The Gorno mineral district is an Alpine Type lead-zinc deposit similar to Mississippi Valley Type (MVT) lead-zinc deposits. The mineralisation is broadly stratabound with some breccia bodies and veining also observed. Higher grade and thicker mineralisation are often associated with late-stage brittle faulting which is generally orientated north-south or east-west. The mineralogy is simple consisting of low iron sphalerite, argentiferous galena and minor pyrite. Mineralisation is hosted by the Metallifero Formation which consists predominantly of limestones with interbedded shales in the higher parts of the sequence. The Gorno deposit lies in the “Lombard Basin” of the Italian Southern Alps where during the Permian-Triassic periods a thick sedimentary pile was formed as a result of strong subsidence.

The Gorno mine already has established underground access from surface at multiple vertical levels via short adits into the hillside, which minimises up-front development and therefore development risk. Itis proposed that the mechanised mining methods employed will vary according to the attitude, geometry and thickness of the mineralisation, to maximise the extraction recovery whilst minimising dilution and waste development. Mining methods will be "Drift and Fill" and "Long Hole Retreat and Fill (Transverse)" in part of the deposit characterised by shallow dipping mineralisation; and "Longitudinal Long Hole Retreat and Fill" in steeper dipping areas. Cementitious paste fill is proposed to be used to stabilise stope voids.

Access from surface to underground is currently available from historical development on multiple levels, hence, the primary access to the orebody is via the existing Ca Pasi adit (to be enlarged to 4.7m x 4.7m from 3.5mW x 3.5mH). However, the new processing plant is to be constructed at an existing modern industrial site named the Zorzone Industrial Area (ZIA) which lies ~1km to the south and at the same elevation as the midpoint of the Zorzone mineralisation (890m RL). Therefore, a new conveyor ramp (ZIA Ramp, 5.5mW x 3.5mH) is required to efficiently connect the existing underground mine to the new processing plant at the ZIA process plant site. The ZIA ramp will have an almost flat inclination and will be developed from either end (both from surface and underground) connecting the ZIA site to the western portion of the orebody, a total distance of 1,100m.

The process flow assumed an underground crusher followed by a ore-sorter followed by a flotation plant to produce a Zn & Pb concentrate.

The testwork program provides adequate basic parameters required to develop a process plant design commensurate with the level of study being developed. The process plant design will be suitable to process the anticipated mineralisation from the Zorzone resource with additional testwork on additional resources programmed in the next phase of development. The inclusion of the carbon flotation circuit is based upon a technical review and metallurgical experience, but without current testwork support.

The plant is to be located at ZIA, at the site of a former factory that is now vacant. The majority of the processing equipment is expected to be contained within the existing factory building, with some modifications required to the roofing structure. The ZIA site is zoned for industrial use and is fully serviced by power, roads and other mains services. To avail of the better road transportation at Riso, concentrate slurries will be pumped from ZIA to Riso through the existing ........