Forte Development Inc.

• Forte Development Inc. provides internet-based economic evaluation
  of mining projects.

• Forte's 'Evaluation Tools!' provides analysis of potential properties.
  Based on early stage property assessment information, a conceptual
  development plan can be determined including detailed capital and
  operating cost estimates and project level cashflows.

• The 'Evaluation Tools!' incorporate country-specific features such as
  taxation, import duties, shipping & transport, local labour parameters,
  and repatriation of capital.

Before Forte Mining...

• Before Forte Mining, early stage exploration properties were evaluated,
  in part, by comparison to similar operating properties and by assessing
  the general features of the deposits. A detailed quantitative analysis
  was not typically available at an early stage of evaluation.

• Scoping or prefeasibility studies to assess a property's unique situation
  and economic viability were relatively expensive and time consuming for
  early stage evaluations.

The Forte Advantage

• Forte's 'Evaluation Tools!' provide a snapshot of the potential
  development and economics of a project. The impact of increased tonnes
  or grade, regional issues, metal prices, and other parameters can be
  quickly compared to a base case.

• Internet access provides fast results globally. Pricing and country-specific
  information are continuously updated.

Forte's 'Evaluation Tools!'

• Forte's 'Evaluation Tools!' consist of inter-related modules that combine
  into a cashflow model.

• Each module uses input parameters to determine design criteria and
  equipment selection and to develop capital and operating cost details.

• The Cashflow Module summarizes the details from the other modules
  and applies a detailed tax calculation specific to the country and region.

• Individual modules, such as the Open Pit Module, can be used separately
  for scoping and costing purposes.

Advantages for Potential Clients

• Mine Operators
  
• Explorationists
• Engineers
• Bankers
• Analysts
• Governments and Educators
  
  

An Example - The Open Pit Module

• The client inputs parameters interactively via the internet at
  www.fortemining.com.

• The Open Pit Module calculates pit dimensions and a bench-by-bench
  generic mine plan. The module determines cycle times, appropriate
  equipment, labour, and supplies and provides a detailed capital and
  operating cost estimate for the mining function. The estimate include
  location specific items such as sales taxes, import duties, and freight
  costs.

• The results summary is presented on-screen and the details are provided
  in printable format.
  

Location Inputs

The following inputs:

• Country.
• Region/State/Province.
• Elevation.
• Distance from power source (optional).
• Distance from water source (optional).
• Distance from natural gas source (optional).
• Access road requirement (optional).
• Distance to major port or commercial centre.

Are used to estimate:

• Infrastructure improvement requirements.
• Selected power and heating alternatives.
• Labour rates, required and discretionary benefits, productivities,
  and supervisor loading.
• Equipment, materials, and supplies purchase pricing, on-going
  maintenance costs, freight, taxes, and duties.
• Equipment altitude derating.

Open Pit Inputs

The following inputs:

• Hosted metals (% or gpt based).
• Number of distinct pits and locations with respect to each other,
  the waste dumps, and the potential plant location.
• Ore zone categories which may differentiate or affect crushing,
  placement, and/or processing strategies.
• For each ore zone category and waste and overburden, a
  breakdown of host rock types, mineralization and structural
  geology features.

Are used to estimate:

• General site layout and spacing requirements.
• Stationary equipment and local infrastructure requirements.
• Specific gravities, swell factors, and expected dilution.
• Proposed pit wall angles, bench heights, drill hole diameters,
  explosives types, and powder factors.

Mineral Deposit Inputs - Three Levels

• Depending on the amount of information available, mineral deposit
  inputs may be chosen at one of three levels:
  • The first level is useful if only a basic knowledge of the
    general mineral deposit geometry is available, specifically
    tonnes and grade to a given depth with a bottom level
    length and width.
  • The second level is useful if some mining schedule
    information is available, specifically tonnes, grade, and
    average pit depths by year. Clients have the option to
    provide over-ride inputs of specific gravity, bench heights,
    wall angles, drill hole diameters, etc.
  • The third level is useful if a detailed mining schedule and
    equipment cycle times are available. Clients have the
    option to provide over-ride inputs of equipment sizing,
    manufacturer selection, and costing details.

Mineral Deposit Inputs - First Level

The following inputs:

• Overall tonnes and grade for each potential pit.
• Depth to bottom of each potential pit and the estimated length
  and width of the deposit at that depth.
• Location and size of zones of interest such as higher grade zones
  or specific mineralizations.
• Depth of overburden cover.
• Estimated mine life.

Are used to estimate:

• Pit geometries including access ramp and bench-by-bench quantities.
• Pushback geometries.
• Overburden and waste tonnage estimates based on the calculated
  pushbacks and pits.
• Mining Schedule.
• Equipment sizing, cycle times, and projected capital and operating
  costs.

Mineral Deposit Inputs - Second Level

The following inputs:

• Tonnes and grade scheduled by year for each potential pit.
• Depth to current pit bottom by year for each potential pit and the
  estimated length and width of the deposit at the ultimate depth.
• Location and size of zones of interest such as higher grade zones
  or specific mineralizations.
• Depth of overburden cover.

Are used to estimate:

• Pit geometries including access ramp and bench-by-bench quantities.
• Pushback geometries.
• Overburden and waste tonnage estimates based on the calculated
  pushbacks and pits.
• Scheduling of the overburden and waste tonnages to meet the
  required ore schedule.
• Equipment sizing, cycle times, and projected capital and operating
  costs.

Mineral Deposit Inputs - Third Level

The following inputs:

• Tonnes and grades plus overburden and waste scheduled by year
  for each potential pit.
• Depth to current pit bottom by year for each potential pit and the
  estimated length and width of the deposit at the ultimate depth.
• Location and size of zones of interest such as higher grade zones
  or specific mineralizations.
• Haulage cycle times.
• Prefered equipment sizing (optional).
• Prefered equipment manufacturers (optional)

Are used to estimate:

• Pit geometries including access ramp and bench-by-bench quantities.
• Pushback geometries.
• Equipment sizing and projected capital and operating costs.

Results

• The Open Pit Module results are presented in year-by-year detail including
  the following:
• A mining schedule for each pit and the combined case.
• Pit geometry details.
• Bench-by-bench quantity tables for each pit and each pushback.
• Haulage cycle times.
• Mobile and stationary equipment sizing and required operating
  hours.
• Equipment requirements - Initial, sustaining, and replacement.
• Drill and blast, power, and fuel requirements.
• Manpower requirements and costing.
• Mobile and stationary equipment capital and operating costs.
• Capital and operating cost summary (incl. freight, taxes, and
  duty as required).
• Unit operating costs.