The Moss deposit is a steeply dipping (average 70°) quartz-calcite vein and stockwork system, which extends over a strike length of approximately 1,400 m in the project area, but can be traced for more than 5.6 km in total length.

The Moss vein system is considered a high level, low-sulfidation (adularia-sericite) epithermal gold-silver deposit in the classification of Heald et al (1987) and White and Hedenquist (1995). Low sulfidation epithermal deposits form from hydrothermal waters in the relatively near-surface environment, typically within 1.5 km of the earth’s surface (Taylor, 2007). They are commonly found associated with magmatism and volcanism, but are somewhat distal (vertically or laterally) from the actual center of magmatism, in environments where meteroric waters have mixed with and diluted magmatic waters.

Epithermal deposits comprise one of three sub- types: high sulphidation; intermediate sulphidation; and low sulphidation. Each sub-type is identified by characteristic alteration and ore-stage mineral assemblages, occurrences, textures and suites of associated geochemical elements. The designation of high sulfidation vs low sulfidation is based on the sulfidation state of the ore-stage sulfide suite, not the abundance of sulfides in the ore. However, precious metals mineralization at Moss is characterized by a low sulfidation suite of minerals and a very low sulfide content (<1%) as well.

The quartz-calcite vein text ........

Exploitation of the mineral reserves in the Moss vein and adjacent stockworks on the patented lands will be by open pit mining methods with a conventional drill-blast-load-haul mining fleet.

The PEA mine design removes the patented claims boundary constraint by assuming the pit limits can be extended onto the adjacent Federal lands controlled by the BLM. This allows the PEA mine plan to access the mineral resources not available in the Phase II mine plan. Concurrent with expansion of the pit, the mine facilities would also need to be expanded onto the BLM lands. This would include an expanded heap leach pad to accommodate the additional mineralized material, and an expanded waste rock facility to accommodate the additional waste rock.

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The most economically effective process has been identified as one that consists of heap leaching of crushed and agglomerated ore, followed by a Merrill Crowe metal recovery plant and refinery to produce gold and silver doré bars on site.

Ore grade material from the open pit will be crushed to 6.35 mm and then agglomerated with cement prior to loading on the heap leach pad in 10m lifts. The crushing circuit will employ three stages of crushing consisting of a primary jaw crusher, a secondary cone crusher, and two tertiary cone crushers. After agglomeration, the fine ore will be conveyed to the leach pad with a series of grasshopper conveyors feeding a radialstacker.

The expanded leach pad is based on the same operating parameters as the Phase II leach pad in terms of tonnes stacked daily, solution application rates, and lift heights. The expanded leach pad geotechnical design will be in accordance with Arizona BADCT protocols, and stacking will be accomplished v ........