EX-10 2 liberty_ex10z1.htm MINING LEASE WITH OPTION TO PURCHASE Exhibit 10.1

Exhibit 10.1

 

Bunker Hill Mining Lease with Option to Purchase

 

THIS MINING LEASE (the “lease”), effective as of the 1st day of November, 2017 (the “Effective Date"), regardless of the actual times of signing and acknowledgment, between Placer Mining Corporation, a Nevada corporation, hereinafter called Lessor or Seller, and Liberty Silver Corp. a Nevada Corporation, hereinafter called Lessee or Purchaser.

 

WITNESSETH:

 

ARTICLE 1.  DESCRIPTION OF THE PROPERTY. Lessor represents that it is the owner of the property consisting of all that real property, mineral interests and patented and unpatented lode mining claims situated in Shoshone County, Idaho, further described and listed on Exhibit A, together with all tenements, hereditaments, improvements, appurtenances, privileges and easements which are located on such mining claims and/or parcels of real property, and/or used in connection with and/or belong to Lessor in connection with exploring, mining, treating, extracting, storing, shipping, removing and/or marketing minerals, and all other interests associated with the property for the effective use and operation of the mine (including without limitation all access rights, rights of way, roads, haulways, leases, water rights and/or permits, all buildings, structures, fixtures, underground fixtures, air flumes, all equipment (wherever located), all personal property used in connection with mining, milling and/or exploration for minerals, all timber and trees thereon, and all mining claims, maps, reports and plans) (cumulatively such property is referred to herein as the “Bunker Hill Mine” or the “Leased Premises”).

 

ARTICLE 2. GRANT OF LEASE AND PAYMENTS. Lessor hereby grants, demises, leases and lets exclusively unto Lessee, its successors and assigns the Bunker Hill Mine. Upon signing of this lease by all parties, the Lessee shall make a payment of $100,000 to cover the maintenance expenses and upkeep of the mine for the month of September, 2017. Lessor shall make a payment of $100,000 on October 1, 2017 to cover care and maintenance expenses and upkeep of the mine for the month of October, 2017. The term of the lease shall begin on November 1, 2017 and on or prior to that date, the Lessee shall make a payment of $200,000 for the months of November, 2017 and December, 2017. Thereafter the Lessee shall make the payments on a quarterly basis. For example, the Lessee shall pay Lessor a quarterly payment of $300,000 on January 1, 2018, which shall cover the monthly rent for the months of January, February and March of 2018. Said quarterly payments shall begin on January 1, 2018 and continue throughout the term of the lease. None of the lease payments or deposits shall be credited against the purchase price.

 

Additionally, no later than November 15, 2017, the Lessee shall make a bonus payment to Lessor of $500,000 and an additional bonus payment of $500,000 on December 15, 2017. These latter payments shall be considered bonus payments and not an advance against royalties or against a future purchase of the Bunker Hill Mine.  


1


ALL WIRE TRANSFERS TO LESSOR COMING FROM CANADA (OR ANY INTERNATIONAL LOCATION) NEED TO BE INITIATED TWO BUSINESS DAYS PRIOR TO THE DUE DATE AND A WIRE CONFIRMATION NUMBER SHALL BE FORWARDED TO THE LESSOR VIA EMAIL ON THE DATE OF THE WIRE TRANSFER. ALL DOMESTIC BUSINESS WIRES TO LESSOR SHALL BE MADE ONE BUSINESS DAY PRIOR TO THE DUE DATE AND A WIRE CONFIRMATION NUMBER SHALL BE FORWARDED TO THE LESSOR VIA EMAIL ON THE DATE OF THE WIRE TRANSFER.

 

ARTICLE 3.  TERM OF LEASE. The primary term of the lease shall be twenty-four months to begin on November 1, 2017 and end on October 31, 2019. Upon written notice, which must be sent to Lessor at least thirty (30) days prior to the expiration of the primary term in order to be effective, Lessee may extend this lease for up to twelve months by paying to Lessor an additional bonus payment of $600,000 and by continuing to pay the monthly payments of $100,000 per month.

 

ARTICLE 4. PURCHASE OPTION. For good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the Lessor hereby exclusively grants to Lessee, its successors and assigns the right to purchase the Bunker Hill Mine during the primary lease term and any extension thereto.

 

(a)Notice of Exercise. To exercise the purchase option, Lessee must give written notice to the Lessor of its intent to exercise such purchase option. Lessor must receive such notice 120 days prior to the date on which the Lessee intends to close the purchase (the “Closing Date”). Lessee must also give similar written notice to the U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (“U.S. E.P.A.”) of its intention to exercise its purchase option. During the period between the notification of exercise of the purchase option and the closing date, the Lessee and Lessor shall to the best of their abilities prepare all final documents necessary for closing (including a mortgage and note), finalize and receive approval of the settlement agreement between the United States and the Seller, and finalize and receive approval of a bona fide prospective purchaser agreement/release of lien and covenant not to sue between the United States and the Purchaser.  

 

(b)Exercise After Production is Initiated. In the event that Lessee is in production for a minimum period of twelve months and at an average production rate at or exceeding 500 tons per day Lessor may, upon thirty days written notice to the Lessee, require the Lessee to exercise the purchase option. 

 

(c)Purchase Price. The agreed and binding purchase price for the Bunker Hill Mine is $45,000,000.00 (Forty-Five Million Dollars) to be paid in accordance with the following schedule: 

 

Date

Payment to Lessor

Payment to U.S. E.P.A.

On Closing

$4,000,000

$3,000,000

One year after closing

$3,000,000

$3,000,000

Two years after closing

$3,000,000

$3,000,000

Three years after closing

$3,000,000

$3,000,000

Four years after closing

$2,000,000

$3,000,000

Five years after closing

$1,670,000

$1,670,000


2


Six years after closing

$1,670,000

$1,670,000

Seven years after closing

$1,670,000

$1,660,000

Eight years after closing

$1,670,000

 

Nine years after closing

$1,670,000

 

Ten years after closing

$1,650,000

 

 

 

 

Total

$25,000,000

$20,000,000

 

 

(d)Payments to U.S. E.P.A. The payments being made to the U.S. E.P.A. by Lessee/Purchaser in the above table reflect the agreed settlement payments that have been tentatively accepted by the U.S. Department of Justice and U.S. E.P.A. 

 

(e)Classification of Payments. All of the tabulated payments in Article 4 (b) above are considered by the Purchaser to be payments for the Bunker Hill Mine purchase. The Seller considers the payments to be $25,000,000 for the purchase of the Bunker Hill Mine, and $20,000,000 for settlement of past response costs incurred by the United States in treatment of water outflows from the Bunker Hill Mine. 

 

(f)The parties recognize that the financial terms of this option are enforceable by Lessee/Purchaser.  Any subsequent purchase agreement by the parties shall ultimately supersede this lease agreement upon exercise of the purchase option and closing of the purchase. LESSOR AND LESSEE AGREE TO NEGOTIATE in good faith AND COMPLETE ALL the remaining and unfinished TERMS OF THE PURCHASE agreement. The terms of the payments are already negotiated and set out in this lease and option agreement and shall remain the same in the final definitive purchase agreement.  

 

(g)FOR CLARITY, “COMPLETION” IS CONSIDERED BY THE PARTIES TO MEAN THAT THE DOCUMENT AND ALL EXHIBITS AND SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION IS PREPARED SUCH THAT IN EVENT THE PURCHASE OPTION IS EXERCISED, CLOSING OF THE PURCHASE COULD OCCUR WITHIN FIVE BUSINESS DAYS. 

 

ARTICLE 5. PROPERTY PROVISIONS

 

(a) POSSESSION AND CONTROL OF PROPERTY. Lessee shall have, and it is hereby given and granted, the right to enter upon and take over, at the beginning of the primary term hereof, operational control and possession and of the Leased Premises and the whole and every part thereof, and, during the term of this lease, to remain in operational control and  possession thereof; to investigate, measure, sample, examine, test, develop, work, mine, operate, use, manage and control the same and the water and water rights appurtenant thereto; to mine, extract and remove from said property the ores and minerals therein and appurtenant and belonging thereto; to treat, mill, ship, sell or otherwise dispose of the same and receive the full proceeds therefrom; and to erect, construct, maintain, use and operate thereon and therein buildings, structures, machinery and equipment, including milling, processing and tailings facilities.  The time, nature, location and extent of such or any or all


3


the above activities and mining or mining operations and the cessation and resumption thereof shall be at the sole discretion of Lessee, and may include, without limitation, underground or solution mining methods (but no open pit or strip mining methods may be used) together with the right to use so much of the surface as may be necessary, useful or convenient for the enjoyment of all rights herein granted, including construction of ingress and egress into and out of the underground workings, construction of a surface waste rock dump and a tailings impoundment facility or facilities, if necessary, for development of the Leased Premises.  Any surface mine waste dump or tailings impoundment facilities constructed during the life of this lease shall be reclaimed to industry standards by Lessee at lease termination unless the purchase option is exercised. Lessee acknowledges that Lessor shall continue to have the rights to ingress and egress both underground and on the surface of the Leased Premises for purposes of conducting its own exploration and possible development of mineral resources which Lessor continues to own and control. Each party agrees to use best efforts to coordinate the activities of the parties to minimize interference with the work-related activities of the other party. Lessee shall, upon 72 hours notice by Lessor, ensure that the KT rail haulage is available for ore haulage and other materials handling if so required by Lessor.

 

(b) UNPATENTED MINING CLAIM PAYMENTS. If applicable, during the lease term Lessee shall be responsible for all mining claim fee payments to the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (“BLM”) on all unpatented mining claims listed in Exhibit A and any other unpatented mining claims acquired by Lessee during the lease period. Lessee shall be responsible for the filing of all reports and forms with BLM and with Shoshone County, Idaho during the lease term. Lessor shall remain responsible for all taxes and fees on the patented mining claims and real property during the term of the lease.

 

(c) DATA. Lessor and Lessee shall mutually make all data relating to the Leased Premises available to each other, whether existing now or developed in the future, which either party may copy or reproduce at their own expense.  Such data shall include without limitation, in hard copy or electronic form, any and all data and information relating to exploration, planning, mining, metallurgy, processing, land, mineral rights, water rights, timber rights, permits, taxes, claim fees and status, economic data or projections, geologic, geochemical and geophysical data including reports, maps, sections and drill logs, core and/or cuttings; any and all assays, analyses, reports, processes, trade secrets; and any and all other data, records or reports relating to the Leased Premises.

 

(d) SCRAP MATERIALS – In the event any scrap material is removed from the mine from the Lessee, Lessor retains ownership and shall receive any sale proceeds from the disposition of scrap material which shall not be a credit to the lease or purchase payments.

 

ARTICLE 6.  MANNER OF WORK. Lessee agrees to cause all work, development and mining to be done in a careful and miner-like manner and to conform in all respects to the mining laws and regulations of the United States and the State of Idaho.


4


ARTICLE 7.  ROYALTY PAYMENTS DURING THE LEASE PERIOD. Lessor hereby reserves and Lessee hereby agrees to pay as a production royalty 3% of the Net Smelter Return (as defined and accounted for in Article 8 below) of all ores or concentrates of mineralized material mined and shipped from the Leased Premises (the "Lease Production Royalty"). Lessor/Seller warrants and represents that no other royalties are due to any other party from minerals produced from the Bunker Hill Mine.

 

ARTICLE 8.  DEFINITION OF NET SMELTER ROYALTY

 

a)As used herein, "Net Smelter Return" means the amount paid by any smelter or other ore purchaser for ores or concentrates sold less actual costs of transportation and other costs in the course of handling, assumed by or charged to Lessee/Purchaser (including freight, insurance and tax) in making shipments from the Bunker Hill Mine to the smelter or other purchaser, less all charges for refining, smelting, sampling, assaying, and penalties; less all royalties or overriding royalties burdening the Bunker Hill Mine that exist on the date of this lease or are created by Lessor/Seller after the date hereof; and less gross production, severance, general property and other taxes attributable to production from the Bunker Hill Mine. 

b)The Lease Production Royalty shall be accounted for and paid monthly to Lessor within 30 days after the end of each calendar month within which the mineralized materials are sold. All payments shall be accompanied by a statement explaining the manner in which payment was calculated. No royalty shall be due or payable on any mineralized material stockpiled on the Bunker Hill Mine until the sale or disposition thereof. Within 90 days after receiving the above-described statement of account, Lessor/Seller shall give notice of any objections to the statement, for any reason, touching upon its accuracy or inaccuracy, by mailing such objections to Lessee as provided in Article 25 below; and in default thereof, any inaccuracies in such statement shall be deemed waived by Lessor/Seller. 

c)Disputes Regarding Royalties. Lessor/Seller shall be deemed to have waived any right the Lessor/Seller may have to object to the royalty settlement made by Lessee/Purchaser for any calendar quarter, unless Lessor/Seller notifies Lessee/Purchaser in writing of such objection within twelve (12) months after such royalty is due.  If Lessor/Seller and Lessee/Purchaser are unable to resolve the royalty settlement dispute by agreement within thirty (30) days after Lessee/Purchaser's receipt of Lessor/Seller’s notice, the dispute shall be resolved by arbitration, in accordance with the provisions of Article 23.  

d)Once the lessor exercise the purchase option, Placer shall be granted an Net Smelter  Royalty which is payable only from production as it is described in the LOI amended agreement between the parties dated March 29, 2017, and initialed by Bob Hopper and John Ryan. 

 

 

ARTICLE 9.  TAILINGS AND BENEFICIATION

 

(a) Lessee shall have the right, but shall not be required, to beneficiate, concentrate, and otherwise treat, in any manner, either wholly or in part at a plant or plants on the Leased Premises (either on the surface or underground) or on other lands, any mineralized material


5


or other materials, including waste rock, which are mined or produced from the Leased Premises. Such treatment shall be conducted in a careful and workmanlike manner. The tailings and residue from such treatment shall be deemed waste and may be deposited on the Leased Premises or on other lands.

 

ARTICLE 10.  LESSEE EXCLUSIONS/LESSOR MINING RIGHTS

 

(a)LESSEE EXCLUSIONS. The Lessee is excluded from mining or other activity in the Caledonia Mine area and in the Crystal Stope Mine area. These areas shall remain under the exclusive possession and control of the Lessor. 

 

(b)LESSOR MINING RIGHTS. Lessor is hereby granted the right, if it so desires, to mine or remove from the areas listed herein in Exhibit B any ores, waste, water and other materials existing therein or thereon or in any part thereof, through or by means of shafts, tunnels, drifts, raises, or other openings, now existing or installed by Lessor. Lessor may stockpile any ores, waste, or other materials and/or concentrated products of ores or materials from the areas listed herein in Exhibit B, upon agreed stockpile grounds situated upon nearby property, not, however, preventing or interfering with the mining or removal of ore from the Leased Premises by the Lessee.  If Lessee executes the purchase option and Lessor is exploring, mining or developing properties thereto, Lessor and Lessee agree that future activities of Lessor shall be governed by provisions provided for in the Final Purchase Agreement. 

 

ARTICLE 11.  RECORDS, INSPECTION AND ACCESS TO LEASED PREMISES. Lessee's engineering progress maps and all factual exploration, development and production data including drill core and assay results (but excluding interpretive information or data) from the Leased Premises shall be available upon reasonable request for Lessor's inspection.  The Lessor may enter said property at reasonable times for the purpose of inspecting the same or for the purposes described in Articles 4(b) and 4(c), and Lessee shall facilitate such inspection and entry in reasonable ways, but Lessor shall enter upon said Leased Premises at Lessor's own risk and so as not to hinder unreasonably the operations of Lessee; and the Lessor shall indemnify and hold harmless the Lessee from any damage, claim or demand by reason of injury to or the presence of the Lessor or the Lessor's agents, representatives, licensees, or guests on the Leased Premises or approaches thereto.

 

ARTICLE 12.  TAXES. Lessor shall remain responsible for all taxes and fees on the Leased Premises. Lessee shall pay, before they are delinquent, all taxes levied or assessed against any or all personal property, machinery and equipment placed upon the Leased Premises by the Lessee during the term of this lease.  Lessee shall pay any severance tax and all other taxes that are now or may be hereafter levied and computed on the amount or value of ores produced from the Leased Premises.

 

ARTICLE 13.  STATE AND FEDERAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS.  Lessee shall comply with the Workmen's Compensation laws of Idaho and with Social Security, Unemployment Insurance and all other state and federal laws and regulations relating to Lessee's


6


operations and shall save Lessor harmless from any claim for damages or liability by reason thereof.

 

ARTICLE 14.  PROTECTION FROM LIENS AND DAMAGES. Lessee shall keep the Leased Premises and the whole and every part thereof free and clear of liens for labor done or work performed upon the Leased Premises or materials furnished to it for the development or operation thereof under this lease while the same is in force and effect, and will save and hold harmless Lessor from all costs, losses or damages which may arise by reason of injury to any persons employed by Lessee in or upon the Leased Premises or any part thereof or which may arise by reason of injury to any persons or damage to any property as the result of any work or operations of the Lessee or of its possession and occupancy of the Leased Premises.  A lien upon the property shall not constitute a default if the Lessee in good faith disputes the validity of the claim, in which event the existence of the lien shall constitute a default only from and after the validity of the lien has been adjudicated.

 

ARTICLE 15. INSURANCE REQUIREMENTS. During the Lease term, Lessee shall pay for and maintain commercial general liability insurance. This policy shall name Lessor as an additional insured and shall insure Lessee’s activities and against loss, damage or liability for personal injury or bodily injury (including death) or loss or damage to property with a liability limit of not less than $2,000,000.

 

ARTICLE 16.  FORCE MAJEURE. If Lessee is unable to perform any of the terms or covenants of this lease by reason of damage or delay resulting from disaster, labor disturbances, shortage of labor, strikes, lockouts, act of God, or from any regulations or restrictions of any governmental agency, or on account of any eventuality beyond the reasonable control of Lessee, including state and federal environmental statute or regulation, Lessee shall be excused from performance during the period of such prevention and the time for performance of such obligations shall be extended for a period equal to the period or periods of prevention. In the event Lessee or its purchaser of concentrates or crude ore is, becomes or believes it is about to become subject, at any time, to environmental regulations (which shall include any governmental law, rule, order, regulation, policy, proposal or restriction relating to environmental pollution) which will prohibit or materially affect any operation Lessee is carrying out, or planning to carry out hereunder, Lessee shall have the right to declare the existence of a condition of force majeure during the period in which it is in good faith seeking a feasible method to comply with, be exempted from, modify, obtain necessary permits or licenses under, or prevent the enactment or promulgation of said environmental regulations.  Lessee agrees to use reasonable diligence to remove causes of force majeure as may occur from time to time, but shall not be required to settle strikes or other labor difficulties contrary to its own judgment.

 

ARTICLE 17.  DEFAULT. The failure of Lessee to make or cause to be made any of the material payments herein provided for or to keep or perform any material agreement on its part to be kept or performed according to the terms and provisions of this lease, shall, at the election of the Lessor, constitute an event of default and grounds for termination of this Lease; provided, however, that in the event of a default on the part of the Lessee, the Lessor shall give to the Lessee a written notice of its intention to declare an event of default of this lease and to terminate the same on account thereof, or of its intention to take other action to enforce this lease,


7


specifying the particular default or defaults relied upon by it, and Lessee shall have a reasonable time (which in any case shall not be less than fifteen (15) days) after receipt of such notice in which to cure such default or defaults, in which event there shall be no default therefor, and no other action may be taken for enforcement.  Lessee shall not dispute an event of default that is a missed payment.  For any other default, if Lessee disputes that such default occurred, it shall so advise Lessor in writing within fifteen (15) days after receipt of the notice of default.  If, within fifteen (15) days thereafter, the parties have not resolved the dispute by mutual agreement, the issue of default shall then be submitted to arbitration under Article 23 below.  In the event that Lessor does terminate this lease on account of a breach by Lessee, Lessee shall be under no further obligation or liability hereunder to Lessor from and after the date of such termination except for the performance of obligations and the satisfaction of liabilities to Lessor or third parties or respecting the Leased Premises which have accrued to the date of such termination.

 

ARTICLE 18.  CANCELLATION. Notwithstanding any provision herein to the contrary, Lessee may at any time upon 60 days’ written notice, cancel and terminate this lease in its entirety.  Upon total cancellation and termination of this lease, Lessee shall be under no further obligation of whatsoever kind or nature to the Lessor except for the making of payments which have already accrued to the date of such cancellation and termination, including governmental rental fees for unpatented claims and for the payment of any royalties which are owed to the Lessor for production during the term of the lease.

 

ARTICLE 19.  SURRENDER OF PROPERTY. In the event of a valid forfeiture, cancellation, or other termination of this lease, Lessee shall surrender to Lessor peaceable possession of the Leased Premises and at the written request of Lessor shall deliver to the Lessor a written relinquishment hereof, together with a copy, if requested by Lessor within thirty (30) days after termination of this lease, of its engineering progress maps showing any workings made or uncovered by Lessee on the Leased Premises.  The Lessee's factual exploration, development and production data including drill core and assay results (but excluding interpretive information or data) from the Leased Premises shall be available upon request to the Lessor.

 

ARTICLE 20.  REMOVAL OF EQUIPMENT. Lessee shall have and is hereby given and granted three (3) months after a valid forfeiture, cancellation or other termination of this lease to remove from said property all mobile equipment and personal property of the Lessee and its employees, consultants and contractors.  If Lessee is hampered by snowdrifts, washouts, inclement weather, or other climatic conditions from completing the removal of said property and equipment within the time specified, then Lessor agrees to extend the time by a reasonable period if requested by Lessee.


8


ARTICLE 21. OTHER PAYMENTS DURING LEASE. In addition to lease payments, Lessee agrees specifically to pay the following additional payments:

 

Payee

Amount ($)

Actual or Estimated

Frequency

 

 

 

 

United States EPA (water treatment)

$240,000

Estimated

Quarterly


9


Mine (KT) Maintenance Crew

$33,000

Actual

Monthly

Robert Hopper

$4,000

Actual

Monthly

Thomas Hopper

$4,000

Actual

Monthly

Dave Kriederman

$4,000

Actual

Monthly

Avista (Electric Utilities)

$12,000

Estimated

Monthly

 

ARTICLE 22. ADDITIONAL COVENANTS.  

 

(a) Lessor hereby warrants and represents that as of the effective date of the lease, the Bunker Hill Mine is free and clear of all liens, judgments and any and all other interests that may adversely impact the rights and privileges of Lessee hereunder (including without limitation Lessee’s right to purchase the Leased Property), with the exception of the U.S. E.P.A. lien. Lessor further represents and warrants that Lessor will not, during the term of the lease or any extension thereto, take out any mortgage, deed of trust and/or take any other action that could result in the Bunker Hill Mine (or any portion thereof) being subject to a lien, judgment or any other interest that could impact or impair the rights and privileges of Lessee hereunder.

 

(b) Lessor warrants and represents that the execution of the lease will not result in a violation of any court order, any existing contract or any other obligation of Lessor.

 

(c) Lessor shall indemnify, defend, and hold Lessee harmless from any and all liability, claim, damage, loss, injury, expense, cause of action, dispute and cost (including payment of attorney fees) that may arise from or relate to a breach of any of Lessor’s representations, warranties or covenants in this lease. Furthermore, Lessor shall indemnify, defend and hold Lessee harmless from any and all liability, claim, damage, loss, injury, expense, cause of action, dispute and cost (including payment of attorney fees) that may arise from or relate to conduct of the Lessor.

 

(d) Lessee shall indemnify, defend, and hold Lessor harmless from any and all liability, claim, damage, loss, injury, expense, cause of action, dispute and cost (including payment of attorney fees) that may arise from or relate to a breach of any of Lessee’s representations, warranties or covenants in this lease. Furthermore, Lessee shall indemnify, defend and hold Lessor harmless from any and all liability, claim, damage, loss, injury, expense, cause of action, dispute and cost (including payment of attorney fees) that may arise from or relate to conduct of the Lessee.

 

(e) The parties warrant and represent that they have the authority to enter into this lease, and that the terms hereof are binding.


10


ARTICLE 23.  ARBITRATION OF DISPUTES. Any controversy, dispute or claim arising out of or from this lease, or alleged breach thereof, shall be settled by arbitration pursuant to the Uniform Arbitration Act of the State of Idaho (Sections 7-901, et. seq., Idaho Code) as amended and as in effect on the date either party commences arbitration proceedings.  Said Act shall control the substantive and procedural aspects of the proceedings unless otherwise agreed in this lease.  Judicial review may be had pursuant to said Act.

 

(a) Proceedings shall be initiated by the complaining party serving upon the other party a complaint, as would be done in court proceedings.  The allegations regarding the circumstances giving rise to the issues to be arbitrated shall be stated in detail and with particularity.  The party upon whom the complaint is served shall answer or otherwise respond with a pleading just as is required by the Idaho Rules of Civil Procedure for a court action.  Except, however, the response shall be served upon the initiating party within 30 days from the date of service of the complaint.

 

(b) The parties shall agree upon an arbitrator, who is neutral, competent and willing to serve and, if possible, who has experience in cases involving mining and mining contracts.  Should the parties fail to reach agreement on appointment of an arbitrator within 20 days from the date proceedings are initiated, either party may apply to the court for appointment of an arbitrator who meets the criteria set forth herein pursuant to the provisions of section 7-903 Idaho Code.

 

(c) Prehearing discovery shall not be allowed except upon order of the arbitrator for good cause shown, the parties being in agreement that the expense and time associated with discovery should be minimized, and that this desire should, however, be balanced against the need for each party to be able to effectively present its case.

 

(d) Each party to the arbitration proceedings shall bear one-half of the arbitrator's fees and expenses, which shall be promptly paid by each party monthly within 15 days from the submission by the arbitrator to the parties of his/her reasonably detailed and itemized statement for services rendered, which statement shall be submitted by the arbitrator at the end of each month.

 

(e) Each party shall bear its own attorney's fees and costs of litigation for the proceedings before the arbitrator.  This subparagraph (e) is not applicable to court proceedings, in which event the parties recognize that applicable law shall govern and the matter will be decided by the court.

 

ARTICLE 24.  RECORDATION OF SHORT FORM NOTICE.  Lessee and Lessor agree to execute short-form notices of this lease and production royalties, as applicable, which notice shall be for purposes of recordation in the real property records of Shoshone County, Idaho.

 

ARTICLE 25.  NOTICES. Any notices required or permitted to be given to the Lessor hereunder shall be considered as delivered forty-eight (48) hours after the same shall have been deposited in the United States mail, duly registered, with postage thereon prepaid.  All notices given hereunder shall be addressed to the respective addresses given below:


11


If to Lessee:

 

Liberty Silver Corp.

c/o John Ryan

P.O. Box 57

Kellogg, Idaho 83837

 

With a copy to:

 

Luke O’Dowd

Lyons O’Dowd PLLC

P.O. Box 131

Coeur d’Alene, Idaho 83816

 

and if to Lessor:

 

Placer Mining Corp.

1 Mine Road

Kellogg, Idaho 83837

 

With a copy to:

 

James McMillan PLLC

415 7th Street #7

Wallace, Idaho 83873

 

 

Said addresses for receiving notices may be changed by either party upon five (5) days previous notice to the other party.

 

ARTICLE 26.  INUREMENT. These presents shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the respective heirs, executors, administrators, successors and assigns of the parties hereto.

 

ARTICLE 27. ASSIGNMENT.  The rights of either party hereunder may be assigned in whole or in part and the provisions hereof shall extend to their successors and assigns, but no change or division in ownership of the Bunker Hill Mine or the Lease Production Royalty or the Production Royalty, however accomplished, shall operate to enlarge the obligations or diminish the rights of either party under this lease. Lessee shall have the right to subcontract with others for the performance of exploration, development and mining work hereunder, subject to all of the terms of this lease, but no such subcontract shall relieve Lessee of its obligations to Lessor hereunder.

 

ARTICLE 27.  CONSTRUCTION. Titles to the respective articles hereof shall not be deemed a part of this lease but shall be regarded as having been used for convenience only.


12


ARTICLE 28 The terms and rights of the lessor which are granted in the current LOI are to remain in effect through the term of this lease and after the exercise of the purchase option.

The land package as described (i.e., Kurt Hoffman) in the current LOI Schedule ? shall remain in effect.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this lease as of the day and year first above written.

 

LESSOR

 

Placer Mining Corporation

 

/s/ Robert Hopper                             

By Robert Hopper, President

 

 

STATE OF IDAHO )  

        )  ss.  

COUNTY OF SHOSHONE)  

 

On this 17th day of August, 2017, before me, _____________, the undersigned, a Notary Public in and for the State of Idaho, personally appeared Robert Hopper, known to me to be the President of Placer Mining Corporation, and whose name is subscribed to the within instrument, and acknowledged to me that he executed the same on behalf of said corporation.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my official seal the day and year in this certificate first above written.

 

____________________________

Notary Public for Idaho

Residing at ___________________

My Commission expires ________________________

 

LESSEE:

 

Liberty Silver Corp.

 

By /s/ Bruce Reid                                          

    Bruce Reid, Chief Executive Officer

 

STATE OF IDAHO)  

) ss.  

COUNTY OF SHOSHONE)  

 

On this 17th day of August, 2017, before me, ________________, the undersigned, a Notary Public in and for the __________________________, personally appeared, Bruce Reid, who


13


stated to me to be the Vice President of Liberty Silver Corp., and whose name is subscribed to the within instrument, and acknowledged to me that he executed the same on behalf of said corporation.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my official seal the day and year in this certificate first above written.

 

______________________

Notary Public for

Residing at

My Commission expires _____________________


14


EXHIBIT A


15


Picture 1 


16


Picture 2 


17


Picture 3 


18


Picture 4 


19


Picture 5 


20


Picture 6 


21


Picture 7 


22


Picture 8 


23


Picture 9 


24


Picture 10 


25


Picture 11 


26


Picture 12 


27


Picture 13 


28


Picture 14 


29


Picture 15 


30


Picture 16 


31


Picture 17 


32


Picture 18 


33


Picture 19 


34


Picture 20 


35


Picture 21 


36


Picture 22 


37


Picture 23 


38


Picture 24 


39


Picture 25 


40


Picture 26 


41


Picture 27 


42


Picture 28 


43


Picture 29 


44


Picture 30 


45


Picture 31 


46


Picture 32 


47


EXHIBIT B

 

INSERT AREAS TO BE ACCESSED/MINED BY PLACER DURING LEASE PERIOD

 

 

The following areas may be accessed and mined by Placer Mining Corporation during the lease period and are excluded from the purchase option:

 

1.The Crystal Vug Stope, 

2.The East Hanging Wall target of the historic Caledonia Mine, and 

3.The Silver Ridge Claims. 


48