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Bonanza AMERICAN BONANZA GOLD MINING CORP. ANNUAL INFORMATION FORM For the year ended December 31, 2003 As at May 20, 2004 TABLE OF CONTENTS GLOSSARY AND DEFINED TERMS .....................................................................................................................3 ITEM 1 - PRELIMINARY NOTES...........................................................................................................................6 1.1 Incorporation of Annual Report and Audited Consolidated Financial Statements.......................... 6 ITEM 2 - CORPORATE STRUCTURE ...................................................................................................................6 2.1 Name and Incorporation .................................................................................................................. 6 2.2 Intercorporate Relationships ............................................................................................................ 6 ITEM 3 - GENERAL DEVELOPMENT OF THE BUSINESS ..............................................................................6 3.1 Three Year History .......................................................................................................................... 6 3.2 Significant Acquisitions and Dispositions ....................................................................................... 8 3.3 Trends .............................................................................................................................................. 9 ITEM 4 - NARRATIVE DESCRIPTION OF THE BUSINESS ...........................................................................12 4.1 General........................................................................................................................................... 12 4.2 Development and Exploration Projects.......................................................................................... 12 ITEM 5 - SELECTED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL INFORMATION .......................................................22 5.1 Annual Information........................................................................................................................ 22 5.2 Dividends ....................................................................................................................................... 23 ITEM 6 - MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS ..........................................................................23 ITEM 7 - MARKET FOR SECURITIES................................................................................................................23 ITEM 8 - DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS..............................................................................................................23 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 8.5 Name, Address, Occupation and Security Holding ....................................................................... 23 Corporate Cease Trade Orders or Bankruptcies............................................................................. 25 Penalties or Sanctions .................................................................................................................... 26 Personal Bankruptcies.................................................................................................................... 26 Conflicts of Interest........................................................................................................................ 26 ITEM 9 - ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ...........................................................................................................26 -3- GLOSSARY AND DEFINED TERMS The following is a glossary of certain mining terms used in this Annual Information Form. “Ag” is the symbol in the periodic table of elements for the metal silver; “Au” is the symbol in the periodic table of elements for the metal gold; “BLEG” means bulk leach extractable gold; “BLM” means Bureau of Land Management of the US government; “Bonanza-grade” means more than 34 grams of gold per tonne or more than one troy ounce of gold per ton; “Channel sample” means material sampled from a groove cut across a rock exposure; “Crosscut” means a horizontal opening driven across the direction of the main workings; “Decline” means a passage or tunnel driven at a decline from the surface for the working of a mine; “Drift” means workings driven in or near a mineralized zone and parallel to the course of the vein or the long dimension of the mineralized zone; “Drifting” means proceeding with mining to create a drift; “Face” means the surface exposed by excavation. The working face, front, or forehead is the face at the end of the tunnel heading, or at the end a full-size excavation; “GIS” means geographic information systems, a type of software which analyses geological data; “g/t” means grams per tonne; “High-grade” means gold grades indicating the potential for a highly profitable mining operation; “In Situ” means a mineral, rock or ore deposit occurring where it was originally formed or deposited; “IP” means induced polarization survey; “Mag” means magnetic survey which measures the fluctuation in the earth’s magnetic field caused by the occurrence of naturally magnetic minerals in the Earth; “Metallogenic” means relating to the formation of gold deposits, millions of years ago; “NI 43-101” means Canadian National Instrument 43-101, Companion Policy 43-101CP, and Form 43101F1, “Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects”, which governs all oral and written disclosure of scientific or technical information, including disclosure of a mineral resource or reserve, made by or on behalf of a Canadian public company in respect of a mineral project. NI 43-101 uses for the terms “mineral resource”, “inferred mineral resource”, “indicated mineral resource”, “measured mineral resource”, “mineral reserve”, “probable mineral reserve” and “proven mineral reserve” the meanings ascribed to those terms by the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum, as the CIM Standards on Mineral Resources and Reserves Definitions and Guidelines adopted by CIM Council on August 30, 2000, as those definitions may be amended from time to time by the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum. Those definitions are reproduced below in this Glossary for the convenience of readers; -4“NPI” means net profits interest, or, the amount payable from the net profit produced by the mine; “NSR” means net smelter royalty, or, the amount payable from the precious metal produced by the mine after smeltering has removed most of the impurities; “Opt” means troy ounces per short ton of gold unless indicated to be another metal; “Panel sample” means material sampled from sections divided across a rib or face; “ppb” means parts per billion; 1,000 ppb is equivalent to 1 gram/tonne; 34,286 ppb is equivalent to 1 opt; “ppm” means parts per million; “Precious metals” means gold, platinum, silver and palladium; Reserves: “Mineral Reserve” means the economically mineable part of a Measured or Indicated Mineral Resource demonstrated by at least a Preliminary Feasibility Study. This Study must include adequate information on mining, processing, metallurgical, economic and other relevant factors that demonstrate, at the time of reporting, that economic extraction can be justified. A Mineral Reserve includes diluting materials and allowances for losses that may occur when the material is mined. “Probable Mineral Reserve” means the economically mineable part of an Indicated, and in some circumstances a Measured Mineral Resource, demonstrated by at least a Preliminary Feasibility Study. This Study must include adequate information on mining, processing, metallurgical, economic, and other relevant factors that demonstrate, at the time of reporting, that economic extraction can be justified. “Proven Mineral Reserve” means the economically mineable part of a Measured Mineral Resource demonstrated by at least a Preliminary Feasibility Study. This Study must include adequate information on mining, processing, metallurgical, economic, and other relevant factors that demonstrate, at the time of reporting, that economic extraction is justified. Resources: “Resource” means a concentration or occurrence of natural material of intrinsic economic interest in or on the Earth’s crust in such form and quantity and such a grade or quality that it has reasonable prospects for economic extraction. The location, quantity, grade, geological characteristics and continuity of a mineral resource are known, estimated or interpreted from specific geological evidence and knowledge. “Inferred Mineral Resource” means that part of a Mineral Resource for which quantity and grade or quality can be estimated on the basis of geological evidence and limited sampling and reasonably assumed, but not verified, geological and grade continuity. The estimate is based on limited information and sampling gathered through appropriate techniques from locations such as outcrops, trenches, pits, workings and drill holes. “Indicated Mineral Resource” means that part of a Mineral Resource for which quantity, grade or quality, densities, shape and physical characteristics, can be estimated with a level of confidence sufficient to allow the appropriate application of technical and economic parameters, to support mine planning and evaluation of the economic viability of the deposit. The estimate is based on -5detailed and reliable exploration and testing information gathered through appropriate techniques from locations such as outcrops, trenches, pits, workings and drill holes that are spaced closely enough for geological and grade continuity to be reasonably assumed. “Measured Mineral Resource” means that part of a Mineral Resource for which quantity, grade or quality, densities, shape, physical characteristics are so well established that they can be estimated with confidence sufficient to allow the appropriate application of technical and economic parameters, to support production planning and evaluation of the economic viability of the deposit. The estimate is based on detailed and reliable exploration, sampling and testing information gathered through appropriate techniques from locations such as outcrops, trenches, pits, workings and drill holes that are spaced closely enough to confirm both geological and grade continuity. “Rib” means the sides of a decline or tunnel; “Royalty” means a payment schedule by which payments are calculated based on a percentage of the value of the mineral produced; “SURPAC” is a 3D mine planning software program; “Ton” means short ton which measures 2,000 pounds; “Tonne” means metric ton which measures 2,204.6 pounds or 1000 kilograms; “VLF-EM” means very low frequency electro-magnetic survey which measures the conductive field about any conductive metallic elements; and “Vulcan” is a 3D mine planning software program. -6- ITEM 1 - PRELIMINARY NOTES 1.1 Incorporation of Annual Report and Audited Financial Statements Incorporated by reference in this Annual Information Form is the Corporation’s 2003 Annual Report to Shareholders (the “Annual Report”) containing the audited consolidated financial statements of the Corporation for the years ended December 31, 2003 and December 31, 2002 (the “Consolidated Financial Statements”) and Management’s Discussion and Analysis. All financial information in this Annual Information Form is prepared in accordance with Canadian generally accepted accounting principles (“Canadian GAAP”). ITEM 2 - CORPORATE STRUCTURE 2.1 Name and Incorporation American Bonanza Gold Mining Corp. (“Bonanza” or the “Corporation”) was incorporated under the Business Corporations Act (Alberta) on November 17, 1980 as “Oakwood Energy Ltd.” and changed its name to American Ore Ltd. on December 12, 1986, to American Exploration Corp. on August 17, 1992, to Asia Minerals Corp. on April 20, 1994 and finally to American Bonanza Gold Mining Corp. on October 16, 2000. It was continued into British Columbia under the Company Act (British Columbia), Canada on July 19, 1994. The Corporation’s head office is located at Suite 1606 - 675 West Hastings Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6B 1N2 with its exploration offices located at 290 Gentry Way, Suite 6, Reno, Nevada, United States, 89502. 2.2 Intercorporate Relationships As of December 31, 2003, the only active subsidiaries of the Corporation were Bonanza Gold Inc. (“Bonanza Gold”) (a Canadian corporation), which in turn has a wholly owned subsidiary, Bonanza Explorations Inc. (“Bonanza Explorations”) (a Nevada corporation), both wholly owned. Bonanza Gold and the Corporation have a registered office address at Suite 1606 - 675 West Hastings Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6B 1N2. Bonanza Explorations has a registered address at 6100 Neil Road, Suite 500, Reno, Nevada 89511. ITEM 3 - GENERAL DEVELOPMENT OF THE BUSINESS 3.1 Three Year History The Corporation is a development stage mining company engaged in the identification, acquisition, exploration and development of high-grade precious metal properties primarily located in the Great Basin of the American Southwest. During 2001 and for the first quarter of 2002, the Corporation was inactive, had a significant working capital deficiency, and was unable to raise equity or debt capital to fund its acquisition, exploration and development expenditures. As a result of improved gold prices, capital markets and a renewed interest in development stage mining companies the Corporation raised net proceeds of approximately $20.1 million in equity capital and $1.7 million in debt capital since 2002, including $16.9 million in equity capital in the year ended December 31, 2003. -7Copperstone Gold Project In August, 1998, the Corporation entered into an agreement with Arctic Precious Metals Inc. (“APMI”), a wholly owned subsidiary of Royal Oak Mines Inc. (“Royal Oak”), to explore and develop the Copperstone gold property in La Paz County, Arizona, U.S.A. Under the agreement, the Corporation acquired 25 percent of APMI’s leasehold interest in the Copperstone project for a cash payment of US$500,000 with an option to increase its interest in the project to 80 percent through property expenditures of US$3 million and a future cash payment to APMI of US$1 million. In 1995 APMI had acquired a renewable lease for the Copperstone project from the Patch Living Trust. In April, 1999, APMI became subject to Chapter 11 proceedings under U.S. bankruptcy law and in November, 1999 the Corporation entered into a conditional Purchase and Sale Agreement with APMI, concerning the purchase by the Corporation of the 75 percent interest owned by APMI in the Copperstone project. In March, 2002, the Corporation acquired all APMI’s leasehold interest in the Copperstone mining property by obtaining an assignment of APMI’s interest in the lease with the Patch Living Trust. The assignment was approved in a lengthy US Bankruptcy Court process. As a result, the Corporation’s interest in the Copperstone mining property increased from 25 percent to 100 percent, subject only to the existing lease and its royalty arrangements. This acquisition was funded by a loan of US$1,100,000 from Brascan Financial Corporation (the “Brascan Loan”) which was repaid in October 2003. Under the terms of the loan agreement the Brascan Loan was repayable in two equal installments of US$550,000 on March 4, 2003 and March 4, 2004, and in addition the Corporation agreed to cause all proceeds, net of reasonable commissions and legal and other expenses related to such transaction, of any issuance of securities of the Corporation in excess of the aggregate sum of US$1,000,000 received by the Corporation at any time during which the loan is outstanding, to be immediately paid to Brascan in accordance with the following formula: (a) 10% of cumulative proceeds greater than US$1,000,000 but less than US$2,000,000; (b) 20% of cumulative proceeds equal to or greater than US$2,000,000 but less than US$4,000,000; and (c) 30% of cumulative proceeds equal to or greater than US$4,000,000 but less than US$6,000,000. As a result of the Corporation’s public offering completed on June 10, 2002 the Corporation paid Brascan US$12,800 on July 2, 2002 as a partial principal repayment of the loan outstanding. On March 4, 2003 the Corporation repaid US$537,200 to satisfy its repayment obligation for 2003. On October 29, 2003 the Corporation paid out its remaining loan facility with Brascan with a final payment of US$550,000 on the basis of the preferential repayment terms, described above, that resulted from the Corporation’s private placement and public offering completed on October 23, 2003. Bonanza Acquisition During the year ended December 31, 2000 the Corporation acquired Bonanza Gold and its wholly owned subsidiary Bonanza Explorations which owned the Bonanza Properties comprised of the Pamlico, Gold Bar, Golden Arrow, Snowstorm and other mineral claims all located in the State of Nevada, United States (the “Bonanza Properties”). This acquisition was approved by the shareholders of the Corporation on October 31, 2000 and the TSX Venture Exchange on December 21, 2000. During 2001 as a direct result of market conditions and the capital markets for junior resource issuers the Corporation returned or -8released the Golden Arrow, Snowstorm and other mineral claims recognizing a write-down of $893,558, and retained Pamlico and Gold Bar. The Bonanza Properties were acquired by way of a share exchange agreement whereby the Corporation bought all of the issued and outstanding shares in the capital of Bonanza Gold (the “Bonanza Acquisition”), by issuing 20,000,000 Common Shares of the Corporation to the vendors which included Messrs. Brian Kirwin, Giulio Bonifacio, Ian Telfer and Foster Wilson (the “Bonanza Personnel”). Pursuant to the TSX Venture Exchange’s requirement, 90 percent of the Bonanza Shares issued to the Bonanza Personnel in consideration for the Bonanza Acquisition were placed in escrow pursuant to escrow agreements. As a result of the Corporation’s TIER 2 classification these Common Shares were held in escrow for a period of 36 months following the date of the Exchange’s final notice accepting the acquisition, which was on January 4, 2001. On March 14, 2003 the Corporation qualified and met the requirements for a TIER 1 classification on the TSX Venture Exchange, and as a result of this change in classification, all remaining Common Shares held in escrow were released. A detailed summary of the Bonanza projects (excluding those that have been subsequently written down and returned) and the Exploration Technology are included in Section 4.2 “Development and Exploration Projects”. 3.2 Significant Acquisitions and Dispositions During 2002, the Corporation completed the acquisition of the remaining 75 percent interest in the Copperstone Gold Project and assumed ownership of 40 percent of the D-Zone joint venture not already held, as described in Section 3.1 “Three Year History” and Section 3.2 “Copperstone D-Zone Joint Venture” included below. Copperstone D-Zone Joint Venture On June 18, 2000, the Corporation entered into an agreement (the Copperstone D-Zone Joint Venture) with Centennial Development Corporation (“CDC”) for the underground exploration and extraction of mineralized materials from the D-Zone of up to 50,000 tons of mineralized material from the Copperstone property. Pursuant to the Copperstone D-Zone Joint Venture, as amended, the Corporation assumed a 55 percent interest in the Copperstone D-Zone Joint Venture for a cash payment of US$375,000 with an option to increase its interest in the property as follows: (a) additional 5 percent interest if the Corporation provides all funding necessary to complete Phase One as documented in the agreement; and, (b) further 15 percent interest for a cash payment of US$500,000. During 2001, Phase One was completed and the Corporation earned the additional 5 percent interest in the Copperstone D-Zone Joint Venture for a total earned interest of 60 percent. On February 14, 2002, the Corporation entered into an agreement with CDC whereby it would acquire the remaining 40 percent interest of the D-Zone Joint Venture not already owned for the following consideration: (a) assumption of a total of US$325,000 of Copperstone related liabilities and if these liabilities exceed the estimated amount then the additional amounts would be paid equally by CDC and the Corporation. These liabilities were previously recorded by the Corporation as at December 31, 2000 and as at December 31, 2003 all of these liabilities have either been paid or settled; -9(b) assumption of an estimated CDC payroll tax liability of up to US$180,000 that may arise. If these liabilities exceed the estimated amount, then the additional amounts would be paid equally by CDC and the Corporation; (c) US$345,000 payable to CDC and or its principal on or before July 31, 2002; (d) A net smelter royalty of three percent paid to CDC from the first 50,000 tons of mineralized material extracted from the D-Zone, subsequent to repayment of the Brascan Loan; and, (e) US$70,000 from initial proceeds from extraction of mineralized materials from the D-Zone, following repayment of the Brascan Loan. On July 26, 2002, the Corporation paid US$345,000 to CDC in accordance with the above agreement and recorded a further US$180,000 in accounts payable to reflect the estimated CDC payroll tax liability that may arise. On October 17, 2002, the Corporation entered into mining services agreement with an Underground Mining Contractor (“Mining Contractor”) for purposes of the development and extension of an existing underground decline in the D-Zone to establish underground infrastructure for subsequent exploration and development programs. On the basis of meeting certain pre-determined performance criteria the Mining Contractor can earn up to a 5 percent net profits royalty from the D-Zone bulk sample of up to 50,000 tons of mineralized material. The bulk sample program has been deferred indefinitely as a result of the Corporation’s current exploration and development programs. 3.3 Trends Management is not currently aware of any trends, commitment, event or uncertainty that may reasonably be expected to have a material impact on the Corporation’s business other than the following summary of risks that are typically inherent in the business of resource exploration and development. Risks of this Corporation in Particular Additional Funding Requirements The business of mineral exploration and extraction involves a high degree of risk with very few properties that are explored ultimately achieving commercial production. At present, none the Corporation’s properties have a known body of commercial ore. As a mining company in the development stage, the future ability of the Corporation to conduct exploration and development will be affected principally by its ability to raise adequate amounts of capital through equity financings, debt financings, joint venturing of projects and other means. In turn, the Corporation’s ability to raise such funding depends in part upon the market’s perception of its management and properties, but to a great degree upon the price of gold and the marketability of securities of speculative exploration and development mining companies. Presently, trends in gold prices and in investor demand for securities of speculative exploration and development mining companies appear positive. The development of any ore deposits found on the Corporation’s exploration and development properties depends upon the Corporation’s ability to obtain financing through any or all of equity financing, debt financing, the joint venturing of projects, or other means. There is no assurance that the Corporation will be successful in obtaining the required financing. - 10 Risks of the Business General Resource exploration and development is a speculative business, characterized by a number of significant risks including, among other things, unprofitable efforts resulting not only from the failure to discover mineral deposits but from finding mineral deposits which, though present, are insufficient in quantity and quality to return a profit from production. The marketability of minerals acquired or discovered by the Corporation may be affected by numerous factors which are beyond the control of the Corporation and which cannot be accurately predicted, such as market fluctuations, the proximity and capacity of mining facilities, mineral markets and processing equipment, and such other factors as government regulations, including regulations relating to royalties, allowable production, importing and exporting of minerals, and environmental protection, the combination of which factors may result in the Corporation’s not receiving an adequate return on invested capital. Exploration and Development Risks There is no certainty that the expenditures to be made by the Corporation in the exploration and development of its properties will result in discoveries of mineralized material in commercial quantities. Most exploration and development projects do not result in the discovery of commercially mineable ore deposits. Mining operations generally involve a high degree of risk which even a combination of experience, knowledge and careful evaluation may not be able to overcome. The business of gold mining is subject to a variety of risks such as industrial accidents, flooding, environmental hazards such as fires, technical failures, labour disputes and other accidents at the mine facilities. Such occurrences, against which the Corporation cannot, or may elect not to, insure, may delay production, increase production costs or result in liability. The payment of such liabilities may have a material adverse effect on the Corporation’s financial position. Mineral Prices The mining industry in general is intensely competitive and there is no assurance that, even if commercial quantities of Mineral Resources are discovered, a profitable market will exist for the sale of same. Factors beyond the control of the Corporation may affect the marketability of any mineral occurrences discovered. The price of gold has experienced volatile and significant price movements over short periods of time, and is affected by numerous factors beyond the control of the Corporation, including international economic and political trends, expectations of inflation, currency exchange fluctuations (specifically, the United States dollar relative to the Canadian dollar and other currencies), interest rates and global or regional consumption patterns (such as the development of gold coin programs), speculative activities and increased production due to improved mining and production methods. Operating History The Corporation has no history of earnings. The Corporation has paid no dividends on its shares since incorporation and does not anticipate doing so in the foreseeable future. The only present source of funds available to the Corporation is through the sale of its equity shares or by way of loans. While the Corporation may generate additional working capital through the operation, development, sale or possible syndication of its properties, there is no assurance that any such funds will be generated. Environmental Regulation All phases of the Corporation’s operations are subject to environmental regulation in the various jurisdictions in which it operates. Environmental legislation is evolving in a manner which will require stricter standards and enforcement, increased fines and penalties for non-compliance, more stringent - 11 environmental assessments of proposed projects and a heightened degree of responsibility for companies and their officers, directors and employees. There is no assurance that future changes in environmental regulation, if any, will not adversely affect the Corporation’s operations, or its ability to develop its properties economically. Before production may commence on any property, the Corporation must obtain regulatory and environmental approvals and permits. There is no assurance such approvals and permits will be obtained on a timely basis, if at all. Compliance with environmental and other regulations may reduce profitability, or preclude economic development of a property entirely. Competition The resource industry is intensely competitive in all of its phases, and the Corporation competes with many companies possessing greater financial resources and technical facilities than itself. Competition could adversely affect the Corporation’s ability to acquire suitable producing properties or prospects for exploration in the future. Title Matters In those jurisdictions where the Corporation has property interests, the Corporation makes a search of mining records in accordance with mining industry practices to confirm satisfactory title to properties in which it holds or intends to acquire an interest, but does not obtain title insurance with respect to such properties. The possibility exists that title to one or more of its properties, particularly title to undeveloped properties, might be defective because of errors or omissions in the chain of title, including defects in conveyances and defects in locating or maintaining such claims, or concessions. The ownership and validity of mining claims and concessions are often uncertain and may be contested. The Corporation is not aware of any challenges to the location or area of its mineral claims. There is, however, no guarantee that title to the Corporation’s properties and concessions will not be challenged or impugned in the future. The properties may be subject to prior unregistered agreements or transfers, and title may be affected by undetected defects. Dependence on Key Personnel The success of the Corporation and its ability to continue to carry on operations is dependent upon its ability to retain the services of certain key personnel. The loss of their services to the Corporation may have a material adverse effect on the Corporation. Conflicts of Interest Certain of the directors of the Corporation are directors of other mineral resource companies and, to the extent that such other companies may participate in ventures in which the Corporation may participate, the directors of the Corporation may have a conflict of interest in negotiating and concluding terms respecting the extent of such participation. In the event that such a conflict of interest arises at a meeting of the directors of the Corporation, a director who has such a conflict will abstain from voting for or against the approval of such a participation or such terms. In the appropriate cases the Corporation will establish a special committee of independent directors to review a matter in which several directors, or management, may have a conflict. From time to time several companies may participate in the acquisition, exploration and development of natural resource properties thereby allowing for their participating in larger programs, permitting involvement in a greater number of programs and reducing financial exposure in respect of any one program. - 12 ITEM 4 - NARRATIVE DESCRIPTION OF THE BUSINESS 4.1 General The Corporation is a development stage mining company engaged in the identification, acquisition, exploration and development of high-grade precious metals properties primarily located in the Great Basin of the American Southwest. The Corporation holds interest in three mineral exploration projects (the Pamlico and Gold Bar projects in Nevada and the Oatman project in Arizona) and one development project (the Copperstone Project in Arizona). The Corporation conducts its exploration and development activities independently as well as through option or earn-in arrangements. The Corporation directly employs five individuals and engages independent contractors as required. 4.2 Development and Exploration Projects Copperstone Gold Project General The Corporation holds a 100 percent leasehold interest in the Copperstone Project. The landlord is The Patch Living Trust and the lease is for a 10 year term starting June 12, 1995, renewable by the Corporation for one or more ten-year terms at the Corporation’s option under the same terms and conditions. The Corporation is obligated to pay for all permitting and state lease bonding, insurance, taxes, and to pay a 1 percent production gross royalty so long as the price of gold in US dollars is less than US$350 per ounce (royalty increases to 6 percent as price of gold increases to over US$551 per ounce), with a minimum advance royalty per year of US$30,000. Mine Development Associates (“MDA”) was requested by the Corporation to complete a technical report on the Copperstone Project, La Paz County, Arizona in accordance with NI 43-101. The scope of the MDA report included a review of pertinent technical reports and data in possession of the Corporation relative to the general setting, geology, project history, exploration activities and results, methodology, quality assurance, and interpretations. MDA visited the property, took samples, reviewed published and unpublished reports, and reviewed and modified the exploration plan. Most of the data addressed in the report was presented to MDA by the Corporation and/or was done by previous workers and including the MRDI Report described below which was included in the MDA Report. MDA believes the data to be reliable, but has not made a rigorous analysis of the procedures or results. The MDA Report also refers to and includes as an appendix a report by MRDI-Canada (“MRDI”), currently a subsidiary of AMEC plc, which conducted scoping level studies for the Corporation in February 1999. The MRDI report was completed prior to the enactment of NI 43-101 and was prepared by MRDI Canada, an independent mining engineering consulting firm. The report was prepared to industry standards and is relevant and reliable today, as it was in 1999. MRDI did not independently verify the sample data. The MRDI resource estimate is based on a geological model provided by the Corporation and an inverse distance weighting to the power 3 block model (IDW3). Gold grades were capped at 2.5 opt gold in the C zone and 4.7 opt gold in the D zone. A 0.00 opt gold block cut-off grade was used for the total resource estimate. The tonnage factor applied was 10.7 cu.ft/ton. The assay database supplied to MRDI contains 30,391 assays from 586 exploration and ore outline drill holes completed during the period 1980 to 1998. A subset of this database containing 71 drill holes with 253 associated assays has been used in this scoping study to develop the geological and resource model of the - 13 C and D zones in the Northwest High Grade Zone. According to MRDI, the Copperstone Gold Project Resource has been classified into Measured, Indicated and Inferred Resources based upon the level of confidence according to the proposed The Toronto Stock Exchange’s guidelines using the drilling grid spacing and continuity of mineralization as determined through the geological and geostatistical review of the data. Management is of the opinion that these classifications, based on what was then The Toronto Stock Exchange’s guidelines which subsequently became NI 43-101, with some minor modifications, are materially in compliance with NI 43-101. The Mineral Resources disclosed are not Mineral Reserves and have not yet demonstrated economic and commercial viability. The MDA and MRDI Reports were filed on SEDAR on May 2, 2002 and available at www.sedar.com. The following is summary information as contained in the MDA and MRDI Reports: Location and Access The Copperstone property is located in La Paz County, Arizona, United States. The closest communities are Quartzite, located 16 km to the south and Parker, located 40 km to the north. Phoenix is 106 km east of the Copperstone property. The property is accessible from Phoenix on Interstate 10 to Quartzite and Route 95 from Quartzite. An 8 km unpaved mine road connects the property to Route 95. Title The Copperstone property consists of 284 contiguous un-patented Federal mineral claims comprising 5,680 acres. The land is under the jurisdiction of the United States Bureau of Land Management (BLM). The Patch Living Trust (“PLT”) of Scottsdale, Arizona owns the title to the 284 mineral claims. In June 1995, the Copperstone property was leased from PLT by APMI for a 10 year term and is renewable at the option of the lessee. The annual claim fees payable to the BLM are approximately US$30,000. An annual minimum US$30,000 advance royalty is payable to PLT under the terms of the lease and is subject to a 1 percent production gross royalty so long as the price of gold in US dollars is less than US$350 per ounce (royalty increases to 6 percent as price of gold increases to over US$551 per ounce). Geology Copperstone occurs within the “Basin and Range” province of the south-western USA. The regional geology is strongly influenced by Tertiary age detachment faults and younger high angle normal faults. The Copperstone gold deposit is related to the Moon Mountain or Copper Peak detachment fault. Gold mineralization at Copperstone occurs principally within the moderate to low-angle Copperstone Fault which has been interpreted to be a listric fault associated with the underlying Moon Mountain detachment fault. Gold occurs as native flakes within fault breccia, gouge and shear zones related to the faulting. The wall and host rocks are typically Triassic sediments and Jurassic quartz latite volcanics. Gold is commonly associated with hematite, chlorite, quartz, manganese oxide and copper oxide mineralization. Mining History During the period 1987 to 1993, Cyprus Minerals (“Cyprus”) operated a 2,500 ton per day open-pit mine at Copperstone that produced 500,000 ounces of gold from the Copperstone fault. The mine was closed at the economic limit of open-pit mining. Total mine production was 6,000,000 tons at a grade of 0.11 ounces/ton (3.8 g/t) gold. Gold recovery for the life of mine was 89 percent. The strip ratio of the pit was 10:1. Cyprus drilled 496 reverse circulation and 73 core holes for a total of 569 holes. Following the mine closure in 1993, Cyprus reclaimed the tailings pond and removed the Carbon-in-Pulp mill. Office, - 14 shop and warehouse facilities remain at the site. Furthermore, the 69 kv power line and substation remains in service, together with the three water wells with a 200 hp pumping capacity. Past Work Programs Santa Fe Pacific leased the Copperstone property for one year beginning in 1993 and drilled 12,500 feet in 17 wide spaced reverse circulation holes to explore for new gold mineralization. One hole (DCU-08) intersected significant mineralization (0.65 ounces per ton of gold over 15 feet) in the footwall of the Copperstone Fault. This hole was not followed-up and the lease was terminated in 1994. APMI drilled 28,330 feet in 33 surface holes on the property between 1995 and 1997. The main objectives of this drilling were to test for deep, down-dip extensions of the Copperstone Fault below the open-pit and the strike extension of the fault to the north of the open-pit. This drilling resulted in the discovery of high grade gold mineralization on-strike to the north of the open-pit (the “D zone”) and down-dip to the northeast (the “C zone”). The Corporation and APMI entered into the Copperstone joint venture agreement in August, 1998. The Corporation subsequently drilled 10,000 feet in 15 core holes to further define the gold mineralization in the C and D zones. This drilling program was subject to quality control and quality assurance procedures established jointly with MRDI Canada. On completion of the drilling program, MRDI was retained to complete an independent scoping study of a new underground mine in the C and D zones. The MRDI study was completed in February, 1999. Recently Completed Work Programs The Corporation has completed an underground decline which now extends from the northern end of the Open Pit over 1,800 feet to the north, intersecting the southern portion of the D-Zone high grade mineralized target. A cross cut has been driven westward, into the footwall, to establish an underground drill station, Drill Bay #1. Underground channel and panel sampling programs have demonstrated good continuity to the high gold grades in the southern portion of the D-Zone. As of the date of this Annual Information Form a substantial, detailed underground core drilling program is currently underway. This extensive core drilling from underground will locate and define the grade profile of the Copperstone Fault in the D-Zone, will provide detailed data, and will assist in the design of future underground workings and stopes. Current Work Program The current work programs at Copperstone fall into two main efforts. First, drilling programs are underway which will provide the data necessary for an updated technical report in the form required by NI 43-101. The current programs of surface and underground drilling, drifting, cross-cutting and sampling will provide detailed assay and geologic data which should increase the confidence level of resource estimations and if results warrant, enable the upgrading of the current Mineral Resources to the Measured and Indicated Mineral Resource category. On the basis of obtaining satisfactory results the new NI 43-101 report will include a preliminary feasibility study of the viability of the Copperstone Project which will include financial analysis based on reasonable assumptions of technical, engineering, operating, economic factors, and the evaluation of other relevant factors sufficient to determine if all or part of the Mineral Resources may be classified as Reserves. Second, substantial drilling and other exploration programs are underway to expand the Mineral Resources through the discovery of new gold zones. - 15 The extensive, detailed core drilling program from underground at the D-Zone represents the most advanced portion of the current drilling program, and is approximately 50% complete at May 10, 2004. The surface drilling program, with first results announced during March 2004, represents a second front to the resource conversion and confirmation programs. This effort began during early 2004 and will continue for much of the year, with a total of over 30,000 metres of drilling planned. The first results of the second main work effort at Copperstone, the exploration for new discoveries, were announced during January 2004. The Footwall exploration target represents a structure semi-parallel to the Copperstone Fault and an entirely new potential mineralized zone. Early results are very encouraging and these will be followed up with additional drilling. Future Work Program Assuming the results of the current work program as demonstrated by the new NI 43-101 report are satisfactory, the next stage of evaluation would be comprised of work programs required to complete a bankable feasibility study in accordance with NI 43-101. This work will focus on metallurgical testing of a bulk ore sample, environmental and geo-technical studies and detailed estimates of the capital and operating costs. Following completion of this work, if the results warrant, the Corporation will obtain a bankable feasibility study in accordance with NI 43-101, which will serve as the basis for a production decision. MRDI Scoping Study The MRDI scoping study evaluated the underground mine development of only the C and D zones and ESTIMATED an Indicated resource containing 892,000 tons grading 0.32 opt gold (285,700 ounces of gold) and an Inferred resource containing 1.19 million tons grading 0.35 opt gold (423,000 ounces of gold). Within the above mentioned resource MRDI, on a preliminary basis, evaluated the economics of mining mineralized material which is most available to underground workings from a portal site at the North end of the open pit. MRDI estimated a diluted, recoverable resource included in the mine design plan of 827,400 tons at a cut and capped grade of 0.56 opt gold (459,500 ounces gold). To study this diluted, recoverable resource included in the mine design plan, economic mining cut-off grades were based on a gold price of $300 per ounce, a milling recovery of 90 percent and estimates of operating costs were determined for each zone and varied from about 0.25 to 0.30 opt gold. A planned daily processing rate of 520 tons per day was used. The resources available for mining are based on the material within a geologic grade envelope of 0.10 opt gold and greater, and having overall diluted grades greater than the calculate cut-off grades. The resource for each zone has been factored for 95 percent mining recovery and 10 percent mining dilution at a grade of 0.08 opt gold. Material excluded from the mining plan includes that with diluted grades less than 0.25 opt gold, totaling about 474,000 tons at a grade of 0.183 opt gold, and that in the hanging wall zones which is based on limited drill hole data and totals about 105,000 tons at a grade of 0.998 opt gold. MRDI designed a 520 ton per day underground mine plan at the scoping level for the C and D zones. The plan is based on selective drift and fill mining from a decline developed from the base of the open-pit. The mill design incorporates crushing and grinding circuits, a gravity concentrator and cyaninde tank leaching with Carbon-in-Pulp gold recovery. A 90 percent gold recovery has been assumed on the basis of Cyprus historical data. - 16 Capital cost was estimated at US$22.5 million, including direct costs of US$14.7 million and indirect costs of US$7.8 million. The average mine life operating cost is estimated to be US$74.52 per ton of ore processed. This total includes mining costs of US$39.64 per ton, processing costs of US$25.21 per ton and General and Administrative costs of US$9.67 per ton. Annual gold production in year one is forecast to be 156,000 ounces and 72,000 ounces in years two to five. A pre-tax cash flow analysis of the proposed mine development, assuming a gold price of US$300 per ounce, indicates the following estimated project economics: • Cumulative Cash Flow US$ 32 million • Net Present Value @ 10 percent discount US$ 18 million • Discounted Cash Flow Rate of Return 45.4 percent • Capital Payback 1.2 years • Cash Cost of Production US$149 per ounce gold These project economics are most sensitive to changes in mine grade, metallurgical recovery and gold prices. Other Exploration Projects On September 27, 2002 the Corporation entered into an Option Agreement with American Nevada Gold Corp. (“American Nevada”). Under the terms of the Option Agreement, American Nevada was granted an option to earn a 50 percent interest in both the Pamlico and Gold Bar properties (the “Properties”) by way of providing cash and securities with a value of $131,500 and funding exploration expenditures over a three year period totalling $3,600,000. Joint venture funding of approximately $525,000 has been received or accrued as at December 31, 2003. On September 9, 2003 American Nevada elected not to proceed with Year 2 and 3 of this option agreement and retained a 5 percent interest in both the Pamlico and Gold Bar properties subject to standard dilution provisions. Pamlico The Pamlico project in Nevada is comprised of 63 patented and unpatented claims covering 5 square kilometres which are prospective for gold. General The Pamlico property is located in Mineral County, 15 kilometres from Hawthorne, Nevada. Pamlico was subject to a cash payment of US$25,000 due November 2001 which was deferred and paid in 2002. In 2002, a cash payment of US$150,000 was also made. On November 2003 the Corporation made a cash payment of US$150,000 and deferred the final remaining cash payment of US$525,000 until November 2004. The property is subject to a 1 percent net profits interest royalty after the final cash payment. Pamlico has no associated work commitments. G.F. McArthur, P.Geo., an independent consulting geologist of Vancouver, British Columbia prepared a report dated September 8, 2000 (the “McArthur Report”) on the properties which the Corporation acquired in the “Bonanza Acquisition” in late 2000, prepared in accordance with what was then the proposed NI 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects, as described in British Columbia Securities Commission’s Notice and Interpretation Note 2000/12 dated March 22, 2000; NI 43-101 came into force on February 1, 2001. - 17 Following is a summary of the McArthur Report on the Pamlico Bar property followed by a summary of the Corporation current and future proposed program. Location and Access The Pamlico property is located in Mineral County, 15 kilometres ESE of Hawthorne, Nevada. It is accessible by vehicle travelling 16 kilometres east on US 95, then 13 kilometres SSW on four-wheeldrive dirt roads. Geology The Pamlico property is located in south central Nevada within the Walker Lane mineral trend. The Pamlico project is underlain by folded and imbricately thrusted Paleozoic eugeoclinal shales and cherts or miogeoclinal carbonates. Mesozoic and Cenozoic volcanic and sedimentary rocks occur locally as erosional remnants. Minor Mesozoic and Cenozoic plutonic rocks intrude these older sequences locally at Pamlico. The Pamlico property covers numerous historic shafts and adits and work-to-date has confirmed the existence of high-grade gold mineralization. Pamlico has several drill targets ready to test. Pamlico has already been drill-tested by the Corporation (including its subsidiaries) and high-grade mineralization (greater than 34 g/t or 1 opt) has been intersected in drilling. Past Work Program At Pamlico, only one company has done any modern work. Cimarron Minerals Ltd. (formerly Cactus West) completed a program of geological mapping, rock sampling and Mag/ VLF and IP geophysical surveys. They drilled 50 reverse circulation holes totaling 4738 metres (15,545 feet) on geological, geochemical and geophysical targets. The Cimarron drill holes contained a small number of 1.5 metre (5 foot) intervals grading 8.2 to 58.3 g/t (0.24 to 1.7 opt) gold within predominantly unmineralized wallrock. The American Mines Handbook (1998) gives a resource estimate by Cimarron of “indicated partially drilled resource” of 45,000 ounces gold in 900,000 tons averaging 0.05 opt gold. These historic resource estimates are viewed by the Corporation as mineralized zones representing threedimensional gold geochemical anomalies. These anomalies are used to focus the Corporation’s exploration efforts onto high-grade underground mineable targets, versus the previous emphasis of exploration which targeted low-grade bulk mineable mineralization. Recently Completed Work Programs The Corporation has completed a program comprising regional and detailed geological mapping, surface rock sampling (1,353 samples), soil sampling (638 samples) and underground mapping and sampling (385 samples). The data were digitized and entered into Bonanza’s GIS model and Vulcan 3-D model to guide the drilling program. Targeted areas were tested by 16 reverse circulation drill holes totaling 1,692 metres (5,550 feet). Of the approximately 300 old workings on the property, about 50 were extensive enough to warrant underground mapping in addition to sampling. A number of high results were returned from the Central Mine and the Main Zone areas, consequently follow-up detailed underground mapping and sampling focussed on these two areas. - 18 - In the Main Zone area, numerous adits and shafts indicate this was the primary historic mining center producing approximately 50,000 ounces of gold. The Central Mine and Main Zone areas were the focus of the Corporation’s drilling. In the Main Zone, drilling targeted known productive veins approximately 90 metres down dip from the historic workings. Eight holes were drilled along a 230 metre, roughly linear, fence. Three holes encountered narrow veins approximately 0.6 metres thick, grading 42 g/t, 134 g/t and 700 g/t gold. The first intercept represents a previously unknown vein while the latter two intercepts represent the down dip extension of the known productive veins. The Central Mine B-Zero target area is near the center of the property, approximately 1.6 kilometres northeast of the Main Zone. Bonanza drilled five holes in a roughly square pattern on 150 metre centers. This preliminary drilling returned discouraging results with no significant gold values and little vein material. It is presently thought that the holes were drilled into a faulted out block. Three additional holes were drilled 400 metres to the west on a 200 metre linear fence to test a second area of veining. These holes also returned discouraging results. Current Work Program During 2003 the Corporation completed an early-stage drilling program totaling 1,608 feet in eight holes, and was designed to confirm and expand mineralization encountered previously in the underground workings in the Central Mine Area and in underground workings and previous drilling in the north end of the Main Zone. Encouraging results of 55.5 grams per tonne (1.62 ounces of gold per ton) over 1 metre (3 feet) and 95.6 grams per tonne (2.79 ounces of gold per ton) over 0.3 metre (1 foot) were obtained. Given the early stage of the exploration drilling, these results are considered encouraging. Four distinct mineralized structures were targeted and all four were encountered by the drilling, with two structures returning significant mineralization as described above. Several intervals testing structures did not return high grade gold, but contain anomalous gold grades between 1.0 g/t gold and 0.5 g/t gold which suggests potential for these structures in other areas. Gold mineralization is restricted to structures, with little to no gold mineralization present in the wallrocks. As a result, all eight drill holes were pre-drilled with a reverse circulation drilling rig and the Main Zone structural targets were then drilled with a HQ core drilling rig. A total of 1,120 feet of reverse circulation was drilled, along with a total of 488 feet of “spot” core drilled through the target zones. The drill holes in the Main zone were located adjacent to reverse circulation holes drilled by Bonanza in 1999. Surveyed underground workings were used to position drill holes in the Central Mine area. Drilling in the Main Pamlico Mines area targeted known productive veins about 90 metres (300 feet) down-dip from the deepest working in the area. The five holes were drilled from two drill pads, and were designed to encounter target structures between 10 and 20 metres along strike from previously know data points. The two high grade intercepts were encountered in this area. These Main Zone veins remain open to expansion along strike and dip. Future Work Programs The Pamlico gold mineralization occurs within a package of sedimentary and volcanic rocks, in silicified faults, epithermal quartz veins and silicified brecciated lithologic contacts. Future drilling will target these mineralized structures to follow up along strike and dip from these current results and previously drilled mineralized zones. The Pamlico veins and mineralized faults occur along Walker Lane faults and are typically moderately dipping, curviplanar, and locally braided. Silicification is the most prevalent wallrock alteration. - 19 Several undrilled high quality targets are present on the Pamlico property, and exploration efforts currently focus on refining drill targets in these areas and compilation of the new drill data and modeling to evaluate these targets and plan future drilling to explore new targets and follow up these recent results. The focus of future drilling programs will be areas where thicker veins may be present, and one potential bulk tonnage target. Gold Bar The Gold Bar project in Nevada comprise 70 patented and unpatented claims covering 5 square kilometres which are prospective for gold. General The Gold Bar properties are located in Eureka County, 50 kilometres northwest of Eureka, Nevada. Gold Bar is subject to a 2 percent net smelter royalty capped at US$1,000,000 on future production. Following is a summary of the McArthur Report on the Gold Bar property followed by a summary of the Corporation’s current and future proposed program. The Gold Bar properties are located in the Battle Mountain/Eureka mineral trend in east-central Nevada and cover a past-producing bulk tonnage gold mine with 485,000 oz of historic production. Historic reserves (now characterized as subeconomic resources) in place at Gold Bar have most recently been quoted at 6.1 million tons grading 0.082 opt by Atlas Corporation and its subsidiaries (collectively “Atlas”). Several drill targets are ready to test, including the 150,000 ounce Millsite-Gold Bar Pit area (estimated by Granges). Numerous other economically interesting areas exist on this historic producer. Location and Access The Gold Bar properties are located in Eureka County, 50 kilometres northwest of Eureka, Nevada. They are accessible by vehicle, travelling 33 kilometres west on US 50, then north, 25 kilometres on dirt roads. Geology The Gold Bar properties lie in the Battle Mountain/Eureka structural mineral trend. They are underlain by a complexly folded and imbricately thrusted sequence of Paleozoic shelf carbonates and deeper water shales and cherts. The Paleozoic rocks are unconformably overlain by a thick sequence of undifferentiated Tertiary volcanics and sediments. Recent pediment gravels fill the valleys. Primary regional structures are northwest trending strike-slip and dextral wrench faults. These are associated with north-northwest trending dextral synthetic faults, north trending normal faults, northeast trending sinistral antithetic faults and east-west trending compressional faults. Past Work Program The Gold Bar property has no record of historic production prior to exploration by Atlas in 1983. Production began at the Gold Bar pit in 1987 and continued until the mine closed in 1994. A total of 7,514,600 tons grading 0.074 opt gold were produced. Recoveries averaged 87 percent, resulting in production of 485,000 ounces of gold. During their work in 1983 to 1994, Atlas completed mapping, geochemistry, geophysics and drilling. These programs resulted in the discovery or optioning of mineralization at Gold Bar, Gold Pick, Goldstone, Gold Canyon, Gold Ridge, Cabin Creek, Pot Canyon and Hunter. Open pit mining was carried out at all but Pot Canyon and Hunter. The Gold Bar and Gold Canyon areas currently comprise the Corporation’s Gold Bar Properties. - 20 In late 1994, Atlas entered into an agreement with Homestake on the southern and northern claims areas. Homestake drilled 26 holes totalling approximately 7,282 metres (23,890 feet) and completed geological mapping, geochemistry and geophysics. In 1995, Atlas signed an agreement with Granges who completed mapping, geochemistry, geophysics and the drilling of 33 holes totalling 7,314 metres (24,980 feet). In 1997, Barrick optioned most of the Atlas claims. They completed a program of mapping, geochemistry and geophysics. Fifty holes were drilled in 1997 and a further 33 holes in 1998 totalling 10,796 metres (35,420 feet). Historic in situ resources remaining at the Gold Bar property as calculated by Atlas are as follows: • 3.6 million tons (3.3 million tonnes) grading 0.100 ounce per ton (3.4 g/t) gold in the Gold Bar Deposit; • 2.5 million tons (2.3 million tonnes) grading 0.056 ounce per ton (1.9 g/t) gold in the Gold Canyon deposit. Granges calculated a geological resource in 1996 for the newly discovered Millsite Deposit of 1.626 million tons (1.475 million tonnes) grading 0.091 opt (3.1 g/t) gold containing approximately 150,000 ounces of gold. These resources were calculated using 30.48 x 30.48 x 4.6 meters (100 x 100 x 15 foot) blocks with a 0.025 opt (0.86 g/t) gold cutoff and a 30.48 meter (100 foot) search radius. These historic resource estimates are viewed by the Corporation as mineralized zones representing threedimensional gold geochemical anomalies. These anomalies are used to focus the Corporation’s exploration efforts onto high-grade underground mineable targets, versus the previous emphasis of exploration which targeted low-grade bulk mineable mineralization. Current and Proposed Work Program The vast data acquired by Atlas and other companies has been compiled and converted into digital format to define areas of high-grade gold within the known or recently mined out gold deposits. These areas of interest are being further evaluated to define drill targets at depth below the existing open pits. Several such areas have been noted to date near the Gold Bar pit, the Millsite target and the Gold Canyon pit. The primary focus of current work at Gold Bar is deep exploration drilling below the largest of the open pits mined during modern times. The target deposit is a deep, high grade Carlin-type gold deposit similar to the Meikle Mine on the Carlin trend. These deposits, while deep, have significant positive economic impact. The Gold Bar Main Pit locale is a good site for this exploration because of the following geological characteristics. The property is located at the intersection of the Battle Mountain–Eureka Mineral Belt and the Cortez Rift, two of the major gold mineral belts in Nevada. Local geology is extremely favorable, with the Roberts Mountains Thrust Fault and erosional windows through the thrust faults present on the property. The most favorable host rock formation for Carlin-type disseminated gold deposits is the Roberts Mountains Formation limestones, which are present at depth on the property. Classic feeder-fault systems apparently exist below the gold deposits that were mined during modern times in open pits, and are guides to potential deeper, high grade Carlin-type gold deposits. The results from the first deep hole completed at Gold Bar were announced during March 2004, and are very positive from an exploration point of view. The Roberts Mountains Formation favorable host rocks were encountered at depth near the postulated feeder fault system below the Gold Bar Main open pit. - 21 The Roberts Mountains Formation in the core is hydrothermally altered and silicified. Significant geochemical anomalies are present in the Roberts Mountains Formation in the core. This information is very positive and suggests that the target high grade gold deposit may be nearby. Additional work including geophysical surveys and further core drilling in the area is planned to follow these results up during 2004. Oatman The Oatman property is located in Mohave County in Northwest Arizona. The Corporation acquired 1500 acres (600 hectares) through the staking of 67 unpatented lode mining claims in November, 2003. The district was discovered in 1864 and was mined continuously through the 1930s. Oatman Mining District produced over 2 million ounces of gold with an average grade of 0.67 ounces of gold per ton (23 grams per tonne), making it one of the highest grade gold mining districts in western North America. The property is located at the intersection of the two main productive veins in the Oatman Mining District: the main Oatman vein with 1,400,000 ounces in gold produced, and the Gold Road Vein, with production of approximately 325,000 ounces of gold. Vein intersections, or areas where veins merge, are often the location of additional discoveries in vein mining districts. This principal target is covered by shallow gravels. Within the property limits are numerous other Tertiary epithermal volcanic-hosted veins associated with encouraging alteration. This project will be the focus of exploration diamond core drilling in 2004, with mapping, data compilation and target definition currently in progress Exploration Technology In addition to the Bonanza projects acquired in late 2000, the Corporation acquired the proprietary database and metallogenic study owned by Bonanza Exploration. Bonanza’s Great Basin Metallogenic Exploration Study (“Metallogenic Study”) represents a technical breakthrough similar in potential to past exploration advancements such as the application of electro-magnetic geophysical techniques to exploration for volcanogenic massive sulfide deposits, and the application of the porphyry copper genetic model. The Metallogenic Study is based on the theory that if one can determine how high grade gold deposits are formed, and identify the structural and geological conditions required for the formation of these deposits, then one should be able to predict the location of other, undiscovered deposits by analyzing structural and geologic conditions. The software used to manage and analyze thes