Asbestos Mineral Check of Rocks at Vedder Mountain Quarry. Cultus Lake Area, British Columbia

Asbestos Mineral Check of Rocks at Vedder Mountain Quarry Cultus Lake Area, British Columbia Mineral Tenure # 512638, 534087 Vancouver Mining Division...
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Asbestos Mineral Check of Rocks at Vedder Mountain Quarry Cultus Lake Area, British Columbia Mineral Tenure # 512638, 534087 Vancouver Mining Division

NTS: 092G01, H04 UTM 10 (NAD 83) Lat: 49o 04’ 57” Long:129o 59’ 39”

BC Geological Survey Assessment Report 31731

Prepared by: A W Randall P.Eng RM Resource Management Ltd. Prepared for: Kirkness Pacific Holdings Ltd & Bryan Kirkness Claim Owner

September 2010

Table of Contents Summary………………………………………………………………………….. Location and Access…………………………………………………………….... Bedrock Geology…………………………………………………………………. Sampling Program………………………………………………………….….….. Analytical Work………………………………………………………….….……. Results & Conclusions……………………………………………………………..

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Table 1 – Sample Locations and Descriptions……………………………………. 7 Figures

Figure 1 – Location Map with Mineral Claims……………………………. 8 Figure 2 – Vedder Mountain Sample Location Map………………………. 9 Figure 3 – Vedder Mountain Geology…………………………………….. 10 Photos……………………………………………………………………………… 11 APPENDIX I: ……………………………………………………………………... 13 1.Maaxon Report B040033 2. Maaxon Email Notes 3. Asbestos Identification by Polarized Light Microscopy NIOSH 9002 APPENDIX II……..………………………………………………………………. 17 Vancouver Petrographics Report 100413 APPENDIX III: ……………………………………………………………………. 27 -Statement of Expenditures - Personnel & Consultants -Work Periods APPENDIX IV….………………………………………………………………… 28 -Statement of Qualifications

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SUMMARY: Bryan Kirkness of Kirkness Pacific Holdings Ltd owns a group of mineral claims on Vedder Mountain near Chilliwack where they have established an operating aggregate quarry and the company is also looking at the possibility of supplying dimensions stone to the local market. In early 2010 someone raised the possibility of that there might be some asbestos minerals associated with the rocks on Vedder Mountain as a result of observation of some smooth shiny minerals in some of the rock formations. As a result of this the Ministry of Energy and Mines requested that Kirkness Pacific check out this possibility. Bryan Kirkness has asked RM Resource Management to look into this problem. A sampling program was undertaken to obtain some representative samples of rocks which might potentially host these minerals. These samples were taken to Vancouver Petrographics and to Maaxam Labs for analysis. This report outlines the sampling methodology and results of the analysis. The conclusion of this work indicates that there were no asbestos minerals present in the samples taken. Vancouver Petrographics further concluded that there was “no evidence to support environmental concerns re the production of airborne asbestos in connection with the quarrying operation”. LOCATION AND ACCESS: The property is located approximately 7 km south-west of Chilliwack and about 1.5 km north-west of Cultus Lake. Access to the site is from Chilliwack via Cultus Lake Road to Parmenter Road and then via approximately 2 km of private roads on the quarry. LAND TENURE AND CLAIM STATUS: (Figure 1)  Lot 820 New Westminster Land District.  Mineral Tenures 512638 and 534087 including 31 Mineral Claim Cells containing 655.87 Ha, registered in the name of Bryan Kirkness VEGETATION AND TIMBER: The area is covered with minimal scrub growth, mostly deciduous trees, including willow, alder, poplar and maple with some fir and hemlock. TOPOGRAPHY AND SURFICIAL GEOLOGY: Vedder Mountain has a ridge-like form aligned in a prominent northeast-southwest direction. The general property topography is southerly and easterly sloping with intermittent hummocks, benches and gullies. The quarry area and associated mineral claims are situated just east of the peak of Vedder Mountain between approximately 100 and 400 meters elevation. Surficial geology of the area, as covered by Geological Survey of Canada Map 1487A – Surficial Geology Chilliwack (West Half) (1:50,000 scale), shows the Vedder Mountain area to be underlain by bedrock that is locally overlain by thin deposits (generally less than 2 m thick) of glacial, colluvial and aeolian sediments. The property is fairly widely covered with soil and glacial till overburden ranging up to 1 or 2 meters deep with local deeper deposits in the valleys. The quarry site itself is covered with minimal soil and

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overburden generally less than one meter thick and locally interspersed with rock outcroppings. BEDROCK GEOLOGY: Figure 3 Regionally the area is underlain and surrounded by four Formations. To the north of the claims lies the Chilliwack Group underlying the flat lands of the Fraser Valley in this location and described as Devonian to Permian undivided sedimentary rocks. To the south of the claims is the Kent Formation (also described as the Nooksack Group in other literature) which consists of a Jurassic-Cretaceous mixture of conglomerate and coarse clastic sediments which have been metamorphosed to greywacke, slate and phyllite). East of the Kent Formation and on the southeast corner of the claims is the Cultus Lake Formation which is a late Triassic to Early Jurassic sequence containing mudstones, siltstones, shales, and other fine clastic sedimentary rocks. Immediately underlying the claims and forming the main host for the rock quarry is the Vedder Mountain Metamorphic Complex which is described as a sequence of lower Amphobilite to Kyanite grade metamorphic rocks and indicated to be of Permian in age. The Vedder Mountain formation is bounded on both sides by a major, regionally extensive, fault system which forms the contacts with adjacent units. The Vedder Mountain Formation metamorphic rocks are the predominant rock formation on the property and the main rock type of interest. In the area currently being mined they consist of a mixture of grey to green metamorphosed volcanic rocks which are considered to be of basaltic to andesitic composition. Rock conditions are generally massive and competent and are locally cut by north-easterly trending by south-easterly dipping shear and fault structures. Rock density is in the range of 3.00. The basaltic component varies from massive to an interlayered mixture of basalt and quartz-carbonate banding. When present the quartz carbonate ratio is dominantly quartz with minor carbonate. The andesitic component is generally sheared in a similar geometry to the basalts but with very little quartz-carbonate banding. The rocks in this area appear to be metamorphosed andesites and basalts and are generally green to grey in color and locally black and consist mostly of amphibole (hornblende) and plagioclase minerals. These rocks have been intensely sheared into an almost braided pattern with abundant slickensided planes throughout the rock which give a smooth shiny sheen to these surfaces. These shiny surfaces appear to be predominantly related to sericite and chlorite like minerals and there appears to be no fibrous minerals associated with them. SAMPLING PROGRAM The focus of this sampling was to search for rocks that might contain asbestos minerals particularly Chrysotile which is the most likely to be present in this area however minerals such as Antigorite and Lizardite were also possibilities along with Amosite and Crocidolite. Samples taken however included both common/average rock samples

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representative of the bulk of quarry mining activities as well as samples that appeared to have higher levels of what might be, or contain, asbestos minerals. The “Health Safety and Reclamation Code for Mines in British Columbia” specifies threshold limit values (TLV) for human exposure to various asbestos minerals as follows: Amosite – 0.5 fibres/cc Chrysotile – 1.0 fibres/cc Crocidolite – 0.2 fibres/cc Other Forms – 1.0 fibres/cc Unidentified Forms – 0.2 fibres/cc Two pit areas were sampled including the Main Pit on the west side of the property and the Powder Mag Pit near the eastern part of the property which are the two active pit areas in the quarry. It was determined that two types of sample should be taken for this study, including (i)insitu rock samples from several locations in the quarries and (ii)fines samples from rock ground up by mining activity which would form dust under dry conditions in the quarry. Four rock samples and five fines samples were taken from a variety of locations through the quarry and especially in active areas and areas where the quarry is expanding. The samples numbers with location information and descriptions are listed in Table 1 and sample locations are shown on Figure 2. ANALYTICAL WORK Two labs were chosen for analytical testing. These included Maaxam Labs (previously Cantest) to do a polarized light microscopic check of the fines samples and Vancouver Petrographics (VPL) to do detailed thin-section and polished-section analysis of the rock samples as well as a check of the fines via their polished thin section examination. Maaxam do predominantly hazardous materials testing in a semi-quantitative way. For asbestos type minerals they take a small sample of the fines and examine them using polarized light microscopy with dispersion staining. They count fibres and give a volume/unit volume measure of fibre content in the samples under NIOSH 9002. Results of their analysis are included under Appendix I along with a description of the NIOSH 9002 procedure requirements. VPL were asked to do a detailed thin-section and polished-section analysis with a report of the entire mineralogy and specifically looking at fibrous mineral identification. In addition to the rock samples VPL did a polished section check on some of the fines samples. Results of their analysis are shown in Appendix II RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS The results of the Maaxam polarized light microscopic examination of the five fines samples indicated that there was “no asbestos found” in any of the samples (Ref. Appendix I, Section 2).

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Vancouver Petrographics found that rock samples were predominantly Amphibolitic in origin and exhibited “fragmental textures and contorted foliation consistent with derivation by crushing and shearing”. The shearing, of course, gives the fine striated and smooth shiny foliated texture that could be mistaken for asbestiform minerals. The VPL report concludes: “This study provides no evidence to support environmental concerns re the production of airborne asbestos in connection with the quarrying operation” (Ref. Appendix II, Summary). DISCLAIMER This sampling program has been done to the best ability of the writer, using reasonable and logical sampling methodologies. Samples were taken from rocks that would most likely host the alleged asbestos minerals as well as from fines generated by mining activity which would be the most likely source for airborne particles of asbestos minerals if they were present. In addition samples were taken from active areas of the quarry. Analyses were done by qualified laboratories chosen because they have done checks for similar materials in the past. No asbestos minerals were found in any of the samples taken. This does not however guarantee that asbestos minerals will not be found on the property at some time in the future. REFERENCES  Regional Geology – http://webmap.em.gov.bc.ca/mapplace

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Table I - Sample Locations and Descriptions Table 1 Vedder Mountain Project Kirkness Pacific Holdings Ltd Asbestos Mineral Check Program Sampling Date: June 2, 2010 Sample Number Sample Type VM2010-1 VM2010-2 VM2010-3 VM2010-4

Rock Rock Rock Rock

Location ( UTM Zone 10) North West 5437459 573757 5437459 573757 5437298 572847 5437335 572718

VM2010-1F VM2010-2F VM2010-3F VM2010-4F VM2010-5F

Fines Fines Fines Fines Fines

5437459 5437298 5437298 5437335 5437321

Sample Number VM2010-1 VM2010-2 VM2010-3 VM2010-4

Description Intensely sheared rock, grey-green color, Altered Andesite/Basalt, Fine grained with Carb Veining Green Sheared altered andesite, parts of this and above sample are more massive Intensely sheared msv altered ?andesite, lots of black shiny slickensides (?serpentine) North Wall of pit Green black intensely sheared ?andesite with black slickensides on partings

VM2010-1F VM2010-2F VM2010-3F VM2010-4F VM2010-5F

Very fine mud sample from puddle near centre of pit Mud from loader tire tracks Dry fines from toe of muck pile Mud from loader tire tracks Fines from toe of muck pile

573757 572847 572847 572718 572821

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Pit Powder Mag Quarry Main Rock Quarry Main Rock Quarry Main Rock Quarry Powder Mag Quarry Main Rock Quarry Main Rock Quarry Main Rock Quarry Main Rock Quarry

Figure 1 – Location Map with Mineral Claims

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Figure 2 – Vedder Mountain Sample Locations

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Figure 3 Vedder Mountain Geology

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PHOTOS

Photo 1 – Typical example of sheared rock from Powder Mag Pit

Photo 2: Typical example of intensely sheared rocks from Main Pit showing shiny chlorite/sericite minerals on slickensided surfaces.

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Photo 3: Example of fines generated by mining activity which were also sampled.

Photo 4: View across the main pit from vicinity where some of samples were taken.

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Appendix I 1.

Maaxam Report

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2.

Maaxam Email Notes

-----Original Message----From: Alf Randall [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: June-05-10 8:43 PM To: Lanoy Manila Cc: Arshdeep Khalsa Subject: RE: MaxJob#: B040033, Att: ALF RANDALL, File: B040033-R2010-06-05_15-56-22_R006.pdf; attached ... Thank you for the reports. I have read your interpretation document however I'm sorry but I still don't understand what your report means. I see two categories reported for each sample: Cellulose and Filler with no other information. What do these two items and associated numbers mean and does this mean there was no evidence of asbestos minerals in the samples? Thanks Alf Randall -----Original Message----From: Lanoy Manila [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: June-06-10 3:23 PM To: Alf Randall Cc: Arshdeep Khalsa Subject: RE: MaxJob#: B040033, Att: ALF RANDALL, File: B040033-R2010-0605_15-56-22_R006.pdf; attached ... There was no asbestos found for job# B040033 Regards, Lanoy Manila | Project Manager, Environmental Division Maxxam Analytics | Driven By Service and Science(r) Direct: 604-638-2636 | Office: 604-734-7276 ext. 2636

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3.

NIOSH 9002 Asbestos Identification by PLM (Polarized Light Microscopy) For Bulk Fiber Identification

Methodology for PLM Analysis: This method is useful for the qualitative identification of asbestos and the semi-quantitative determination of asbestos in bulk samples. This method measures the percentage of asbestos as perceived by the analyst in comparison to standard projections, photographs and experience. The quality of the results are dependant upon the skill and judgment of the operator. Required Microscope Equipment  Polarized Light Microscope 100X thru 400X with 10X Dispersion Staining Objective (see below)  Stereo microscope 10X thru 45X. Dispersion Staining Objectives Dispersion staining is a process by which color is imparted to colorless objects with the refractive index measured and used to identify the object being tested. The Meiji Dispersion Staining Objective is a 10X pre-centered central stop objective for 160mm tube length microscopes with RMS mounting threads. The technique differentiates between the refractive indices of the particulate solid and the liquid medium in which the solids are immersed. This method is most commonly used in asbestos fiber testing. The central stop positioned inside the Dispersion Staining Objective achieves certain colors at the perimeter of the fibers depending on the refractive indices between the fiber and the suspension medium.

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Appendix II Vancouver Petrographics Limited Report Report 100413 June 11th, 2010 Report for: Kirkness Pacific Holdings Ltd 6890 Lickman Road Chilliwack BC V2R 4A9 Report Requested by: RM Resource Management, 399 Dorset Road, Qualicum Beach, B.C. V9K 1H5 Samples: A suite of rock samples and derived sediments from a quarrying operation was submitted for petrographic examination. The objective of this work was to ascertain whether these materials contain asbestos minerals, the presence of which could give rise to environmental concerns. The samples examined are numbered as follows: 2010 – 1 2010 – 2 2010 – 3 2010 – 4 2010 – 1F 2010 – 5F Typical portions of each sample were prepared for microscopic study as polished thin sections. Summary: Samples 2010-1 and 2 are cataclastic rocks exhibiting fragmental textures and contorted foliation consistent with derivation by crushing and shearing. The first is composed essentially of quartz and sericite, and the second of quartz, plagioclase, hornblende and epidote – suggesting, in the latter case, derivation from amphibolitic greenstone. Samples 2010-3 and 4 are undeformed fine-grained amphibolites composed essentially of intergrowths of plagioclase, hornblende and epidote. Quartz and sphene are minor accessories. Samples 2010-1F and 5F are unconsolidated silt and sand-sized material comprising mineral grains and lithic clasts of amphibolitic composition, presumably representing by-products of the quarrying operation. 17

None of the rocks of this suite contain asbestos minerals (such as chrysotile, crocidolite or amosite). The amphibole (hornblende) which is a major constituent of most of the samples shows no tendency towards acicular or fibrous habit. Typical fields of each sample are illustrated in the accompanying photomicrographs. This study provides no evidence to support environmental concerns re the production of airborne asbestos in connection with the quarrying operation. J.F.Harris, Ph.D. Sample Descriptions: Sample 2010 – 1 Estimated mode: Quartz Carbonate Sericite Chlorite Opaque/sub-opaque dust Pyrite

Quartz-sericite phyllite or shear rock 40 1 53 trace 5 1

This rock consists essentially of two components: quartz and sericite. The bulk of the quartz occurs in segregated form as prominent, fragment-like bodies ranging up to several centimeters in size. These are set in a fine, sericite-rich matrix which exhibits contorted foliation of phyllitic aspect. The texture is emphasized by micron-scale schlieren of dark sub-opaque material; this is optically indeterminate but is most likely of carbonaceous or Fe/Ti oxide composition. Some of the larger quartz segregations contain minor intergrown carbonate. Randomly disseminated pyrite is another trace to minor constituent. This rock has a distinctly cataclastic aspect and is possibly a product of localized shear deformation – consistent with the observations of slickensided surfaces on the property. It is most likely derived from a sedimentary or felsic igneous protolith. Photomicrograph: IMG – 1633. Cross-polarized transmitted light. Scale: Long dimension of photo equals approx 2 mm. Sheared rock showing sinuous foliation in sericite (pastel colours) emphasized by schlieren of sub-opaque material (dark; e.g. upper left quadrant). Mottled grey areas are augen of quartz, showing microgranulation and recrystallisation.

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Image 1633 Sample 2010 – 2

Crushed amphibolite Estimated mode: Quartz Carbonate Plagioclase K-feldspar Chlorite Amphibole Epidote

12 2 46 trace 5 25 10

The off-cut corresponding to the sectioned portion of this sample shows a fine-grained, texturally heterogenous texture, suggesting possible genetic similarity to 2010 – 1. Thin section examination, however reveals that its mineralogy is distinctly different. The principal constituent is plagioclase feldspar (distinguishable in the offcut as areas of white etching). The bulk of the rock is a minutely granular matrix of grain size 0.01 – 0.3 mm, composed of intergrown plagioclase, amphibole, epidote and possible chlorite. This is host to scattered, angular grains of coarser plagioclase to 1 mm in size.

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The sectioned area also includes two larger segregations of disrupted, vein-like aspect. One of these is composed of plagioclase and the other of quartz; both contain minor intergrown carbonate. This sample appears to represent the crushed equivalent of the amphibolite lithotype exemplified by Samples 2010 – 3 and 4. Photomicrograph: IMG – 1635. Cross-polarized transmitted light. Scale: Long dimension of photo equals approx 2 mm. Shows finely microgranulated amphibolite. Dark to light greys are plagioclase and minor quartz. Tan to pale yellow prismatic grains are hornblende, and tiny orange equidimensional grains are epidote.

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Sample 2010 – 3

Estimated mode: Plagioclase Hornblende Epidote Sphene Pyrite Chalcopyrite

Amphibolite 25 40 32 3 trace trace

This sample is a rock exhibiting the typical features of a fine-grained, metamorphic amphibolite It consists essentially of three constituents: hornblende, epidote and plagioclase. These occur as a granular intergrowth of grain-size 0.1 – 0.5 mm, in which the preferred elongation of the hornblende grains, and a tendency to laminar compositional segregation, define a distinct foliation. Small granules of sphene are an evenly distributed minor accessory. The plagioclase (as is commonly the case in this rock-type) is un-twinned and sometimes shows faint, shadowy strain-polarization; this makes it difficult to distinguish from quartz, and it is possible that minor proportions of the latter could be present as an unrecognized accessory. Photomicrograph: IMG – 1636. Plane polarized transmitted light. Scale: Long dimension of photo equals approx 2 mm. Shows typical features of metamorphic amphibolite. Note foliated fabric. Elongate olive brown to green grains are hornblende. Equidimensional tan coloured grains are epidote. White areas are plagioclase.

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Photomicrograph: IMG – 1637. Same field as 1636 in cross-polarized transmitted light. Hornblende appears tan to orange. Epidote appears bright colours (orange/blue/violet). Plagioclase appears grey/white.

Sample 2010 – 4

Amphibolite Estimated mode: Quartz 5 Plagioclase 23 Hornblende 22 Epidote 40 Chlorite 6 Sericite 2 Sphene 2

This rock is of similar general lithology and texture to Sample 2010 – 3, but differs in containing accessory proportions of chlorite, sericite and recognizable quartz. In addition the ratio of epidote to hornblende is distinctly higher, and the mean grain-size is slightly coarser (including some grains reaching 1.0 mm or so). The constituent minerals are fresh, and form a compact crystalline aggregate in which the amphibole exhibits prismatic form, but shows no tendency towards acicular or fibrous habit.

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Photomicrographs: IMG – 1638. Plane-polarized transmitted light

IMG – 1639. Same field in cross-polarized light Photos show another typical metamorphic amphibolite. Note essentially identical appearance to photos IMG – 1636 and 1637, except for the distinctly higher proportion of epidote.

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Sample 2010 – 1F

Comminuted amphibolite Estimated mode: Plagioclase 25 Quartz 5 Hornblende 35 Epidote 30 Biotite 1 Sphene 2 Fe/Ti oxides 2

The material making up this polished thin section consists of vari-sized flocs of slimes-sized mineral grains, in the 10-150 microns range, plus a few coarser individual mineral grains. The mineralogy is consistent with derivation by comminution of amphibolitic rock similar to that exemplified by Samples 2010-3 and 4. It may represent a mud formed from airborne dust generated in the quarrying operation. Photomicrograph: IMG – 1640. Cross-polarized transmitted light. Scale: long dimension of photo equals approx 2 mm. Shows finely particulate character of this sample. Areas of abundant tiny white and coloured flecks (e.g. lower left and upper right) are flocs of slimes-sized mineral grains. The dark background is the mounting medium.

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Sample 2010-5F

Comminuted amphibolite Estimated mode: Plagioclase 22 Quartz 5 Chlorite 1 Hornblende 65 Epidote 5 Fe/Ti oxides 1 Pyrite 1 Chalcopyrite trace

This sample appears to be another derived product consisting of comminuted amphibolite. In this case it consists of coarse sand-sized particulate material in the form of sub-rounded fragments of compact amphibolite in the size range 1.0 – 7.0 mm. The source was apparently a variant of the amphibolite lithotype. It is composed essentially of hornblende and plagioclase, but the epidote content in this case is notably lower than in Samples 2010-3 and 4. In addition, the present rock is significantly coarser in grain size, and contains more disseminated sulphides, than the other amphibolitic samples of the suite. Photomicrographs: IMG – 1641 and IMG – 1642: Same field, by plane-polarized and crosspolarized transmitted light. Scale: Long dimension of field equals approx 2 mm. IMG – 1641 Shows parts of several sand-sized fragments of amphibolite. In IMG - 1641 the greenish and tan-coloured mineral grains are hornblende, and the off-white grains are plagioclase. In IMG - 1642 these same constituents appear brightly coloured and white respectively.

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Image 1641

Image 1642

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APPENDIX III Vedder Mountain Mineral Claims Statement of Expenditures, Personnel & Consultants, & Work Periods

Bryan Kirkness Mineral Claims Vedder Mountain Project Assessment Work Cost Summary June-July 2010 Date of Work Report Preparation Costs June 2 , 2010 June 2 , 2010 June 2 , 2010 June 22, July 9, 2010 June 2 , 2010

Description A Randall P.Eng - Field Work Travel Expense to/from Chilliwack Travel Expense – Ferry to/from A Randall P.Eng – Report Preparation Mapping -Oceanside Geomatics Ltd Printing & Duplication, Office Costs

Units

Unit Cost

1 Day 322Km 2 Trips 1.2 Day

@$800/da @$.55ea @$38.85ea @$800/da

1 1

Amount $ $ $ $

800.00 171.10 77.70 960.00

$ $

135.00 122.00

Technical Work Analytical Work

June 2, 2010 June 11, 2010

Maaxam - Job#B040033 Vancouver Petrographics Report # 100413

Total

5 Samples

@$36.75ea

9 Samples

@$173.00ea

$

183.75

$ 1,577.15

$ 4,026.70

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