The Property is a Noranda-type VMS (Volcanogenic massive sulfide) hosted by Cambrian-Ordovician metavolcanic and metasedimentary rocks of the Pacquet Harbour Group. The style of mineralization, alteration, host rock, and tectonism most closely resembles other VMS deposits throughout the world. This deposit type is referred to as type G06 by the British Columbia Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources Deposit Profiles.

The polymetallic sulphide deposits in the Ming Mine area are known to contain copper, zinc and minor lead, gold and silver along with traces of other metals. Mineralization in the deposits has been classified in the past as either massive sulphide, footwall stringer, or disseminated ore.

The polymetallic sulphide deposits in the Ming Mine area are known to contain copper, zinc and
minor lead, gold and silver along with traces of other metals. Mineralization in the deposits has been classified in the past as either massive sulphide, footwall stringer, or disseminated ore.

More recent exploration on the Ming deposit has identified distinct zones of sulphide mineralization. This, in conjunction with ongoing academic studies, imply a somewhat greater complexity in orogeny of the Ming Mine and other deposits in the area based on distinct alteration and sulphide assemblages, mineralogical and textural variations and the structural setting of mineralization. For the current documentation there remain two dominant types of mineralization in the Ming deposit:
- Stratiform volcanogenic massive sulphide (MMS); and
- Disseminated stringers of sulphides (LFZ).

The MMS is recognized as a horizon which is open at depth, locally up to three metres in thickness with a strike length of at least 100 metres. Like other deposits in the area, it follows D2 planar fabric and is roughly parallel to the D2 extension lineation plunging 30 to 35 degrees northeast to a vertical depth of at least 1,000 metres. Several textural varieties of mineralization are recognized in the MMS horizon including massive pyrite ore, banded ore, massive chalcopyrite-pyrrhotite ore, and breccia ore.

The MMS has three different ore types. Massive pyrite ore, which is less than 70% pyrite, with chalcopyrite and minor amounts of galena, sphalerite, and silicate minerals. Banded ore consists of alternating bands of pyrite and chalcopyrite-quartz-actinolite-biotite. Massive chalcopyrite-pyrrhotite ore occurs as lenses and layers with up to 80% chalcopyrite. Minor amounts of arsenopyrite, galena, tetrahedrite, native gold, tennantite, and cubanite occur locally. There is up to 10% disseminated pyrite in the immediate footwall.

The LFZ is another mineralized horizon that lies approximately 100 metres below the MMS horizon. The LFZ strike length is approximately 1,700 metres and has a thickness that varies from 200 metres to 290 metres. Base metal assays from drilling are variable indicating that there are clusters of chalcopyrite and pyrite / pyrrhotite stringers which are separated by less mineralized rock. Gold values in the LFZ are generally less than 0.5 g/t and only trace amounts of zinc have been reported. The LFZ is transected by fine to medium grained basic dykes interpreted as feeder dykes to a mafic sequence in the hanging wall above the MMS.

The LFZ is an alteration zone consisting dominantly of chloritic schist that contains varying percentages of chalcopyrite and pyrite which occur as stringers with lesser amounts of pyrrhotite and sphalerite. The LFZ is parallel to the D2 planar fabric and extension lineation, appears to be conformable to the overlying MMS and as such, can be interpreted as the feeder or stockwork alteration zone to the MMS a relationship consistent with the VMS model. The exact location of the hydrothermal conduit responsible for alteration in the LFZ and mineralization in the overlying MMS has been obscured through deformation; however in its plunge direction the LFZ itself may represent a structural conduit that allowed the ascent of hydrothermal fluid. The extent of the LFZ is unknown as it is open both up and down plunge. Recent drilling has traced mineralization 1,500 metres down plunge.

Production commences with post pillar cut and fill mining. Once in steady-state production (from Year 3 onwards) the majority of planned tonnage will come from longhole bulk mining of the LFZ (Lower Footwall Zone) which will help reduce the overall operating unit costs.

Paste backfill augmented with waste rock from underground development as well as geological separation of dilution material from production stopes will be the primary filling mechanism.

Access to each of the zones will be made possible through new development and extension of the existing ramps and raises.

The LFZ has been divided into six blocks for design purposes. Blocks 3 to 6 have been designed with the longhole transverse mining method.

Level access will be spaced 25 vertical metres with cross cuts, accessing the ore, spaced 20 horizontal metres apart. Cross cuts will be driven 4 mW x 4.5 mH. A 2.4 m x 2.4 m drop raise will be used as a slot to open up the stope. Production holes will be drilled 76.2 mm (3 inches) in diameter. A slot slash method of blasting will be used. The stope will be mucked until the brow is open and then mucked remotely. Burlap covered cable/screen backfill barricades will be installed at the brows. Primary stopes will be filled with pastefill and the secondary stopes will be filled with waste rock.

Mine designs have been standardized to maintain drift sizes to a minimum while optimizing production rates. Present mine scheduling has the majority of the stope mucking being completed remotely, limiting unnecessary operator exposure to potential hazards from blast damage to the walls.

In the MMS, an under-cut or bottom sill will be driven to a maximum of eight metres wide. Ore intersections wider than this will require a pillar which will be recovered in the primary blasting. A bottom cross-cut will be developed into the waste on the footwall. This sets up an artificial footwall to improve on the draw angle. The waste will be blasted using uppers from the bottom cross-cut. A top sill to a maximum width of eight metres will be developed. Again, the standard drop raises will be used with 64 mm (2.5-inch) diameter production holes. Blasting will be a slot slash technique with the brow mucked until it is open. Future mucking will be completed via remote control. The stope will be filled with development waste rock.

The LFZ Block 1 utilizes post pillar cut and fill mining methodology. An 18% drift, off the main ramp, will be driven down to the ore zone. An undercut sill will be driven 5.0 metres high, the width of the ore zone. Post pillars will be left where the ore is greater than eight metres in width. Pillars will be approximately 5.0 metres x 5.0 metres. The undercut will be completed and waste will be used to the desired fill height. The ramp access back will be slashed to a five metre face height to establish a new breast. The breast will be driven to the end of the stope, mined out, and filled again. The process will be repeated until the access drift can no longer be used. New access drifts will be driven to continue the process.

The recovery of a copper-gold concentrate product for this study is based on using the existing copper concentrator located at Nugget Pond with an expansion of the grinding capacity and process water and tailings disposal systems. The existing flotation circuit and concentrate dewatering equipment will be used as-is without any modifications.

Run-of-mine (ROM) mill feed from the Ming Mine is stored on an outdoor pad at the Nugget Pond site. It is fed through a two-stage crushing plant by front-end loader and the crushed material is conveyed into the Crushed Ore Silo.

The expanded grinding circuit consists of a semi-autogenous grinding (SAG) mill (existing) and two ball mills (one new). The mill feed is conveyed to the existing SAG mill and the SAG mill discharge will be split to feed two ball mills operating in parallel. Each ball mill has its own cyclone feed pumps and hydrocyclones for classification. Oversize material discharging from the SAG mill trommel scr ........