2010-07-27_PERMIT FILE - M2009076 (27)

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•••........ cS Hard Rock/Metal :Mining Permit Application VD•.••?p.ME.S .% Limited Impact Designated Mining Operation (110(d)) Venture Resources, Inc. - Hukill Gulch Millsite M 421 Revision 1: July 27, 2010 Exhibit B - Site Description °?F'••.......••'G?? ON 1. 6.3.2(a) Vegetation & Soil Characteristics of Affected Areas: Tailings Impoundment Area " / This semi-arid site is a dry gulch composed of crystalline Precambrian rocks, i.e. gneisses and schists, and tertiary intrusive rocks such as quartz monzonites overlain by 0-2" of poor topsoil. Bedrock is to be found rather quickly beneath 0-36" of coarse, weathered rock. The US Natural Resources Conservation Service (MRCS) has done a soil survey of this broad vicinity that can be accessed readily using their internet based Web Soil Survey utility tool. Utilizing this tool, Venture Resources has generated a Custom Soil Resource Report that is included in the appendix to this Exhibit B. Generally speaking, the NRCS describes the soil in this vicinity as a Cathedral Rock Outcrop Complex, 30-701% Slopes. Thus consists of an average of 65% Cathedral type soil (see appendix) and 20%Rock Outcrop. Specific, actual conditions of this site do vary to a degree. It shall also be noted that within this area are numerous piles of pre-existing abandoned mine waste rock from mining operations conducted by others in the late 1800's and early 1900's. There are approximately 8,000 tons of this material contained within the affected area. These waste rock dumps are completely devoid of any vegetation due to the acidic and metalliferous content. As part of new operations, these dumps will be processed to remove contaminants and re-impounded into this area (refer to Exhibits C. D, E and T for more detail). Vegetation is sparse on this south facing slope. The NRCS describes the ecology of the site as Rangeland/Stony Loam. They list the common varieties of vegetation to be typically found composing this area as: • Mountain Muhly • Arizona Fescue • Griffith's Wheatgrass (aka Montana Wheatgrass) • Parry's Danthonia (aka Parry's Oatgrass) • Mountain Mahogany • Antelope Bitterbrush • Wax Currant • Western Wheatgrass • Western Snowberry • Yucca • Ponderosa Pine • Rocky Mountain Juniper An in-depth NRCS characterization of these species is included in the appendix to this Exhibit B. Natural grade in this vicinity averages 3h : Iv. • Page 1 of 4