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(Page 2) MINE ID # OR PROSPECTING ID # M-1992-045 INSPECTION DATE August 23.2005 INSPECTOR'S INITIALS CBM OBSERVATIONS This was a partial inspection to determine the total acreage disturbed by the mining operation minus the roads that were pre- existing, according to the operator (the Division of Minerals and Geology agrees), and have been coated with waste rock cobbles by the operator to control road erosion. The Gold Basin Placer operation is located at approximately 12,200 feet above mean sea level on the east slope of Quail Mountain in the middle of the upper reaches of Cache Creek. Attending the inspection were Carl Mount and Steve Shuey of the Division of Minerals and Geology and James Van Ella and Deanna Van Ella, the operators. The operator has constructed a large garage type building and several small out buildings to act as summer residence and equipment storage for the mining operation which many tourists visit each year. The buildings are not considered part of the mining operation and are not included in the permit area. Generally, the south side of the mine pit is better material and the operator can get to virgin material on this side. There is approximately a 30 foot high wall on this side of -he pit with an approximate 1.5v:1 H slope. The operator is moving slowly to the west (approximately 1.3 acres disturbed in 12 years or so) and digs in to the side and down to bedrock. All material is processed with a Goldfield wash plant with nothing but water and screening used to sort and separate material that is mined. The wash water runs into the small perennial creek (upper reaches of Cache Creek) and through a series of settling ponds in order to settle any slimes and sediment entrained in the water. Much of the coarse sediment settles out about 100 yards downstream of the wash plant and this is loaded out by the operator with a loader and dump truck and placed on the eastern parking area. The operator usually doesn't dig in to the north side of the pit because it mainly consists of old, pre-law dredge piles and therefore doesn't contain much gold. The operator explained that sometimes material slumps down from the north side and dams up the creek and the operator removes this material to keep the creek from creating a dangerous situation or from the slump material eroding into the creek and adding more sediment to the creek. This appears to be the case since several seeps were observed issuing from the north and west sides of the pit. Global Positioning System measurements were taken to determine the acreage disturbed by the operation to date. Excluding the interior roads, the area of buildings, parking areas, and a flat building or helicopter landing area built with sediment salvaged from the sediment ponds, total disturbed acreage is approximately 1.3 acres excluding the flat building/helicopter landing pad area. The operator has defined a permit area of 3.8 acres with rebar stakes driven into the ground and identified by the operator as the permit boundaries. The site is permitted for 3 acres according to the original application proposed by the operator and approved by the Division in 1992. Observations made on site indicate that mining is occurring outside the boundaries marked by the stakes put in by the operator to the west. However, there are two possible ways to solve this problem: 1) Since only 1.3 acres has been actually disturbed by the mining operation, the operator could relocate the stakes to include all present and proposed future mining disturbance at the site, such permit boundary not to exceed the presently approved 3 acres and the Division could then verify stake placement at a later date. Please note that it is the operator's responsibility to correctly mark the permit boundary according to Rule 3.1.12. 2) The operator could submit the necessary documents to make the previously submitted incomplete amendment application complete and proceed to approval of that application and get 9.99 acres of permit area to include the 1.3 acres of already disturbed area and any other areas that would have to be disturbed by mining and reclamation activities. Such information to make the amendment complete includes: a. A completed application form, b. Proof of filing with the County Clerk, c. Proof of Mailing Notices of Amendment Application to the County Board of Commissioners and the Board of Supervisors of the local Soil Conservation District, and d. An affidavit of Posting Notice at the mine site. Responses to this inspection report should be directed to Carl B. Mount at the Division of Minerals and Geology, Denver Office, 1313 Sherman Street, Room 215, Denver, Colorado 80203, phone number 303-8663863.