The mineralization of the White Pine North Project is classified as a reduced facies stratiform sediment-hosted copper deposit.

Copper mineralization at the White Pine deposit occurs in two modes - as very fine-grained sulfide (chalcocite) and as native copper. Sulfide mineralization is estimated to account for 85-90% of the copper in the deposit, but both modes of copper are intimately associated throughout the deposit. The copper mineralization at White Pine is unusually consistent. All drill holes within the deposit intercepted mineralized strata. Within the deposit, the grades of the mineralization are usually above cut-off grade over normal mining configurations. Most of the beds in the mineralized horizon are continuous over the entire deposit. The beds comprising the Parting Shale pinch out in the southwest part of the historic mine. The variation of the thickness of mineralized beds is also low from drill hole to drill hole.

Sulfide Mineralization: The dominant copper mineral in the White Pine deposit is chalcocite (Cu2S). It occurs as fine-grained lamellae in laminites and partings in interbedded sandstone and shale, very-fine grained disseminations and discrete clots in siltstone, and in veinlets and veins. The top of the copper mineralization is identified as the Top of Mineralization (“TOM”) Line or “fringe,” a narrow transition zone between cupriferous and pyritic zones. The fringe is typically very narrow (a few inches) and is identified b ........

Based on geotechnical information, White Pine mine history and mineralization geometry, an underground room-and-pillar method is selected for the White Pine North deposit. This mining method allows for both a good ore selectivity and productivity. However, a series of pillars are left in place to provide roof stability. The mining design was based on a mining rate of approximatively 5.4 Mt/yr. Historically the old White Pine Mine has reached the proposed mining rate. In addition, many assumptions are based on historical data from the old White Pine Mine.

- The production schedule is based on mining a fixed target of 5.4 Mt/yr. To achieve this annual production, seven to fourteen production panels must be in production simultaneously;

- The mining method consists of the extraction of a series of entries and cross cuts in the ore leaving pillars in place to support the back. The entries, cross cuts and pillars are sized using a geotechnical analysis of the rock, and experience from the old White Pine Mine with similar ground conditions.

- No geotechnical investigation has been conducted on the underground operations at White Pine North since the closure of the former White Pine Mine. The previous geotechnical work carried out during the operation of the old white pine mine was analyzed and it was used to produce this preliminary study. In addition, a back analysis of the old White Pine was done by Itasca at the beginning of the project;

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