MINING LEASE
THIS IS AN
AGREEMENT OF LEASE made and entered into this 13th day of July,
2005, by and between INDEPENDENCE GOLD-SILVER MINES INC., a
Washington corporation, hereinafter called "Lessor" or
"Independence" and GOLD RANGE COMPANY, LLC, a Nevada, USA
corporation, hereinafter called “Lessee” or “Gold
Range”, relating to certain unpatented mining claims situated
in the Battle Mountain Mining District, Lander County, State of
Nevada, owned by Independence and which are to be leased to Lessee
pursuant to this agreement, hereinafter called "Lease".
I. RECITAL
Independence is the owner, subject
to paramount title of the United States of America, of those
certain unpatented mining claims situated in the Battle Mountain
Mining District of Lander County, State of Nevada, certain of which
are described in Exhibit A attached hereto and made a part
hereof. All of these claims form a single mining claims group
referred to hereafter as "the premises" and "the
claims."
II.
COVENANTS
(1) Subject to the paramount title
of the United States of America, Independence does hereby
exclusively lease, let and demise to Lessee all the minerals upon
and underlying the said mining claims, and does hereby grant to
Lessee during the time that this Lease is in effect, in
consideration of the moneys to be payable as set forth in Section
V, and subject to the following reservations and limitations, and
other reservations and limitations in this Lease:
(a) To explore for minerals upon and
within and upon the foregoing claims;
(b) To mine or otherwise extract, to
mill, treat, or otherwise process, and to store, stockpile, remove,
market, sell or otherwise dispose of ore and minerals which Lessee
extracts from the claims;
(c) To dispose of or deposit waste
material and tailings which Lessee has
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extracted from the
claims;
(d) To construct, use, or maintain
upon the claims buildings, shops, plants, machinery, mills,
facilities, ore bins and structures of all kinds, roads, shafts,
inclines, tunnels, drifts, open pits, pipelines, telephone lines,
electric transmission lines, or other means of communication,
transportation facilities and other utilities and facilities, the
operation of road or track vehicles or aircraft and the maintenance
thereof; all subject to the limitations set forth
herein;
(e) To exercise any and all rights
or privileges which are incidental to and which may be useful,
desirable or convenient in Lessee's exercise of any or all of the
rights hereinabove and hereinafter specified, which are not in
conflict with applicable federal, state or local laws, rules and
regulations or other provisions of this Lease.
(f) After ores, minerals or
materials have been sampled and weighed or measured by volumetric
survey, truck factors or any other manner as will permit the
computation of the production to be paid hereunder, Lessee may mix
the same with ores, minerals or materials from lands other than the
premises so long as such mixing does not adversely affect the
performance of Lessee's covenants under this Lease.
(g) Lessee is further granted the
right to use shafts, openings or pits on the premises and
structures, facilities, equipment, roadways, haulageways and all
other appurtenances installed on the premises for the additional
purpose of producing, removing, storing, depositing, treating or
transporting ores, minerals or materials, including tailings and
mine waste, from adjoining lands within which lessee has any
interest so long as such mining does not adversely affect the
performance of Lessee's covenants under this Lease. Lessee's
operations hereunder, and its mining of adjoining lands, may be
conducted upon the premises and upon such other lands as a single
mining operation so long as such mining does not adversely affect
the performance of Lessee's covenants under this Lease.
(h) Independence makes no
representation or warranty as to the availability of
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water.
All of the rights granted to Lessee
under this paragraph shall be subject to the payment of royalties
as hereinafter provided in this Lease and all other limitations,
reservations, terms and conditions set forth herein.
(2) Lessor represents that, to the
best of its knowledge, the claims are in good standing with the
United States of America and the State of Nevada and that it has
the right to lease the minerals and the facilities and other
property covered by this Lease. Lessor hereby represents to the
best of its knowledge that it has the full right, power and
capacity to enter into this Agreement on the terms and conditions
herein contained. Lessor covenants that the status of the premises,
as represented above, shall not be adversely affected because of
any act or omission on the part of Lessor during the continuance of
this Agreement.
(3) Lessor shall cooperate with
Lessee in Lessee’s applications for approvals, consents,
licenses and permits for Lessee’s operations on the
premises.
(4) Lessor shall pay all taxes
levied and assessed upon Lessor’s share of the production of
minerals from the Premises, including, specifically, the net
proceeds of mines taxes assessed on Lessor’s share of the
production of such minerals.
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B.
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Covenants of Lessee: Lessee has inspected the mining claims and all
other property on the claims, both real and personal, if any,
movable and immovable, if any, and accepts same in their present
condition, "As Is, Where Is." Both parties agree that Lessee does
not assume responsibility or liability for any pre-existing
environmental conditions on the premises.
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(1) Any purchases or acquisitions of
equipment or personal property by Lessee shall be at the sole cost
and expense of the Lessee and for its own account. Upon the
termination of this Lease for any cause and for 180 days
thereafter, Lessee will be permitted to remove from the leased
property all movable equipment and other personal property which it
has installed, save and except as otherwise limited
herein.
(2) Lessee shall pay in full for all
labor performed upon or material furnished to the said premises at
the instance or request of the Lessee. Lessee shall keep the
premises free and clear from any and all liens of laborers,
mechanics, materialmen, vendors or installers of fixtures and
equipment, or any other person or persons who may assert a lien by
law, provided, however, that
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Lessee shall have the option and
right to contest any such lien by notifying Lessor of its intent to
do so within ten (10) days after Lessee receives notice of the
lien. Lessee shall diligently and expeditiously contest the lien.
Lessee shall immediately notify Lessor when Lessee executes this
Lease in order that Lessor may timely record a notice of
nonresponsibility in the Office of the Recorder of Lander County,
Nevada.
(3) Lessee shall at all times comply
in all respects with all the laws and regulations relating to the
performance of work and all other activities within or upon the
leased premises. The Lessee shall provide Workmen's Compensation
Insurance and such other insurance to cover personnel and all of
its operations upon the premises in the amount and form as may be
required by law. Lessee shall indemnify and hold the Lessor
harmless of and from any and all claims, demands, or liabilities
arising out of or in connection with the operations or activities
of the Lessee hereunder. Lessee assumes full and sole
responsibility for the operation and direction of the work done
under this agreement on the leased premises and no employee or
agent furnished by Lessee shall under any circumstances be deemed
an employee of the Lessor.
(4) Lessee agrees to pay all taxes
levied and assessed upon the leased premises or any part thereof,
including taxes measured on Lessee’s share of production and
also including taxes levied and assessed on improvements and any
equipment, movable or immovable, placed upon the leased premises by
Lessee during the continuance of this Lease, commencing with taxes
for the current year, and to make payment thereof, as required by
the statutes of the State of Nevada so that no default in taxes
upon the leased premises shall occur, and to deliver to Lessor,
upon request, the original or duplicate tax receipts for payment
made. Should Lessee be in possession, under this Lease, for only a
portion of a year, the tax for that year shall be pro-rated between
the Lessor and the Lessee on the basis of taxes for the last
preceding year. As a condition of Lessee's obligations pursuant to
this paragraph, Lessor shall timely deliver to Lessee all tax
notices which Lessor may receive. Lessee is not obligated to pay
any taxes assessed on minimum advance production royalty or
production royalty payments received by Lessor.
(5) While this Lease is in effect,
Lessee does hereby agree to annually file with the appropriate
agency of the United States any required "Notice of Intent to Hold
Mining Claims" and to pay all required rental or other fees,
including BIM rental fees due on or before the applicable statutory
deadline, and to make all filings required by State of Nevada law.
Furthermore, while this Lease is in effect, Lessee will perform all
other duties and do all filings and recordings and make all
payments required by Federal, State and local laws, rules,
regulations, orders and directives. If Lessee terminates this
agreement between June 1 and December 31 of any Calendar year,
Lessee is obligated to pay all required rental and other fees under
this section which come due between June 1 and December 31 for that
Calendar year.
(6) In the event of termination of
this Lease by expiration of the term hereof, or for any reason
whatsoever, the Lessee agrees to surrender the leased premises to
the Lessor subject to Article XXIV of this Lease. The Lessee,
however, shall have the right to remove movable machinery and
equipment placed by it upon and within the leased premises, save
and except for track, timbers, chutes, ladders, and similar
underground improvements, which shall be left in place, except to
the extent Lessee is otherwise required to remove the same in
accordance with applicable laws and regulations. The Lessee shall
have the right to effect any permitted removal of such machinery
and equipment prior to the expiration of this Lease, or within one
hundred and eighty (180) days thereafter. Any such machinery or
equipment not removed prior to the expiration of said period of
one hundred eighty (180) days following termination of said
lease shall be deemed abandoned by Lessee, affixed to the leased
premises and shall become and remain the property of the Lessor. In
any event, following termination, Lessee shall, if requested by
Lessor, act reasonably expeditiously to remove its
equipment.
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(7) Lessee agrees to keep accurate
books of account showing the operations, and particularly showing
ores mined and milled, or mined and shipped by the Lessee. Lessor
or its authorized agents shall have a right to audit and inspect
Lessee's accounts and records used in calculating production
royalty payments, which right may be exercised as to each payment
at any reasonable time during a period of one (1) year from the
date on which the payment was made by Lessee. If no such audit is
performed during such period, such accounts, records and payments
shall be conclusively deemed to be true, accurate and
correct.
(8) Lessee shall allow
representatives of Lessor at their own risk and upon reasonable
prior notice to enter upon and into all parts of said premises from
time to time, and at all reasonable times and hours, for the
purpose of inspecting or surveying the same, or taking samples of
ore therefrom, and to examine any and all other aspects of Lessee's
operations on the claims.
(9) [Deleted]
(10) Lessee shall at all times carry
the following insurance coverage on the premises:
(a) Public liability insurance of
not less than $1,000,000.00 (U.S.) per occurrence, nor less than
$2,000,000.00 (U.S.) in aggregate, with Lessor to be a named
insured.
(b) Property damage coverage of not
less than $100,000.00 (U.S.), with Lessor to be a named
insured.
Lessee may include this coverage
with other coverage it now has or will acquire on other mining
operations provided: that Lessor shall be named a loss payee and
additional insured in said policy or policies, and shall within
forty-five (45) days receive from Lessee or its insurer a copy of
the endorsement so showing.
(11) If Lessee locates any
unpatented mining claim all or part of which is within one-half
(1/2) mile of any portion of the claims described in Exhibit
A existing as of the effective date of this Lease, the entirety
of such unpatented mining claims shall be held in the name of
Lessor subject to this Lease. This section shall only govern those
claims located by Gold Range, or its agents. Assignees to this
agreement, shall be also bound by this section. Gold Range is under
no obligation to Lessor regarding claims or mining properties
acquired from any other third party.
III. WORK, EXPLORATION AND
MINE
DEVELOPMENT BY
LESSEE
A. Prior to September 30, 2010,
Lessee shall expend not less than Six Hundred Twenty Five Thousand
Dollars ($625,000.00) per the schedule set forth below (net after
any administrative, overhead or other indirect costs) towards the
exploration, development and commercial production of ores,
minerals or materials Minimum expenditures shall be as
follows:
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Before September 30,
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2006
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$50,000
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Before September 30,
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2007
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$75,000
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Before September 30,
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2008
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$125,000
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Before September 30,
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2009
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$175,000
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Before September 30,
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2010
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$200,000
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Any expenditure in excess of the
minimum expenditure set forth immediately above may be applied to
subsequent years. To the extent that Lessee fails to expend funds
pursuant to the terms of this paragraph, Lessee shall pay to
Lessor, as rent, any shortfall within thirty (30) days of the end
of any of the dates set forth above. In the event that Lessee
terminates this Lease on or before February 1st in any of the
calendar years 2008, 2009 or 2010, Lessee shall have no obligation
to perform any work thereafter or to pay as rent any
shortfall.
B. Upon written demand by Lessor,
Lessee shall furnish a written statement of its expenditures for
such exploration and mine development with a breakdown of labor,
materials, equipment and other expenditures, to the extent not
previously provided to Lessor. Demand by Lessor for such
expenditure statement shall not exceed one (1) time in any one
Calendar year.
IV. TERM OF LEASE AND
CONDITIONS
The term of this
Lease shall be for a period of approximately twenty (20) years,
commencing October 1, 2005 and terminating at midnight on September
30, 2025, unless Lessee is then conducting exploration, development
or mining operations on the premises, in which case Lessee shall
have the right to extend the term of this Lease for additional
terms of one (1) year so long as Lessee continues to conduct such
activities.
V. ROYALTIES TO BE PAID BY
LESSEE TO LESSOR
A.
Minimum Advance Royalty. The Minimum Advance Royalty shall
be paid for so long as this Lease is in force and without regard to
mining, production or sale of minerals on or from the
claims.
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Lessee shall have no obligation to
pay any Minimum Advance Royalty payments otherwise due if 1) Lessee
terminates this Lease; or 2) if during the six (6) month period
immediately preceding the date on which a Minimum Advance Royalty
payment is otherwise due Lessee has paid to Lessor Production
Royalty payments in an amount equal to or in excess of the Minimum
Advance Royalty payment. All cumulative Minimum Advance Royalty
payments paid by Lessee to Lessor under this Lease will be credited
against any Production Royalty due Lessor under section B of this
Article V and any Production Royalty due Lessor after purchase of
the claims under Article XXVIII.
Subject to the foregoing paragraphs
of this section, Lessee shall pay to Lessor, as Minimum Advance
Royalty payments, on or before the dates shown, the sums described
below:
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Date
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Amount
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October 1, 2005
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$10,000
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October 1, 2006
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$15,000
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February 1, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010
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$15,000
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October 1, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010
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$15,000
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October 1, 2011
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$50,000
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February 1, 2011
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$50,000
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Minimum Advance Royalty payments due
from October 1, 2012 through February 1, 2018 shall be $50,000.00
increased by the greater of 25% or the percentage increase in the
producer price index for the six (6) calendar years ending December
31, 2011, the base index date being December 31, 2005. Minimum
advance royalty payments due from October 1, 2018 through February
1, 2025 shall be the February 1, 2018 payment, increased by the
greater of 25% or the percentage increase in the producer price
index for the six calendar years ending December 31, 2017, the base
index being December 31, 2011.
B.
Production Royalty. So long as this Lease is in force, a
Production Royalty shall be due Lessor during any period of
commercial production from the claims. One hundred percent (100%)
of all cumulative Minimum Advance Royalty paid by Lessee and
received by Lessor can be deducted from the
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Production Royalty due
Lessor.
Production Royalty shall be payable
on all minerals regardless of what stage in the milling, refining,
upgrading or other processing the minerals may be, which are mined
from the claims ("leased substances") and sold to a buyer.
Production Royalty shall be calculated and paid as
follows:
(1) The Production Royalty will be
calculated as a percentage of Net Smelter Returns ("NSR"). Net
Smelter Returns is defined as the dollar amount actually received
by Lessee from the sale of any