The Point Rousse Complex is host to orogenic style gold mineralization. Mineralization comprises both vein-hosted and altered-wall rock or replacement styles of mineralization and both exhibit features common to orogenic gold deposits. The mineralization is typically structurally controlled and developed within subsidiary deformation zones, such as the Scrape Trust Fault, to major regional structures, like the Baie Verte – Brompton Line fault. Gold mineralization is intimately associated with disseminated and massive pyrite within the host rock indicating that iron rich rocks are an important precursor to mineralization. Alteration within mafic volcanic and gabbroic rocks can be is characterized by albitization and carbonitization. Iron and titanium rich lithologies associated with the Scrape Thrust are typical host rocks.

The Point Rousse gold mineralization exhibits relatively narrow, but distinctive alteration haloes dominated by Fe-carbonate, albite, sericite, chlorite and leucoxene (Plate 9). The ore mineralogy is relatively simple and is generally comprised of non-refractory gold either as free gold or as coatings on, or along fractures/grain boundaries in pyrite. Silver and base metals can be present in minor amounts and the deposits typically exhibit only trace arsenic.

The Project covers three prospective gold trends: the Scrape Trend, the Goldenville Trend and the Deer Cove Trend. These trends have approximately 20 km of cumulative strike length and include three deposits and numerous prospects and showings all located within 8 km of the Pine Cove Mine and Mill.

The Scrape Trend consists of a prospective belt of rocks approximately 7 km long and 1 km wide.

Mineralization within the Scrape Trend is typical of orogenic greenstone-hosted gold. The fault, where observed is not mineralized, but secondary structures adjacent to the fault zone can host gold, such as the deformation zone which hosts the Pine Cove Deposit as well as the structures hosting the Stog’er Tight Deposit.

The Stog’er Tight area is host to several gold prospects including the; Stog’er Tight Deposit and its East and West extensions, the Gabbro, Gabbro East, Gabbro West, South and Cliff zones, The geological setting of the Stog’er Tight area is characterized by volcaniclastic, sedimentary and intrusive rocks, which form part of the cover sequence of Snooks Arm Group.

The gold within the Stog’er Tight Deposit occurs as fine-grained (<.05 mm) micro veinlets and disseminated blebs within the coarse pyrite aggregates. Visible gold was observed as rare very delicate flakes localized within weathered-out pyrite cubes and in narrow quartz veins. Generally, higher grades are associated with coarse mottled pyrite.

Development of two open pits at Stog’er Tight were completed in 2019 shows the pit design specifications used at the East and West Pits. A total of 338,818 tonnes were milled from the east and west pits recovering 17,054 ounces of gold at an average recovered grade of 1.57 g/t gold. The Stog’er Tight East and West pits are currently under closure activities as per the accepted closure plan with the Department of Natural Resources – Mines Branch. Not yet developed are two satellite pits: the north and south pits. It should be noted that these two pits are currently in the process of being scheduled, as there is existing exploration in this area which could impact development.

In Q1 2021, the Company announced the initiation of a 4,000 metre diamond drill program, which will include 1,000 metres of infill drilling at the Stog'er Tight Extension.

Ore is fed to the crushing plant via front end loader, where it first enters a jaw crusher. After crushing, a conveyor takes the ore to a screen deck, where the fine material is separated. Oversize ore is recirculated through a cone crusher until it reaches the desired top size of 3/8 inches.

Ore from the crushed stockpile is then fed to the primary ball mill via conveyor belt, and typically averages 1.0 to 2.0 g/t gold. The ball mill is charged with 2 inch and 3 inch balls, and grinds material to a K80 of 150 micron. Material from the ball mill is pumped through a cyclone, where liberated material is fed into the flotation circuit via an overflow. Any coarse material is returned to the ball mill.

The Pine Cove Mill operates as a grind/flotation circuit followed by leaching. Comminution is via a two-stage crushing plant followed by a 10 ft by 14 ft primary ball mill, which processes an average of 1,340 tonnes per day of ore. Cyclone overflow feeds the flotation circuit, with 3 column cells for roughing, 1 scavenger/staged reactor cell, and one cleaner cell. The concentrator has a flotation circuit which produces a gold-pyrite concentrate that advances to the leach circuit. Mass concentration is typically 2-4%, with a recovery of 92-93%. Flotation concentrate is thickened in a 4.5 m diameter thickener and reground in a 5.5 ft diameter ball mill down to a P80 of 20 microns. Leaching is conducted in a series of four 70 m3, mechanically-agitated leach tanks. Two drum filters and a Merrill Crowe circuit are used for gold recovery from the pregnant solution.

The mill process at the Pine Cove site consists of 6 major systems: crushing, grinding, flotation, leaching, drum fi ........