MINERAL PROPERTIES

9 Months Ended

Nov. 30, 2013

MINERAL PROPERTIES [Text Block]

6.	MINERAL PROPERTIES
	The Company incurred exploration expenses as follows in the nine months ended November 30, 2013:

	Cieneguita	Total
	$	$
Geological, geochemical, geophysics	2,006	2,006
Land use permits	6,241	6,241
Travel	18,014	18,014
Consulting	376,145	376,145
Equipment	159,420	159,420
General	5,481	5,481
	567,307	567,307

The Company incurred exploration expenses as follows in the nine months ended November 30, 2012:

	Cieneguita	Cerro Delta	New Projects	Total
	$	$	$	$
Drilling and sampling	3,592	13,910	3,854	21,356
Field work preparations	-	369,204	-	369,204
Salaries	86,340	-	-	86,340
Land use permits	8,675	-	-	8,675
Travel	18,441	-	-	18,441
Consulting	594,147	7,265	-	601,412
Equipment	159,539	-	-	159,539
General	9,885	892	50,659	61,436
	880,619	391,271	54,513	1,326,403

Since May 2004, the Company has held interests in gold exploration properties in Mexico.

In August 2005, the Company formed its wholly owned subsidiary, Sunburst de Mexico, which allowed the Company to take title to the properties in the name of Sunburst de Mexico. On August 25, 2005, the Company entered into property agreements with MRT, which provided Sunburst de Mexico options to purchase the mineral concessions of the Cieneguita and Guazapares properties and the right of refusal on three Encino Gordo properties. The Company also entered into a development and sale agreement, in October 2006, with Minera Emilio S.A. de C.V. for the mineral concessions of the Sahuayacan property.

In August 2005, the parties also entered into an operator’s agreement, that gave MRT the sole and exclusive right and authority to manage the Cieneguita property, and a share option agreement which granted MRT the exclusive option to acquire up to 100% of all outstanding shares of Sunburst de Mexico if the Company did not comply with the terms of the property agreements. The operator’s agreement and share option agreement were subsequently cancelled when the Company and Sunburst de Mexico entered into a new contract with MRT as described below under “Encino Gordo”.

In February 2009, the Company entered into an exploration agreement with MRT, which was amended in December 2009, then in September 2011 and finally in September 2012.

The material provisions of the property agreements are as follows:

Cieneguita

MRT assigned to Sunburst de Mexico, with the permission of the Cieneguita property’s owner, Corporativo Minero, S.A. de C.V. (“Corporativo Minero”), all of MRT’s rights and obligations acquired under a previous agreement (the Cieneguita option agreement), including the exclusive option to acquire the Cieneguita property for a price of $2,000,000. Prior to assigning the Cieneguita property to the Company, MRT had paid $350,000 to Corporativo Minero. As the Cieneguita property was not in production by May 6, 2006, Sunburst de Mexico was required to pay $120,000 to Corporativo Minero to extend the contract. Corporativo Minero agreed to reduce the obligation to $60,000, of which $10,000 was paid in April 2006 and the balance paid on May 6, 2006. The Company made this payment to Corporativo Minero and the contract was extended.

The Company had the obligation to pay a further $120,000 per year for the next 13 years and the balance of the payments in the 14th year, until the total amount of $2,000,000 was paid. The Company renegotiated the payment due May 6, 2007, to $60,000 payable on November 6, 2007, which was paid, and the balance of $60,000 was paid on December 20, 2007. The Company paid $60,000 on May 12, 2008, of the $120,000 due on May 6, 2008, and the balance was paid in June 2008. The Company paid $30,000 each for a total of $120,000 on May 22, 2009, June 26, 2009, September 4, 2009 and November 20, 2009. In 2010, the Cieneguita project was put into production under the development agreement as described above and the payment terms were changed based on the following formula: The Company must pay the Cieneguita owners $20 per ounce of gold produced from the Cieneguita property to the total of $2,000,000 due. In the event that the price of gold is above $400 per ounce, the property payments payable to the Cieneguita owners from production will be increased by $0.10 for each dollar increment over $400 per ounce. The total payment of $2,000,000 does not change with fluctuations in the price of gold. Non-payment of any portion of the $2,000,000 total payment will constitute a default. In such case, the Cieneguita owners will retain ownership of the concessions, but the Company will not incur any additional default penalty.

In September 2011, the Company, MRT and Corporativo Minero entered into a new agreement, where Corporativo Minero was entitled to a monthly payment of $30,000, to be paid from the net cash flows from production at Cieneguita until the completion of the first 15 meters of production or December 31, 2012, whichever occurs first.

In September 2012, the Company entered into a Second Amended and Restated Development Agreement with MRT whereby the Company’s share of net cash flow from the pilot project operated by MRT increases from 20% to 29% beginning retroactively from March 1, 2012 to December 31, 2012. From January 1, 2013 to December 31, 2013, this amount increases to 35%.  Effective December 23, 2013, the Company and MRT signed an extension to this agreement extending it under the same terms to December 31, 2014.

Based on production at Cieneguita, the joint venture paid $270,000 during the nine months ended November 30, 2013 (February 28, 2013 - $330,000) to the Cieneguita owners. As of November 30, 2013, Corporativo Minero has been paid a total of $1,777,241 for the Cieneguita property. The Company is not in default on its payments for the Cieneguita property.

On February 12, 2009, the Company entered into a definitive agreement for development of the Cieneguita project with MRT. The definitive agreement covered project financing of up to $9,000,000. The major points of the agreement were as follows:
(i)	MRT and/or its investors will subscribe for $1,000,000 of a secured convertible debenture at 8% interest (payable in stock or cash). The debenture was convertible into units at $0.60 per unit. Each unit comprised two common shares and one warrant. Each warrant is exercisable at $0.50 per share for a period of three years. The placement will be used for continued development of the Company’s properties and general working capital.
(ii)	MRT is to provide the necessary working capital to begin and maintain mining operations estimated to be $3,000,000 used for the purpose of putting the Cieneguita property into production. MRT will spend 100% of the money to earn 75% of the net cash flow from production. The agreement will limit the mining to the mineralized material that is available from surface to a depth of 15 meters or approximately 10% of the mineralized material found to date.
(iii)	MRT will spend up to $5,000,000 to take the Cieneguita property through the feasibility stage. In doing so, MRT will earn a 60% interest in the Company’s rights to the property. After the expenditure of the $5,000,000 all costs will be shared on a ratio of 60% to MRT and 40% to the Company. If the Company elects not to pay its portion of costs after the $5,000,000 has been spent, the Company’s position shall revert to a 25% carried interest on the property.

To generate funding for the Company’s continued operations, the Company issued $1,500,000 of convertible debentures in March 2009, of which an aggregate of $880,000 was issued to Mario Ayub, a former director of the Company, and his affiliated entity, MRT. Pursuant to the terms of the convertible debentures, the holders irrevocably converted the debentures into a 10% ownership interest in the Cieneguita project and a 10% interest in the net cash flow from First Phase Production.

In December 2009, Mario Ayub and MRT agreed to resell an aggregate 4% ownership interest in the Cieneguita project back to the Company, along with 4% of the net cash flow from First Phase Production, in return for $550,000. In a private transaction not involving the Company, the other holders contributed their remaining 6% ownership interest in the Cieneguita project to a newly formed entity, Marje Minerals SA (“Marje Minerals”).

In December 2009, the Company amended the development agreement and its agreements with the debenture holders. According to the amended development agreement, the ownership interest in the Cieneguita project and the net cash flows from the First Phase Production were held by the Company, MRT and Marje Minerals as follows:

Holder	Ownership	Net Cash Flow	Net Cash Flow
	Percentage	Interest From	Interest Following
		First Phase	First Phase
		Production	Production
MRT	54% (1)	74%	54% (1)
Marje Minerals	6%	6%	6%
Panam	40%	20%	40%

(1) Was to be earned by MRT by spending $4,000,000 to take the Cieneguita project through the feasibility stage.

Any additional costs for the First Phase Production and the feasibility study for the Cieneguita project, after MRT invested $8,000,000, would have been shared by the Company, MRT and Marje Minerals on a pro-rata basis based on their respective ownership percentages in the Cieneguita project.

The major terms of the amended development agreement with MRT and Marje Minerals were as follows:
(i)	MRT purchased $1,000,000 of secured convertible debentures at 8% interest (payable in stock or cash). The proceeds from this investment were used for continued development and exploration of the Cieneguita project and general working capital. On November 5, 2009, MRT exercised its conversion rights on the debenture and MRT was issued 3,333,333 common shares and a warrant to purchase 1,666,667 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $0.50 per share.
(ii)	MRT agreed to provide the necessary working capital to begin and maintain mining operations, estimated to be $3,000,000, to put the first phase of the Cieneguita project into production. In exchange for these funds, the Company assigned MRT an interest to 74% of the net cash flow from First Phase Production. The agreement limits the mining during First Phase Production to the mineralized material that is available from the surface to a depth of 15 meters.
(iii)	MRT committed to spend up to $4,000,000 to take the Cieneguita project through the feasibility stage. In doing so, the Company assigned MRT a 54% interest in its rights to the Cieneguita project. After the expenditure of the $4,000,000, all costs will be shared on a pro rata ownership basis (i.e. 54% to MRT, 40% to the Company and 6% to Marje Minerals). If any party cannot pay its portion of the costs after the $4,000,000 has been spent, then their ownership position in the Cieneguita project will be reduced by 1% for every $100,000 invested by the other owners. The Company’s ownership interest in the Cieneguita project, however, cannot be reduced below 25%. In addition, the Company has the right to cover Marje Minerals’ pro rata portion of costs if they cannot pay their portion of the costs. In return, the Company will receive 1% of Marje Minerals’ ownership position in the Cieneguita project for every $100,000 the Company invests on their behalf.
(iv)	The MRT agreement was contingent on the Company repaying its debenture to Paramount. In March 2009, the Company repaid $1,000,000, or approximately two-thirds of the debt, and Paramount released a security interest it had on the Cieneguita project. In October 2009, the Company repaid the remaining amount of the debt and Paramount released its security interests on the Sahuayacan, Guazapares and Encino Gordo properties.

In September 2011, the Company executed a new amended and restated development agreement with MRT and Marje Minerals, for the restructure of its Cieneguita joint venture. Under the restructured joint venture agreement the Company receives 20% of the net operating profits after royalties for material processed through a small-scale pilot operation and mined from the first 15 meters depth of the Cieneguita deposit until December 31, 2012. For all other material processed from the property, the Company's interest is 80% and MRT is reduced to a 20% working interest, subject to certain dilution provisions. The Company also bought back 6% interest in Cieneguita from Marje Minerals in exchange for 3,333,333 common shares of the Company.

Under the agreement, the parties agreed to restructure their respective ownership interests in the Cieneguita project as follows:

                                               

Holder	Ownership	Net Cash Flow	Net Cash Flow
	Percentage	Interest From	Interest Following
		First Phase	First Phase
		Production	Production
MRT	20%	74%	20%
Marje Minerals	0%	6%	0%
Panam	80%	20%	80%

The Company and MRT shall be responsible for the cost of a feasibility study on a pro rata basis based on their respective amended ownership percentages of the Cieneguita project.

Marje Minerals will also assume approximately $490,000 in debt of the Company in consideration for receiving half of all monthly net cash flows that the Company is entitled from operations on the first 15 meters, if any, until the sooner of December 31, 2012 or until Marje Minerals receives $490,000 from these cash flows.

In September, 2012, the Company entered into a Second Amended and Restated Development Agreement with MRT related to the mineral exploration, production and development of the Company’s Cieneguita Project. Under the Second Amended and Restated Development Agreement, the Company’s share of net cash flow from the pilot project operated by MRT on the Cieneguita project increases from 20% to 29% beginning retroactive to March 1, 2012 through December 31, 2012. Beginning January 1, 2013 through December 31, 2013, the Company’s share of net cash flow from the pilot project increases to 35%. At all times, the Company retains its 80% ownership interest in the entire Cieneguita project. This agreement eliminates the additional fees previously payable by MRT for minerals mined below the first 15 meters.

The Second Amended and Restated Development Agreement extended the date of the pilot project from December 31, 2012 to December 31, 2013. MRT may terminate the pilot project by providing the Company with 90 days advanced written notice, and the Company may terminate the pilot project upon, inter alia, an uncured breach of the Second Amended and Restated Development Agreement by MRT.  Effective December 23, 2013, the Company and MRT signed an extension to this agreement extending it under the same terms to December 31, 2014.

In connection with the revised development agreement, MRT also purchased 2,000,000 shares of the Company’s common stock at a price of $0.12 per share for net proceeds of $240,000 pursuant to the Company’s private placement subscription agreement. The Company will issue the shares to MRT in reliance on exemptions from registration pursuant to Section 4(2) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Rule 506 promulgated thereunder.

Encino Gordo

On December 8, 2005, the Company and Sunburst de Mexico entered into a “New Agreement” with MRT to exercise their option under the sale and purchase of the mining concessions agreement, dated August 18, 2005, to obtain two mining concessions in the Encino Gordo region. The New Agreement also provided the Company the option to obtain three additional concessions in the Encino Gordo region.

The following were additional material terms of the New Agreement:

(a)	The share option agreement with MRT was cancelled;
(b)	The Company granted MRT the option to buy all of the outstanding shares of Sunburst de Mexico for $100 if the Company failed to transfer $1,500,000 to Sunburst de Mexico by April 30, 2006. On April 6, 2006, MRT agreed to waive its option to purchase the shares of Sunburst de Mexico and also waived the Company’s obligation to transfer $1,500,000 to Sunburst de Mexico. The property agreements were modified to change the NSR to a maximum of 2.5% for all properties covered by the agreements. The property agreements contained NSRs ranging from 0.5% to 7%;
(c)	The Company agreed to issue 2,000,000 shares of the Company’s common stock to MRT within four months of the date of signing of the New Agreement. These shares were issued to MRT and its assignee at the market value of $1.05 per share on February 23, 2006, and $2,100,000 was charged to operations for the year ended February 28, 2006. This issuance fulfilled the Company’s payment obligations under the previous property agreements;
(d)	The Company agreed to issue 1,000,000 additional shares of the Company’s common stock to MRT if and when the Cieneguita property is put into production and reaches 85% of production capacity over a 90 -day period, as defined in the New Agreement; and
(e)	The operator’s agreement with MRT was cancelled.

Sunburst de Mexico purchased two of the Encino Gordo concessions from MRT for a price of 1,000 pesos (approximately US$100), and MRT assigned to Sunburst de Mexico a first right of refusal to acquire three additional Encino Gordo concessions. The total payments to acquire 100% of these three additional concessions were as follows: $10,000 on June 30, 2006 (paid); $25,000 on December 31, 2006 (paid), $50,000 on December 31, 2007 ($20,000 of this payment was made on January 3, 2008 and the balance was paid on February 29, 2008) and $75,000 on December 31, 2008 (the payment was not made and the Company was in default). In August 2009, the Company decided to surrender the Encino Gordo 2 mining concession eliminating any future concession payments on these properties.

In May 2012, the Company transferred its interest in concessions at the Encino Gordo project located in the Barranca region of Chihuahua State in Mexico, which included two concessions owned by the Company and two additional concessions the Company had the option to acquire, to MRT. In connection with the transfer, MRT paid $100,000 cash, waived $200,000 in payments the Company owed to MRT in connection with the Encino Gordo Project and agreed to assume all of the Company’s obligations related to the transferred concessions.

Cerro Delta

In February 2011, the Company management entered into an agreement with Compania Minera Alto Rio Salado S.A., a private Argentine entity, for the acquisition of the 15,000 -hectare Cerro Delta project in northwest La Rioja Province, Argentina. Under the terms of the agreement, the Company must pay $150,000 upon signing (paid), and $200,000 on the first anniversary (paid), $500,000 on the second anniversary, $750,000 on the third anniversary, $1.2 million on the fourth anniversary, and $2.2 million on the fifth anniversary of the signing, with a final option payment of $5 million to purchase a 100% interest in the project payable on the sixth anniversary of the signing. The vendor was to retain a 1% NSR.

In December 2012, due to the significantly deteriorating political and working environment in Argentina and the difficulty to fund Maricunga belt projects, the Company froze all spending in Argentina. In January 2013, the Company cancelled the contract with Compania Minera Alto Rio Salado S.A. to acquire the Cerro Delta project.