The mineral exploration process

▪ Exploration activities and related works as undertaken by proponents ▪ Exploration Phase = Initial Planning Stage to EX-5 Stage
▪ Deposit Appraisal Phase = DA-1 Stage to DA-4 Stage

N.B.: From the Initial Planning phase through to EX-3 may be referred to as 'grass-roots exploration.' N.B.: DA-1 through to DA-4 may be referred to as 'advanced exploration.' The DA-4 phase may be regarded as a 'mining project.'

EX-4 DA-2 DA-3

EX-5 DA-4
Initial Planning EX-1 EX-2 EX-3 DA -1
PHASES / STAGES AND Verification of Project Project MINE COMPLEX
Discovery and Feasibility
RELATED WORKS Pre-exploration Exploration Regional Prospecting Targets, Definition of Engineering Economics DEVELOPMENT
Delimitation of a Study
project Planning Reconnaissance and Surveying Anomalies, or the Deposit (Technical (Economic
Deposit Parameters) Parameters)
(for production)
Showings

EXLORATION
ACTIVITIES
Intended objectives or
results
• Use of geoscientific
databases, maps, models
and scientific literature.
• Synthesis of information
on specific region, area,
or mineral of interest.
Develop and employ survey
and mapping tools to orient
potential exploration projects.
• Regional Airborne and
Ground-based
• Analysis of geoscientific
reconnaissance
data, models and maps;
surveying;
• Select target minerals
• Airborne and Ground-
and prospective target
based geochemical and
regions or areas.
geophysical surveying;
Consider market and fiscal
• Initial Prospecting;
indices, legal and social
contexts. Select project Localize anomalies of interest
objectives and strategies. over wide areas.
Determine and plan specific Select target anomalies for
exploration projects. follow-up.
• Prospecting;
• Map designation;
• Claim obtention;
• Airborne / Ground-based
geochemical and
geophysical surveying;
• Line cutting;
• Preliminary surface
sampling, grab, chip,
channel and panel
sampling;
• Technical evaluation;
• Evaluation of outcrops.
Confirm presence, position,
characteristics of local target
anomalies. Select those for
follow-up.
• Continuance of DA-1
• Continuance of EX-5 activities as required;
activities as required;
• Intensive drilling,
• Detailed drilling, sampling and mapping
sampling and mapping (may be underground);
• Continuance of EX-4 (may be underground);
activities as required; • Excavation and
• Excavation and dewatering activities for
• Stripping; dewatering activities for • Continuance of DA-2
underground works • Continuance of DA-3
• Continuance of EX-3 underground works activities as required;
• Pitting; (e.g. ramps, shafts); activities as required;
activities as required; (e.g. ramps, shafts); • Based on proponent's
• Trenching; • Bulk sampling; • Validate inferences, data,
• Geological mapping; objectives, establish and
• Data acquisition and assumptions, estimations
• Drilling; • Overburden, waste rock, analyse parameters for
• Stripping; initial design planning of and project justification;
tailing and effluent economic and financial
• Detailed sampling; exploitation project
• Pitting; containment as needed assessment; • Conduct integrated and
(engineering and
• Preliminary resource thorough technical and
• Trenching; technical parameters). Pilot-testing and cost • Evaluate market prices,
estimation. financial feasibility study.
estimation of technical as well as social, political
• Drilling. Define and delimit the extent,
Discover, confirm and aspects of potential mine and environmental risks. Focus is on confirming
distribution, quality, and
Verify or locate the causes or estimate the initial mineral designs, based on deposit intention to begin exploiting
characteristics of the deposit. Rationalization of indicated
sources of mineral showings. inventory of deposit. Consider characteristics and appraisal. a viable ore deposit
economic interests to justify
Systematic mineralogical and and measured deposit.
(i.e. a mining project). FURTHER PROGRESSION
Appraise results, new targets, mineral processing tests. Evaluation of processing,
and further works. further works. infrastructure, environmental
Establish technical and
Decision to proceed may be
ENTAILS ASSESSMENT OR
Initial determination of economic feasibility of a
Preliminary environmental deposit's economic potential.
and restoration costs. linked with initial requests for REVIEW PER SECTION 22 OF
potential mine.
characterization (site-level). permits and/or exemptions THE JBNQA.
Technical risk analysis.
Detailed environmental Begin or continue pre- from Section 22 assessment
characterization (site-level). Pre-feasibility studies. feasibility studies. and procedure.

Exploration work site(s) and Exploration work site(s) and On-site 'exploration' activities
related developments are well- related developments are nearly complete; exploitation to
established, and may take on a established and may be commence.
Exploration work site(s) and
related developments are well- permanent nature. permanent. Expansion towards a permanent
established. Presence, duration, size and Presence, duration, size and work site and related-
SCALE OF WORKS Generally seasonal (summer and developments must be expected
winter). Longer work periods may Presence, duration, size and intensity of exploration activities intensity of exploration activities
(IN THE FIELD / at their climax. at their climax. if results are promising (may
Seasonal. exceed 6 months over a 12-month intensity of exploration activities
already be of a permanent
ON-SITE) Seasonal. Time spent in the field is for period. near climax. Pursuit of exploration activities Pursuit of exploration activities nature).
Nil to Minimal. temporary work periods (typically Presence, duration, size and Activities may require a and presence on the land may be and presence on the land may be
Time spent in the field is for Mining activities will occur year-
in summer and winter − less than intensity of activities increased. continuous presence on the land. year-round and long term. year-round and long term.
Periodic overflights and short-term, temporary work periods (typically round and for a long period
6 months over a 12-month period).
seasonal, ground-based surveying in summer and winter − less than Longer-term establishment to be Longer-term establishment to be Exploration activities geared to Exploration activities geared to (when authorized to continue
Nil Nil 6 months over a 12-month period). Intensity of activities increases. expected if results are positive. expected if results are positive. confirming 'mining' potential. planning for exploitation. beyond this stage).
and mapping trips.

SOURCES: a) MRNF, 2012. Report on Mineral Activities in Québec, 2011 − The Mineral Development Process (Appendix III). b) NRCAN, 2008. Canadian Mineral Yearbook: 2006 Review and Outlook − Generalized Model of Mineral Resource Development (Chapter 3, Page 47 - Table 17).
Online: www.mrnf.gouv.qc.ca/english/mines/publications/publications-reports-2011.jsp. Online: www.publications.gc.ca/collections/collection_2008/nrcan/M38-5-55E.pdf.