2011-01-24_PERMIT FILE - M2011007 (12)

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Hard .Rock/Metal Mining Permit Application ?p?; ???11ES,4!•` Limited Impact Designated Mining Operation (110(d))? Venture Resources, Inc. - Robert Fulton Reclamation Revision 0: January 17, 2011 =¢ 42189 Exhibit B - Site Description SON 6.3.2(a) Vegetation & Soil Characteristics of Affected Area: This semi-arid mountainous site is composed of crystalline Precambrian rocks, i.e. gneisses and schists, and tertiary intrusive rocks such as quartz monzonites overlain by 0-2" of 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 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 undisturbed soil in this vicinity as Mammoth-Ohman-Bendemeere Complex, 15 to 30 percent slopes. The area impacted by pre-existing abandoned mine waste rock is characterized by the NRCS as Arents-Dumps, Mine Complex, 5 to 80 percent slopes. Specific, actual conditions of this site do vary to a degree. It shall be noted again that within this area is a pile of pre-existing abandoned mine waste rock from mining operations conducted by others in the late 1800's and early 1900's. There is approximately 1,000 tons of this material contained within the affected area. The affected area is 1.208 acres and the waste rock dump covers an area of 10,500 sq. ft. This waste rock dump is completely devoid of any vegetation due to the acidic and metalliferous content. This operation will completely remove the dump and ship it to an offsite processing facility to remove contaminants and an trace precious metal content The processing facility is in Clear Creek County and has already been permitted with the Colorado Division of Reclamation Mining & Safety (DRMS) under permit #M-2009-076. Vegetation is fairly well established on this forested slope, with the exception of the barren state directly on the pre- existing waste rock dump. The NRCS describes the ecology of the site as Forest/Rangeland/Stony Loam. A list of the common varieties of vegetation found composing this area is: • Mountain Muhly • Arizona Fescue • Griffith's Wheatgrass (aka Montana Wheatgrass) • Parry's Danthonia (aka Parry's Oatgrass) • Antelope Bitterbrush • Wax Currant • Western Wheatgrass • Ponderosa Pine • Lodgepole Pine • Limber Pine • Fir • Aspen • 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 8.5H : IV. Page 1 of 3