Deposit Types
The zinc-copper-gold-silver bearing sulphide mineralization identified on the Back Forty Property exhibits typical characteristics of VMS mineralization. This deposit type has been well documented in the literature since the early 1970s (Franklin et al. 1981) and the exploration model for the PVB was refined after the discovery of Flambeau (DeMatties et al. 1996).

Mineralized Zones
Mineralization at the Back Forty Deposit consists of discrete zones of: 1) zinc or copper-rich massive sulphide (±lead), which may contain significant amounts of gold and silver, 2) stockwork stringer and peripheral sulphide, which can be gold, zinc, and copper-bearing (±lead/silver), 3) precious metal-only, low-sulphide mineralization, and 4) oxide-rich, precious metal-bearing gossan.

Massive Sulphide Mineralization
The Main Zone massive sulphide, which accounts for the vast majority of massive sulphide mineralization lies at the statigraphic boundary of these two rhyolite units. Rhyolite 1 lies stratigraphically below this sulphide horizon (footwall) while rhyolite 2 lies above the horizon (hanging wall). Another massive sulphide horizon, the Tuff Zone, is located at or near the upper contact of rhyolite 2 and the lower contact of an overlying package of tuffaceous and siliceous sediments. A possible third massive sulphide horizon, the Deep Zone, may represent a lower mineralized zone.

Main Zone Massive Sulphide
The Main Zone i ........

The mine plan consists of a combined open pit and underground mining operation. Open pit mining will take place from Year 1 to Year 5. Underground development will be initiated in Year 5 and underground production mining will continue to Year 11.

A number of stockpiles, by material type, will facilitate the accelerated processing of higher-grade material and also manage fluctuations in process plant feed delivery from the two mining operations.

The Back Forty Project area consists of very subdued terrain and topography. The area, topography and climate are amenable to the conventional open pit mining operations proposed for the Project. The open pit mining operation will encompass a single open pit that will be mined with conventional mining equipment in three pushback phases. The underground mine will be developed beneath the open pit with a single decline access point located part way down the open pit ramp.

The open pit design is based on the 2018 Feasibility Study. Minor modifications were made to standardize on 5 m high benches with a quadruple (4) bench configuration, resulting in a 20 m vertical distance between catch berms. For scheduling purposes, the Back Forty pit was subdivided into three phases. Mining commences in a small higher-grade pit and then expands outwards by pushing back the pit wall. This enables annual waste stripping quantities to be distributed to avoid high and low annual tonnage fluctuations.

Open pit ........

- subscription is required.

- subscription is required.