slopes are densely wooded with Lodgepole Pine, Engleman Spruce and Douglas fir. <br />The low-lying areas are forested with Quaking Aspen, Western Willow, and Red Alder. South facing <br />slopes are lightly wooded with Ponderosa Pine, Lodgepole Pine, Rocky Mountain Juniper and Quaking <br />Aspen (Turnburke, 2007). <br />The mine portals and auxiliary buildings are located on the south side of a moderately steep valley <br />formed by Coon Track Creek. This drainage separates Caribou Hill to the west and Boulder County Hill <br />to the east. Local relief as measured from the hilltops to the valley floor is approximately 1500 feet. <br />Climate data for the Cross Gold Mine is drawn from two regional weather stations. The temperature <br />data available was collected at the Boulder 14 W. CO., CO COOP station (COOP ID: 050859) operated <br />by the Western Regional Climate Center. The Cross Gold Mine is located at an average elevation of <br />9800’, while the Boulder 14 weather station is at an elevation of 9828’. The Boulder 14 weather station <br />is roughly 4 miles north of the Cross Gold Mine. Other, closer COOP stations are inactive, with climate <br />data recorded only as recently as the 1990s. Based on WRCC mapping, the Cross Gold Mine is in a <br />similar temperature and precipitation band as the Boulder 14 station, and thus its climate data is an <br />effective proxy for the Cross Gold Mine.