Leeville

Jesse Leib — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 16:14:26 +0000

LEEVILLE

The Leeville Mine – Nevada Gold Mine’s Large Underground Complex

SMD is proud to be Nevada Gold Mines (formerly Newmont) underground mining partner. We started this partnership with Newmont when we portaled at Carlin East in September 1993. Fast forward a few years and SMD crews helped connect the Leeville shaft to Carlin East in 2005. We worked continuously at Leeville until June of 2014 helping establish infrastructure, develop, and mine this massive, world-class orebody.

After a short absence, we are now back at Leeville. We are currently installing long term ground support, bulkheads, airdoors, and raise cans.

Exodus

Jesse Leib — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 16:13:00 +0000

Exodus – An Effective Exploration Drift

Newmont contracted with SMD to drive a 16’ x 16’, 4,850’ exploration drive. An additional 1,200’ in muckbays and drill stations was included in the scope of work. The Exodus deposit is a “blind” deposit and surface drilling is very expensive to define the potential ore body. By quickly accessing along and immediately above the drill target, drilling can proceed quickly from an underground platform.

SMD mobilized in September 2008, cut the portals, and began driving drift. The scope of work was completed ahead of schedule and under budget in May, 2009. SMD is currently providing support for drill services at Exodus.

Exodus demonstrates our ability to provide an effective exploration platform to help reduce discovery costs.

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Esmeralda

Jesse Leib — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 16:10:36 +0000

Esmeralda – A Small Mine…Potentially On It’s Way Back.

Great Basin Gold contracted with SMD to provide turn-key services to allow drills to get back into the Esmeralda Mine. We are responsible for re-establishing surface access and power, dewatering the mine, and performing rehabilitation work on the decline. The decline is an 11’ x 12’ drive and the condition is unknown below the water table.

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Chukar

Jesse Leib — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 16:05:39 +0000

CHUKAR

Chukar – SMD’s Longest Life Project to Date

SMD started the portals at Newmont’s Chukar Mine in January 2002. The job was originally a three-month development with a small amount of long-hole open stoping. Seven years later, we are still mining at Chukar. The Chukar mine is located within the Gold Quarry Pit, at Newmont’s South Area near Carlin, Nevada.

Chukar is a safe, high productivity mine. The main mining method is transverse long-hole open stoping with a lot of remote mucking. Primary stopes are filled with cemented rock fill. Secondary or tertiary stopes may be filled with gob. A two-boom jumbo, Sandvik Robolt, Sandvik and JCI 6 cubic yard muckers, and Caterpillar 30-ton trucks keep the muck on the move.

As of June 2009, 2,300,000 tons of ore and 48,000 feet of drift advance have been mined. Over 1,000,000 tons of fill have been placed.

Battle Mountain Shop

Jesse Leib — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 12:13:40 +0000

BATTLE MOUNTAIN SHOP

The Battle Mountain Shop – An Important Logistical Piece

The Battle Mountain shop is located in Battle Mountain, NV, right along the I-80 corridor and centrally located to the Nevada Gold Rush. The facility is located on 5 acres and is approximately 14,000 square feet. It is also on a major shipping corridor that facilitates mobilization of gear to other parts of the country as well.

The shop provides support for our existing jobs as well as a staging area for launching new jobs. Shop capabilities include fabrication, line boring, hose and electrical repair, and rebuilding of various components and major rebuilding and updating of our equipment fleet.

A significant parts inventory is maintained at our central warehouse to ensure that our jobs have the items they need to get the job done. Parts runners dispatch parts to our various jobs on a daily basis. Light vehicle coordination is accomplished from this facility.

Carlin East

Jesse Leib — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 03:54:29 +0000

Carlin East – A Workhorse Mine

SMD portaled into Carlin East in September 2003. This was our first contract with Newmont Mining and formed the basis of a relationship that has lasted 16 years. Newmont crews finished mining in Carlin East in 2007. However, through further exploration and engineering, additional ore has been found.

A new portion of the deposit is called “Full House”. SMD drove an exploration drift in 2008. After a successful drilling campaign, we are now developing the Full House deposit. In addition, our crews are doing some remnant mining in the old Carlin East workings.

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Butte Highlands

Jesse Leib — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 03:50:23 +0000

Butte Highlands – A Perfect Place for a Mine

The Butte Highlands project is located along the Continental Divide about 10 miles south of Butte, Montana. Historic workings date from the late 1860’s and mining continued into the 1940’s.

We have been actively assisting with every aspect of permitting on the project and expect to receive permits for an Exploration project in 2009. The Butte Highlands mineralization is steeply dipping and the topography is quite steep over the orebody making surface drilling difficult and expensive. A 6,000 foot exploration decline with associated muck bays and drill stations has been proposed to allow drilling from an underground platform.

Work is anticipated to start upon receipt of permits, hopefully before winter weather sets in. SMD will be tasked with oversite and execution of the entire scope of work. We are looking forward to kicking off the next great project in the state of Montana.

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