Upper Beaver is a gold-copper deposit that is mainly hosted in the Upper Beaver alkalic intrusive complex and the surrounding basalts it intruded, and is associated with disseminated pyrite and chalcopyrite, and magnetite-sulphide veining associated with strong magmatic-hydrothermal alteration. The mineralization occurs as elongated tabular bodies that strike northeast, dip steeply northwest and plunge 65 degrees to the northeast. The mineralization has been defined along a 400-metre strike length from surface to a depth of 1,800 metres and it remains open at depth.

Mineralization at Upper Beaver, as described by Queenston (Kontack, Dube and Benham, unpublished):
- Occurs both in flat and steeply dipping zones;
- Is of replacement-type with rare vein-type mineralization;
- Is associated with minor to pervasive alteration which includes feldspar, epidote, carbonate, sericite, silica and magnetite with trace hematite; and
- Has an element association of Cu, Au, or Au-Cu with associated molybdenum.

Queenston classifies the mineralization as three main groups of zones (from south to north):
- South Contact Zones;
- Beaver North Zones; and
- North Basalt Zones.

The South Contact Zones disseminated mineralization consists of two, relatively flat-lying zones. These occur below and south of the mine workings in the Upper Tisdale contact area, marked by the roll in the stratigraphy from a north-westerly to north-east ........

Upper Beaver is mainly an underground project that was initially planned to be developed by ramp and shaft only (underground development). However, to address a rock stability issue at surface related to the historical underground development, Agnico Eagle is proposing an open pit mine that would operate for only the first four to five years of the project.

The underground and open pit mine are proposed to operate year-round on a continuous (24-hour) basis, except for periodic maintenance and similar disruptions. Extracted ore from the mine will be transported to the surface for processing in on-site facilities. The pit will be in operation for only the first four or five years of operation. Based on the proposed processing rate and current information regarding the ore body, the life of the mine could extend 14 years or more years.

Underground Mine
The underground mine will expand on the historical / advanced exploration workings. Ore will be extracted from stopes (rooms) underground by conventional drilling and blasting. Oversized rocks will be managed through secondary blasting, use of a rock breaker and/or at an underground crushing facility, if developed. All ore will be either trucked to the surface via a ramp or transported via the shaft. Personnel will also access to the underground workings by means of the ramp but primarily by shaft.

Mineral waste associated with the mine development will be re-used to backfill the mine as prac ........

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