Based on current published explanations for the Mineral Ridge mineralization, it appears that astructurally-controlled orogenic model may be the most applicable to the deposit.

The currently-known mineralized zones occur over an area of approximately 14,000 ft (4,300 m) north south and 15,000 ft (4,600 m) east–west. The gold mineralization at Mineral Ridge is primarily associated with milky quartz veins and lenses accompanied by local argillization and some sericitization. Prior to mining, the individual zones were as much as 50 ft (15 m) thick, typicallyconsisting of a higher-grade quartz veins from five to 30 ft (9 m) thick, surrounded by a lower-grade envelope of mineralization. Two or more highgrade zones are commonly observed stacked in en echelon patterns.

Gold deposition is structurally-controlled, and some of the highest-grade mineralization is found in shoots that are at an oblique angle to the direction of movement of extension. Gold is present as native gold and electrum that occurs as irregular shaped intergrowths in quartz associated with interstitial space and small fractures. Gold also occurs as irregularly-shaped intergrowths and as fracture fillings associated with goethite, much of which was derived from original pyrite. In partially oxidized mineralization, gold occurs with both pyrite and goethite. Gold particle size varies from 1–2 µm to about 700 µm, but most of the particles are in the 5–50 µm size range. Gold to silver ratios are ........

There are two elements to the proposed mining methods for this study. The first area involves the mining of the previously-processed heap leach material and processing it though a milling facility. The second item involves the mining of remnant areas adjacent to existing open pits on the property and sending this material to the new process facility. The milling facility will have a higher gold recovery than the heap leach process, so the remnant areas have become economic to mine.

Production of mineralized material from the heap and pit area is planned at a nominal rate of 4,000 t/d. Due to the timing of building a new pad storage area for the heap leach material, the heap leach material has to be processed before the mining of the pit areas to allow room for the additional material from the open pits. Mining and processing of the heap ore will take a little over five years and mining and processing of the open pit ores will take three years for a total projected mine life of 7.5 years.

LEACH PAD
Mill feed material is derived from moving the previously-processed heap leach material from the existing heap leach to a mill facility, to process and reclaim economic material from the leach material.

No drilling or blasting is anticipated as the reclaim leach material is unconsolidated. All material movement will consist of transporting the reclaim leach material from the existing heap leach pad to the mill facility. A hopper and solution mi ........

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