The mineralized system at La Bolsa represents a low sulfidation, volcanic hosted, epithermal precious metal deposit.

The gold-silver mineralization at La Bolsa occurs within stockwork and disseminations that are generally located within a low-angle north-south trending structural zone that dips moderately eastward from its exposure along a north-south-trending ridge. Mineralization is in the form of an oxidized blanket that is sub-parallel to topography and dips shallowly below surface from the base of the ridge. Mineralization has been traced for approximately 1,100 meters (3,600 feet) in length and up to 800 meters (2,600 feet) in width with thicknesses that range from 10 to 60 meters (30 to 200 feet). Recent drilling at La Bolsa continues to extend that zone, and the known mineralization remains open both down-dip and along strike.

Most of the precious metals mineralization at La Bolsa occurs within a series of regionally propylitized andesite flows and flow breccias interbedded with varying amounts of conglomerates, arkosic sandstones, and minor siltstone. While the finer sedimentary material is regionally sourced, the coarser conglomeratic clasts are almost exclusively derived from the andesite flows. Andesite flows are moderately porphyritic and can range from less than one meter up to 100 meters thick. Post depositional faulting and folding as well as the lateral discontinuity of individual beds makes determination of strike and dip difficult. Wit ........

The proposed open pit mining rate for this deposit is based upon a production rate of 8500 ore t/d yielding a mine life of 5.3 years.

The lowest bench mined is at an elevation of 966 m. The highest pit wall elevation is 1,176 m, measured from the highest point of the pit rim. Total vertical depth of mining is 210m.

A bench height of 6 m has been selected for the pit design based on the relatively low production rate and medium size mine equipment used in this study. The block model was initially constructed with a block height of 3 m for a more accurate gold grade estimating procedure. A reblocking exercise was completed resulting in 6m high blocks which were used in mine planning.

Ramp and Haul Road Design
The width of the travelling surface of the mine haul roads inside the pit is 21 m. In addition, there is a requirement for a 1 .5 m high safety berm which will occupy a width of 3 m. Allowance is also made for a 1 m wide drainage ditch. The total required width of the haul road is, therefore, 25 m. The grade of the haul road is generally at the gradient of 10%. The last four segments of the haul road close to the pit floor are designed for single lane only with a total road width of 13.5 m.

The pit haul ramp is constructed over the west wall of the pit with two switch-backs, one in the north and one in the south, thereby taking advantage of the low angle of mineralization.

Waste Dump Design
The western and ........

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