The Rodeo property hosts gold- and silver-bearing mineralization commonly associated with a low-sulfidation (adularia-sericite) epithermal mineralizing system. Epithermal systems are defined to occur from depths of less than 2 km to superficial hot spring settings. Mineral deposition occurs as hydrothermal fluids undergo cooling and degassing and are commonly zoned vertically over 250 to 350 m from a base metal-poor, gold- and silver-rich top to a relatively silver-rich base metal zone and an underlying base metal-rich zone grading at depth into a sparse base metal, pyritic zone.

The immediate Rodeo deposit area is approximately 300 m along strike and 200 m wide and extends to a depth of 200 m below surface. The deposit strikes at 330° and dips to the ENE with various vein phases dipping from sub-vertical to 30°. The deposit is entirely hosted within Tertiary Rodeo volcanics that are strongly silicified and brecciated. The deposit is bounded to the east by the Rodeo Fault, however drilling to date has not demonstrated that the deposit reaches or is truncated by the fault. Along strike to the north and south, the mineralization is offset slightly by near vertical faulting; mineralization does not terminate at these faults, but the intensity of the trend is either diminished or high-grade mineralization has yet to be located.

Mineralization at the deposit is epithermal low-sulfidation (quartz-adularia) type. Although very little mineralization is hosted in ........

Due to the near-surface nature and continuity of the orebody, mining at Rodeo is conducted with open pit mining methods. Blasted material is mined with a diesel excavator and loaded into on-highway trucks for haulage to the plant site approximately 115 km away from the mine. Loading and hauling to the plant is typically carried out on the weekdays during the morning, to ensure adequate mineralized material delivery while allowing for mining of waste and low-grade materials to occur later in the day. If needed to supply mill feed, haulage to the plant may continue over the weekend. Separating the mining activities based on haulage destinations allows for more efficient use of resources, while creating a safer working environment.

There are four stockpiles at the mine site for stockpiling mineralized material for potential future processing, and additional stockpiling area exists at the plant to allow for better material management and potential blending. Mine production averages 2,100 tpd of total movement and the pit has an expected mine life of 22 months. Figure 13-1 shows the final pit outline for the Rodeo Project. Mining is conducted in 5 m benches which are double benched to 10 m.

Mining and hauling to the plant are carried out using contractors. Labor requirements are minimal and are provided by the contractor. Golden Minerals personnel are responsible for blasthole sampling, supervisory, administrative, and engineering tasks.

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