Regional Geology
The Holloway and Holt mines lie within the Southern Abitibi Greenstone Belt (SAGB) of the Superior Province in north-eastern Ontario. The 40 km long, mostly contiguous HoltHolloway property package is a grouping of strategically located claims straddling the Porcupine-Destor Fault Zone (“PDF”) midway along its 260 km length.

Local Geology
The deformation history of the area is defined by five events. The earliest episode of regional D1 deformation (compression and extension) predated the Porcupine angular unconformity at 2,690 Ma. The D2 event (compression and extension) post-dated the Porcupine assemblage and resulted in localized folding and thrusting and early southside up, dip-slip, ductile deformation on regional deformation zones. Broadly synchronous with the syntectonic opening of the Timiskaming basins in dilatational jogs was D3 folding that resulted in significant left lateral slip movement along the PDF. The D4 folding event created synclines within the Timiskaming assemblage rocks and rightlateral strike-slip displacement along the PDF. The D4-D5 event represents the final stage of transpressional deformation along the PDF. Gold mineralization in the HoltHolloway area is interpreted to be early D3 in age. Lightning Zone replacement mineralization is cut by an inter-mineral dike with an age of 2672 ± 1.9Ma, which is overprinted by a later auriferous quartz-carbonate veining event. The bulk of the gold in the Timmins area was related to late D3 events.

Holt Property Geology
The Holt Mine Complex is situated on the eastern portion of the PDF. Interpretations are made through diamond drilling and underground mapping within the mine complex. As a mafic volcanic deposit, the lithology is mainly Fe-tholeiitic basalts with minor intrusive syenites, which may be up to 2m thick. Syenites cross cut the main mineralized trend potential as conjugate faults. Mineralization is present mainly on the hanging wall side of the Ghostmount Fault. The lower portion of Zone 4 shows a steeper change in dip showing possible rolling of the zone through a fold or offset fault.

DEPOSIT TYPE At Holt-Holloway, the deposit is a mafic volcanic hosted where the gold mineralization is quite unlike the classical Superior province auriferous quartz vein systems resulting from deformed, extensional fracture arrays. Rather, it is associated with disseminated sulphides in altered rock, sometimes described as replacement mineralization. Mineralization typically consists of moderately to steeply dipping tabular zones of disseminated pyrite (generally less than 5 per cent per volume) and gold in intensely altered tholeiitic basalt, with variably developed microveinlet stockworks. The ore is gold rich (Au:Ag is greater than 5) and contains concentrations of arsenic. The mineralized zones occur in a variety of geological settings reflecting a variety of controls on the localization of the mineralization: along low-strain lithological contacts (Lightning, Blacktop and Lightning Deep zones at Holloway), along brittle and/or ductile faults (McDermott, Worvest and Mattawasaga zones), and as shallowly dipping discordant zones (Tousignant, South Zone and Zone 4) of which the South Zone (Holt) is spatially coincident with an array of shallowly dipping syenitic dykes.

Mineralized zones are coincident with zones of intense albite-ankerite alteration of the host basalt, which, in turn, are partly fringed by sericite alteration haloes at Holloway and fringed by broader zones of calcite alteration. Disseminated specular hematite can be present within or outboard of mineralized zones.

Gold mineralization at the Holt and Holloway Mines is associated with replacement carbonate-pyrite-albite-quartz alteration that overprints mafic volcanic rocks in, and adjacent to, D3-D4 high strain zones. The overprinting of multiple mineralization phases in the same area suggests that mineralization was long lived and spanned syn-tectonic deformation during exploitation of the same fluid channel ways.

Holt
At the Holt Mine, mineralized zones that have been historically mined are hosted by the McDermott shear zone, a 10 m to 50 m wide south-southeast dipping carbonate-sericitechlorite ± albite altered ductile D3-D4 shear zone, which is hosted by otherwise massive, and generally low strain mafic volcanic rocks. The McDermott shear zone has been traced laterally for approximately 10 km along strike, joining the PDF corridor to the northeast. It has been traced by drilling at least eight kilometres west of the Holt Mine headframe. The shear zone may be localized along an older D2 thrust plane that has structurally emplaced lenses of fine-grained clastic sedimentary units along it. Principal mineralized zones that have been mined to date along the structure include the South, C-104, McDermott, Worvest/Three Star, Mattawasaga, and C-97 zones, which occur over a strike length of three kilometres and have been mined to depths of over one kilometre below surface.

More recently, the C-103, Zone 4 and Zone 6 gold mineralization has been identified along these geologic structures and are host to the bulk of the existing gold mineralization. All but the South Zone and Zone 4 occur in steeply south dipping sections of the shear zone. The South Zone and Zone 4 occur where the shear zone rolls to moderate to shallow southerly dips (Rhys, 2005a). Prominent within the Holt Mine geology are two northeast to east-northeast trending brittle faults: the Ghostmount and the McKenna. Although once interpreted as mineralization controlling structures, they offset mineralization and are in fact the youngest structural elements in the region (Rhys, 2005a).

Mineralization frequently occurs within the upper (hanging-wall/south) portions of the McDermott shear zone, often in areas where the structure defined by its carbonatesericite-quartz altered high strain zone widens from a thickness of generally less than 10 m to locally greater than 50 m wide. The widening may in part be controlled by the interaction of the shear zone with lenses of carbonaceous sedimentary rocks in its footwall. Mineralization occurs in massive to banded quartz-carbonate-pyrite-albite alteration that occurs within the McDermott shear zone and may extend a short distance into adjacent, unfoliated, massive mafic volcanics. Diffuse quartz veinlet networks and matrix are commonly developed, locally imparting breccia textures in sheared rocks. The apparent overprinting of foliation by alteration, and rotation of shear zone fabrics in breccia fragments, collectively suggest that mineralization overprints portions of the McDermott shear zone, and that it formed during or after most shear zone fabric development. An early phase of hematite-bearing carbonate-albite-quartz alteration is often preserved as lenses and domains within and adjacent to the Holt Mine mineralized zones (Rhys, 2005a).

Zones 4, 6 and C-103 at the Holt Mine have a well- established higher grade gold zone (i.e. greater than 3 g/t Au) related to a zone of more intense alteration, including sericite, chlorite, hematite and silicification, and elevated concentrations of sulphides within an overall lower grade envelope. This higher grade zone, typically three to five metres thick, is almost exclusively located along the hanging wall of the deposit, against the Ghostmount fault or any associated fault splay. The zones typically extend over 100 m along strike and 100 m down dip.

Design Criteria
Mining activities at the Holt mine occur in multiple zones concentrated in two regions within the mine. The western region of the mine contains Zone 4 (Upper and Lower), Zone 4 East, V-93 and West McKenna. The eastern region contains Zone 6 (Upper and Lower), Zone 7, U-100 and the remnant pillars of the C-104 Zone (Figure 15-1). All of the planned zones are accessed from existing rail haulage development headings; therefore, the equipment used in each zone remains captive. The Tousignant Zone will be mined as an autonomous zone from surface via a decline access.

The main accesses for all zones are concentrated on four active rail haulage levels: 435, 775, 925 and 1075. Ore is transported on these haulage levels to the shaft ore pass system. Ramp access is available between 1075 and 775 haulage levels. Zone 6 and C-104 have limited access between mining fronts. Zone 4 is accessed from both 925 and 1075 rail haulage levels, with an internal ramp system connecting the upper and lower portions of the zone.

Zone 4
Zone 4 represents the bulk of the mining since resuming operations at the Holt mine in 2010. This zone presents several design challenges due to its geometry: the zone dips at 30? to the horizontal and plunges from the east to the west at approximately 10?. The plunge, in particular, makes the installation of service raises and holes challenging. Ore passes in the zone consist of a series of conventional raises dipping at 49? that feed chutes on the 925 and 1075 haulage levels. The mining method in Zone 4 is open stoping with delayed backfill.

Zone 6
Zone 6 dips at 68? from the horizontal and proves much more conducive to installing services than Zone 4. Zone 6 ore will report to the 925 and 775 rail haulage levels through a series of ore passes developed with Alimak raise climbers. Chutes will be installed on both rail haulages to facilitate rail car loading. The mining method in Zone 6 is open stoping with delayed backfill. The mining method is currently being transitioned to Avoca for Upper Zone 6, and if successful, implementation will begin in Lower Zone 6

Zone 7
Zone 7 dips at 65? from the horizontal and similar to Zone 6, proves much more conducive to installing services than Zone 4. Ore from Zone 7 will report to the 435 rail haulage level and 580 m loading pocket. The mining method in Zone 7 is open stoping with delayed backfill.

Tousignant
The Tousignant Zone is located 3.5 km to the west of the Holt shaft and approximately 2 km west of the westernmost extents of Zone 4 underground workings. Tousignant extends from surface to a vertical depth of approximately 150 m. The ore body is shallow dipping (approximately 20? from the horizontal) and is composed of two lenses. There is a sub-vertical component to the ore body located to the north of the two flatter lenses; additional diamond drilling is needed to upgrade this vertical component to measured or indicated resources. As a result, the sub-vertical lens (i.e. inferred resources) was not included in the mine plan. Infrastructure, such as power line extensions, security building, etc. will need to be constructed as part of the project. Initial clearing of the road from the portal to the mill has commenced. Ore will be trucked from the stopes to surface and transferred to the Holt mill via surface trucks.

Mining Method
The primary stoping method at the Holt Mine is mechanised long hole drilling and blasting within the mining blocks with rail transport to the shaft ore passes. The spacing between sublevels for long hole stoping varies between 20 m and 17 m, depending on the dip of the ore. Mechanized long hole stoping is planned to be used in all zones at the Holt mine. “Drift and pillar” stoping may be needed in some areas where the ore is too shallow and not amenable to long hole methods. Drilling is performed with tophammer drills, with hole sizes ranging from 64 mm to 76 mm in diameter. The Tousignant Zone is planned to be mined with modified room and pillar.

Zone 4
Zone 4 is a large ore zone dipping at approximately 30? from the horizontal and is located on the western extremity of the Holt mine. The zone is bounded by the C-97 mining block on the east and is located between 1075 level and 775 level. Mineral reserves for Zone 4 (including Zone 4 East) are estimated at 1.35 million tonnes grading at 4.07 g/t.

Zone 4 is accessed by mechanised equipment via ramps and sublevels connected to two main rail haulage levels 925 and 1075. Zone 4 is divided into two mining blocks: the upper mining block represents the stopes reporting to the 925 haulage level and the lower mining block represents the stopes reporting to the 1075 haulage level. The use of both haulage levels provides increased flexibility to the overall Holt mine plan.

Zone 6
Zone 6 is a steeply dipping ore body located on the east side of the Holt mine, centered near the 10850 easting coordinate. The mineral reserves for Zone 6 (including Zone 6B) are estimated at 809,500 tonnes grading at 4.92 g/t.

Zone 6 is planned to be accessed via a ramp system and sublevels spaced at 20 m intervals for “conventional long hole” stoping. Accesses will be connected to haulage levels on 925, 775 and 1075 via drifts and ore passes.

The mine extraction sequence for Zone 6 is using a primary-secondary stoping arrangement with cemented rock fill being used in the primary stopes. The strike length is set at 20 m for all stopes (primary and secondary). The delivery of cemented rock fill to the upper portion of the zone will be initiated from the 435 level cement plant. From here a slurry hole has been drilled down to 775 level backfill system, which will deliver cement to the lower portion of the zone. Secondary stopes are planned to be filled with rock fill produced during development of the ramp and footwall drifts.

Zone 7
Zone 7 is a steeply dipping ore body located on the eastern most side of the Holt mine. The mineral reserves for Zone 7 are estimated at 1.06 million tonnes grading at 4.49 g/t.

Zone 7 is planned to be accessed via a ramp system and sublevels spaced at 20 m intervals for open stoping. Accesses will be connected to the 435 haulage level via drifts and ore passes.

The mine extraction sequence for Zone 7 is using a primary-secondary stoping arrangement similarly to Zone 6. Cemented rock fill being will be used in the primary stopes and secondary stopes will be filled with rock fill produced during development of the ramp and footwall drifts. The strike length is set at 20 m for all stopes (primary and secondary). The delivery of cemented rock fill to the upper portion of the zone will be initiated from the 435 level cement plant.

V-93 Zone
V-93 is a steeply dipping ore body located to the south of Zone 4 and above 775 level on the west end of the mine. The mineral reserves for V-93 are estimated at 100,184 tonnes grading at 4.59 g/t. V-93 Zone is planned to be accessed from a ramp system connected to the 775 level with sublevels spaced at 20 m intervals. The zone is planned to be mined using longitudinal long hole retreat method. The stopes will be backfilled using cemented rock fill from the planned 775 level backfill system. Rock fill will be provided from development headings or could be trammed from Zone 6 development when available.

The Holt Mill was constructed in 1988 and was originally designed for a throughput of 1,360 tpd. Expansions in 1988 and 2001 increased the throughput to 2,500 tpd and 3,000 tpd, respectively.

Surface ore storage is a total of 4,900 t in three silos, the Holt headframe bin (900 t) and two other separate storage bins (1,000 t and 3,000 t). Ore can be delivered to the mill from the Holt Mine by conveyor or from a separate surface dump that enters a 100 tonne hopper, and then can be fed to either of the two storage bins.

The grinding circuit consists of a 5 m diameter by 6.1 m long Allis Chalmers ball mill, converted to a SAG mill, a 4 m diameter by 5.5 m long Allis Chalmers ball mill and a 3.6 m diameter by 4.9 m long tertiary ball mill, all operating in series and in closed circuit. The details of the grinding circuit are shown below in Table 16-1. The grinding circuit is controlled by a Wonderware system and Modicom programmable logic.

The primary cyc ........