Amended and Restated Option Over Mogollon Property Agreement dated as of March 6, 2014

EX-2.1 2 exhibit2-1.htm EXHIBIT 2.1 Santa Fe Gold Corp.: Exhibit 2.1 - Filed by newsfilecorp.com

AMENDED AND RESTATED
OPTION OVER MOGOLLON PROPERTY AGREEMENT

THIS AMENDED AND RESTATED OPTION OVER MOGOLLON PROPERTY AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) made effective this 6th day of March 2014 (the “Effective Date”).

AMONG:

SANTA FE GOLD CORPORATION, a Delaware company with an office located at 6100 Uptown Blvd NE, Suite 600 Albuquerque, New Mexico 87110 (the “Optionee”)

AND:

COLUMBUS EXPLORATION CORPORATION (formerly known as Columbus Silver Corporation), a British Columbia company with an office located at 1090 Hamilton Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6B 2R9 (“CLX)

AND:

COLUMBUS SILVER (U.S.) CORPORATION, a Nevada company with an office located at 573 E. Second Street, Reno, Nevada, 89502 (“CSCUSA” and together with CLX, the “Optionors”)

WHEREAS:

A.

Pursuant to the Mogollon Property Assignment Agreement dated effective October 28, 2008 among the Optionors, and John Livermore, the Optionors hold certain rights and obligations respecting the Mogollon property located in New Mexico (the “Livermore Agreement”);

   
B.

CSCUSA owns certain unpatented lode mining claims located in Catron County, New Mexico, as more fully described in Appendix “A” attached to the 2012 Agreement, as defined below, (the “Unpatented Claims”);

   
C.

CSCUSA owns certain patented lode mining claims located in Catron County, New Mexico, as more fully described in Appendix “A” attached to the 2012 Agreement (the “Patented Claims” and together with the Unpatented Claims, the “Owned Claims”);

   
D.

Pursuant to a Mining Lease (the “Sage Lease”) dated effective April 9, 2009 between Sage Associates, Inc. (“Sage”) and CSCUSA, CSCUSA holds a lease over certain unpatented lode mining claims located in Catron County, New Mexico, as more fully described in Appendix “A” attached to the 2012 Agreement (the “Sage Unpatented Claims”);



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E.

The Sage Unpatented Claims are subject to a royalty as set out in the Sage Lease (the “First Sage Royalty”)

   
F.

Pursuant to a Mining Lease (the “Mack Lease”) dated effective April 9, 2009 among John Mack, Wesley Parker, and Frederick Hott and the CSCUSA, CSCUSA holds a lease over certain patented lode mining claims located in Catron County, New Mexico, as more fully described in Appendix “A” attached to the 2012 Agreement (the “Mack Patented Claims”);

   
G.

The Mack Patented Claims are subject to a royalty as set out in the Mack Lease (the “Mack Royalty”)

   
H.

Pursuant to a Mining Lease (the “Mogollon Enterprises Lease”) dated effective April 9, 2009 between Mogollon Enterprises, Inc. and CSCUSA, CSCUSA holds a lease over certain patented lode mining claims located in Catron County, New Mexico, as more fully described in Appendix “A” attached to the 2012 Agreement (the “Mogollon Enterprises Patented Claims”);

   
I.

The Mogollon Enterprises Patented Claims are subject to a royalty as set out in the Mogollon Enterprises Lease (the “Mogollon Enterprises Royalty”)

   
J.

Pursuant to a Letter Agreement Mogollon Project dated March 31, 2009 between Sage and CSCUSA (the “Sage Letter Agreement”), a royalty is owed to Sage on production of the Mack Patented Claims and the Mogollon Enterprises Patented Claims (the “Second Sage Royalty”, and together with the First Sage Royalty, Mack Royalty, and Mogollon Enterprises Royalty, the “Royalties”);

   
K.

The Livermore Agreement, Sage Lease, Mack Lease, Mogollon Enterprises Lease, and the Sage Letter Agreement are referred to collectively herein as the “Underlying Agreements”, and copies of which are attached to the 2012 Agreement as Appendix “B”;

   
L.

The Owned Claims, Sage Unpatented Claims, Mack Patented Claims, and Mogollon Enterprises Patented Claims are referred to collectively herein as the “Property”;

   
M.

Neither of the Optionors hold any water rights with points of diversion and/or places of use on or otherwise geographically associated with any of the Property, nor do either of the Optionors hold any easements, appurtenances, or hereditaments geographically associated with the Property (collectively, “Water Rights and Appurtenances”); and

   
N.

CLX was formerly known as Columbus Silver Corporation;

   
O.

The parties entered into the Option Over Mogollon Property Agreement with an effective date of September 19, 2012 (the “2012 Agreement”);



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P.

The parties entered into an amendment to the 2012 Agreement with an effective date of June 28, 2013 (together with the 2012 Agreement, the “Original Agreements”);

   
Q.

The Original Agreements require various Payments to be made by the Optionee to CSCUSA on certain dates to maintain the Option (as defined below) in good standing and to exercise the Option; and

   
R.

The parties are desirous of establishing an alternative method to maintain the Option in good standing, to exercise the Option, on the terms and conditions set out herein.

   
S.

The parties desire to amend and supplement the exclusive option granted to the Optionee pursuant to the Original Agreements to take assignment of 100% of CSCUSA's right, title and interest in and to (and obligations under) the Underlying Agreements and to take ownership of 100% of CSCUSA's right, title and interest in and to the Owned Claims and any Water Rights and Appurtenances held by CSCUSA, subject to the royalties applicable thereto, including without limitation the Royalties, all upon the terms and subject to the conditions contained herein (the “Option”).

NOW THEREFORE THIS AGREEMENT WITNESSES THAT in consideration of the premises, the mutual covenants herein set forth and the sum of One Dollar ($1.00) of lawful money of the United States of America now paid by the Optionee to the Optionors, the receipt and sufficiency of all of the foregoing being acknowledged by the parties hereto, the parties hereto do hereby mutually covenant and agree as follows:

1.

THE OPTION


  1.1.

Continuing Grant of Option. The Optionors hereby grant to the Optionee the Option, subject to the terms of this Agreement,

     
  1.2.

Term of Option. The Option shall remain in force during the term of this Agreement, from the date hereof to and including the date of exercise of the Option, termination of this Agreement, or December 30, 2014, whichever comes first (the “Option Period”).

     
  1.3.

Rights During Option Period - Property. During the Option Period, the Optionee and its employees and agents and any person duly authorized by the Optionee shall have the right in respect of the Property and, to the extent applicable, the Water Rights and Appurtenances, to:


  (a)

enter thereon;

     
  (b)

have exclusive and quiet possession thereof;

     
  (c)

do such prospecting, exploration and development work thereon and thereunder as the Optionee in its sole discretion may determine advisable;



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  (d)

bring upon and erect upon the Property, buildings, plant, machinery and equipment and other property as the Optionee, acting reasonably, may deem advisable;

     
  (e)

remove therefrom and dispose of such reasonable quantities of ores, minerals and metals as are necessary for the purposes of obtaining assays or making other tests;

     
  (f)

remove therefrom and dispose of up to 7,000 tons of ore as is necessary for the purpose of conducting trial mining, provided that such trial mining will be limited as follows:


  (i)

trial mining may not occur without all required permits and authorizations having been first obtained;

     
  (ii)

any royalties associated with the Property on which the trial mining is conducted must be paid by the Optionee;

     
  (iii)

any trial mining is conducted strictly at the sole risk and responsibility of the Optionee; and

     
  (iv)

it will indemnify and save the Optionors harmless in respect of any and all costs, claims, liabilities and expenses arising out of the Optionee’s trial mining activities, and, without limiting the generality of the foregoing will carry not less than $10,000,000 in third party liability insurance in respect of such trial mining for the benefit of the Optionee and the Optionors as their interests appear.

provided that the aforementioned rights will be limited to those actually held by CSCUSA, including without limitation under the Underlying Agreements.

2.

OPTION OBLIGATIONS


  2.1.

Payments and Obligations. In order to maintain the Option in good standing and to exercise the Option, the Optionee must duly complete the following:


  (a)

the Optionee must pay to CSCUSA an aggregate of $1,000,000 on the following schedule:


  (i)

US$50,000 upon execution of this Agreement (the “First Payment”). For greater certainty, by entering into this Agreement, the Optionee agrees to pay the US$50,000 and such payment is a firm commitment and is not optional; and

     
  (ii)

If the contemplated merger between the Optionee and Tyhee Gold Corp. closes, US$950,000 before the date that is 3 business days following the closing of the Merger (the “Second Payment”, and together with the First Payment, the “Payments”). For greater certainty, by entering into this Agreement, the Optionee agrees, subject to the completion of the Merger, to pay the Second Payment and such payment is a firm commitment and is not optional; or



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  (iii)

If the Merger fails to close for any reason, the Optionee will have three months from the date of the Optionee’s news release announcing that the Merger will not close (the “Merger Failure Release”) to pay the Second Payment and, for greater certainty, the payment of the Second Payment in such circumstance is to be at the option of the Optionee at its sole discretion.


  (b)

In its sole discretion, Optionee may prepay any of the Payments set forth in paragraph 2.1(a) above.


  2.2.

Acquisition of Interest. Upon the payment of the Payments by the Optionee to the CSCUSA, CSCUSA will be deemed to have:


  (a)

assigned 100% of its right, title and interest in and to (and obligations under) the Underlying Agreements to the Optionee, subject to any royalties applicable thereto (including, without limitation, the Royalties); and

     
  (b)

sold 100% of its right, title and interest in and to the Owned Claims and any Water Rights and Appurtenances held by CSCUSA on such date, to the Optionee, subject to any royalties applicable thereto (including, without limitation, the Royalties).


  2.3.

Transfer of Property. In the event that the Optionee successfully exercises the Option pursuant to this Agreement, CSCUSA and the Optionee agree to formally transfer CSCUSA’s right, title and interest in and to (and obligations under) the Underlying Agreements, the Owned Claims and any Water Rights and Appurtenances then held by CSCUSA (together, the “Transferred Interests”), to the Optionee, including without limitation execution of formal, written assignments, deeds and other transfer documents, all in appropriate form under the law of the State of New Mexico (the “Transfer Documents”), provided that all costs associated therewith will be borne by the Optionee.


3.

OPTION ONLY


  3.1.

Option Only. The Option is an option only and except as specifically provided otherwise, nothing herein contained shall be construed as obligating the Optionee to do any acts or make any payments hereunder and any act or acts, or payment or payments as shall be made hereunder shall not be construed as obligating the Optionee to do any further act or make any further payment. If this Agreement is terminated the Optionee shall not be bound thereafter in debt, damages or otherwise under this Agreement save and except as provided for hereunder with respect to the Termination Obligations (as such term is defined herein), and all payments (including without limitation the Payments and the Obligations) theretofore paid by the Optionee shall be retained by CSCUSA or CLX (as applicable) in consideration for entering into this Agreement and for the rights conferred on the Optionee thereby.



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4.

ASSIGNMENT OF PROPERTY AND AGREEMENT


  4.1.

Method of Assignment.


  (a)

During the Option Period, the Optionors shall not sell, transfer, assign, mortgage, pledge or otherwise encumber all or any part of their interest in this Agreement or their right or interest in the Option, Underlying Agreements, Owned Claims, or Water Rights and Appurtenances (if any) without the prior written consent of the Optionee, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, provided that any such sale, transfer, assignment, mortgage, pledge or other encumbrances shall be subject and subordinate in all respects to this Option Agreement, and further provided that either the Optionors or the Optionee will be permitted to assign this Agreement to an “Affiliate,” as that term is defined in the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia). Any purchaser, grantee, assignee, transferee, mortgagee, pledgee or other holder of any interest assigned or encumbered by either the Optionors or Optionee will be required to execute and deliver to the Optionors and the Optionee its agreement related to this Agreement and to the Property, containing:


  (i)

a covenant to be bound by, and to perform all the obligations of the assigning party to be performed under this Agreement in respect of the interest to be acquired by it therefrom to the same extent as if this Agreement had been originally executed by such party and the Optionors or Optionee, and the case may be, as joint and several obligors making joint and several covenants; and

     
  (ii)

a provision subjecting any further sale, transfer, assignment, mortgage, pledge or other encumbrance of such interest or any portion thereof to the restrictions contained in this Section.


  (b)

No assignment of any interest less than its entire interest in this Agreement, the Owned Claims, or Water Rights and Appurtenances will discharge an assigning party from any of its obligations hereunder, but upon the assignment by a party, consented to by the other party as and to the extent required by this Section, of the entire interest at the time held by it in this Agreement (whether to one or more assignees and whether in one or in a number of successive assignments), such assigning party or parties will be deemed to be discharged from all obligations hereunder save and except for the fulfillment of contractual commitments accrued due prior to the date on which the assigning party completes the transfer of its entire interest.



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5.

COVENANTS, REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE OPTIONORS


  5.1.

The Optionors, jointly and severally, represent, warrant and covenant to the Optionee (and acknowledge and confirm that the Optionee is relying on such covenants, representations and warranties in entering into this Agreement) that:


  (a)

To the Optionors’ knowledge, Appendix “A” contains a true copy of each of the Underlying Agreements, and that the Underlying Agreements constitute all of the agreements relating to the Property to which CSCUSA holds any right, title, or interest;

     
  (b)

CSCUSA is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Nevada, and that the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the agreements contemplated hereby will not violate or result in the breach of the laws of any jurisdiction applicable or pertaining thereto or of its constating documents;

     
  (c)

CLX is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the Province of British Columbia, Canada, and that the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the agreements contemplated hereby will not violate or result in the breach of the laws of any jurisdiction applicable or pertaining thereto or of its constating documents;

     
  (d)

each of the Optionors has full power and authority to carry on its business and to enter into this Agreement and any agreement or instrument referred to or contemplated by this Agreement;

     
  (e)

neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement, nor any of the agreements referred to herein or contemplated hereby, nor the consummation of the transactions hereby contemplated conflict with, result in the breach of or accelerate the performance required by, any agreement to which either of the Optionors is a party;

     
  (f)

this Agreement constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Optionors;

     
  (g)

the Underlying Agreements and the Property are in good standing, free and clear of all liens, charges, encumbrances and royalties except as set forth in the Underlying Agreements;

     
  (h)

neither of the Optionors hold any Water Rights and Appurtenances;

     
  (i)

to CSCUSA’s knowledge, the mineral claims comprising the Property have been duly and validly located and recorded in accordance with applicable laws of New Mexico and the federal laws of the United States of America applicable therein, and the mineral claims comprising the Property are valid and subsisting as of the date of execution and delivery of this Agreement;



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  (j)

to CSUSA’s knowledge, CSUSA has the exclusive right and authority to enter into this Agreement and to assign the Underlying Agreements accordance with the terms hereof, and that no other person, firm or corporation has any proprietary or other interest in the same;

     
  (k)

to CSUSA’s knowledge, there is no adverse claim or challenge against or to the ownership of or title to any of the mineral claims comprising the Property, nor is there any basis therefor, there are not outstanding agreements or options to acquire or purchase the Property or any portion thereof other than the Underlying Agreements, and no person has any royalty or other interest whatsoever in production from any of the mineral claims comprising the Property other than as set out in the Underlying Agreements;

     
  (l)

to CSUSA’s knowledge, there is no judicial or administrative proceeding pending, no environmental order has been issued concerning, and no notice issued from any local, state, or federal agency respecting, the possible violation of any environmental laws or environmental orders in respect of the Property; and

     
  (m)

the Optionors has delivered to the Optionee copies of all available maps and other documents and data in their possession respecting the Property and the Water Rights and Appurtenances.


  5.2.

Except as expressly represented, warranted and covenanted in the above Subsection, the Optionee acknowledges and agrees that each of the Optionors make no other representations, warranties or covenants, express or implied, with respect to the Underlying Agreements, the Property and the subject matter of this Agreement. The Optionee acknowledges that it will not be entitled to, and does not and will not, rely on the Optionors, their representatives or agents, as to the condition of the Underlying Agreements or the Property in any manner whatsoever, and that the Optionee has relied and will be relying on its own due diligence review in its decision to enter into this Agreement, in its decisions to complete the Payments and Obligations, and otherwise in its actions hereunder.

     
  5.3.

The representations and warranties contained in the Subsection above are provided for the exclusive benefit of the Optionee and a breach of any one or more thereof may be waived by the Optionee in whole or in part at any time without prejudice to its rights in respect of any other breach of the same or any other representation or warranty, and the representations and warranties contained in such Subsection will survive the execution hereof.



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  5.4.

Each of the representations and warranties set forth in Subsection 5.1 above will be true and correct as of the date of exercise of the Option, and the Optionors will use reasonable efforts to cause each of the representations and warranties contained in Subsection 5.1 to be materially true and correct during the Option period and on the Exercise Date.


6.

COVENANTS, REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE OPTIONEE


  6.1.

The Optionee covenants with and represents and warrants to the Optionors as follows, and acknowledges and confirms that the Optionors are relying on such covenants, representations and warranties in entering into this Agreement:


  (a)

it has full power and authority to carry on its business and to enter into this Agreement and any agreement or instrument referred to or contemplated by this Agreement;

     
  (b)

it is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware and that the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the agreements contemplated hereby will not violate or result in the breach of the laws of any jurisdiction applicable or pertaining thereto or of its constating documents;

     
  (c)

neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement, nor any of the agreements referred to herein or contemplated hereby, nor the consummation of the transactions hereby contemplated conflict with, result in the breach of or accelerate the performance required by, any agreement to which the Optionee is a party;

     
  (d)

this Agreement constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Optionee;

     
  (e)

it will, during the currency of this Agreement, do all work on the Property in a good and workmanlike fashion and in accordance with all applicable laws, regulations, orders and ordinances of any applicable governmental authority including without limitation the carrying and maintaining of liability insurance on employees, all laws and regulations regarding reclamation, protection of the environment or human health, applicable environmental statutes, regulations, ordinances, by-laws, and codes with respect to the Property;

     
  (f)

it will, during the currency of this Agreement, keep the Property and the Water Rights and Appurtenances free and clear from any and all liens and encumbrances. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Optionors acknowledge, agree and consent to the fact that the Optionee will be entitled to grant a first lien security in its right, title and interest in and to this Agreement to International Goldfields Limited. Waterton Global Value L.P. or another third-party that advances funds to Optionee to make the Payments (collectively, “Lender”), it being understood and agreed by all parties hereto that in the event that Lender exercises such security interest, the Optionee will be deemed to have assigned some or all (as the case may be) of its right, title and interest in and to this Agreement to Lender thereby and such assignment will be subject to the provisions of Section 4 hereunder;



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  (g)

it will, during the currency of this agreement, acquire all federal, state, and local permits required for its operations on and in connection with the Property. The Optionee will be responsible for reclamation of those areas disturbed by the Optionee’s activities. The Optionee will post any operating and reclamation bonds required by regulatory agencies for work on the Property;

     
  (h)

it acknowledges and agrees that the Optionors or their authorized agents and representatives will be permitted to enter upon the Property at all reasonable times for the purposes of inspection, but will do so at their own risk and so as not to unreasonably hinder the operations of the Optionee. The Optionors will indemnify and hold the Optionee harmless from any damage, claim, or demand by reason of injury to the Optionors or their agents or representatives on the Property or the approaches thereto; and

     
  (i)

it will, during the currency of this Agreement, indemnify and save the Optionors harmless in respect of any and all costs, claims, liabilities and expenses arising out of the Optionee’s activities on the Property and, without limiting the generality of the foregoing will, during the currency of this Agreement, carry not less than $1,000,000 (or in connection with trial mining on the Property in such greater amount as management of the Optionee and the Optionors agree to be prudent and customary for trial mining on the Property) in third party liability insurance in respect of its operations on the Property for the benefit of the Optionee and the Optionors as their interests appear, provided that the Optionee will incur no obligation hereunder in respect of claims arising or damages suffered after termination of the Option if upon termination of the Option any workings on or improvements to the Property made by the Optionee are left in a safe condition.


  6.2.

The representations and warranties contained in the Subsection above are provided for the exclusive benefit of the Optionors sand a breach of any one or more thereof may be waived by CSCUSA or CLX, as applicable, in whole or in part at any time without prejudice to their rights in respect of any other breach of the same or any other representation or warranty; and the representations and warranties contained in such Subsection will survive the execution hereof.



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7.

DEFAULT AND TERMINATION


  7.1.

Default. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, if the Optionee should be in default in performing any requirement herein set forth (except for the requirement to make Payments and complete the Obligations on or before the applicable due date(s) as required herein), CLX or CSCUSA will give written notice to the Optionee specifying the default (a “Notice of Default”) and the Optionee will not lose any rights granted under this Agreement, unless, within thirty (30) days after the giving of a Notice of Default by CSC or CSCUSA, the Optionee has failed to take reasonable steps to cure the default by the appropriate payment or performance (the Optionee hereby agreeing that should it so commence to cure any defect it will prosecute the same to completion without undue delay), and if the Optionee fails to take reasonable steps to cure any such default, the Optionors will be entitled thereafter to terminate this Agreement and to seek any remedy it may have on account of such default.

     
  7.2.

Terminable Events. This Agreement and the Option granted hereunder will be terminable by the Optionors by notice in writing to the Optionee in any of the following events:


  (a)

if any of the Payments or Obligations required to be made hereunder have not been completed by the Optionee on or before the date on which such Payment or Obligation is required to be made hereunder; or

     
  (b)

if the Optionee should be in default in performing any of its other obligations hereunder and has failed to take reasonable steps to cure such default within thirty (30) days after receipt of a Notice of Default from either of the Optionor; or


  7.3.

Optionee May Terminate at any Time. In addition to any other termination provisions contained in this Agreement, the Optionee will at any time after the issuance of the Merger Failure Release have the right to terminate this Agreement without liability therefor by giving sixty (60) days’ written notice of such termination to the Optionors, and in the event of such termination this Agreement, subject to the Termination Obligations (as defined in Section 7.5), will be of no further force and effect.

     
  7.4.

Effect of Termination. From and after the date of termination of this Agreement, all right, title and interest of the Optionee under this Agreement will terminate except for the Termination Obligations, the Optionee will not be required to make any further payments or to perform any further obligations hereunder concerning the Property or the Water Rights and Appurtenances, and neither of the Optionors will have no requirement to repay any funds advanced thereto hereunder.

     
  7.5.

Termination Obligations. If this Agreement is terminated prior to the exercise of the Option, the Optionee will (collectively, the “Termination Obligations”):


  (a)

deliver to the Optionors as soon as possible after receipt of written request from the Optionors copies (including without limitation hard copies, and copies in electronic or digital format) of all reports, maps, drill logs, assay results and any other relevant technical data compiled by or otherwise in the possession of the Optionee with respect to the Property;



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  (b)

remove from the Property within twelve (12) months of the date of termination all mining facilities erected, installed or brought upon the Property by or at the instance of the Optionee, and any such mining facilities remaining on the Property after the expiration of the said period will, without compensation to the Optionee, become the property of the Optionors; and

     
  (c)

complete any Obligations that are due within thirty (30) days prior to the date of termination.


8.

NOTICE


  8.1.

Notice. Any notice required to be given under this Agreement shall be deemed to be well and sufficiently given if delivered or if mailed by registered mail in Canada or the United States of America (save and except during the period of any interruption in the normal postal service within Canada or the United States of America) or sent by facsimile or email, in the case of the Optionee addressed as follows:

SANTA FE GOLD CORPORATION
6100 Uptown Blvd NE, Suite 600
Albequerque, New Mexico
87110
Facsimile No.: 505 ###-###-####
Email: ***@***

and in the case of the Optionors addressed as follows:

COLUMBUS EXPLORATION CORPORATION

And/or

COLUMBUS SILVER (U.S) CORPORATION
1090 Hamilton Street
Vancouver, British Columbia
V6B 2R9
Facsimile No.: 604 ###-###-####
Email: ***@***

with a copy to:


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CORDILLERAN EXPLORATION COMPANY, LLC
573 E 2nd Street
Reno, Nevada
89502-1090 USA
Facsimile Number: 775 ###-###-####
Email: ***@***

and any notice given as aforesaid shall be deemed to have been given, if delivered, when delivered, if sent by facsimile or email, when received, or if mailed on the third business day after the date of mailing thereof. Either party may from time to time by notice in writing change its address for the purpose of this paragraph.

9.

CURRENCY AND PAYMENTS


  9.1.

Currency. All sums of money expressed in this Agreement are expressed in the lawful money of the United States of America.

     
  9.2.

Payments. Any payments to the Optionors which the Optionee may make under the terms of this Agreement shall be deemed to have been well and sufficiently made in timely manner if, among other things, cheques payable to the Optionors are mailed to the Optionors at the address in Vancouver, British Columbia stipulated for receiving notices hereunder by prepaid registered mail from a point in Canada or the United States of America on or before the date such payment is to be made.


10.

GOVERNING LAW


  10.1.

Governing Law. This Agreement, and all disputes or claims arising out of or in connection with it, shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New Mexico.

     
  10.2.

Jurisdiction. The parties to this agreement irrevocably and unconditionally agree that the Courts of the State of New Mexico shall have exclusive jurisdiction over all disputes or claims arising out of or in connection with this agreement.


11.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT – PERSONAL INFORMATION


  11.1.

Personal Information. The undersigned hereby acknowledges and consents, if required by Exchange policy, by law, or by applicable regulatory authorities, to:


  (a)

the disclosure to the Exchange and all other regulatory authorities with jurisdiction of all personal information of the undersigned obtained by the other party; and

     
  (b)

the collection, use and disclosure of such personal information by the Exchange and all other regulatory authorities with jurisdiction in accordance with the requirements, including the provision to third party service providers, from time to time.



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12.

DISCLOSURE OF INFORMATION


  12.1.

News Releases. Subject to the requirements of applicable laws, any news release of either party hereto relating to the Property or to this Agreement will be provided to the other party not less than twenty-fours in advance of its release, and the originating party will use its reasonable best efforts to provide comments thereto in order to bring the form and content thereof to the standards required by such party.


13.

MISCELLANEOUS


  13.1.

Prior Agreements. This Agreement supersedes and replaces all prior agreements between the parties hereto with respect to the Property, which said prior agreements shall be deemed to be null and void upon the execution hereof.

     
  13.2.

Further Assurances. The parties hereto agree to execute all such further or other assurances and documents and to do or cause to be done all acts or things necessary to implement and carry into effect the provisions and intent of this Agreement.

     
  13.3.

Waiver. No failure or delay on the part of any party in exercising any power or right under this Agreement will operate as a waiver of such power or right. No single or partial exercise of any right or power under this Agreement will preclude any further or other exercise of such right or power. No modification or waiver of any provision of this Agreement and no consent to any departure by any party from any provision of this Agreement will be effective until the same is in writing. Any such waiver or consent will be effective only in the specific instance and for the specific purpose for which it was given. No notice to or demand on any party in any circumstances will entitle such party to any other or further notice or demand in similar or other circumstances.

     
  13.4.

TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE. TIME SHALL BE OF THE ESSENCE OF THIS AGREEMENT AND ALL OF ITS PARTS.

     
  13.5.

Titles. The titles to the respective paragraphs hereof shall not be deemed as part of this Agreement but shall be regarded as having been used for convenience only.

     
  13.6.

Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall enure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties hereto and their respective successors, and assigns.

     
  13.7.

Rule Against Perpetuities. The parties do not intend nor desire for this Agreement to violate the common law rule against perpetuities or any analogous statutory provision or any other statutory or common law rule imposing time limits on the vesting or termination of estates in land (the “Rule Against Perpetuities”). If any provision of this Agreement does or would violate the Rule Against Perpetuities, then this Agreement shall not be deemed void or voidable, but shall be interpreted in such a way as to maintain and carry out the parties objectives to the fullest extent possible by law.



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  13.8.

Severability. It is intended that all of the provisions of this Agreement will be fully binding and effective between the parties. If any particular provision or provisions or a part of one or more is held to be invalid, illegal, void, voidable or unenforceable for any reason whatsoever, then the particular provision or provisions or part of the provision will be deemed severed from the remainder of this Agreement. The remainder of this Agreement will not be affected by the severance and will remain in full force and effect.


14.

MEMORANDUM


  14.1.

Memorandum. The parties to this Agreement agree to execute and record a Memorandum of this Agreement in form sufficient to constitute record notice to third parties of the rights hrereunder, which may be recorded in the official records of the County Recorder’s Office, New Mexico.


15.

COUNTERPARTS


  15.1.

Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts with the same effect as if all parties had signed the same document. All of these counterparts will for all purposes constitute one agreement, binding on the parties, notwithstanding that all parties are not signatories to the same counterpart. A fax transcribed copy or photocopy of this Agreement executed by a party in counterpart or otherwise will constitute a properly executed, delivered and binding agreement or counterpart of the executing party.



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IN WITNESS WHEREOF the parties hereto have hereunto executed these presents as of the day and year first above written.

COLUMBUS EXPLORATION   SANTA FE GOLD CORPORATION
CORPORATION    
    /s/ Pierce Carson
/s/ Robert Giustra    
    Pierce Carson
Robert Giustra   President and CEO
President and CEO    


COLUMBUS SILVER (U.S.)  
CORPORATION  
   
   
/s/ Robert Giustra  
Robert Giustra  
President