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1manband

08/22/13 1:31 PM

#65955 RE: Highland #65953

My decade estimate to open a commercial mine is actually conservative. The average time to open a mine today from discovery to production is 18 years. 18 years.

Since there are no recently opened (or reopened) mines in Colorado, I can't give you a specific example from the same State, but how about one from Arizona? It is also a small operations and a "brownfields" project as a former producer. Because of the tens of millions in work done by the prior operator prior to closure in 1996, it only took this company 15 years to reopen as it opened in 2012. 3 years better than average.

Here is the copy of their feasibility study on the project:

http://www.americanbonanza.com/i/pdf/Feasibility2011.pdf

The mine is not profitable, however.
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sanbrunobaby

08/22/13 1:40 PM

#65958 RE: Highland #65953

The problem about making even a ball park forecast with a mine re-opening is (a) the wild card of permitting (b) one needs sufficient information which simply we dont have (c) certain steps need to be followed along the path to a production decision.

In this case the company is at pre early stage status as a "exploration" company if one could call it that. They have a mill which cannot be operated yet, they have some sort of option on mines, and based on old information they have made some estimates of resources.

-A few months is out of the question, no one with any experience investing in pre-production plays or actual mining experience would hold this view.

-Two years is also unlikely for all the reasons posted.

- 10 years ? this wouldnt be out of line as a forecast according to what is happening in the industry.

Two things stand out : first, a lot more drilling and underground evaluation is required, normally with this situation I would expect two work seasons minimum to even consider a production decision- and that is assuming everything goes like clockwork. Even then funding needs to be raised which they themselves have quoted at $11 million. second, does the financial position of the company show promise that funding can be raised within the next 6 months for a serious drilling and underground work program.I do not believe they will even start a serious program in the next 6 let alone 12 months.

It seems unlikely under current management CGFIwill ever produce from their ownmines within the next 5 years in my opinion.