DEPOSIT TYPE
The mineralization identified at the Long Valley property is typical of the shallower portions of an epithermal, low-sulfidation type of gold-silver deposit. Other examples of this type of deposit, which share some similarities to Long Valley, include the McLaughlin deposit in California and the Hycroft (Sulfur) deposit in Nevada. In common with these deposits, gold and silver mineralization appears to have taken place at very shallow depths and is associated with a relatively recent volcanic-related hydrothermal system. In addition, the mineralized zones are typically associated with clay alteration (kaolinite) and silica replacement of volcaniclastic host rocks. This type of deposit typically contains very low amounts of base metals.

Mineralization
Several areas or zones on the Long Valley property are known to be mineralized with low grades of gold and silver. These areas are known as the North, Middle (also called Central), South, Southeast, and Hilton Creek areas. Based on drilling, mineralization appears to generally be contiguous between the South, Southeast, and Hilton Creek zones. These same zones appear to contain the vast majority of the estimated mineral resources described later in this report. Drilling is widely spaced in and between the North, Middle, and South zones, and it may be possible that with additional drilling, these zones may be shown to be contiguous with the better-defined zones to the south.

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The Long Valley Project is planned to be mined using conventional open pit mining methods. The ore and waste will be drilled and blasted using a rotary blasthole drill and ammonium nitrate fuel oil (ANFO) and transported in dump trucks. The mine plan calls for the leachable material from the pits to the heap leach pad at a rate of 22,000 short tons per day. The mine plan includes concurrent backfilling and closure within +/-25 feet of original topography.

Pit Design
For the Long Valley project, average mining cost and G&A cost from similar deposits were used as a basis for Whittle costs. Processing costs used in the Whittle pit analysis were specifically evaluated for the Long Valley deposit.

The ultimate pit consists of two separate pits, a larger pit and smaller satellite pit. The primary pit is divided into 3 phases with similar quantity of material, and the smaller satellite pit is considered as a separate 4th phase.

Within the phases, pits were designed with an overall pit slope of 45°, using a batter angle of 80°, bench height of 20 feet (doubled 10 feet benches). Catch berms are 16 feet wide. All in-pit haul roads were designed with a maximum 10% grade and a width of 90 feet.

Mine Scheduling
The resources were reported by 10-foot bench, showing tons of leachable material, waste, and ounces of gold. Pre-stripping of waste was included if waste occurred on a bench that had no corresponding leachable material or if th ........

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Heap operation over the estimated mine life indicates that operation of the HLF requires a water supply with an approximate average flowrate of 450 gpm (100 m3/hr). An additional 150 gpm (34 m3/hr) is required for mine, shop, and office water consumption.