Early investigations of the Thierry Deposit by workers such as Bowdidge (1970), Patterson (1980), and Patterson and Watkinson (1983, 1984) concluded that the ores at the Thierry Deposit had undergone intense modification after their initial deposition as magmatic sulphides. This observation also applies to the K1-1 area.

Any model of mineralized rock genesis at the Thierry Project must take into account the unusual Cu/Ni, Pt/Pd and chalcopyrite pyrrhotite ratios in the rocks. According to Naldrett and Cabri (1976), intrusive complexes similar to those at Thierry Deposit contain sulphides with a coppernickel ratio of 2:1, a platinum-palladium ratio of 1:4, and a chalcopyrite/pyrrhotite ratio of 1:10.These ratios at the Thierry Deposit are approximately: copper-nickel 8:1, platinum/palladium 1:4 and chalcopyrite/pyrrhotite 1:1.

Mineralization at the main Thierry and adjacent K1-1 deposits, is more or less coincident with what is best characterized as a chlorite biotite-hornblende altered mylonitic shear zone (the “CBS shear zone”). The shear zone extends across the ultramafic intrusive along a strike length of about one kilometre and a width up to 50 m. Within the shear zone mineralization is hosted by highly schistose rocks containing stringer sulphides to less schistose ultramafic rocks containing massive stringers or veins and disseminated sulphides. Primary sulphides, listed in approximate order of decreasing abundance are pyrrhotite, chalcopyrite, ........

The Thierry underground Deposit will be mined by underground long-hole retreat method.

Access to the Thierry Deposit would be via a 6.5 m diameter, concrete lined 965 m (3,160 ft) deep fresh air shaft and a -15% ramp from surface to a depth of 1,260 m (4,130 ft). There will be two shaft loading pocket stations, one at a depth of 475 m (1,550 ft) and a second at a depth of 920 m (3,010 ft). Two hoists would be configured to transport workers and skip mineralized rock between surface and the underground loading pocket levels. Operating materials would be transported to and from the mine via the ramp from surface.

A conceptualized mining plan has been developed using mechanized trackless mining equipment. The primary mining method would be conventional longitudinal long-hole retreat with paste backfill. Above the 490 m (1,610 ft) elevation sub-levels will be developed at 15 m (50 ft) vertical intervals. Below the 490 m (1,610 ft) elevation sub-levels will be developed at 21 m (70 ft) vertical intervals. Drifts in mineralization would be developed to the full length of the Thierry Deposit. These drifts would provide access for the successive operations of slot raise development, blasthole drilling and blasting, and backfill placement. The average thickness of the mineralization is 6.7 m (22.1 ft). Remote-operated underground load/haul/dump (“LHD”) units would remove broken mineralization from the stope and from the excavated drifts in mineralized rock. ........

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