Yes, Black Butte Copper involves only underground mine accessed by a tunnel well outside the Sheep Creek Valley.   One of the three vent raises needed for air circulation underground will serve as a secondary escapeway.  There will never be any mining from an “open pit”, dramatically reducing our environmental footprint and ensuring continuation of historical uses of the land including cattle grazing and outdoor recreation.

Black Butte Copper  will always be an underground mine for the following reasons:

1. We have long term contractual agreements with the rancher landowners that there will never be any open pit mining on their property.
2. We have signed an agreement with our Meagher County Stewardship Council that there will never be any open pit mining within the six townships that include Black Butte Copper.
3. These types of copper deposits are best accessed underground as they are very deep.
4. It is the philosophy of our company that only underground mining fits this environment to properly protect it.