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ATTACHMENT A <br />Lower Mountain Top Setting Site Narrative <br />Site Setting <br />zz <br />?os ra?9o 6 ®,, <br />Mining 7/Re S'?a <br />a1`C," n <br />The Lower Mountain Top site is an historic underground mine site with an existing portal, existing work <br />pad and sedimentation basin retained as part of the historic CDPS discharge permit issued to the Silver <br />Eagle Company (permit no. CO-0037460). The entire site is approximately 1 acre including the access <br />road off CR 26A. It occurs at a very high elevation (11,400 ft.) within Governor basin that encapsulates <br />several other active mine sites including the currently active Liberty and the Ruby Trust Mines. In the <br />late 1800s, mining in this area was very active and yielded significant quantities of gold and silver. The <br />'Upper' Mountain Top is linked via underground workings and historically was linked via an aerial <br />tramway to a loading facility located approximately 1/8 mile directly NE of the Lower Mountain Top <br />portal. Figure 1 depicts the location of the Lower Mountain Top Mine within the Governor Basin. Flow <br />pathways and access roads are also shown. <br />The current lessee (St. Sophia Holding Ltd.) would like to refurbish the underground workings and <br />conduct exploration activities underground to locate a silver vein ore body. The portal is in good shape <br />having been reclaimed by a Division of Reclamation and Safety closure bond process in 2009. The <br />silver/gold vein structure has been historically documented but needs to be verified before this property <br />could proceed to a 'mine plan of operations'; thus the proposed activities are strictly exploration. <br />Given the high altitude, seasonal access and limiting road conditions; access to the Lower Mountain top <br />is extremely limited. Access typically begins around late May or early June, dependent upon late snow <br />melt. Access is typically closed out by late October. The road (CR 26A) is a county road maintained for <br />recreational - high clearance - 4 wheel drive. It typically takes approximately 0.5 hours to travel the 2 <br />miles from the intersection of CR 26A with CR 361, to the lower Mountain Top site. <br />Directions to the property are as follows; from Ouray, travel on Hwy 550 to CR 361; travel 7.45 miles <br />along CR 361 to CR26A (intersection at Yankee Boy Basin turnoff) travel approximately 0.5 miles to <br />Lower Mountain Top gate. Site is at the base of the upper Governor Basin at an elevation of -11,400 ft. <br />Description of the Exploration Activities <br />The proposed work will involve a staff of three miners; two working underground, one to remain on the <br />surface for safety requirements. The underground exploration will likely require the use of explosives <br />and machinery for waste rock/ore removal, and air/water circulation for the drilling activities. The <br />operation will require one to two personal vehicles (1 ton truck for transportation of personnel and <br />equipment on a day-to-day basis), one underground diesel-fueled (2 to 3yd capacity) trammer and a <br />small diesel personnel buggy or tractor. <br />The operation will produce samples of rock for silver/gold ore content testing. There is no on-site <br />milling (i.e. the use of grinding or floatation circuits for metal extraction). Viable ore samples will be <br />placed in sacks and transported off-site for content analysis. The majority of the waste rock will be a