Notes on Mineral Reserve and Mineral Resource Tables:
The classification system used herein conforms with National Instrument 43-101 – Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects (NI 43-101) and the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum classification system. U.S. investors should refer to the Company’s Annual Information Form for an overview on how Canadian standards differ significantly from U.S. requirements. Pd, Pt and Au ounces are stated as contained ounces. Disclosure of contained ounces is permitted under Canadian regulations; however, the SEC generally permits resources to be reported only as in place tonnage and grade.
Lac des Iles
- Prepared in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 – Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects (NI 43-101) and the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum classification system. U.S. investors should refer to the Annual Information Form for an overview on how Canadian standards differ significantly from U.S. requirements.
- Palladium ounces are stated as contained ounces. Disclosure of contained ounces is permitted under Canadian regulations; however, the SEC generally permits resources to be reported only as in place tonnage and grade.
- Mineral Resources for the Offset Zone were estimated from drilling completed to March 31, 2012 by Todd McCracken, P.Geo., of Tetra Tech, an independent Qualified Person within the meaning of NI 43-101. The mineral resource calculation uses a minimum 3.5 g/t Pd resource block cut-off. The mineral resource estimate is based on the combination of geological modeling, geostatistics and conventional block modeling (5 m x 5 m x 5 m blocks). Assay grade capping was determined not to be necessary. The Offset Zone resource models used the ordinary kriging (OK) grade terpolation method within a three-dimensional block model with mineralized zones defined by wireframed solids. The QA/QC protocols and corresponding sample preparation and shipment procedures for the Offset Zone have been reviewed by Tetra Tech. Resources were estimated to the 4070 Mine Level (-930 m elevation), a maximum depth of 1,430 m. The following metal price assumptions were used: US$475/oz palladium, US$1,500/oz platinum, US$1,200/oz gold, US$9.00/lb nickel, and US$3.25/lb copper. A US$/Cdn$ exchange rate of US$0.95 = CDN$1.00 was also applied.
- The mineral reserve and resource estimate for the Roby Zone, open pit and stockpiles were estimated as of June 30, 2010 by Scott Wilson RPA and updated by David Penna, P.Geo., an employee of the Company and a Qualified Person under 43-101 to reflect: (i) additions to mineral reserves in the Roby Zone as a result of a lower cut-off palladium grade; (ii) depletion from production up to March 31, 2012, and (iii) mineral reserves from the crown pillar (supported by an internal engineering report). The following cut-off grades were used: (i) 1.8 g/t PdEq for the Roby open pit, within an optimized pit shell run below the current pit survey; (ii) 1.9 g/t PdEq for the mine stockpiles; and (iii) 5.8 g/t PdEq for the underground Roby Zone. These cut-off grades were determined under the assumption that production would take place at a rate of 14,000 tpd. Metal price assumptions of US$350/oz palladium, US$1,400/oz platinum, US$850/oz gold, US$6.50/lb nickel, and US$2.00/lb copper were used in the estimation of cut-off grade. A US$/Cdn$ exchange rate of 1.11 was also applied.
- Mineral resources which are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. The estimate of mineral resources may be materially affected by environmental, permitting, legal, title, taxation, sociopolitical, marketing, or other relevant issues. The quantity and grade of reported inferred resources in this estimation are uncertain in nature and there has been insufficient exploration to define these Inferred resources as an Indicated or Measured mineral resource and it is uncertain if further exploration will result in upgrading them to an Indicated or Measured mineral resource category. Numbers may not add due to rounding.
Vezza
Mineral Resources for the Vezza project were estimated as of December 31, 2011 by Valère Larouche, Eng., an employee of the Company and a qualified person under NI 43-101, and audited by RPA. Mineral Resources were estimated at a cut-off grade of 3 g/t Au using an average gold price of US$1,200 per ounce and a US$/Cdn$ exchange rate of 1:1.1.
Sleeping Giant
Mineral Resources for the Sleeping Giant mine were estimated as of December 31, 2011 by mine staff under the supervision of Tyson Birkett, Eng., an employee of the Company, and a qualified person under NI 43-101. Mineral Reserves for the Sleeping Giant mine have been reclassified to Resources due to the suspension of operations at the mine. A long term gold price of US$1,100 per ounce was assumed. Grade capping was carried out on a vein-by-vein basis using the historical values of 60 g/t for drill hole intersections and 55 g/t for opening sampling. Resources were evaluated from drill hole results and opening sampling results using the polygonal method on inclined longitudinal sections. The maximum distance was fixed at 25 metres for inferred and indicated resources. A specific gravity of 2.85 t/m3 was used. For resources using the Shrinkage method, the intersections are internally diluted (at zero grade) to minimum true thickness of 1.6 metres and an external dilution of 15% (at zero grade) with a mining recovery of 95% are applied. For resources using the Long Hole method, the intersections are internally diluted (at zero grade) to minimum true thickness of 1.8 metres and an external dilution of 25% (at zero grade) with a mining recovery of 95% are applied. For resources using the Room and Pillar method, the intersections are internally diluted (at zero grade) to minimum true thickness of 1.8 metres and an external dilution of 15% (at zero grade) with a mining recovery of 85% are applied. For measured resources, the diluted grade and thickness from the opening sampling results are used for a maximum distance of 8 metres away from the opening.
Flordin
Mineral Resources for the Flordin property were estimated as of August 24, 2011 by InnovExplo. Mineral Resources were compiled using a cut- off grade between 0.5 g/t Au for the open-pit model and a cut-off grade of 3.5 g/t Au for the underground model.
Discovery
Mineral Resources for the Discovery project were estimated as of August 1, 2008 by InnovExplo. A long term gold price of Cdn$850 per ounce was assumed. Mineral Resources for the Discovery project were estimated using various cut-off grades, depending on the mining method applied.
Shebandowan West
Mineral Resources for the Shebandowan West project were estimated as of August 9, 2007 by F.H. Brown, CPG, Pr. Sci. Nat., a Qualified Person under NI 43 101, using a cut-off grade of US$60.00 NSR and 18-month trailing average metal prices of US$300/oz Pd, US$750/oz Pt, US$400/oz Au, US$7/lb Ni and US$1.50/lb Cu. The estimate assumes a net inventory to North American Palladium of 50% for the Shebandowan West project. The Company’s interest is currently 50%, which could be reduced to 40% upon the exercise by Vale of a back in right.