Hackberry Silver Property Mohave County, Arizona, Usa Ni 43-101 Technical Report
Hackberry Silver Property Mohave County, Arizona, Usa Ni 43-101 Technical Report
Hackberry Silver Property Mohave County, Arizona, Usa Ni 43-101 Technical Report
Prepared for
By
IMPORTANT NOTICE
This report was prepared as a National Instrument 43-101 Technical Report for Bitterroot
Resources Ltd. The quality of information, conclusions and estimates contained herein are
based on: 1) information available at the time of preparation, 2) data supplied by outside
sources and 3) the assumptions, conditions and qualifications set forth in this report. This
report is intended for use by Bitterroot Resources Ltd. subject to relevant securities
legislation. Bitterroot Resources Ltd. may file this report as a Technical Report with
Canadian securities regulatory authorities pursuant to National Instrument 43-101,
Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. The responsibility for this disclosure remains
with Bitterroot Resources Ltd. Except for the purposes legislated under Canadian
provincial securities law, any other uses of this report by any third party is at that party’s
sole risk. The user of this document should ensure that this is the most recent Technical
Report for the property as it is not valid if a new Technical Report has been issued.
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The effective date of this NI 43-101 Technical Report entitled “Hackberry Silver Property,
Mohave County, Arizona, USA, NI 43-101 Technical Report,” is March 28, 2017
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Table of Contents
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List of Figures
Figure 4-1 Location of the Hackberry Property, Mohave County, Arizona ………. 8
Figure 4-2 Outline of mining claims under Bitterroot ownership, ………….... 9
Hackberry Property, Mohave County, Arizona
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Figure 7-4 Strongly jointed and fractured granitic gneiss located …………….. 28
east of the North Silver King workings
Figure 7-6 Silver Analyses, for Select Samples, Hackberry Property, …………. 32
Mohave County, Arizona
Figure 7-7 Lead Analyses, for Select Samples, Hackberry Property, ………….. 33
Mohave County, Arizona
Figure 7-8 Zinc Analyses for Select Samples, Hackberry Property, ……………. 33
Mohave County, Arizona
Figure 25-1 Target Areas with Potential for Undiscovered Mineral …………… 50
Resources, Hackberry Property, Mohave County, Arizona
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List of Tables
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1.0 SUMMARY
1.1 Introduction
Mr. Glen (Glendenning) W. Adams, P. Geol. (Minnesota and Wisconsin and Registered
Member SME, No. 4115591RM) (“Mr. Adams” or “Author”), a Certified Professional
Geologist (a Qualified Person), was retained by Bitterroot Resources Ltd. to examine the
project area and prepare an independent National Instrument 43-101-compliant Technical
Report (“Report”) for the Hackberry Project (“Property”) located in Mohave County,
Arizona, U.S.A. Mr. Adams is responsible for the written body of the Report. All map
figures in the Report were produced by Mr. Jeffrey Rowe, P. Geo. (British Columbia) (“Mr.
Rowe”), a Certified Professional Geologist (a Qualified Person). Collectively Mr. Adams
and Mr. Rowe are the co-authors (“Co-Authors”) of the Report. The Report is based on a
compilation and analysis of historic unpublished and published geological reports and data
prepared by cited individuals, personal communications and on a field inspection by Mr.
Adams. The Report incorporates a summary of previous work and an appraisal of the
exploration potential of the Property. The purpose of the Report is to demonstrate that the
results of the historic exploration and mining activities on the Property, as well as the
Property’s inherent mineral potential, establishes sufficient merit to warrant further
exploration.
The Hackberry Project (“Property”) is located within the central Peacock Mountain Range
of northwest Arizona, approximately 48 km (30 miles) northeast of Kingman, Arizona
(Figure 4-1).
The Property covers two separate historic mining operations. The northwest-most is the
Silver King-Hillside area (“Silver King”), which is covered by three unpatented mining
claims, encompassing approximately 24 hectares (60 acres), held by Nevada Select Royalty
Inc., (“Nevada Select”) a Nevada corporation, which in turn is a wholly-owned subsidiary of
Ely Gold and Minerals Inc., a British Columbia company. The southeastern, and
historically more productive mine area, consists of the Old Hackberry (or Sunshine), and
the South Hackberry mines (“Hackberry”) located on 12 Patented Lode Claims that cover
about 97 hectares (240 acres) and extend over a north-south distance of about 1.9 km (1.2
miles). The Hackberry part of the Property is held in the Arizona-based, Hughes Family
Trust (“Hughes Trust”).
1.3 History
The Hackberry and South Hackberry prospects were discovered in 1874. The Silver King
prospects were discovered about the same time or slightly later. The Silver King deposits
were only developed to the lower reaches of the oxidized zone by shallow workings, but the
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The Hackberry mine had two separate periods of production. Mining from 1874 through
1884 developed one main silver-rich mineralized shoot that produced between $2,000,000
and $3,000,000 (1884 dollars) worth of high-grade mineralization that was mostly milled
on-site. In 1884 the mine was closed due to the combination of apparent mismanagement
problems, an influx of mine waters and litigation issues and the mine workings were allowed
to flood. Over the next 33 years several unsuccessful attempts were made to reopen the
mine. In 1917 the mine was purchased by the Hackberry Consolidated Mining Company.
The mine was dewatered and development was started on a narrow mineralized seam on the
600-level that developed into a significant base- and precious-metal-bearing body that
produced an estimated 136,065 tonnes (150,000 short tons) of mineralized material with an
approximate gross value of $4,000,000 (1917 dollars). In 1919 litigations problems again
arose resulting in the permanent closure of the Hackberry Mine and the mine was allowed to
flood.
Several companies and individuals have made unsuccessful attempts to discover additional
mineable resources since the mine’s closure in 1919. Minor exploration efforts have been
carried out, including a limited, but unknown, amount of drilling; however, to date no well-
planned, significant exploration program has been conducted on the Property.
Regionally, the Property is located in the Peacock Mountains within the Basin and Range
province of the southwestern U.S. More specifically, the Property covers rocks that are part
of the Arizona Mohave crustal subprovince (Prante, 2009; Duebendorfer, 2015).
Duebendorfer (2015) states that reliable age dates for the oldest granitic intrusive rocks in
the Arizona Mohave crustal subprovince are about 1,735 million years.
A structural fracture zone, striking between 3100 to 3350, extends approximately 2.5 km (1.5
miles) along the length of the Property. The fracture systems and their splays host many of
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the post-metamorphic dikes and the main Hackberry and Silver King mineralized zones. The
mineralized vein systems hosted by the structural fractures dip about 400 to the southwest in
the south and steepen to about 550 to 800 southwest, and locally vertical to slightly
northeastward, in the north. Locally joint sets become significant structural features where
they increase in intensity as noted east of the Silver King area between the two main
structural zones on the Property. The structural zone may be part of a more regional feature
that appears to extend from the Hackberry deposit area northwesterly for about 6.5 km (4
miles) ) as observed on satellite imagery and the trend of historic surface workings.
The base- and precious-metal mineralized zones on the Hackberry property consist of a
series of one or more fracture sets containing quartz veins or zones of silicification within
envelopes of locally argillically altered and sometimes foliated, granitic gneiss. The
mineralized zones are commonly discontinuous and erratically distributed within the main
structures and their splays. Widths of the mineralized zones vary greatly and randomly
pinch and swell from 0.1 to 1.5 meters (1 to 5 feet) over variable lengths ranging from 6 to
180 meters (20 to 600 feet). The main Hackberry lode is an exception as the mineralized
vein breccias vary from 122 to 335 meters (400 to 1100 feet) in length and 1.5 to 21 meters
(5 to 70 feet) in width (Malkoski, 1985).
The mineralized fracture zones contain drusy to vuggy, locally cockscomb, white to clear,
quartz veinlets, lenses and breccia matrix. The veins and breccias commonly contain trace
amounts, to locally 20 percent, primary sulfide minerals in the form of galena, sphalerite,
minor pyrite and local chalcopyrite and possible tetrahedrite. Secondary oxidized products
of the primary sulfides are common in surface exposures, shallow mine workings and pits
and on the historic mine dumps. Excluding the often very high-grade oxide deposits, the
reported historical grade of the base- and precious-metal mineralization typically mined
ranged from 25 oz/t to 100 oz/t (857 to 3,429 grams/tonne) silver, 0.05 to 0.15 oz/t (1.7 to
5.1 grams/tonne) gold with 8 percent lead, 6 per cent zinc and copper from 0.5 to 2.5 percent
(Watts, 1912; Johns, 1918; Weed, 1922; Warne, 1983). Recently sampled surface rock and
mine dump geochemistry results reflect grades similar to the historic grades.
Malkoski (1985) believed he recognized property-wide evidence for vertical metal zoning
consisting of an upper quartz zone, an intermediate precious metals and sulfide zone and a
lower base metals zone. Based on this data and the overall characteristics of the mineralized
systems on the Property, it appears that the deposits likely occur within the transition zone
between a Mesothermal type deposit and an Intermediate-Sulfidation, Epithermal type
deposit, as described by Sillitoe (2003).
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The Hackberry Mine and associated deposits and occurrences were exploited during the late
1800’s and early 1900’s. Since 1919 there has not been a significant, well organized
exploration program nor a major drilling effort conducted on the Property. Recent era
reconnaissance exploration, and reports of potential mineral resources remaining in the
historic mine workings, suggests that the Property has excellent potential and warrants
further exploration. It is Bitterroot’s intention to mount a comprehensive, Property-wide
exploration effort, including a future, drilling-intensive campaign, to determine if a
significant mineral resource is present on the Property.
Several historical resource estimates have been put forth by various authors (Watts, 1912;
Johns, 1918, Hamm 1987); however these resources are based on incomplete data from the
late 1800’s and early 1900’s. A qualified person has not subsequently conducted sufficient
work to classify the historic resource estimates as being compliant with NI 43-101 standards
and as such Bitterroot is not considering the historic resources as current mineral resources.
Based on unpublished and published data cited in this Report, as well as a personal
inspection of the Property, the Author has concluded that the Hackberry Property exhibits
evidence of significant silver, gold and base-metal mineralization and is an exploration
property of merit. Further, the Author recommends that Bitterroot conduct a multi-
disciplinary geological, geochemical and geophysical exploration program on the Property,
using state-of–the-art exploration techniques. The objective of the proposed exploration
program will be to confirm the validity of the historic data and to delineate drill targets, all
directed toward defining a future mineral resource. Although not part of the initial
exploration budget, a significant core drilling program will be recommended during the next
exploration phase once drill targets have been identified. An initial budget of approximately
$176,800 ($U.S.) is proposed to carry out the first multi-disciplinary program.
2.0 INTRODUCTION
Mr. Adams and Mr. Rowe were requested by Bitterroot Resource, Ltd, (and its 100 percent-
owned Michigan subsidiary Trans Superior Resources, Inc., collectively referred to as
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Mr. Adams and Mr. Rowe are each independent of Bitterroot and have no beneficial interest
in the Hackberry Project. Fees for this Report are not dependent, in whole or in part, on any
prior or future involvement or understanding resulting from the conclusions of this Report.
This Report was prepared in accordance with the disclosure and reporting requirements set
forth in NI 43-101, specifically to support the current value and future exploration potential
of the Hackberry Project.
Data for the Technical Report was sourced from various historical unpublished and
published geological reports, maps, mine plans and news articles as cited in Section 27.0,
References, by personal communications with individuals as cited in the body of the Report
and from results obtained from a Property inspection by Mr. Adams. Several of the
unpublished reports were obtained from the digital archives of the Hughes Family Trust and
the Arizona Geological Survey.
Mr. Adams spent September 8 and 9, 2016, on the Property. During this time Mr. Adams
conducted reconnaissance field examinations of the property’s geology and took seven
pertinent rock samples from several of the Property’s mineral occurrences and historic mine
dumps. The sample locations and silver, lead and zinc analyses are shown in Figures 7-5, 7-
6, 7-7 and 7-8 in Section 7.5 of the Report. During the Property inspection Mr. Adams
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became familiar with the current status and geological and geographical features of the
property.
Unless otherwise stated, all distance units are reported in metric units followed by their
approximate conversions in the Imperial system in parentheses, for example; 25 meters (82
feet). With respect to geological rock sample locations as noted in analytical tables or
spreadsheets, sample locations are stated in meters and tied to the NAD 27 Zone 12 datum.
Maps and figures in this report are plotted in UTM NAD 83 Zone 12.
References to values of silver, gold or other metals in the body of the text are reported in
parts per million (“ppm”), percent (%), Troy ounces per short ton (“oz/t”), grams per metric
tonne (grams/tonne), Troy ounces (oz), short tons (tons), metric tonnes (tonnes) or kilograms
(kg). Precious metals values historically reported in troy ounces per short ton have been
converted to grams per metric tonne using a factor of 1 oz/ton = 34.286 grams/tonne, and
both values are reported. All other elements referred to in geochemical analyses are
reported in parts per million (“ppm”) or percent (“%”) as indicated. All currencies are
reported in U.S. dollars.
The Authors relied upon Almar Professional Land Services, Inc. for information related to
property ownership and mineral tenure. Ms. Marty Miller, Certified Professional Landman
(CPL), and owner of Almar Professional Land Services, Inc. (Corporate Office: 450 Hillside
Dr., Suite A-160, Mesquite, NV, 89027) reviewed and verified surface and mineral
ownership status of the patented mining claims and the Nevada Select unpatented claims, as
well as the status of Bitterroot Resources Ltd.’s recently-staked unpatented mining claims on
US Federally-owned lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). Ms.
Miller and her team summarized their findings on the patented claims in a memorandum
addressed to Michael Carr, CEO of Bitterroot Resources Ltd., dated December 27, 2016.
Ms. Miller’s memorandum identified nine (9) minor concerns in the recording of several
historical documents in the chain of title. These concerns were described by Ms. Miller as
“Informational” in nature and are not deemed to be material to the ownership status of the
patented claims. Ms. Miller’s opinions stated in the memorandum are professional opinions,
not legal opinions, and are based upon industry best practices and procedures for the records
reviewed.
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The Hackberry Project is located in the Peacock Mining District, Mohave County, northwest
Arizona, approximately 48 km (30 miles) northeast from Kingman, Arizona (Figure 4-1).
The Property lies along the east flank of the central Peacock Mountain range approximately
5.6 km (3.5 miles) west of the small community of Hackberry, Arizona, located along U.S.
Highway 66. Access from Hackberry to the Property is by a network of publically-
accessible gravel roads which traverse Federal, State and private lands.
The Property covers two separate historic mining areas. In the northwest part of the
Property the Silver King mine workings are located on three unpatented mining claims,
totaling 24 hectares (60 acres), held by Ely Gold and Minerals Inc., (“Ely”) a British
Columbia company and its wholly-owned subsidiary Nevada Select Royalty, Inc. (Nevada
Select), a Nevada company. To the southeast the historically more productive Hackberry
mine and the South Hackberry mine are located on the southern part of 12 Patented Lode
claims, totaling 97 hectares (240 acres), owned by the Hughes Trust. The leased properties
consist of approximately 121 ha (300 acres) made up of 12 patented mining claims and three
unpatented mining claims (Figure 4-2), spanning northwest-southeast across parts of
Sections 20, 21, 27 and 28, Township 23 North, Range 14 West, Salt River meridian.
Bitterroot has also staked 51 mining claims on surrounding Federal land.
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Figure 4-2. Outline of mining claims under Bitterroot ownership, Hackberry Property,
Mohave County, Arizona
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The patented claims, which include both surface and mineral rights, are owned by the Hughes
Family Trust. Bitterroot has acquired an option to acquire 100 percent of these patented claims,
as described in Section 4.4.1. Two past-producing mines, known as the Hackberry mine and the
South Hackberry mine are located on the Sunshine and the South Hackberry patented lode claims
(Table 4-1). The other 10 patented claims are contiguous with the Sunshine and South
Hackberry patents. Three adjacent unpatented mining claims held by Nevada Select host the
Silver King mines. Bitterroot has acquired an option to acquire 100 percent of the Nevada Select
claims, as described in Section 4.4.2 and Table 4-2. The surface and mineral rights on the
unpatented claims are managed by the BLM.
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Table 4-1. Hughes Family Trust Patented Mining Claims, Mohave County, Arizona
Table 4-2. Nevada Select (Ely) Unpatented Mining Claims, Mohave County, Arizona
In addition to the above patented lode and unpatented mining claims, Bitterroot staked and
recorded 51 unpatented mining claims which cover the projected extent of the mineralized
trend, other historic mineral showings and adjacent prospective areas where bedrock is
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covered by colluvial deposits (Table 4-3). The final total project area covered by all patented
and unpatented mining claims is approximately 526 ha (1,300 acres), (Figure 4-2).
The Company’s patented and unpatented mining claim blocks are accessible via a network
of public roads which cross various combinations of BLM-managed Federal lands, State of
Arizona lands and private lands subject to public right-of-ways. The patented claims under
option host private, gated access roads.
Bitterroot currently holds 100 percent interests in 51 unpatented mineral claims on Federal
lands where the surface and mineral rights are managed by the BLM. The unpatented
claims under BLM surface and mineral management require the appropriate permits
commensurate with the work to be conducted on the claims. To the best of the Author’s
knowledge there are no other significant factors or risks that may affect access, title, or the
right or ability to perform work on the Property.
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Table 4-3. Bitterroot Resources Unpatented Mining Claims, Mohave County, Arizona
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4.4.1 The Hughes Trust Option to Purchase Agreement. The Hughes Trust Option to
Purchase Agreement (“Hughes Trust Agreement”) covers the 12 patented mining claims on
the Property. Under the terms of the option agreement, Bitterroot will initially pay
US$50,000 and issue 1,500,000 Bitterroot shares to the Hughes Trust. On or before each of
the next four anniversaries, Bitterroot will pay the Hughes Trust US$62,500 and issue
1,250,000 Bitterroot shares, for total consideration of US$300,000 and 6,500,000 Bitterroot
shares, to ultimately acquire 100 percent interest in the Hughes Trust patented claims. The
Hughes Trust will also retain a 3 percent Net Smelter Return (NSR) royalty on production
from the patented claims and 13 of Bitterroot’s unpatented claims in the immediate area of
the Hughes Trust patented claims. Following exercise of the option, Bitterroot can buy half
(1.5 percent) of the NSR for US$1,500,000. Upon commencement of commercial
production, the Hughes Trust will also receive minimum advance royalty payments of
US$940,000 per year for 5 years.
4.4.2 The Nevada Select (Ely) Royalty Option Agreement. Under the terms of the
Nevada Select Option, Bitterroot will initially pay Nevada Select US$20,000 and issue
200,000 Bitterroot common shares to Nevada Select. On or before the first anniversary date
of Exchange acceptance, Bitterroot will pay Nevada Select US$30,000 and issue Nevada
Select 100,000 shares. On or before the second anniversary date of Exchange acceptance,
Bitterroot will pay Nevada Select US$50,000 and issue Nevada Select 100,000 shares. On or
before the third anniversary date of Exchange acceptance, Bitterroot will pay Nevada Select
US$50,000 and issue Nevada Select 200,000 shares for total consideration of US$150,000
and 600,000 Bitterroot shares to exercise the Option and acquire a 100 percent interest in the
unpatented claims. Nevada Select will also retain a 3 percent net smelter returns royalty (the
“NSR”) on precious metals (defined as silver, gold and platinum), a 2% NSR on all other
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products sold from the property and a 0.5% NSR on production from any unpatented lands
which Bitterroot acquires within a 2.66 mile radius of the North Hackberry claims. On the
first three anniversaries of the Option exercise, Bitterroot will pay Nevada Select advance
minimum royalty payments of US$10,000 per year. On the fourth through tenth anniversary
of the Option exercise, Bitterroot will pay Nevada Select advance minimum royalty
payments of US$15,000 per year.
4.4.3 Bitterroot Unpatented Mining Claims. The 51 unpatented BLM mining claims
staked and recorded by Bitterroot require an annual Bureau of Land Management
maintenance payment of US$155.00 per claim which is due prior to September 1 of each
year if Bitterroot wishes to keep the claims in good standing for the following year.
Previous mining in the Hackberry Project area took place between 1874 and 1921. There are
several historic vertical and decline shafts, pits and trenches on the property. The major
shafts observed during Mr. Adams’ field inspection were surrounded by wire fences and
high visibility orange plastic mesh to warn others of potential danger. The need for
additional safety measures will be assessed prior to commencing exploration activities on
the Property.
4.6 Permitting
Neither Bitterroot nor the current landholders have made the Author aware of any current
permitting or security bonds in place on the Property, or of any upcoming permitting
requirements. Once the scope of Bitterroot’s 2017 exploration program is known, an
operating plan will be developed and permits for conducting exploration on BLM managed
lands will be applied for.
5.1 Access
The Hackberry Project area is most easily accessed from Kingman, Arizona by driving
northeast on paved U.S. Route 66 for approximately 41.8 km (26 miles), to a point about 3.2
km (2.0 miles) northwest of the community of Hackberry. From this point a secondary
public gravel road exits Route 66, and extends southwest over the railroad tracks and
proceeds southeast approximately 1.3 km (0.8 miles), then southwest about 4.7km (2.9
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miles) to the Silver King prospect on the north part of the Property. To reach the main
Hackberry and South Hackberry workings, after crossing the railroad tracks proceed
southeast on public gravel roads for about 2.1 km (1.3 miles) and then southwest
approximately 4.3 km (2.7 miles).
5.2 Climate
Meteorological data in this section are from the U.S. Climate website for Kingman, Arizona
(usclimatedata.com), and WeatherSpark weather data for the Kingman airport
(weatherspark.com). Kingman and the property area have a semi-arid steppe climate. The
average summer time high temperature in Kingman (June through September) is about 310
to 36.50 C (880 to 900F). Winter time high temperature (mid-November through February)
range from about 140 to 160C (580 to 610F) while the average low temperature for the same
time period is about 10C (340F). Due to the difference in elevation between Kingman and
the Hackberry project area, both the high and low temperature averages on the Property are
several degrees lower than those in Kingman.
Thunderstorms are common during the height of the rainy (monsoon) period in July and
August yielding about 3.1 cm (1.2 inches) of rain per month. Average annual rainfall is
about 25 cm (10 inches). The average monthly precipitation for November through
February is about 2.5 cm (0.97 inches).
Typical winds vary from 0 to 35 km per hour (0 to 22 miles per hour) and rarely exceed 47
km per hour (29 miles per hour). Winds are generally from a southerly direction with most
coming from the southwest.
5.3 Physiography
The Property lies on the east flank of the central Peacock Mountain range. Elevations vary
from approximately 1340 m (4400 feet) on the southeastern boundary of the Property to
about 1615 m (5300 feet) on the northwest boundary. Topography varies from moderately
rugged rolling hills between arroyos to relatively steep hillsides further up the flank of the
mountain range (Figure 5-1.)
Vegetation is fairly typical of high desert terrains consisting of low-growing cactus species,
(prickly pear and hedgehog), and live oaks, junipers and minor pinon pine. Overall the
foliage is relatively open. The ground surface is commonly covered with a few centimeters
to 20 centimeters (<1 to 8 inches) of moderately coarse colluvium with up to about 20
percent exposed bedrock.
According to Malkoski (1985) ground water levels vary from within 10 to 30 meters (30 to
100 feet) of the surface in the main Hackberry workings.
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Figure 5-1. Typical topography and physiography looking south, one km north of the
Hackberry Mine, Hackberry Property, Mohave County, Arizona.
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Other than gravel access roads, and relatively limited primitive drill roads constructed in the
1970’s and 1980’s, there is little infrastructure present on the Property. The small
community of Hackberry and State Route 66 are approximately 4.8 km (3 miles) east of the
Property. Hackberry has a rail siding off of the double-tracked Burlington Northern Santa
Fe Railway (BNSF) “Southern Transcon” corridor. A major cross-county, high-voltage
powerline passes through the area immediately west of Hackberry. Interstate-40 passes
approximately 20 km (12.5 miles) south of the Property. The town of Kingman, Arizona is a
regional supply center and the largest town in Mohave County. Additional supplies, services
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and international airports are located in Phoenix, AZ, some 260 km, (165 miles) southeast of
Kingman and in Las Vegas, NV, about 160 km (100 miles) northwest of Kingman.
6.0 HISTORY
6.1 Pre-1926
Unless otherwise stated, much of the data on the early history of the Hackberry area was
derived from a 1912 report written by W.L. Watts (Watts, 1912). The depths of the
workings in the historic mine data are measured in feet down the 400-dip of the inclined
shaft from the surface, unless otherwise stated (for example: the 600-level is 183 meters, or
600 feet, down the dip of the inclined shaft). Dollar value figures for Poly-metallic
mineralization or metals are in U.S. dollars at metal prices of the historic times being
referenced, not in present day metal prices. There was very limited mineral exploration
conducted on the Hackberry Property through its post-mining history. In Section 6.0,
detailed historic data is presented on the previous mining activities to assist the reader in
better understanding the current mineral potential of the Property.
The Hackberry and the South Hackberry properties were discovered in the same year, 1874,
by separate parties of prospectors. The South Hackberry mine was sold that same year and
developed separately from the Hackberry mine. The Silver King mineralization may have
been discovered in that same year or possibly in 1879 (Johns, 1918).
6.1.1 The Hackberry Mine. A majority of the metal production on the Property has come
from the Hackberry mine. Early production from this mine was conducted under the name of
the Hackberry Mining and Milling Company. Initially high-grade, poly-metallic
mineralization was partly processed off-site although some high-grade material was
processed on-site in a 5-stamp mill which ran from 1874 through 1879 under the name of
the “Hackberry Company”. A new 10 stamp mill began operation in 1879 following the
destruction of the 5-stamp mill by a fire. This fire may also have been responsible for
destroying much of the early mine records (Hamm 1987).
From 1874 through 1877, $250,000 dollars’ worth of silver-rich mineralization was mined;
however, only about 50 percent metals recovery was achieved. Between 1877 and the end
of 1879 approximately $500,000 worth of silver-rich mineralization was recovered from
mineral bodies mined down to the 125-level on the north part of the mine and the 250-level
on the southern part. The base- and precious-metal-bearing rock had an average value of
$180 per ton at the then current metal values (Watts, 1912). Silver averaged $1.15 per ounce
at that time, which would equate to an average silver-equivalent grade of 156 oz/t (5,367
g/t).
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In 1879 the mine was sold to the” Indian Queen Company” and over the ensuing four years,
the best of the remaining high-grade mineralization above the 500-level in the mine was
removed. From an interview with W.B. Ridenour, discoverer of the Hackberry mine and
later the mine and mill superintendent, Watts (1912), stated that the mineralized shoot mined
during the initial mining phase at the Hackberry mine had been 213 meters (700 feet) long at
the 400-level and was pitching to the northwest at about 60 degrees. Silver grades in the
zone ranged from 122 to 300 oz/t (4,183 to 10,286 gram/tonne) with most well mineralized
vein material ranging from 150 to 180 oz/t (5,143 to 6,171 grams/tonne). Johns (1918)
reported that from initial mine start up to the 1884 closure, the Hackberry mine produced
about $3,000,000 in high grade silver. A majority of the silver-bearing mineralization was
mined from one silver-rich shoot that outcropped at the surface, was mined to a down-dip
depth of about 180 meters (600 feet) and was 152 meters (500 feet) long. The body ranged
from 0.5 to 1.2 meters (2 to 4 feet) in width. Robertson (1974) reported that the deepest
workings from the Hackberry mine’s initial production were down to the 600-level on the
inclined shaft, which equated to a vertical depth of 110 meters (360 feet). He repeated
Johns’ $3,000,000 production value from 1874 to 1884, but also referred to a different
production figure for the same time frame of $2,000,000, quoted from the 1924 Mines
Register (precursor of the Copper Handbook and later the Mines Handbook).
In 1884 the hoisting works were lost to a fire. To maintain production, a winze was sunk
from the 300-level drift to a depth of 18 meters (60 feet). Here the silver-rich zone was 1.2
meters (4 feet) in thickness and graded 126 oz/ton (4,320 grams/tonne) silver. The metal-
rich zone was mined for six weeks producing $1000 per day. Later in 1884 the Hackberry
mine was closed due to the combination of apparent mismanagement, problems with an
influx of mine waters and litigation issues. The mine workings were allowed to flood.
From the mine closure in 1884 to 1917, a span of 33 years, several groups attempted to
reopen the mine, but to no avail. A vertical shaft with a proposed depth of 168 m (550 feet)
was started in 1913 (Newspaper article, Nov. 22, 1913, Hughes Trust archives) Water
problems slowed progress but the shaft was completed in late 1915 (EMJ Vol. 99, page 35,
Hughes Trust archives).
In January of 1917 the mine was purchased by the Hackberry Consolidated Mining
Company (Johns, 1918). After some refurbishing and dewatering of the mine, development
was started on a narrow base- and precious-metal seam which was followed north from the
600-level. The metal-bearing seam expanded to 1.5 to 6.7 m (5 to 25 feet) in width, was 183
meters (600 feet) in length and continued up-dip to within about 60 m (200 feet) of the
surface (Johns, 1918). Only a barren quartz breccia vein zone was visible at the surface
(Malkoski, 1985). The mineralized zone was estimated to contain 136,065 tonnes (150,000
short tons) between the 200-level and 600-level with an approximate gross value of
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$4,000,000 and contained an estimated average grade of 25 oz/t (857 grams/tonne) silver,
0.097 oz/t (3.3 grams/tonne) gold and 8 percent lead (Johns, 1918). A total of 278 samples
of high-grade, poly-metallic mineralization analyzed from the Hackberry mine in 1919
contained an average of 32 oz/ton (1,097 grams /tonnes) silver, (Breen, 1918; Weed, 1922).
An intersection in the same mineralized zone at the 750-level (approximately 230 meters
down-dip) had a 6.7-meter (22-foot) thickness of which one meter (3 feet) in the core of the
zone contained 100 oz/t (3,429 grams/tonne) silver while the surrounding 5.8 meters (19
feet) averaged approximately 25 oz/t (857 grams/tonne) silver. The zone remained open at
depth and to the southeast towards the South Hackberry property (Johns, 1918). J. Breen
(1918), in an assessment of the Hackberry mine for new owner James Murray, concluded
that the main mineralized zone should average 3.5 to 4 feet (1.0 to 1.2 meters) in thickness
and he conservatively estimated the grades should be 20 oz/t (686 grams/tonne) silver, 0.08
oz/t (2.7 grams/tonne) gold, 2.5 percent lead and 3.5 percent zinc. Breen further stated that
based on flotation tests, he expected recoveries of 85 percent of the silver, 90 percent of the
gold, 90 percent of the lead and 50 to 60 percent of the zinc (Breen, 1918). Development
continued to at least the 950-level (290 meters down-dip) and stoping between the 700-level
and the 950-level (229 meters and 290 meters down-dip respectively) suggested that similar
mineral grades were present at those depths (Robertson, 1974). The 950-level would be
approximately 250 meters (820 feet) vertically beneath the northeast-sloping topographic
surface.
A new flotation mill was constructed to handle the new primary sulfide mineralization and
was ready for operations in March of 1919, however litigations problems again arose
resulting in the permanent closure of the Hackberry Mine in December, 1919 and the mine
was allowed to flood (Roberts, 1974; Hamm, 1987). Some of the remaining silver-rich,
poly-metallic mineralization was shipped to outside smelters and some was processed onsite
in the flotation mill before the mine was completely flooded. Robertson (1974) quotes the
1924 Mines Handbook which reported that mined material shipped to the smelter in 1919
averaged 15.2 oz/t (521 grams/tonne) silver and shipped concentrate contained 151.8 oz/t
(5,205 grams/tonne) silver and 0.255 oz/t (8.74 grams/tonne) gold. The same reference
showed 311 tons (282 tonnes) shipped in 1920 that contained 16.14 oz/t (553.37
grams/tonne) silver. There were rumors of some high grade mineralization being mined
above the water table from 1924 to 1926 (Hamm, 1987).
There is little data on the total amount of underground development completed on either the
Hackberry or South Hackberry mines. Various historic investigators indicated that the
Hackberry Mine workings continued down-dip to the 950-level (290 meters) and that about
1000 feet (305 meters) of lateral development existed (Johns, 1919; Sparkes, 1919; Roberts,
1974; Warne, 1983). A 1919 map of the underground workings of the Hackberry Mine,
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produced by U.S. Mineral Surveyor L. H. Foster (1919), is the only evidence of the
locations of some of the actual stopes in the old mine workings (Figure 6-1). Based on his
research and early data provided by Johns (1918), Hamm (1987) suggested past production
from the Hackberry Mine may have been about 77,500 tons (70,300 tonnes) at a grade of 34
oz/t (1166 grams/tonne) silver containing about 2.6 million ounces (80,868 kilograms) of
silver.
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6.1.2 The South Hackberry Mine. Very little mining took place at the South Hackberry
mine. Watts (1912) indicated that a 46-meter (150-foot) inclined shaft had been sunk on the
property near the claim boundary with the Hackberry Mine. Ridenour (in Watts, 1918)
believed that the upper silver-rich mineralized shoot in the Hackberry mine continued into
the South Hackberry mine. During 1874 several open cuts were developed to about 6 m (20
feet) in depth, a 21-m (70-foot) shaft was sunk from which several hundred tons of higher
grade mineralization were mined and a 27-m (90-foot) shaft was sunk intersecting silver-
rich mineralization but the shaft bottomed in alluvium (Watts, 1912). The projected
southeastern continuation of the Hackberry mineralized vein system south of the South
Hackberry mine is covered by thick colluvium washed down from the mountain side.
Outcrop beyond and southeast of the colluvium shows no obvious indications on the surface
of the mineralized zone continuing. Watts (1912) suggested the zone may have been faulted
off and a north-trending fault has been mapped immediately east of the South Hackberry
zone by Albin (1991).
6.1.3 The Silver King Workings. The Silver King area, located about 1.6 km (1.0 miles)
northwest of the Hackberry mine, was also discovered in 1874 or slightly later. Prospectors
found high-grade oxidized silver mineralization and worked the veins from shallow
declines, shafts and trenches. The old workings reached depths of only 15 to 30 m (50 to
100 feet), but grades were reported to average approximately 200 oz/t (8,657 grams/tonne)
silver (Johns, 1918). The silver-rich mineralization was packed on mules to the Hackberry
five-stamp mill where it was processed.
The Silver King zone is either a separate parallel mineralized veins system or a splay from
the northern extension of the main Hackberry mineralized trend. The Silver King workings
lie about 200 to 300 m (600 to 1000 feet) to the west of the main Hackberry mineralized
trend and about 1,200 meters (3,940 feet) northwest of the Hackberry mine. The 915-meter
(3000-foot) projected strike length of the Silver King zone is covered by the three Ely
unpatented mining claims (see Figure 4-2).
Based on discussions with W.B. Ridenour, Johns (1918) states that the Silver King workings
consisted of two zones about 366 m (1200 feet) apart, a northern zone about 120 m (400
feet) in length and a southern zone about 150 m (500 feet) long. Combined, the two zones
produced about $70,000 in value up until about 1884. Where mined, Johns (1918) states
that the veins ranged from 0.6 to 1.2 m (2 to 4 feet) in width and consisted of mainly silver
chloride and horn silver in a quartz gangue.
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Mr. Nicholas Hughes Sr. bought the 12 patented lode claims covering the southern part of
the Hackberry Property at auction for unpaid back taxes in 1958. Since 1958 Hughes Sr.
(now deceased), and the current co-trustees Craig and Nick Hughes, brought in several
major and minor exploration companies that conducted various exploration programs on the
Property. Much of the following data comes from reports and maps in the Hughes Family
Trust archives. The authenticity of this historical data is difficult to verify and there is no
guarantee as to the accuracy or completeness of the supporting documentation. For the
purposes that the data in the historic reports were used, Mr. Adams, as a Qualified Person,
believes, to the best of his knowledge, that the reports should be considered reliable.
Roberts (1974), Hamm (1987) and data from the Arizona Geological Survey Digital
archives reported that companies, including Hecla Mining Co. in 1968, Cyprus Exploration
Co in 1974, Continental Minerals around 1978 and Ranchers Exploration and Development
Corp. in about 1984 all reviewed the Property but for various reasons it appears they did not
come to an agreement to conduct any exploration other than due diligence reconnaissance
work. Gunnex Ltd. of Toronto conducted three lines of I.P. surveys in 1968 with
inconclusive results (Head, 1968). A 1968 sample from the old stamp mill tailings, possibly
collected by Hecla Mining, returned an assay of 47.5 oz/ton (1,629 grams/tonne) silver
(Hamm, 1987).
Malkoski (1985) reported that in the late 1970’s Western States Minerals staked a large
group of claims on the surrounding area around much of the Property, including covering
the then open Silver King area. Western States constructed several access roads and drill
pads on the Silver King property and may have conducted limited drilling. Malkoski (1985)
inferred Western State’s drilling may have been reverse circulation drilling. Craig Hughes
stated that a company, which may or may not have been Western States, worked on the
Silver King property in the 1970’s and drilled one hole (Hamm, 1987). No drilling reports
or drilling results have been found by the Author.
Northern Arizona Gold and Silver Mining and Milling, a stock investment group, came to
an agreement with the Hughes family and controlled the patented claims from 1979 to about
1982 (Hamm, 1987). Work on the Property involved unsuccessful attempts at de-watering
and re-opening underground workings and the building of three, 4,000-ton (3628-tonne)
leach pad facilities to recover silver from the historic mine dumps (personal communication
with Craig Hughes, September 12, 2016; Ascarza, 2017). A rotary drill company from Las
Vegas reportedly drilled three holes of unknown depth approximately 120 to 200 meters
(400 to 650 feet) along strike and northwest of the Hackberry main declined shaft.
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Apparently there was no geologist on site, but the driller reported substantial mineralization
in the holes. Apparently assay results of drilled material returned little or no metal values
(Hamm, 1987). Although several drill sites were prepared on the Property during this
campaign, apparently only three additional holes were drilled using a pickup-mounted,
downhole-hammer drill prior to the stock company suspending operations (Hamm, 1987).
No analytical results from any of the above drilling were found in public or private sources.
There is no available data suggesting that any core drilling was conducted on the Property.
About 1985, an ex-board member of Ranchers, Mr. Sam Arentz, tried to interest the Hughes
family in a partnership funded by Arentz or through outside financiers. A reconnaissance
geological mapping and rock sampling program was carried out by consultant M. Malkoski
(1985), on Arentz’s behalf. Financing never developed and the partnership ended. In the
late 1980’s Hamm (1987) reviewed the property for Combined Metals and recommended
acquisition; however there is no record of any work being conducted. Based on discussions
with co-trustee Craig Hughes, there have been no further significant exploration efforts
conducted on the Property from the late 1980’s until present (personal communication).
Therefore, the Property has not undergone any present-day exploration programs utilizing
modern geological, geophysical or geochemical techniques in conjunction with
contemporary mineral deposit modeling.
Throughout the long history of the Property, various authors have produced mineral resource
estimates. The following resource data is historic and should be considered conceptual in
nature and were not prepared, or verified, by a qualified person as defined in NI 43-101
Johns (1918) compiled a resource estimate for the Hackberry deposit from apparent personal
underground inspections just prior to the final mine closure that had a total of 150,000 tons
(136,065 tonnes) of mineral resources remaining in place between the 200-level and the
600-level (60 to 180 meters down-dip from the surface) with grades estimated at 25 oz/t
(857 grams/tonne) silver, 0.1 oz/t (3.4 grams/tonne) gold and 8 percent lead. He further
stated that where the mineralized zones narrowed, assays as high as 100 oz/t (3,429
grams/tonne) silver were obtained. Hamm (1987) suggested that approximately 54,000 tons
(48,983 tonnes) of Johns’ stated resource may have been mined at a later date. John D.
Warne, P.E., (Warne, 1983) produced a report for then owner Nicholas Hughes Sr.
suggesting a speculative resource consisting of 160,000 tons (145,136 tonnes) of what he
called indicated resources and 320,000 tons (290,272 tonnes) of what he called inferred
resources for a combined total of 480,000 tons (435,408 tonnes) grading 32 oz/t (1,097
grams/tonne) silver and 0.10 oz/t (3.4 grams/tonne) gold. There is insufficient information
to provide guidance as to what basis, parameters or methods were used by the cited authors
in determining the above stated historic mineral resources. Bitterroot Resources Ltd. does
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not treat the historic mineral resource data described in this Section 6.3, as current
mineral resources. These historic resources are conceptual in nature and do not
conform to NI 43-101 reporting standards. There has been insufficient exploration
conducted on the Property to determine if a mineral resource exists on the Property.
Substantial exploration, including drilling and subsequent geochemical analyses, beyond the
initial phase of exploration proposed in this Technical Report, will be required to determine
if a NI 43-101-compliant mineral resource is present on the Hackberry Property. There is no
certainty that upon completion of subsequent drilling, a mineral resource will be delineated.
The Hackberry Property is located in the Peacock Mountain range at the eastern edge of the
eastern Mohave crustal province, or more specifically, within the Arizona Mohave crustal
subprovince (Prante, 2009; Duebendorfer, 2015). Duebendorfer (2015) states that reliable
age dates for the oldest granitic intrusive rocks in the Arizona Mohave subprovince are
about 1,735 million years.
The protoliths of the psammitc and pelitic schists consisted of probable immature sandstones
with interlayered siltstone and mudstone lenses and argillaceous sediments respectively.
The amphibolitic gneisses have been interpreted as probable metabasalts and the hornblende
gneisses, often interlayered with thin felsic gneiss bands, are suggestive of a felsic
metavolcanic protolith (Duebendorfer, 2015).
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mafic dikes (Malkoski, 1985). The term “gneiss” may be somewhat of a misnomer as
visually the country rocks appear to be more of a variably foliated, medium grained granitic
rock. DeMatties (1979) described the rocks as sheared, medium- to coarse-grained, equi-
Figure 7-1. Regional Geology, Peacock Mountains, Mohave County, Arizona (After Albin,
1991)
granular granites (Figure 7-3). Because much of the lithological data is taken from
Malkoski (1985), the term “granitic gneiss” will be retained in this Report.
The hill sides are commonly covered in colluvium up to 5 to 20 cm (2 to 8 inches) thick and
outcrop exposure is relatively limited, probably not exceeding 15 to 20 percent. Outcrops
occur mostly in the dry arroyo stream beds, as well as forming steep walls of arroyos and
small canyons and as sub-crop along ridge lines
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appears to have carried out a more detailed mapping program and much of the following is
based on his observations, unless otherwise cited, and on observations made by the Author
during the property inspection.
Figure 7-2. Hackberry Property Geologic Map, Mohave County, Arizona (After Albin, 1991)
_______________________________________________________
Post-metamorphic intrusive rocks occur across the Property and consist of generally
northwest-striking, intermediate to basaltic dikes and sills. A notably significant, 1000-
meter-long (3,300-foot), siliceous iron-stained dike (Watts, 1912), also described as a grey-
brown mottled, aphanitic “vitrophyre” dike (Malkoski, 1985), strikes northwest across the
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Property. The dike varies in width from 1.5 to 30 m (5 to 100 feet) and dips from 350 to 550
southwest in the southern part of the Property, to near-vertical in the northern part where it
appears to lens out. Thick colluvium covers the southern extent of the projected location of
the dike. Where visible, the contacts of the post-metamorphic dikes with the country rock
exhibit tectonic breccia zones of varying degrees (DeMatties, 1979).
Figure 7-3. Fractured, and locally brecciated, “granitic” gneiss, east of the North Silver King workings.
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7.3 Structure
The Peacock Mountains lie within the Basin and Range province of the western U.S. and
local structural features tend to parallel the regional trends. The primary structural
lineament trends on the Property range from about 3200 to 3350 azimuth. The lineament
features host many of the post-metamorphic dikes, the main Hackberry and Silver King
mineralized zones and the Silver Queen mineralized zone southwest of the Hackberry mine
area (DeMatties, 1979; Malkoski, 1985), (see Figure 7-2). A secondary linear trend, striking
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2700 to 2900 azimuth, hosts the Homestake mineralized zone, located about 245 m (800 feet)
west of the Silver King South zone (Figure 7-2). This more westerly trend is also associated
with several splays off of the main Hackberry mineralized trend (Malkoski, 1985). Locally,
joint sets may provide significant structural features for mineralization where they increase
in intensity as noted by the Author between the Silver King and North Hackberry
mineralized zones (see Figure 7-2 and Figure 7-4).
7.4 Alteration
Figure 7-4. Strongly jointed and fractured granitic gneiss located east of the North Silver King
workings.
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Unless otherwise cited, the following descriptions rely heavily upon the work of M.
Malkoski (1985), with minor contributions based on the Author’s observations during the
Property inspection.
There are two main mineralized zones, the Hackberry (comprised of South Hackberry-
Hackberry-North Hackberry, Figure 7-2) and the Silver King (comprised of Silver King
South - Silver King North, Figure 7-2), that strike in a general northwesterly direction along
much of the length of the Property. The zones dip about 400 to the southwest in the south
part of the Property and steepen to about 550-800 southwest in the north part. The Silver
King structural zone is a possible splay off of the Hackberry fracture zone. It trends
southeasterly, subparallel to the Hackberry mineralized zone for about 1.5 kilometers (0.9
miles) at its northern extremity and then angles towards the Hackberry zone with an
apparent projected intersection about 300 meters (980 feet) north of the Hackberry mine.
There is some conjecture that the intersection of the two mineralized structures occurs
further south, in the immediate area of the Hackberry mine, and influenced the formation of
the silver-rich deposits. Both mineralized structures may be traced by a combination of
intermittent historic surface workings, base- and precious-metal mineralization (or
anomalous base- and precious-metal rock geochemistry), or altered and sheared, quartz-
veined, zones in outcrop and sub-crop. Based on satellite imagery and historic workings,
this mineralized fracture system may be more extensive as it can be traced for a total
distance of about 6 km (3.7 miles) northwest from the Hackberry mine.
The poly-metallic vein zones on the Hackberry Property consist of a series of one or more
fracture sets located within envelopes of locally argillically altered and sometimes foliated,
granitic gneiss. The mineralized zones are generally discontinuous and erratically
distributed within the main fault structures and their splays. Widths of individual vein sets
vary greatly, randomly pinching and swelling from 0.3 to 1.5 meters (1 to 5 feet) with
quartz-rich breccia- and vein-bearing zones reaching widths of 15 meters (50 feet) and
variable mineralized strike lengths ranging from 6 to 180 meters (20 to 600 feet). The main
Hackberry lode is an exception as the mineralized vein breccias vary from 122 to 335 meters
(400 to 1100 feet) in length and 1.5 to 21 meters (5 to 70 feet) in width (Malkoski, 1985).
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The mineralized fracture zones contain drusy to vuggy, locally cockscomb, white to clear, to
slightly greenish quartz veinlets, lenses and breccia matrix containing up to 20 percent
disseminated sulfide minerals. Primary sulfide minerals consist of moderate to coarse-
grained galena and sphalerite as intergrown aggregates and veinlets. Minor amounts of
pyrite occur as disseminated patches and grains. Locally chalcopyrite is rarely intergrown
with galena and sphalerite as is possible tetrahedrite. Primary sulfide minerals are present
but not overly common in surface exposures and on historic mine dumps. Alternatively,
above the water table, oxidized varieties of the primary sulfide minerals prevail (cerrusite,
smithsonite, hemimorphite, malachite, chrysocolla). An unidentified black, sooty, mineral,
observed as a coating on galena during the Property inspection, and noted by Malkoski
(1985), may be argentite (silver sulfide). The mineralized zones, or lodes, usually have well
defined boundaries with their long axis paralleling the host structure, although cross-cutting
mineralized veinlets are present.
7.5.1 Description of the Main Hackberry Mineralized Zone. The most significant
mineralized zone explored to date on the Property is the Hackberry vein zone, hosting the
Hackberry and South Hackberry mines. The decline shaft entrances for the mines are
located on the Sunshine and South Hackberry patented claims respectively. The mineralized
zone continues intermittently approximately 1.75 km (1.1 miles) to the northwest of the
Hackberry mine to the North Hackberry prospects (see Figure 7-2). Neither the northern nor
southern terminations of the mineralized zone have been delineated. The northern part of
the zone appears to diffuse into several joint sets while the southern end is covered by a
thick colluvium deposit, beyond which there appears to be no obvious indications of the
mineralized structure in outcrop. The zone averages about six meters (20 feet) wide but
reaches its widest surface expression of 21 meters (70 feet) approximately 240 meters (787
feet) northwest of the Hackberry decline shaft. The mineralized zone forms a broad “S”
curve striking from 3230 to 3370 azimuth, dipping southwesterly from 390 to 630, flattening
as the lode trends more westerly and steepening, locally to near vertical, between bends
(Malkoski, 1985). Flexures in structures such as this can be favorable sites for deposition of
high-grade mineralized shoots.
A vitrophyre (siliceous) dike forms the footwall to the main Hackberry lode at the surface
near the Hackberry mine (DeMatties, 1979; Malkoski, 1985), but elsewhere the dike locally
acts as a host to mineralization. As the mineralized zone reaches the North Hackberry
surface workings, the dike-like appearance fades and the zone splays into a series of locally
intense joint sets, parallel shears and veinlets. Locally intense argillic alteration of the
hanging wall granitic gneiss occurs on the surface over a thickness of 0.5 to 6 meters (1.5 to
20 feet) along southern extents of the mineralized lode becoming less common to the
northwest.
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The sub-surface expression of the mineralized zone as originally described by Watts (1912)
and Johns (1919) and summarized by Malkoski (1985) and Hamm (1987), occurred as a lens
of vein breccia, mostly incorporated within the “vitrophyre” dike rock described by
Malkoski (1985), and to a lesser extent, within granitic gneiss country rock. The
mineralized lodes followed the dike along a northwesterly strike, dipping 350 to 450 to the
southwest. The strike length of the northern part of the more recently mined lode was about
120 meters (400+ feet) on the 200-level of the mine and about 215 meters (700 feet) on the
600-level. The upper reaches of the mineralized zone did not outcrop, terminating about 60
meters (200 feet) down-dip below the surface with the lower reaches extending to between
the 600- and 800-levels, likely defined by lower silver grades at the time of mining (1919
metal values). The silver-rich mineralized lens raked approximately 60 degrees to the
northwest. The higher-grade core was approximately 0.3 to 1.5 meters (1 to 5 feet) thick
above the 500-level widening down-dip to about 4.8 meters (16 feet) on the 600-level
(Malkoski, 1985). Following mine closure in 1919, 3700 tons (3,356 tonnes) of silver-rich,
poly-metallic mineralization from the lower and northern levels of the mineralized body
were milled and returned 0.11 oz/t (3.77 grams/tonne) gold and 21.87 oz/t (749.8
grams/tonne) silver (Malkoski, 1985)
The composition of the mineralized lodes observed on the surface by Malkoski (1985)
consisted of quartz vein breccia containing up to 20 percent coarse, euhedral, galena and
sphalerite in aggregates and cross-cutting quartz stringers and veinlets. Locally minor fine
grained galena, tetrahedrite, pyrite and chalcopyrite occurred as disseminated grains and
patches.
Analytical results from surface rock and dump sampling conducted by Malkoski (1985), and
by the Author, during the Property inspection (Sample HBY-001), indicate that most of the
anomalous samples occur along the poorly exposed, southern extent of the Hackberry Lode.
The samples were collected along an approximate 315-meter (1033-foot) strike length of the
vitrophyre (siliceous) dike. Some of the more strongly anomalous results are shown directly
below and on Figures 7-5, 7-6, 7-7 and 7-8.
7.5.2 Description of the Silver King Mineralized Zone. The Silver King mineralized
zone occurs on the Nevada Select unpatented mining claims. The zone consists of two areas
of higher grade mineralization along the western arm of a “Y”, or probable splay, from the
main Hackberry mineralized zone. This splay hosts the North and South Silver King mine
workings; the southernmost workings being located about 1100 meters (3,937 feet)
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Figure 7-5. Geochemical Sample Locations, Hackberry Property, Mohave County, Arizona
Figure 7-6. Silver Analyses, for Select Samples, Hackberry Property, Mohave County, Arizona
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Figure 7-7. Lead Analyses, for Select Samples, Hackberry Property, Mohave County, Arizona
Figure 7-8. Zinc Analyses for Select Samples, Hackberry Property, Mohave County, Arizona
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northwest of the Hackberry mine (see Figure 7-2). The historic workings of the Silver King
mineralized zone can be traced on the surface for approximately 800 meters (2625 feet).
The zone is hosted by less resistant gouge material and altered country rock and is not easily
identified in outcrop, but can best be followed by historic mine workings. The host
mineralized structure strikes about 3100 to 3200 azimuth, dips from 500 to 800 southwest and
consists of a compound fracture zone enveloped by argillically-altered granitic and biotite
gneisses (Malkoski, 1985). The hanging wall is weakly altered, but locally there exists a
six-meter-wide (20-foot), foot-wall zone of moderately argillically altered and heavily
jointed gneissic rocks containing quartz veinlets that are both parallel to, and splayed from,
the main fracture zone (Malkoski, 1985). The northwest extent of the zone is covered in
talus and towards the southeast the fracture zone, and associated alteration, dissipates about
240 meters (800 feet) from the south workings, and short of intersecting the main Hackberry
vein structure.
The composition of the Silver King mineralization is based on observations from materials
on historic mine dumps by Malkoski (1985) and has been described as coarse grained,
euhedral galena, pyrite and minor chalcopyrite aggregates and veinlets in vuggy quartz
gangue. Most sulfide minerals are partially oxidized to cerrusite, smithsonite and
chrysocolla associated with limonite-manganese oxides. The historic silver-rich
mineralization is reported to have been predominantly oxide mineralization grading to
primary sulfides at a depth of about 15 meters (50 feet). The mineralization occurs in shear
zones and associated splays as 30 to 60centimeter (1 to 2 foot) wide bands of quartz veinlets
and lenses, as individual, three to four centimeter (1.5 inch) wide quartz veinlets and as vein
breccias.
Mineralization occurs at two locations along approximately 800 meters (2,625 feet) of the
structural zone. The northern occurrence is marked by several open cuts and shallow
inclined shafts over a distance of about 120 meters (400 feet). The inclined shafts are less
than 18 meters (60 feet) in down-dip depth. The southern zone, about 600 meters (1970
feet) southeast of the northern occurrence consists of one inclined and two vertical shafts
that originally went to approximately 30 meters (100 feet) down-dip but now appear to be
open to depths of only six to nine meters (20 to 30 feet). The southern historic workings
cover a zone about 150 meters (490 feet) in length and the sheared zone is up to about 45
meters (150 feet) wide, but not necessarily mineralized over that width. What may be a
vertical drill casing was noted about 15 meters (50 feet) southwest of the southern-most
vertical shaft. If this casing represents a drill hole, there are no known available related data.
Historic data suggests the Silver King workings were mined intermittently by near-surface
excavations from about 1874 to 1907 (Malkoski, 1985). The deepest workings reached no
more than about 30 meters (100 feet), but the oxidized silver-rich mineralization recovered
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reportedly contained silver grades in the 200 oz/t (6,857 grams/tonne) range (Johns, 1918),
consisting of supergene silver minerals such as silver chloride (cerargyrite, also known as
horn silver). Ridenour suggested that total production from the two Silver King mining
areas, with a value of about $70,000, was milled at the Hackberry mill (Johns, 1918). At the
then silver price of about $1.15 per ounce, the production may have totaled in the order of
60,900 ounces (1,890 kilograms) of silver.
Surface geochemical analytical results from both bedrock and dump sampling conducted by
Malkoski (1985), and by the Author, during the Property inspection (samples HBN-001, -
006), reveal several anomalous values in silver, lead and zinc. Some of the more anomalous
samples are shown below and on Figures 7-5, 7-6, 7-7 and 7-8.
Anomalous geochemical results in the area of the South Silver King workings suggest that
not only is there mineralization along a 150-meter (490-foot) northwest-southeast strike
length along the major mineralized trend, but significant anomalous mineralization also
occurs over a 110-meter (360-foot) zone trending east from the main structure (Figures 7-5,
7-6, 7-7 and 7-8.
7.5.3 Description of the Homestake Mineralized Zone. The Homestake lode is traced by
a series of small-scale surface workings located about 300 meters (985 feet) southwest of the
southern Silver King workings (see Figure 7-2). This prospect was not examined during the
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property inspection. Malkoski (1985) described the lode as being a series of fractures with
individual and sheeted quartz veins traceable for about 335 meters (1100 feet) striking
around 2900 azimuth with variable but relatively steep dips. Individual quartz vein sets
average about 30 cm (1 foot) in width and vary from 75 to 150 meters (250 to 500 feet) in
strike length. Individual vein attitudes likewise vary widely from 2880 azimuth dipping 680
to the southwest to 3180 azimuth dipping 840 northeast.
The host granitic gneisses are locally intensely to moderately argillically altered. Veins and
veinlets are composed of vuggy to coarse crystalline quartz hosting aggregates of partially
oxidized galena and chalcopyrite. The occurrence has been developed by several small pits
and adits and one nine-meter (30-foot) open cut (Malkoski 1985). There has been no known
production from this lode. Some significant analyses of surface rock samples taken along
the strike length of the mineralized zone (Malkoski, 1985) are shown directly below and on
Figures 7-5, 7-6, 7-7 and 7-8.
Rock geochemical data of Malkoski (1985) show anomalous metals values from areas of the
old workings over a strike length of about 230 meters (750 feet). Anomalous results from
two samples, one a selected grab from a small dump (Sample 45624), the other from quartz
veins along trend of the projected mineralized zone 220 meters (720 feet) to the north, are
listed below and shown on Figures 7-5, 7-6, 7-7 and 7-8.
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M. Malkoski (1985) described a vertical mineral zoning pattern on the Property based on
his field mapping, research of available literature and an emphasis on rock geochemistry
analyses. Malkoski proposed an upper quartz zone, an intermediate precious-metal and
sulfide zone and a lower base-metals zone. Paraphrased from his property report, the zoning
scenarios are as follows:
Upper Quartz Zone – The upper quartz zone exists in the outcrop areas of the Hackberry
Lode and much of the Silver King Lode,
in the upper boundary of the zone, sulfide minerals and Ag (+Au) coincide and
appear vertically gradational over about 30 meters (100 feet)
the lower boundary of the zone is marked by a decrease in Ag (+Au) and probably
occurs at about 180 meters to 245 meters (600 to 800 feet) down-dip in the Hackberry
mine
vertical extent in the Hackberry mine is about 90 to 120 meters (300 to 400 feet); the
entire vertical height of the zone has not been mined elsewhere
mineralized widths are reported to have increased from 30 cm (1 foot) to over four
meters (16 feet) on the 600-level of the Hackberry mine
actual “pay streak” may remain a relative constant thickness while disseminated
sulfide minerals become increasingly common over greater widths with increased
depth
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alteration appears to be similar to the upper quartz zone, but locally more restricted
characteristic minerals are dominant galena, subordinate sphalerite and pyrite, minor
chalcopyrite and tetrahedrite and possibly argentite, all in a quartz gangue
characteristic elements: Ag (+Au), Pb, Zn
zone characterized by low As+Sb and a high Ag/As+Sb ratio
Lower Base-Metals Zone – The lower base-metals zone was likely only encountered in the
lower levels of the Hackberry mine workings on the 700- and 900-levels
Malkoski (1985) also suggested there may be a lateral structural uplifting of the vertical
zoning patterns. He believed that, from east to west, the upper quartz zone crops out at the
surface at the Hackberry mine, whereas the precious-metals and sulfide zone is at or near the
surface at the Silver King workings and sulfide mineralization crops out at the surface on the
Homestake and Silver Queen areas. He believed that as a whole, his elemental abundance
and metal ratio data supported the field evidence. This would suggest as one traverses up
elevation from east to west, one is going deeper into the vertical zoning systems, inferring
some form of post-mineral structural uplifting from east to west. This same scenario can
also be explained by different mineralizing episodes occurring at different elevations in the
mineralizing system during multiple, repetitive influxes of the mineralizing fluids in a
typical epithermal vein environment (Megaw, 2006).
Historic investigators did not present opinions on the type of hydrothermal mineral
deposits of the Hackberry mine areas. The Author believes that the Hackberry deposit is
best represented as a mesothermal type deposit, or as a transition deposit type between
mesothermal and an intermediate-sulfidation epithermal deposit, as described by Sillitoe
(2003). This opinion is based on the main characteristics of the Hackberry
hydrothermal vein system, listed below, compared to the very similar characteristics of
the mesothermal, poly-metallic veins of the nearby Wallapai District, as described in
Section 23.0 below, as well as comparisons to current classifications and nomenclature
(Buchanan, 1981; Sillitoe and Hedenquist, 2003, Megaw, 2006).
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9.0 EXPLORATION
Bitterroot has completed no exploration on the Property as of the effective date of this
Report.
Limited historical exploration was conducted on the Property by various companies and
individuals as noted in Section 6, however detailed data on the type, location and results of
that exploration are lacking. An exception is work conducted by Malkoski (1985), who,
utilizing a combination of reconnaissance geological mapping, rock geochemistry, metal
ratios and metal zoning data, identified several potential exploration drill targets, which to
the Author’s knowledge, have not been tested. Due to the historical nature of this data, the
information related to these exploration targets has not been verified by a qualified person,
as defined in NI 43-101, therefore there is no guarantee as to the accuracy or completeness
of the actual data or the supporting documentation. However, the Author believes, to the
best of his knowledge, that Malkoski’s exploration targets have merit, and thus are
summarized below and the target areas are shown on Figure 9-1.
Target 1 – southern extension of mineralized zone mined on the 600- to 700-level of the
Hackberry Mine
Supporting Data – anomalous surface geochemical results continue southeastward from the
Hackberry mine and historical records of the zone trending beyond the underground
Hackberry workings into, and beneath, the historical South Hackberry mine workings
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Target 2 – northern extension of Hackberry mineralized zone about 400 meters (1,310 feet)
northwest of Hackberry Mine
Supporting Data – weak (deep?) surface geochemical results extending from the Hackberry
Mine area; metal ratios and precious metal zoning on surface suggests target may be deep
Target 3 – northern Hackberry vein system about 800 meters (2,625 feet) northwest of
Hackberry Mine
Supporting Data – Hackberry vein system consists of lenses of vein breccia; weak surface
geochemistry suggests the target zone is likely above the intermediate precious-metal sulfide
zone
Supportive Data – moderate to strong geochemical anomalies along mineralized shear zone
mined to very shallow depths; intermediate precious-metal sulfide zone at surface
Target 6 – located about 300 meters (985 feet) southwest of the Silver King south workings;
possible secondary drill target, needs more work to define drill targets
Supporting Data – Intermediate precious-metal sulfide zone crops out along entire 335
meters (1100 feet) of leached, mineralized zone; erratic anomalous rock geochemical results
Target – located approximately 610 meters (2000 feet) west-southwest of the Hackberry
inclined shaft; possible secondary drill target, needs additional work to define drill targets
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Figure 9-1. Exploration Drill Target Areas of Malkoski (1985), Hackberry Property, Mohave
County, Arizona
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10.0 DRILLING
Bitterroot has conducted no drilling on the Property. The limited historic drilling is
described in Section 6.
Only minimal rock and stream sediment samples were taken by Bitterroot for verification
purposes during the initial Property inspection. Bitterroot has not conducted a Property-wide
sampling program. The verification samples were collected by Glen Adams, a Qualified
Person as defined by NI 43-101, while visiting the Hackberry Property on September 8 and
9, 2016. Analytical results of samples HBN-002, HBN-006 and HBY-001 are noted in
Sections 7.51 and 7.52. All of the verification samples remained in Mr. Adams' possession
until they were shipped by commercial carrier to ALS Geochemistry ("ALS") in Tucson,
Arizona. The samples were prepared for analyses by ALS in Tucson. The analytical
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procedures (ME-GRA21, OG46 and ME-ICP41) were performed by ALS Canada Ltd. in
North Vancouver, BC, Canada, an ISO/IEC 17025 accredited laboratory.
Sample HAN-1 was taken by Mr. Baughman, a representative of Ely, on the South Silver
King mine area, the analytical results of which are noted in Section 7.52. Bauman’s sample
was also analyzed by ALS Canada Ltd., in North Vancouver, BC, Canada, in February,
2015.
Historic rock sampling was carried out by Malkoski (1985), the analytical results of which
are noted in Sections 7.51, 7.52, 7.53 and 7.54. Malkoski (1985) used the now defunct GCI
laboratory of Toledo, California. No references were made regarding sample security,
quality assurance or quality control (QA/QC) procedure. Mr. Adams has no knowledge of
the quality of either Baughman’s or Malkoski’s sampling, sample recovery or sample
security, therefore there is no guarantee as to the accuracy or completeness of the work done
or of the supporting documentation.
Mr. Adams has relied upon various authors of historic reports who, to the best of his
knowledge, may or may not qualify as Qualified Persons in the context and definition in NI
43-101. While reasonable care was taken in preparing the Report, the early historical nature
of much of the information, as well as the fact that the historic information has not been
verified by a qualified person as defined in NI 43-101, the Author cannot guarantee the
accuracy or completeness of the supporting documentation used, all of which are listed in
the Reference section. Where possible, referenced reports were examined from alternative
sources to verify authenticity. As many of the older reports were originally private company
reports supplied by the Hughes Family Trust, verification of authenticity was not always
possible. For the purposes that the historic reports were used, Mr. Adams, as a Qualified
Person, believes to the best of his knowledge that the reports should be considered reliable
unless otherwise stated in the Report.
Historical data regarding silver-rich, poly-metallic mineralization from the Hackberry mine
suggested that expected recovery rates should be approximately 85 percent of the silver, 90
percent of the gold, 90 percent of the lead and 50 to 60 percent of the zinc (Breen, 1918).
Because of the early historical nature of this data, it has not been verified by a qualified
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Bitterroot is not reporting any mineral resource estimates for the Property. Historic mineral
resources estimates, which are not compliant with NI 43-101, are stated in Section 6.3.
(Sections 15.0 through Section 22.0 are not pertinent to this Report and are not included.)
Other deposits in northwest Arizona, that the Author is familiar with, exhibit characteristics
similar to the Peacock District mineralization and the Hackberry deposit. One such group of
deposits occurs within the adjacent Wallapai District located north of Kingman, Arizona,
and only 30 kilometers (18.6 miles) west of the Hackberry Property (Figure 7-9). . Because
the two closely-spaced mining districts share so many significant characteristics, a summary
of the Wallapai District is presented here in Section 23 solely to provide geologic
comparisons. An additional benefit is that the near-by Wallapai District presents a much
larger, and significantly more diverse, public data pool compared to the more restricted,
mostly unpublished private reports available on the Hackberry Property. The Wallapai
District data also may add some verification to possible conclusions drawn on the Hackberry
geological and mineralogical environments. It must be understood however that any general
or specific characteristics of the Wallapai District may not necessarily be indicative of the
geology or mineralization of the Hackberry Property. Because of the early historical nature
of some of the information on the Wallapai District, there is no guarantee as to the accuracy
or completeness of the supporting documentation used, all of which are listed in the
Reference section.
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Figure 23-1. Wallapai District with Hackberry Property Location, Mohave County, Arizona
________________________________________________
The Wallapai District is located in the Arizona Mohave crustal subprovince of Duebendorfer
(2015), as is the Hackberry Property. The Wallapai District extends northwest from
Kingman, Arizona for about 48 km (30 miles). Included in the district are the Chloride,
Mineral Park, Cerbat and Stockton mining camps. The mining of base- and precious-metal
veins in the Wallapai District occurred from 1863 to 1948, from over 70 mines. Metal
production from 1904 through 1948 totaled about $22.5 million dollars (Dings, 1951).
Geologically the basement rocks of the Wallapai District consist of Precambrian fine- to
medium-grained amphibolites, mafic schists and amphibolitic gneisses (Thomas, 1949;
Dings, 1951; Eaton, 1980). Intruding the gneissic terrain are Precambrian monzonitic to
granitic bodies ranging in age from 1,740+20 to 1,340+20 million years (Lang, 1988). The
Laramide Ithaca Peak monzonitic porphyry stocks, dated at 73.3 + 2.6 m.y. (Lang, 1988),
intrude the central Cerbat Mountains and host the Mineral Park Cu-Mo porphyry deposit.
The Mineral Park Cu-Mo deposit, now closed and on care and maintenance status, operated
from 1965 to June 2013 producing 614 million pounds (279 million kilograms) of Cu in
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The base- and precious-metal veins of the Wallapai District generally follow the basin and
range structural grain of the Cerbat mountains, forming quartz-filled fracture systems that
strike 3300 to 3100 azimuth and dip within 600 of vertical (Lang, 1988). The mineralized
veins occur within a belt about 6.5 to 9 kilometers (4 to 5.5 miles) in width and 22.5
kilometers (14 miles) long and individual veins are traceable for lengths of 30 meters to 4
kilometers (48 feet to 2.5 miles)(Thomas, 1949). Veins average 0.9 to 1.2 meters (3 to 4
feet) in width ranging from a few centimeters to 10 meters wide (<1inch to 33 feet) (Dings,
1951). Zones of closely-spaced veins separated by bands of gouge and country rock may
reach widths of 24 to 100 meters (80 to 330 feet) (Thomas, 1949). The veins generally
exhibit well defined walls and in places are in contact, and follow, late-stage lamprophyric
dikes (Schrader, 1909). Gouge and breccia envelope most veins (Thomas, 1949). The veins
consist of fine-grained, to coarse, comb and rosette crystal forms, as well as vuggy and
drusy quartz. The quartz is white to grey in color, often limonitic, commonly shattered and
re-cemented by late calcite and may be locally chalcedonic or exhibit crustification banding
(Thomas, 1949). Less common vein gangue consists of calcite, manganiferous siderite and
rare rhodochrosite. The primary sulfide minerals, in order of abundance, are pyrite,
sphalerite, galena and chalcopyrite. Also present are arsenopyrite, proustite (a ruby silver;
silver-arsenic-sulfide), molybdenite and argentite (Dings, 1951). Oxidation levels generally
mimic the water table which ranges from 20 to 60 meters (75 to 200 feet) below surface,
which was the final depth of many of the early mines that recovered only the much higher
grade, secondary oxidized silver minerals and gold. Wall rock alteration consists of weak
vein wall propylitization and silicification and locally intense sericitization, within a few
meters of the veins (Thomas, 1949). District-wide metal zoning described by Lang (1988) is
centered on the Ithaca Peak stocks. The zoning pattern consists of a central Cu-Mo core and
proceeding outward through zones of Cu-Mn to Cu to Pb-Zn(+As) to outer Ag-Au
mineralization. Metal zoning in individual mines is less obvious. The Wallapai District
poly-metallic vein systems are considered to be mesothermal in deposit type (Lindgren,
1913; Butler, 1938; Dings, 1951).
Of the over 70 historic poly-metallic vein mines in the Wallapai District, two mines, the
Tennessee-Schuylkill mine in the Chloride camp and the Golconda mine in the Cerbat camp,
accounted for over 90 percent of the district’s lead and zinc, and accessory precious-metal,
production (Dings, 1951). The Tennessee-Schuylkill mine, the more studied of the two
deposits is summarized below based on data from Schrader (1909), Thomas (1949), Dings
(1951), Eaton (1981) and Lang (1988).
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Vein characteristics: strike length 1829 meters (6000 feet) at 3520 (azm.), average
dip 850 E., variable widths 0.3m – 6.7 meters (1 – 22 feet), average width 2.4 meters
(8 feet), mined to a vertical depth of 442 meters (1,450 feet), several veins mined
underground do not come to surface
Wallrock alteration: weak propylitic, siliceous and locally strong sericitic (argillic)
from a few centimeters to one meter (< 1 in. to 3 ft.) into wallrock
Average grade: 17 to 25 oz/t (529 to 778 gr/tonne) silver , 3.5 percent lead and 6 to 8
percent zinc
Metal zoning: possible lateral zoning with dominant galena in the north grading into
dominant sphalerite to the south
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The Author knows of no additional relevant data that might materially impact the
interpretations and conclusions presented in this Technical Report.
The Hackberry Property consists of silver-rich, poly-metallic, vein deposits hosted within a
mixed sequence of Precambrian feldspathic “granitic” gneisses and minor biotitic and
biotite-amphibolite gneisses. The Precambrian rocks are intruded by a limited number of
intermediate to mafic, probably mid-Proterozoic volcanic dikes that pre-exist the poly-
metallic mineralizing events on the Property. Prominent structural fracture zones strike
northwest-southeast for almost 2 km (1.2 miles) along most of the length of the Property
dipping southwest at 400 on the southern part of the Property and steepening to 550 to 800
southwest on the northern part. The structural fracture zones host intermittent but persistent,
base- and precious-metal bearing quartz vein systems including the past-producing,
Hackberry, South Hackberry and Silver King high-grade silver deposits.
Much of the available data on the Property is in the form of private historical reports, several
written prior to 1920, and verification of authenticity was not always possible. However, for
the purposes that the historic reports were used, the Author, as a Qualified Person, believes,
to the best of his knowledge, that the reports should be considered reliable unless otherwise
stated in the Report.
Based on the available data cited in this Report, as well as a personal inspection of the
Property, the following conclusions have been drawn about the Hackberry Property:
Both the initial and the final mine closures of the Hackberry mine were for reasons
other than the depletion of the silver-rich, poly-metallic mineralization being mined.
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The high-grade mineralized zone mined on the 400-level of the Hackberry mine
appeared to be striking southeastward across the southern property boundary and
trending into the South Hackberry mine area (Watts, 1912; Hamm, 1987). This
high-grade mineralized zone may be present down-dip, below the lowest developed
levels of the South Hackberry mine.
Underground evidence from the Hackberry mine indicates that hidden high-grade
mineralized zones occurred at depth but presented no visual evidence of such grades
at the surface. Other high-grade mineralized zones having the same hidden
characteristics may be present elsewhere along the mineralized structures of the
Hackberry Property.
It is possible that the Hackberry mineralized zone continues southeast of the South
Hackberry mine beneath a thick colluvium deposit.
Anomalous As+Sb and Ag/(As+Sb) surface data over the north and south Silver
King workings suggests that mineralization may plunge to the northwest (Malkoski,
1985), similar to the high-grade mineralized zones in the Hackberry mine.
Therefore, there is potential for significant high-grade mineralization to plunge
undetected beneath the shallow, high-grade, enriched silver deposits mined from the
Silver King workings.
There has been no comprehensive exploration conducted on the Property since the
cessation of mining activities in1920.
Very limited drilling was reported on, or adjacent to, the Property and there
are no available records regarding number of holes, collar locations or, most
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Two deposits in the Wallapai District were mined to depths exceeding 425 meters
(1400 feet), suggesting that mineralized zones of the Hackberry Property could
extend to greater depths than were historically mined. There are no assurances that
the depth of mineralization in the Wallapai District will be duplicated on the
Hackberry Property.
Based on all the available data, the Hackberry Property appears to have excellent
exploration potential to host significant undiscovered mineral resources including:
historically documented, but un-mined, resources between the 200- and 600-
levels, and possibly elsewhere, in the Hackberry mine workings (Figure 25-1)
potential for undiscovered mineral resources at depth and along strike from
the Hackberry-Silver King mineralized trends, including the geochemically-
defined targets proposed by Malkoski (1985), (Figure 25-1)
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Figure 25-1. Target Areas with Potential for Undiscovered Mineral Resources, Hackberry
Property, Mohave County, Arizona
(Target areas are shown in cyan, plus the Hackberry mine target area marked as A.
Numbers refer to Malkoski’s targets noted in Section 9.0 and proposed
IP/Resistivity lines are shown in purple)
___________________________________________
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The Author has considered all of the potential risks related to the Property and is satisfied
that there are no known significant risks and uncertainties that could reasonably be expected
to affect the reliably or confidence in the exploration information presented in this Report.
26.0 RECOMMENDATIONS
The Hackberry Property exhibits good exploration potential and it is recommended that
Bitterroot conduct an in-depth, Property-wide, exploration program. The exploration
program should include detailed geological mapping, including alteration mapping and
structural analysis, rock, soil and silt geochemical sampling and state-of-the-art geophysical
surveys, including a detailed magnetic survey and possible IP/Resistivity surveys. Initially,
it is recommended that IP / Resistivity surveys be conducted on two reconnaissance lines
(see Figure 25-1), to determine the effectiveness of the technique in this specific mineralized
environment. If it is determined that IP / Resistivity is not an effective tool, attention should
be put towards increased drilling of geologically selected targets during the next phase of
exploration. BLM permitting should be initiated as soon as possible for the pertinent
exploration activities being conducted on BLM-managed lands. Based on the proposed
recommendations above, a budget to cover the exploration expenditures is presented below
in Table 26-1.
Permitting $ 12,000
Safety / Security 7,500
Project Geologist 16,500
Geologic Mapping 27,750
Field Expenses 18,450
Geophysical Surveys:
Recon. IP / Resistivity 24,000
Recon. Ground Magnetics 12,000
Airborne Magnetics 22,000
Geophysical Consultant 5,000
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Geochemical Sampling:
Soil Sampling 6,530
Silt Sampling 2,050
Rock Sampling 3,050
Administration / Contingency 20,000
TOTAL $ 176,830
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27.0 REFERENCES
Albin, Alton L., 1991. Geologic map of the Peacock Mountains and Southern Grand Wash
Cliffs: including Peacock Peak, Antares, Hackberry, Valentine, and the Southern Half of
the Music Mountain SE, and Milkweed Canyon SW, 1/2 Minute Quadrangles,
Northwestern Arizona, Arizona Geological Survey CM-91K, 1:24000 scale
Ascarza, W., 2017, Mine Tales: Hackberry Mine was a silver lode beginning in 1874,
in The Arizona Star newspaper, Tucson, Arizona, published January 15, 2017
Breen, James, (1918), Report on Hackberry Property, letter report to James Murray, in
Arizona Geological Survey Digital archives, Tucson, Arizona, letter report dated January
23, 1918, 4 p.
Buchanan, L.J., 1981, Precious Metal Deposits Associated with Volcanic Environments in
the Southwest, in Dickinson, W.R., and Payne, W.D., Relations of Tectonics to Ore
Deposits in the Southern Cordillera: Arizona Geological Society Digest 14, p. 237-262
Clifton, C., 1978, General Geology of the Hackberry Mine Area, Peacock Range, Mohave
County, Arizona, in Hughes Family Trust digital archives
DeMatties, Theodore, 1979, Exploration Potential of the Hackberry Mine and the Silver
King Claim Group, Mojave County, Arizona, unpublished E.K. Lehman and Associates Inc.
company report for Dravo Corporation, in Hughes Family Trust Digital archives, report
dated May, 1979, 12 p.
Dings, M. G., 1951, The Wallapai Mining District, Cerbat Mountains, Mohave County,
Arizona, U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin 978-E, p. 123-163
Duebendorfer, Earnest M., 2015, Refining the Early History of the Mojave-Yavapai
Boundary Zone: Rifting versus Arc Accretion as Mechanisms for Paleoproterozoic Crustal
Growth in Southwestern Laurentia, The Journal of Geology, Vol. 123, p. 21-38
Eaton, L. G., 1980, Geology of the Chloride Mining District, Mohave County, Arizona,
unpublished MSc. Thesis, New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, Socorro, New
Mexico, 133 p.
Head, P. A., 1968, Induced polarization survey, Hackberry area, Mohave Co., Arizona, letter
report, Heindrichs Geoexploration Company, Tucson, Arizona in Arizona Geological
Survey Digital archives, Tucson, Arizona, letter report dated November 17, 1968, 2 p. and
I.P. profiles and field notes
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BITTERROOT RESOURCES LTD. Hackberry Silver Property, NI 43-101 Technical Report
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Johns, A.L., 1918, Report on Silver King Group, Peacock Mining District, Hackberry,
Mohave County, Arizona, unpublished report in Arizona Geological Survey
Digital archives, Tucson, AZ, report dated May 27, 1918, 9 p.
Hamm, Jack C., 1987, Hackberry Mine Property, Mohave County, Arizona: Report of
Property Examination and Recommendation to Acquire, unpublished company memo,
Combined Metals Co., in Hughes Family Trust Digital archives, report dated March 1987,
31 p.
Lang, J.R., and Eastoe, C.J., 1988, Relationships between a Porphyry Co-Mo Deposit, Base
and Precious Metal Veins, and Laramide Intrusions, Mineral Park, Arizona, Economic
Geology, Vol. 83, p. 551-567
Malkoski, Mark, 1985, Geology and Ore Potential of the Hackberry, Silver King,
Homestake and Unnamed Lodes, Hackberry District, Mohave County, Arizona,
unpublished report, in Hughes Family Trust Digital archives,
report dated August, 1985, 16p.
Megaw, P., 2006, Exploration of Low Sulfidation Epithermal Vein Systems, Mag Silver
Corp., online report, www.magsilver.com/i/pdf/Epithermal_Vein_Story-jan232006.pdf,
3 p.
Robertson, D. B., 1974, Preliminary Evaluation of the Hackberry Mine Area, Mohave
County, Arizona, unpublished report for Cyprus Minerals Co., in Hughes Family
Trust Digital archives, report dated May 1974, 6p.
Schrader, F.C., 1909, Mineral Deposits of the Cerbat Range, Black Mountains and Grand
Wash Cliffs, Mohave County, Arizona, U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin 397, 226 p.
Sillitoe, Richard H, and Hedenquist, Jeffery H,. 2003, Linkage between Volcanotectonic
Settings, Ore-Fluid Compositions, and Epithermal Precious Metal Deposits, Society of
Economic Geologists Special Publication 10, p. 315-343
54
BITTERROOT RESOURCES LTD. Hackberry Silver Property, NI 43-101 Technical Report
____________________________________________________
Simmerman, G., 2013, Mineral Park Mine, Mohave County, Arizona, NI 43-101 Technical
Report , Mercator Minerals Ltd, www.SEDAR.com, Report effective date June 1, 2013,
filing date, August 12, 2013, 136 p., Appendices 28 p.
Sparkes, T. J., 1919, Middle Hackberry Mines Co, unpublished report, in Arizona
Geological Survey Digiital archives, 3p.
Thomas, B.E., 1949, Ore Deposits of the Wallapai District, Arizona, Economic Geology,
Vol. 44, p. 663-705
Warne, John D., 1983, Preliminary Report, Hackberry Silver Mine, Mohave County,
Arizona, unpublished report, in Hughes Family Trust Digital archives, report dated
September 10, 1983, 10 p.
Watts, W. L., 1912, Report on the Sunshine Mine (Old Hackberry Mine), Mohave County,
Arizona, unpublished report, in Hughes Family Trust Digital archives, report dated
April 5, 1912, 12 p.
Weed, W.H., 1922, Hackberry Consolidated Mining Co, in The Mines Handbook, vol.15,
published by The Mines Handbook Co, Tuckahoe, N.Y., p. 288
55
BITTERROOT RESOURCES LTD. Hackberry Silver Property, NI 43-101 Technical Report
____________________________________________________
To accompany the report entitled: “Hackberry Silver Property, Mohave County, Arizona,
U.S.A., NI43-101 Technical Report” prepared for Bitterroot Resources, Ltd., dated March 28,
2017 with an effective date March 28, 2017 (the “Technical Report”).
I am currently a Geological Consultant and the President and Principal Geologist of StarPoint
Resources, LLC, an Arizona registered LLC.
I am a licensed Professional Geologist in good standing in the states of Minnesota (No. 30223)
and Wisconsin (No. 316) and a Registered Member of the Society for Mining, Metallurgy and
Exploration (Registered Member No. 4115591RM)
I have practiced my profession for over 40 years since graduation. I have been directly involved
with mineral exploration and property evaluations for base- and precious-metals and diamonds in
the United States, Canada, South Africa, Argentina, Panama and Peru for both major and junior
U.S. and Canadian mineral companies. I have held the industry Exploration positions of Senior
Professional Geologist, Senior Exploration Manager, District Geologist and Division Manager,
all directly related to mineral exploration project generation, evaluation, development and
discovery.
I am currently a member of the Arizona Geological Society, the Society of Economic Geologists
and a Registered Member of the Society for Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration.
I personally inspected the Hackberry Property on September 07 and 08, 2017 conducting
geological examinations and taking pertinent samples on the Property.
56
BITTERROOT RESOURCES LTD. Hackberry Silver Property, NI 43-101 Technical Report
____________________________________________________
I am an Author of the Technical Report titled “Hackberry Silver Property, Mohave County,
Arizona, U.S.A., NI43-101 Technical Report”, dated March 28, 2017, and I am responsible for
the written body of the Technical Report consisting of Sections 1 through 14, inclusive and
Sections 23 through 27, inclusive. I collaborated with co-author Jeffrey Rowe who drafted all
map-related figures within the Technical Report. Jeffrey Rowe also reviewed and contributed to
the written body of the Technical Report.
I am independent of the issuer, Bitterroot Resources Ltd., and its U.S. subsidiary Trans Superior
Resources Inc., applying the test set out in Section 1.5 of NI 43-101. On January 17, 2017, in
consideration for my ongoing consulting services to Bitterroot, I was granted stock options of
Bitterroot, exercisable to acquire up to 70,000 common shares of Bitterroot Resources Ltd. at an
exercise price of $0.10 per share until January 16, 2022 (the “Stock Options”). The Stock
Options do not represent a material financial interest to me, and did not interfere with my
judgment regarding the preparation of the Technical Report.
I have had no prior involvement with the Hackberry Property prior to September 07, 2017.
I have read National Instrument 43-101 and Form 43-101F1, and the Technical Report has been
prepared in compliance with the afore-stated National Instrument and Form.
As of the effective date of this Technical Report, to the best of my knowledge, information and
belief, the Technical Report contains all scientific and technical information required to be
disclosed to make the report not misleading.
I consent to the filing of the Technical Report with any stock exchange and other regulatory
authority, and any publication by them, for regulatory purposes, including electronic publication
in the public company files on their websites accessible by the public, of the Technical Report.
57
BITTERROOT RESOURCES LTD. Hackberry Silver Property, NI 43-101 Technical Report
____________________________________________________
To accompany the report entitled: “Hackberry Silver Property, Mohave County, Arizona,
U.S.A., NI43-101 Technical Report” prepared for Bitterroot Resources Ltd., dated March 28,
2017 with an effective date March 28, 2017 (the “Technical Report”).
I have practiced my profession for over 34 years since graduation. I have been directly involved
with mineral exploration and property evaluations for base- and precious-metals in Canada, the
United States and Mexico for both major and junior Canadian mineral companies. I have held
the industry Exploration positions of Senior Professional Geologist, Exploration Manager and
Vice President Exploration, all directly related to mineral exploration project generation,
evaluation, development and discovery.
I have reviewed historical documents describing the geology and mineralization in the area of the
Hackberry Property.
I am an Author of the Technical Report titled “Hackberry Silver Property, Mohave County,
Arizona, U.S.A., NI43-101 Technical Report”, dated March 28, 2017, and I am responsible for
drafting all map-related figures within the Technical Report. I have also reviewed and
contributed to the written body of the Technical Report written by co-author Glen Adams.
I am independent of the issuer, Bitterroot Resources Ltd., and its U.S. subsidiary Trans Superior
Resources Inc., applying the test set out in Section 1.5 of NI 43-101. In consideration for my
58
BITTERROOT RESOURCES LTD. Hackberry Silver Property, NI 43-101 Technical Report
____________________________________________________
ongoing consulting services to Bitterroot, I was granted stock options of Bitterroot, exercisable
to acquire up to 75,000 common shares of Bitterroot Resources Ltd. at an exercise price of $0.10
per share until January 21, 2021 (the “Stock Options”). The Stock Options do not represent a
material financial interest to me, and did not interfere with my judgment regarding the
preparation of the Technical Report.
I have read National Instrument 43-101 and Form 43-101F1, and the Technical Report has been
prepared in compliance with the afore-stated National Instrument and Form.
As of the effective date of this Technical Report, to the best of my knowledge, information and
belief, the Technical Report contains all scientific and technical information required to be
disclosed to make the report not misleading.
I consent to the filing of the Technical Report with any stock exchange and other regulatory
authority, and any publication by them, for regulatory purposes, including electronic publication
in the public company files on their websites accessible by the public, of the Technical Report.
59