Projects
La Dama de Oro
History
The La Dama de Oro workings were known as the Mojave Girl from 1892 until 1967. Other workings on the property continue to be known as the Mojave Boy and the Tarantula. Raymond G. Burleson filed on the La Dama De Oro, formerly the Mojave Girl, in1967 when the property came open. The Burleson family sank two prospect shafts on vein outcrops along strike to the east-southeast of the La Dama de Oro Mine: a 40-foot shaft and a 20-foot shaft, but no other surface work has been accomplished.
Richard Todd, a mining engineer and public land surveyor, was retained in 1980 to provide surveying of the claims, he eventually produced a map superimposing claims on the USGS topographic map of the area with all claims shown, sufficient to outline the aerial surface outcrop path of the orebody that lies hidden beneath the surface.
After inheritance of the mining claims by a son, Reggie Burleson, he again retained RichardTodd to evaluate the holdings and provide information on potential of the property as a continuing underground mine. In 2001, Mr. Burleson formed a new corporation headquartered in Nevada named Mohave Gold Mining & Exploration, Inc., naming himself as President.
The original unpatented mineral claims were reviewed by Mr. Todd and Avery Reed, also a graduate mining engineer and engineering contractor, for future consideration as an operable mineral property. In January 2004, Mr. Donald Strachan, certified professional geologist, was retained to perform a geotechnical site investigation for an opinion of economic geology and precious metal potential. That early report was followed in November 2009 with a report of greater extent which concluded that a possibility exists for other nearby contiguous veins.
Proposed Plan of Exploration and Development
The Plan
In order to meet the recommendations put forth by Professional Geologist Mr. Donald G. Strachan, geologic mapping, grid geochemical sampling and geophysical surveys will be carried out. The LIDAR map upon which this work is to be completed has been flown and is ready.This work will provide the geological context for phase one of a four-phase "Drift and Drill" Exploration and Development Plan designed by the Technical Management Team at Mohave Gold Mining & Exploration, Inc (MGME). The plan is designed to create shareholder value by further delineating the quality, quantity and lateral extent of the existing vein deposit.
Each phase will allow for results to be compared with previous recommendations; press releases based on technical conclusions; and decisions and recommendations made for the next sequential phase.
Efficient use of investor funds will be maximized. Assuming Phase 4 is successful, an economic feasibility study will be completed to determine the mine and mill construction plan, operational plan, expenditures, and profitability.
Phase One surface activity will drill approximately 5,000 feet from 5 different locations (core drill pads 1, 2, 2a, 3, and 4a.) and will produce core-hole samples that will clarify vein continuity, ore grade, intercept thickness, and other vein intersection information.
Phase One underground activity will enlarge the existing adit and drift workings to a full 8′X8′ opening and extend the known workings 100 feet to the east at the 4,180-foot level. This underground portion will produce bulk samples of the ore from the existing stopes and from drifting Eastward on the vein, material that will be stockpiled for later transport to a custom mill for testing. This information is vital to determining accurate ore grade quality as it reduces accidental high-grading and low-balling known to occur with random chip sampling. Depending on the number of bulk samples taken, the results will approach what can be expected from actual mining.
The Permit Process
The permitting process for this project started in August, 2009 with the filing of a Plan of Operations with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). The BLM is concerned with the surface disturbances that will be created by executing the activities in the Plan of Operations.
MGME has shown on it’s Plan of Operations map, 10 locations for core-drilling sites, delineated the routes to reach those sites, and has provided the BLM with information of the character and area of the surface disturbances to be expected by completing the required biological and archaeological surveys. The BLM and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service are equal partners in the permitting process.
The following list shows the permit process milestones accomplished through November, 2012.
August 2009: Commencement and initial filing of “Plan of Operations” documents with the local field office of the United States Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management. October 2009: 1 x 55-page report prepared by Circle Mountain Biological Consultants, Inc. Titled: “Focused Survey for Desert Tortoise and Western Burrowing Owl, Habitat evaluation for Mojave Ground Squirrel, and Formal Biological Assessment for a 160- acre Portion of LaDama de Oro Mine, Burleson Claims, Sidewinder Mountain, San Bernardino County, Calif.”
November 2009: A revised 1 x 26-page geological report by a Certified Professional Geologist, titled: “Economic Geology and Gold Potential, La Dama de Oro Property, Sidewinder Mountain, Silver Mountain Mining District, San Bernardino County, California.” by Donald G. Strachan, Economic Geologist, MSc, CPG (originally contracted January 2004).
September 2010: Consultation with Mr. Strachan to produce “Drift and Drill”, the 4- phase Exploration and Development Plan.
October 2010: Preparation and submission of revised Plan of Operations to reflect the new Exploration and Development Plan, including a 1″ = 400′ map showing the location of 8 drill pad sites, and the calculation of the areas of disturbances from existing desert tracks and roads to those sites.
October 2010: Preparation and submission of a map and field photo-journal for the Application for Lake and Stream-bed Alteration to the California Department of Fish and Game, so that “Blue-line” stream crossings could be identified, and fees established for those crossings.
January 2011: Permission granted to cross Blue Line Streams, valid for 5 years.
January 2011: 17 additional lode claims located and filed to bring the total to 35 unpatented mining claims.
January 2011: Location and filing of first Mill site.
April 2011: “A Class III Cultural Resources Study for La Dama de Oro Project, San Bernardino County, California” prepared for Mohave Gold Mining & Exploration, Inc. by Brian F. Smith & Associates, Inc.
April 2011: Location and filing of three additional Mill sites to bring the total to 4 Mill sites.
September 2011: BLM Barstow Staff field visit to the “La Dama de Oro” unpatented mining claims. Preparation of revised and focused elaboration of Phase 1 core-drilling Plan of Operations for BLM, based upon field visit and consultation with BLM staff, preparation of 1″ = 40′ site plan.
December 2011: Submitted updated and Revised Final Plan of Operations to BLM, moving the proposed location of the 4a drill Pad into the SW 1/4 of Section 10, and detailing specific Surface and Underground activities for Phase 1 of the Exploration and Development Plan.
January 2012: Project Presentation in Victorville.
January 2012: Lease Purchase Option Agreement Addendum signed by PIPI and MGME.
February 2012: Initial Bat Survey, La Dama de Oro portal, completed by Brown-Berry Consultants.
April 2012: Night-time Bat Exit Study, field work completed. Determination of no significant bat roosts in existence at the site.
Bat Exclusion Strategy executed.
May 2012: LIDAR Map flown by Airborne 1. Provides basis for future Ore body Modeling Program to be
used by geologist in conjunction with core-drilling and underground mapping.
June 2012: Archaeological field work and report on mill site area completed by Brian F. Smith and Associates. Finding of No Significant Impact.
August 2012: Maintenance Fees on 35 unpatented mining claims held by right of location and 4 mill sites paid to USDI, BLM for 2013 calendar year.
October 2012: Letter of Authorization received from BLM (Permit).
November 2012: Pre-mobilization activities commenced. Survey of mill site area. Review of Employee Tortoise Education Program Materials.
