The Toroparu Deposit, Main, and South East areas are representative of an Archean gold (±copper) intrusion related system (Kontak, Katz, & Dubé, 2012) (Katz, Kontak, Dubé, & McNicoll, 2015) (Mathieu, Crépon, & Kontak, 2020). It closely resembles other structurally controlled, mesothermal gold systems seen in Archean greenstone belts such as the Abitibi or the Yilgarn craton. It appears genetically similar to deposits such as Côté Gold, Lac Doré, Boddington and Las Cristinas. Deposits of this type are closely associated with intrusive suites with geochemical signatures of rocks derived from hybrid melts (high heavy rare earth element, abundance of intermediate units, low- to moderate water content) (Mathieu, Crépon, & Kontak, 2020). They include porphyry copper-gold, syenite-associated disseminated gold, and reduced gold-bismuth-tellurium-tungsten intrusion related deposits, as well as stockwork disseminated gold. It is thought that this could be a result of the overprinting of two different deposit types. The Sona Hill Deposit represents an orogenic lode gold deposit and is related to the gold ± copper system at the Toroparu Deposit.

Toroparu Deposit, Main, and SE Areas
The Toroparu Deposit mineralization is oriented in a west-northwest direction with cross-cutting eas-twest mineralized structures. The system corresponds to a 2.7 km long and 200 m to 40 m wide body and extends to over 400 m in depth. The mineralized body occurs along the northwestern boundary of a tonalitic to quartz dioritic intrusion within a series of mafic volcanics with a thick, gradational layer of saprolite material. Saprolite results from deep tropical weathering, resulting in the larger part of the original rock mineralogy being replaced by clays. Quartz veins and veinlet networks survive quite well in saprolite and contain occasional free gold grains. Sulphides tend to be completely leached and removed, leaving relic voids, and/or oxidized spots. The Toroparu Deposit sits in a topographic low and is near the Puruni and Wynamu rivers. This has resulted in the upper part of the lateritic profile being eroded. Bedrock substratum is overlain by a thin, 1 m residual soil layer, followed by a 10 m 35 m thick saprolite layer. Saprolite rock is the transitional zone between saprolite and fresh rock, creating a gradational contact several metres thick at the Toroparu Deposit.

Within the Toroparu Deposit, mineralization is hosted by a paleoproterozoic greenschist facies metamorphic VS sequence in contact with a tonalitic to quartz dioritic intrusives. Gold and copper mineralization appears to be largely controlled by a series of moderately developed, dilational brittleductile fracture veinlet stockworks. This dilational fracture veinlet stockwork forms a NW-SE trending mineralized corridor with two sets of cross-cutting higher-grade structures. Where these structures intersect, there is a large increase in the grade of both gold and copper. There is also either massive veining or vein breccias in these intersections. The Main Area contains the majority of known mineralization, which is still open at depth. The northwestern lens of the main area appears to have slightly lower concentrations of gold grades, but this could be due to a lack of drill density; mineralization here is also open along strike to the NW and at depth.

Higher-grade mineralization is concentrated in E-striking within WNW-trending shear zones steeply dipping to the SW. E-striking en echelon zones would be consistent with left-lateral shear sense at the time of mineralization. The left-lateral shearing on either side of the Main and NW areas appears to have created the fracture dense network allowing for the concentration of gold and copper grades. Fracturing is also reduced to intrusive contacts due to the strong rheological contrast. The southeastern mineralization is genetically very similar to the Main area. It is theorized that this is a portion of mineralization offset with the WNW-striking shear zone.

Gold mineralization in the saprolite and the low-grade fresh rock are similar with no apparent depletion. For this reason, saprolite grades are included when estimating the background grades.

Mineralization at the Toroparu Deposit is associated with quartz-carbonate veinlets with minimal sulphides (typically 0.5% to 1%, a maximum of 3%). Core logging indicates that the primary style of goldcopper mineralization is fine to coarse grained disseminations of sulphide blebs, aggregates, and clusters of chalcopyrite and subordinate pyrite, bornite, molybdenite, chalcocite, and very rarely arsenopyrite. Pyrite is less widespread but seems to occur in a large halo around the gold-copper mineralized zones. Sulphides can be disseminated in the rocks, but predominantly occurs in the fine quartz-carbonate veinlets and/or fractures, which seem to control the mineralization. Zones of higher-grade gold-copper mineralization are associated with the presence of higher concentrations of bornite and somewhat more abundant molybdenite, and denser fracture/veinlet networks. Furthermore, the quartz-carbonate veinlets, and fine fracture networks contain frequent visible fine gold grains. Copper mineralization disappears or becomes very weak in the western mineralized lens, where intermediate porphyritic intrusives are predominant, and fracture networks are less well developed.

Sona Hill Deposit
Sona Hill Deposit differs from the Toroparu Deposit in the absence of potentially economic quantities of copper mineralization. Gold mineralization is hosted in sub horizontal, shallow dipping structures. It has two sets of identified cross-cutting high-grade gold structures. The saprolite is generally thicker, as the 25 m to 30 m of topographic hill results in a greater depth to the water table. Sap-rock and saprolite layers can reach up to 60 m thick in the Sona Hill Deposit.

Similar to the Toroparu Deposit, Main, and SE Areas, mineralization at the Sona Hill Deposit is mainly hosted within intrusive lithologies. These intrusives are petrographically described as porphyritic/microporphyritic ± equigranular granodiorite to quartz diorite. Metavolcanics are foliated andesitic volcaniclastics and intermediate to felsic flows. Quartz veining is typically white-crystalline quartz, and can be associated with feldspar, carbonate, tourmaline, sericite, and chlorite with minor sulphides (pyrite). Veins/veinlets are variable in size but generally range from 0.5 cm to 10 cm, density varies significantly. Alteration is quartz-sericite-carbonate- chlorite which is both pervasive throughout the deposit and present as vein halos.

The Sona Hill Deposit Mineral Resource is principally associated with shallowly W dipping quartz veinlets within an intrusive body about its W dipping fault contact with underlying volcanics. Drill core logging observations suggest that the Sona Hill shear zone is poly phased. Economic veining is concentrated within hydrothermally altered intrusives. In contrast to the Toroparu Deposit, mineralization in the Sona Hill Deposit consists of gold within quartz-sericite-carbonate-chlorite alteration.

Gold-pyrite mineralization is hosted by an irregular network of dispersed quartz-tourmaline-feldspar veins within intermediate intrusives surrounded by halos of intense bleaching (hydrothermal alt) and abundant finely disseminated magnetite. Mineralization occurs at or above the contacts of a cataclastic hydrothermally altered shear zone. The quartz veins appear parallel to subparallel with local foliation. Associated sulphides are minor, estimated at 1% to 3%, and consist only of pyrite. Other associated gangue minerals include feldspar, carbonate, tourmaline, sericite, and chlorite. There is also only one set of high-grade structures identified at the Sona Hill Deposit. Occasionally, small pockets of gold occur in underlying volcanics.

The Project will be mined using open pit methods for the initial part of the extraction and in year 10 an underground mining method will be started. Both mining methods will continue to the end of the life of the asset.

Open Pit Mining
A conventional truck-shovel method was considered for the open pit portion of the Toroparu Deposit. The open pit analysis results in several distinct open pits coalescing into the NW and Main Toroparu Pits over time. The Sona Hill and Southeast Zone (SE) will be developed in a similar fashion beginning in year 3 and 6 respectively. The final dimensions of the NW Pit are approximately 990 m long x 690 m wide x 360 m deep. The dimensions of the Main Pit are approximately 1,300 m long x 750 m wide x 470 m deep. The open pit LoM plan proposes to mine approximately 93 Mt at a cut-off grade of 0.5 g/t Au and 558 Mt of waste rock material. The average stripping ratio for the open pit operations is 6:1 over the LoM. Each pit is currently planned to be developed with 29 phases each. Compacted saprolitic waste material will be used to construct haul roads, facility pads and flood control berms, levies, and other structures.

The PEA mining plan includes the Main, NW, SE and Sona Hill Pits. The Main, NW and SE pits are located within the Toroparu Deposit and the Sona Hill Pit is located within the Sona Hill deposit. The SE pit is located 1 km southeast of the Main and NW Pits and the Sona Hill Pit is located approximately 5 km southeast of the Main and NW Pits.

A 10-m high single bench was selected for open pit slope geotechnical assessment. A bench face angle of 65° is expected to be appropriate for the Saprolite slopes provided that adequate catch benches are emplaced. A 10 m high single bench configuration with a minimum bench width of 8 m is recommended for the Saprolite slopes, assuming moderately sized mining equipment being used for pit development.

In Fresh Bedrock, a slightly flatter bench face angle of 65° is deemed to be appropriate for the M- North, SE-Northeast, and SE-Southeast Sectors due to potential planar daylighting and/or minor wedge/toppling. A bench face angle of 70° is achievable for the M-East, and SE-Northwest, SH- Northeast, and SHSoutheast Sectors despite the minor potential for planar/wedge sliding and potential toppling caused by inferred faults. A steeper bench face angle of 75° can be applied for the M-South, M-West, SH-Southwest and SH-Northwest Sectors as foreseeable kinematic control is absent. Given the nature of competent rock mass, 20 m high double benching configurations can be considered for the pit walls developed within the Fresh Bedrock. The bench width is recommended to be between 9.5 and 10 m to catch possible ravelling and rock fall debris.

The inter-ramp slope angles are typically determined by the bench geometry. A shallow inter-ramp angle of 38° is recommended in the Saprolite slopes. The bedrock slopes in the M-North, SE- Northeast, and SHSoutheast Sectors are limited to an inter-ramp angle of 47° due to the presence of adverse planar features. A 50° inter-ramp angle is recommended for the M-East and SE-Northwest Sectors where the potential for minor adverse structural features are identified. A slightly flatter 49° inter-ramp angle is recommended for the SH-Northeast and SH-Southeast Sectors where a low angle shear zone/foliation feature is present but is not expected to have major adverse impact to the pit walls. A steeper inter-ramp slope angle of 53° can be applied for the slopes with fewer kinematic controls, including the M-South, M-West, SHSouthwest, and SH-Northwest Sectors.

A 20 m wide catch bench should be placed immediately below the saprolite/bedrock contact to intersect the surface run-off and seepage inflow and to provide additional containment capacity for potential saprolite ravelling during wet seasons. It is also recommended that the maximum height of inter-ramp slope in the Fresh Bedrock domain be limited to 200 m in the Main/NW Pit. The overall slope angles are expected to be 5° to 8° flatter than the inter-ramp slopes in bedrock after the flatter Saprolite slopes, wider catch bench, and spiral haulage ramps are incorporated.

Underground Mining
Underground development will commence at the beginning of the ninth year of open pit operation and targets 3,500 tpd, ramping up to full production over an approximately two-year period. The ramp-up allows for the main ramp system development at the 250 m elevation down from the surface portal in the NW Pit and to connect to both fresh air and return air raises, providing ventilation and secondary egress for the mine. Underground production is scheduled based on approximately 3,500 tpd mill feed and 750 tpd average waste, excavated using a fleet of 15 and 10 tonne load-haul-dump loaders, hauled with 45 tonne trucks using the ramps to portals entrances and rehandled using the surface fleet. Production is expected to commence in the central area between the Main and NW Pits from 360 Level (approximately 360 m elevation below surface) and continues for the first 2 years in a bottom-up sequence. It is anticipated that mining next transitions to production from lower mining areas below and around Main and NW Pits for approximately the final 10 years of the LoM.

The underground mining strategy includes:
• Mining method – Longitudinal open stoping with a sub-level spacing of 30 m.
• Mining width – Typically between 3 m and 8 m, with a minimum mining width of 2 m and maximum of 16 m.
• Backfill – Cemented paste backfill (CPB).
• Overall access – Ramp access from surface.
• Development Dimensions – The development is planned to be 5 m wide and 5 m high. The span of the overcut and undercuts may be less than 5 m, depending on the width of the ore body.

The longitudinal retreat LHOS mining method was ultimately selected. LHOS requires drifting along mineralization via overcut and undercuts and is well suited to following the dual mineralized and thin structures that exist within the deposit. LHOS provides good mining recovery and ensures that stopes are backfilled with some form of cemented backfill, which is essential for concurrent excavation of the open pit.

Stopes are accessed by overcut and undercut stope access drifts which extend from the level haulages. Stopes are designed on a maximum 30 m level spacing, 25 m length and 12 m HW – FW span. Stopes shapes created via the MSO tool that have a HW – FW span of greater than 12 m, are assumed to be panelled mined, effectively decreasing the HW – FW span by half.

Downhole stopes are drilled, blasted, and backfilled via overcut access. Stopes with a HW – FW span of less than 5 m are designed to be drilled with a top-hammer production drill and stopes with a HW – FW span of greater than 5 m are designed to be drilled with an in-the-hole (ITH) production drill. Stopes are blasted by first blasting a drop raise to create void, and then blasting the remainder of the rings once sufficient void has been created. Once a stope is mucked out via the undercut access, a fill barricade is constructed, and the stope backfilled with cemented paste backfill (CBP). CBP is delivered via a series of boreholes and pipes from the surface CBP plant.

Upholes stopes are drilled, blasted, mucked, and backfilled via undercut access. Upholes stopes are designed to be drilled with a top-hammer production drill. Stopes are blasted by first blasting an inverse drop raise to create void, and then blasting the remainder of the rings once sufficient void has been created. Once a stope is mucked out, a fill barricade is constructed in the undercut access and the stope backfilled with cemented paste backfill (CBP). CBP is delivered via a series of boreholes and pipes from the surface CBP plant.

Gold Plant
Crushing
Ore is fed to a RoM hopper by front-end loader. Ore is recovered by an apron feeder and is scalped on a vibrating grizzly prior to the grizzly oversize being jaw crushed. The fines and crushed product are recombined and conveyed to a coarse ore stockpile.

Reclaim, Grinding and Gravity
Reclaim of coarse crushed ore is by dual apron feeders. Ore is conveyed to the SAG mill feed chute. Quicklime is dosed directly to the SAG feed conveyor to provide pH control in the mill and downstream CIL circuit.

Ore enters the SAG mill and is combined with process water, cyclone underflow and gravity circuit tailings. Upon exit of the SAG mill, the slurry is screened over a vibrating discharge screen to remove pebbles.

The SAG mill will be variable speed. The pebbles recirculate via a pebble crusher feed bin and crusher. Crushed pebbles are discharged onto the SAG feed conveyor and re-introduced to the SAG mill. A cross-belt magnet and metal detector along with a flop-gate for bypass provide pebble crusher protection.

An emergency feed bin is provided adjacent to the pebble crusher. Coarse crushed ore can be reclaimed direct from the stockpile and fed via this bin as needed to cater for reclaim feeder shut-downs. Grinding media can be added to the emergency feed bin with some coarse crushed material to allow media to be fed to the mill.

The fines from the SAG discharge screen gravitate to the cyclone feed hopper. Process water is added, and the slurry pumped to the cyclones. Cyclone overflow reports via a trash screen to the CIL circuit feed box for leaching. The trash screen removing misreporting mineral and also low specific gravity trash such as vegetation and blasting debris. The function of the trash screen being to ensure the carbon circuit is not contaminated with oversize particles.

The cyclone underflow gravitates to a splitter directing the slurry to either the SAG feed chute or nominally one third to a gravity scalping screen. The gravity screen undersize is directed to a centrifugal gravity concentrator, the tails from which gravitate to the SAG feed chute. Coarse gravity screen oversize is directed to the SAG feed chute.

Gravity concentrate is periodically discharged to a holding tank and then to an intensive leach reactor. Here the concentrate is leached, and the pregnant liquor is subjected to electrowinning to recover precious metals (in the gold room).

Gravity circuit equipment is not process critical and as such, no standby systems will be provided.

The intensive cyanidation tails are redirected back to the SAG mill discharge hopper.

Flotation Plant
Crushing and Stockpile
There will be one three-stage crushing and screening line for the hardrock flotation material, with a nominal capacity of 7,000 tpd. The circuit is independent of the Gold Plant crushing circuit and will feed a dedicated ball mill and subsequent processing circuit. Crushing circuit availability (on stream time) is anticipated to be 6,500 operating hours per annum. No standby equipment will be installed.

Primary crushing will be carried out by a jaw crusher. A single standard head secondary cone crusher together with a tertiary short head cone crusher will both be operated in closed circuit with a twin deck vibrating screen.

RoM material will be tipped into a receiving bin dedicated to the jaw crusher. The RoM material will be extracted from the bin by an apron feeder, which will in turn feed a vibrating grizzly. Grizzly oversize (nominally +100 mm) will be crushed in the jaw crusher while undersize will bypass the crusher. The crushed product will be combined with the grizzly undersize and conveyed to the crusher double deck screen which accepts combined product from the primary, secondary, and tertiary crushers.

The screen top deck will cut at 50 mm and the bottom deck at 16 mm. Two recycle products will be produced, which will report to the secondary and tertiary crusher depending on product size. The oversize product (+50 mm) will be conveyed to the secondary crusher while the mid-size product (16 to 50 mm) will be conveyed to the tertiary crusher. Screen undersize (-16 mm with a nominal P80 = 8 mm) is the final crushed product and will be conveyed to the Flotation Plant stockpile.

Reclaim, Grinding and Gravity
The Flotation Plant will utilize a ball mill grinding circuit for the feed to the flotation circuit. Milling circuit availability and all downstream plant (on stream time) is anticipated to be 8,000 hours per annum. All mainstream production critical pumps as well as certain mill utility pumps will have an installed hot standby.

The milling circuit will include two apron feeders to reclaim feed from the stockpile and discharge to the conveyor that will transport the material to a fixed speed overflow ball mill. Milled product will discharge the ball mill via a trommel and then be pumped to a cluster of cyclones.

The cyclone underflow gravitates to a splitter directing the slurry to either the ball mill feed chute or a to a gravity scalping screen. The gravity screen undersize is directed to a centrifugal gravity concentrator, the tails from which gravitate to the ball mill feed chute. Coarse gravity screen oversize is directed to the ball mill feed chute.

Ball mill cyclone overflow will gravitate to the rougher flotation conditioning tank.

The gravity concentrates will be collected in a dedicated holding tank and subsequently treated in a dedicated intensive leach reactor. The pregnant solution will then be directed to electrowinning located in the Gold Room that services the Gold Plant.

The separate intensive leaching for the flotation circuit will allow for gold accounting to be attributed to the flotation feed grade.

Gravity circuit equipment is not process critical and as such, no standby systems will be provided.

Intensive leach tails will report to the SAG mill circuit and enter the Gold Plant mass balance.

The concentrator is designed to process 14,000 tonnes per day (tpd) of mineralized material (nominal) during its peak operation. The processing plant will be constructed in two phases. The first phase consists of the initial 5 years of the Project where the plant will receive Low Copper
Ore (LCO) and saprolitic material to recover Au at a nominal throughput of 7,000 tpd. During the second phase, the plant will be expanded with the addition of a 7,000 tpd Cu flotation circuit and the associated equipment to process Average Copper Ore (ACO) and produce a Cu concentrate. The overall plant capacity will double in size to 14,000 tpd with the addition of the flotation circuit.

Phase 1 processes 7,000 tpd of LCO and saprolite material through crushing and grinding, carbon in leach (CIL) circuit and adsorption, desorption and recovery (ADR) to produce Au doré. This phase continues through the LoM. Sona Hill material will also be processed during this period.

In Phas ........