Chaucha Mineral Property: Local Resources & Infrastructure

The area is drained by a number of rivers, principally the Rio Lanto, Rio Angas and Rio Malacatos. These provide a supply of potable water and by use of a dam would probably provide sufficient water as needed for a mining and processing operation.

At present whilst the local community is served by a 110 volt supply, there is no source of electrical power suitable for mining and processing operations and this would probably be self generated.

Whilst the local people appear to support the exploration activities, there is no recent history of mining. Thus the specialized personnel required for such an operation would most likely be expatriates from within South America, although sourcing within Ecuador is Ascendant's preference.

Surface rights to the Janeth 1 concession are privately held and the purchase of such rights must be negotiated; however, Ascendant retains state permission to explore and to conduct mining activities on the Chaucha property.

Access

Year round access to the property is currently via a secondary road and then via track from the village of Chaucha. Current total journey time is approximately 2.5 hours. However, the road from Cuenca to Chaucha will soon be linked by the Government of Ecuador to a road extending east from San Antonio that lays approximately half way between the ports of Machala and Guayaquil. Thus the project area will soon be within some five km of a route giving direct access to the port cities approximately 90 km to the west.

Climate

Average temperatures for the area are 7° to 21° Celsius. The maximum rainfall occurs during the winter months of February and March when some 250 mm per month can be expected. The driest months are August and September when rainfall falls to less than 5mm per month. The climate is generally hospitable, with cloud and rain typical during the afternoons of the winter months.