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                            UNITED STATES
  SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                    Washington, D.C. 20549

        FORM 6-K

  REPORT OF FOREIGN ISSUER PURSUANT TO RULE 13a-16 AND 15d-16
                    UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the Period February 2006

File No. 001-32267

  Desert Sun Mining Corp.
                        (Name of Registrant)

  65 Queen Street West, Suite 810, P.O. Box 67, Toronto, Ontario CANADA M5H 2M5
                                                       (Address of principal executive offices)

1. Updated Jacobina and Bahia Gold Belt Property Report, Results of 2005 Exploration Program

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover Form 20-F or Form 40-F.
Form 20-F Form 40-F..XXX.

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information to the Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
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________

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  AN UPDATED MINERAL RESOURCE AND MINERAL RESERVE

ESTIMATE AND RESULTS OF 2005 EXPLORATION PROGRAM FOR

THE JACOBINA AND BAHIA GOLD BELT PROPERTY, BAHIA STATE,

BRAZIL

DECEMBER 2005



Updated Resource & Reserve Estimate, Jacobina Dec 2005

    TABLE OF CONTENTS   
      Page 
 
1.0  SUMMARY  1 
  1.1  OVERVIEW  1 
  1.2  GEOLOGY AND MINERALIZATION  2 
  1.3  MINERAL RESOURCES  2 
  1.4  MINERAL RESERVES  3 
  1.5  CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS  5 
 
2.0  INTRODUCTION AND TERMS OF REFERENCE  7 
 
3.0  DISCLAIMER  9 
 
4.0  PROPERTY DESCRIPTION AND LOCATION  10 
 
5.0  ACCESSIBILITY, CLIMATE, LOCAL RESOURCES, INFRASTRUCTURE AND 
  PHYSIOGRAPHY  12 
 
6.0  HISTORY  13 
  6.1  PRE-1970’S  13 
  6.2  ANGLO AMERICAN-WILLIAM RESOURCES (1970-1998)  13 
  6.3  DESERT SUN MINING (2002 – PRESENT)  15 
  6.3.1  Exploration 2002-present  15 
  6.3.2  Resource and Reserve Estimation (2003-present)  16 
  6.3.3  Mining (2004-present)  16 
 
7.0  GEOLOGICAL SETTING  18 
  7.1  REGIONAL GEOLOGY  18 
  7.2  PROPERTY GEOLOGY  18 
  7.2.1  Archean Basement Rocks  22 
  7.2.2  Campo Formoso Mafic-Ultramafic Complex  23 
  7.2.3  Jacobina Group  23 
  7.2.4  Ultramafic Sills and Dikes  29 
  7.2.5  Late- to Post-tectonic Granites  30 
  7.2.6  Mafic Dikes  30 
  7.2.7  Chapada Diamantina and Una Groups  30 
  7.2.8  Structural Geology  31 
 
8.0  DEPOSIT TYPES  33 
  8.1  THE WITWATERSRAND BASIN  33 
  8.2  TARKWA  34 
  8.3  THE RORAIMA GROUP  35 
  8.4  JACOBINA  35 
  8.5  COMPARISONS BETWEEN JACOBINA, TARKWA AND WITWATERSRAND 
      35 
 
    i   



Updated Resource & Reserve Estimate, Jacobina Dec 2005

9.0  MINERALIZATION  39 
  9.1  GOLD MINERALIZATION  39 
  9.1.1    Jacobina Group Domain  41 
  9.1.2    Mundo Novo Greenstone Belt Domain  48 
 
10.0  EXPLORATION  49 
  10.1  OVERVIEW  49 
  10.2  2002 EXPLORATION PROGRAM  49 
  10.3  2003 EXPLORATION PROGRAM  51 
  10.4  2004 EXPLORATION PROGRAM  51 
  10.5  2005 EXPLORATION PROGRAM  51 
  10.5.1  Overview  51 
  10.5.2  Exploration Program, Jacobina Mine area  52 
  10.5.3  Exploration program, Bahia Gold Belt (excluding Jacobina Mine area)  52 
 
11.0  DRILLING  57 
  11.1  JMC  57 
  11.2  DESERT SUN  57 
  11.3  DRILL HOLE DATABASE  58 
  11.3.1  Jacobina Mine Area  58 
  11.3.2  Northern Bahia Gold Belt  59 
  11.4  DRILLING RESULTS – JACOBINA MINE AREA  60 
  11.4.1  Canavieiras  60 
  11.4.2  Morro do Vento extension  80 
  11.4.3  Joao Belo Zone  86 
  11.4.4  Morro do Vento  88 
  11.4.5  Serra do Córrego  94 
  11.4.6  Other Targets  94 
  11.5  DRILLING RESULTS – NORTHERN BAHIA GOLD BELT  96 
  11.5.1  Pindobaçu  96 
  11.5.2  Fumaça  104 
  11.5.3  Entry Point  106 
  11.5.4  Other Targets  109 
 
12.0  SAMPLING METHOD AND APPROACH  110 
  12.1  JMC EXPLORATION  110 
  12.2  DSM EXPLORATION  110 
 
13.0  SAMPLE PREPARATION, ANALYSES AND SECURITY  111 
  13.1  JMC  111 
  13.2  DSM  112 
  13.2.1  Security  112 
  13.2.2  Sample Preparation and Analyses  112 
 
14.0  DATA VERIFICATION  120 
  14.1  JMC  120 
  14.1.1  Production Reconciliation  120 
      ii   



Updated Resource & Reserve Estimate, Jacobina Dec 2005

  14.2  DSM  121 
  14.2.1  QA/QC  121 
  14.2.2  Database Checks  126 
 
15.0  ADJACENT PROPERTIES  127 
 
16.0  MINERAL PROCESSING AND METALLURGICAL TESTING  128 
  16.1  JACOBINA PROCESSING PLANT  128 
  16.2  MORRO DO VENTO TESTWORK  129 
  16.2.1  Proposed Plant Expansion  129 
 
17.0  MINERAL RESOURCE AND MINERAL RESERVE ESTIMATES  130 
  17.1  OVERVIEW  130 
  17.2  MINERAL RESOURCE ESTIMATES  130 
  17.2.1  Database  130 
  17.2.2  Specific Gravity  130 
  17.2.3  Estimation Methodology  131 
  17.2.4  Resource Estimation  132 
  17.2.5  Mineral Resources  133 
  17.3  MINERAL RESERVES  153 
  17.3.1  Jacobina Mine (Joao Belo Zone)  153 
  17.3.2  Morro do Vento  161 
  17.3.3  Morro Do Vento Extension  166 
  17.3.4  Serra Do Corrego  167 
  17.4  RESPONSIBILITY FOR ESTIMATION  169 
 
18.0  OTHER RELEVANT DATA AND INFORMATION  170 
 
19.0  INTERPRETATION AND CONCLUSIONS  171 
  19.1  MINERAL RESOURCES  172 
  19.2  MINERAL RESERVES  173 
  19.3  EXPLORATION AND DEVELOPMENT  174 
  19.3.1  Exploration  174 
  19.3.2  Development and Exploration  175 
 
20.0  RECOMMENDATIONS  176 
 
21.0  REFERENCES  177 
 
22.0  CERTIFICATE  183 
  CERTIFICATE – WILLIAM PEARSON  183 
  CERTIFICATE – PETER TAGLIAMONTE  185 
 
APPENDIX I  TITLE OPINION, LIST OF CLAIMS AND MAPS SHOWING   
  LOCATION AND EXTENT OF CLAIMS  187 
 
 
 
      iii   



Updated Resource & Reserve Estimate, Jacobina Dec 2005

APPENDIX II INDUCED POLARIZATION SUMMARY REPORT FOR

PINDOBAÇU 188

APPENDIX III YEAR END 2005 OPINION LETTER, MICON INTERNATIONAL 199

      LIST OF TABLES   
      Page 
Table  1.1  Mineral Resource Summary For The Jacobina Project As Of December 20, 2005  3 
Table  1.2  Estimated Mineral Reserves as of December 31, 2005, Jacobina Mine Area  4 
Table  6.1  Jacobina Annual Production History 1983-1998  14 
Table  8.1  A Comparison Between Jacobina, Tarkwa and the Witwatersrand Gold Deposits  37 
Table  9.1  Characteristics of Principal Mineralized Reefs, Jacobina Mine Area  45 
Table  10.1  Exploration Diamond Drilling In Jacobina Mine Area By Dsm, 2005   
                      Exploration Program  52 
Table  11.1  Summary of Diamond Drilling, Jacobina Mine Area (As Of December 31, 2005). 58 
Table  11.2  Assay Samples in Database – Jacobina Mine Area (as of December 31, 2005)  59 
Table  11.3  Summary of Drilling, Northern Bahia Gold Belt (as of December 31, 2005)  59 
Table  11.4  Assay Samples in Database - Northern Bahia Gold Belt (as of December 31,   
                      2005)      60 
Table  11.5  Significant Drilling Results, Canavieiras  63 
Table  11.6  Significant Historical Drilling Results, South Extension Area, Canavieiras  75 
Table  11.7  Results For Re-Sampling Of Core From Old Drill Holes At Canavieiras  76 
Table  11.8  Significant Drilling Results, Morro Do Vento Extension (Main/Basal Reef)  81 
Table  11.9  Significant Results of Deep Drilling at the Jacobina Mine (João Belo Zone)  86 
Table  11.10  Significant Drilling Results, Northern Area, Bahia Gold Belt  98 
Table  11.11  Significant Drilling Results, Fumaca, Northern Area, Bahia Gold Belt  105 
Table  11.12  Significant Drilling Results, Entry Point Area, Northern Area, Bahia Gold Belt  107 
Table  17.1  Summary of Mineral Resources Updated by DSM and Reviewed and   
                     Confirmed by Micon as of December 20, 2005  134 
Table  17.2  Summary of Measured and Indicated Mineral Resources, Joao Belo Zone   
                      as of December 20, 2005  136 
Table  17.3  Summary of Inferred Mineral Resources, Joao Belo Zone as of December   
                      20, 2005    136 
Table  17.4  Summary of Measured and Indicated Mineral Resources, Morro do Vento   
                      Zone, Intermediate Reefs  138 
Table  17.5  Summary of Inferred Mineral Resources, Morro do Vento Zone, Intermediate   
                      Reefs      138 
Table  17.6  Summary of Measured and Indicated Mineral Resources, Morro do Vento Zone,   
                      Basal and Main Reefs  141 
Table  17.7  Summary of Inferred Mineral Resources, Morro do Vento Zone, Basal and   
                      Main Reefs  141 
Table  17.8  Summary of Measured and Indicated Mineral Resources, Morro do Vento   
                      Extension Zone, Basal and Main Reefs  144 
Table  17.9  Summary of Measured and Indicated Mineral Resources, Canavieiras  145 
      iv   



Updated Resource & Reserve Estimate, Jacobina Dec 2005

Table 17.10  Summary of Inferred Mineral Resources, Canavieiras  145 
Table 17.11  Summary of Measured and Indicated Mineral Resources, Serra do Córrego,   
                       Intermediate Reefs  149 
Table 17.12  Summary of Inferred Mineral Resources, Serra do Córrego, Intermediate Reefs 149 
Table 17.13  Summary of Inferred Mineral Resources in Other Areas, Jacobina Mine Area  152 
Table 17.14  Estimated Mineral Reserves as of December 31, 2005, Jacobina Mine Area  153 
Table 17.15  Mineral Reserves, Jacobina Mine (Joao Belo Zone) as at December 31, 2005  154 
Table 17.16  Grade of Dilution, Joao Belo Zone  160 
Table 17.17  Mineral Reserves, Morro Do Vento Zone as at December 31, 2005  161 
Table 17.18  Mineral Reserves, Morro Do Vento Extension Zone as at December 31, 2005  166 
Table 17.19  Mineral Reserves, Serra Do CÓrrego Zone as at December 31, 2005  167 
Table 19.1  Mineral Resource Summary for the Jacobina Project as of December 20, 2005  172 
Table 19.2  Estimated Mineral Reserves as of December 31, 2005, Jacobina Mine Area  173 
 
 
 
    LIST OF FIGURES   
      Page 
Figure  4.1  Jacobina Project Location Map  11 
Figure  7.1  Geotectonic Setting of the Eastern Part of the São Francisco Craton, State of Bahia 
                       Showing Location of the Jacobina Group and the Mundo Novo Greenstone Belt  19 
Figure  7.2  Geology of the Serra de Jacobina and the Bahia Gold Belt  20 
Figure  7.3  Geology of the Central Bahia Gold Belt  21 
Figure  7.4  Geology of the Jacobina Gold Mine Area  25 
Figure  7.5  Stratigraphic Column of the Serra do Córrego Formation, Jacobina Group  26 
Figure  7.6  Geology of the Jacobina Gold Mine Area  27 
Figure  9.1  Map of the Bahia Gold Belt Showing Location of Gold Mines and Occurrences  40 
Figure  9.2  Geological Map of the Jacobina Mine Area Showing Distribution of Gold-   
                      bearing Reefs  42 
Figure  9.3  Geological Cross Section Through the Morro do Vento Zone  43 
Figure  9.4  Geological Cross Section through the João Belo Zone (Jacobina Mine)  44 
Figure  10.1  Major Targets in the Jacobina Mine area  50 
Figure  10.2  Geology and Major Target Areas – Pindobaçu, Northern Bahia Gold Belt  54 
Figure  11.1  Canavieiras Cross Section N878300 looking north  62 
Figure  11.2  Grade times Thickness Contour Plan Map of the MU Reef, Canavieiras  73 
Figure  11.3  Coarse Native Gold in Hollandez Reef, Drill Hole CAN-106  77 
Figure  11.4  3-D Model of Induced Polarization Chargeability at Canavieiras  79 
Figure  11.5  Morro do Vento Extension Vertical Longitudinal Section Showing Grade   
                      Times Thickness Contours  85 
Figure  11.6  Joao Belo Vertical Longitudinal Section Showing Grade times Thickness   
                      Contours  87 
Figure  11.7  Geological Plan Map of the Morro do Vento Area  90 
Figure  11.8  Morro do Vento Cross Section N8754200  91 
Figure  11.9  Vertical Longitudinal Section of the MU Reef, Morro do Vento, Showing   
                      Grade Times Thickness Contours  92 
Figure  11.10 Vertical Longitudinal Section of the LU Reef, Morro do Vento, Showing   
    v   



Updated Resource & Reserve Estimate, Jacobina Dec 2005

                         Grade times Thickness Contours  93 
Figure  11.11  Plan Map Showing Geology and Diamond Drill Hole Locations, Pindobaçu   
                        Target, Northern Bahia Gold Belt  102 
Figure  11.12  Drill Hole Cross Section, Pindobaçu, Section 8,811,950N  103 
Figure  11.13  Cross Section 8817800N, Entry Point Area, Northern Bahia Gold Belt  108 
Figure  13.1  Graph of Analytical Results at Lakefield for Standard OREAS 6Pb  117 
Figure  13.2  Graph of Analytical Results at Lakefield for Standard OREAS 7Pa  118 
Figure  13.3  Graph of Analytical Results at Lakefield for Standard OREAS 53P  119 
Figure  14.1  Comparison of All Check Assay Data, 2005 Exploration Program (3 graphs   
                         with different scales showing the overall range of the data set)  122 
Figure  14.2  Comparison of Check Assay Data, 2005 Exploration Program – Lakefield   
                         versus Chemex Pulps  124 
Figure  14.3  Comparison of Check Assay Data, 2005 Exploration Program – Lakefield   
                          versus Chemex Rejects  125 
Figure  17.1  Vertical Longitudinal Section of the LMPC Reef, Joao Belo Zone Showing   
                          Distribution of Mineral Resource Blocks  137 
Figure  17.2  Vertical Longitudinal Section of the MU Reef, Morro do Vento Zone Showing   
                          Distribution of Mineral Resource Blocks  139 
Figure  17.3  Vertical Longitudinal Section of the LU Reef, Morro do Vento Zone Showing   
                          Distribution of Mineral Resource Blocks  140 
Figure  17.4  Vertical Longitudinal Section of the Basal Reef, Morro do Vento-Morro do   
                         Vento Extension Areas Showing Distribution of Mineral Resource Blocks  142 
Figure  17.5  Vertical Longitudinal Section of the Main Reef, Morro do Vento-Morro do   
                         Vento Extension Areas Showing Distribution of Mineral Resource Blocks  143 
Figure  17.6  Plan Map of Piritoso Reef, Canavieiras Mine, Showing Distribution of   
                          Mineral Resource Blocks  146 
Figure  17.7  Plan map of MU Reef, Canavieiras Mine, Showing Distribution of Mineral   
                         Resource Blocks  147 
Figure  17.8  Plan Map of MU Reef, Canavieiras Mine, Showing Distribution of Mineral   
                         Resource Blocks  148 
Figure  17.9  Vertical Longitudinal Section of the LU Reef, Serra do Córrego Area Showing   
                         Distribution of Mineral Resource Blocks  150 
Figure  17.10  Vertical Longitudinal Section of the MU Reef, Serra do Córrego Area   
                         Showing Distribution of Mineral Resource Blocks  151 
Figure  17.11  Vertical longitudinal Section of the Joao Belo Zone Showing the Location of   
                          Reserve Blocks and Development  155 
Figure  17.12  Typical Drilling Pattern for Stope Layout, Jacobina Mine  157 
Figure  17.13  Schematic Diagram showing Typical Example of Dilution, Joao Belo Zone  159 
Figure  17.14  Vertical Longitudinal Section, Morro do Vento Showing Reserve Blocks and   
                          Proposed Development  162 
Figure  17.15  Vertical Longitudinal Section, Morro do Vento Showing Typical Stope Cross   
                         Section with Level Layouts  164 
Figure  17.16  Typical Stope Longhole Layout, Morro do Vento  165 
 
 
 
 
    vi   



Updated Resource & Reserve Estimate, Jacobina Dec 2005

1.0 SUMMARY

1.1 OVERVIEW

This report summarizes the results of the 2005 exploration program and presents updated mineral
resource and mineral reserve estimates incorporating new drilling results in the Jacobina Mine
area and the 155km long Bahia Gold Belt property owned by Desert Sun Mining Corp. (DSM) in
Bahia, Brazil. This report and the updated mineral resource estimate draws heavily from a
previous NI 43-101 reports prepared Dr. William Pearson, P.Geo. and Peter Tagliamonte, P.Eng.
in March 2005 and by B. Terrence Hennessey, P.Geo. of Micon International Limited (Micon) in
August 2003. Similarly, the updated mineral reserve estimate draws from the Pre-feasibility
study prepared by Devpro Mining in August 2005 and the Feasibility study prepared by SNC
Lavalin-Dynatec in September 2003. All reports are filed on SEDAR.

Desert Sun owns 100% of the Jacobina property, which includes the Jacobina Gold Mine, the
Morro do Vento project currently under development, additional projects in the mine area slated
for near term development, and the associated 155-kilometer long Bahia Gold Belt. Since 2002,
DSM has completed a three-stage development program as follows:

x In the first stage (2002 - 2003), completed in September 2003, Desert Sun secured
exclusive ownership of the Jacobina property and completed a feasibility study that
supported the reopening of the Jacobina Mine.

  • The second stage (2003 - 2005), completed in June 2005, involved bringing the Jacobina Mine back into production in line within the proposals contained in the SNC Lavalin feasibility study, as modified through the development process. Rehabilitation of the Jacobina Mine started in earnest in April 2004. Existing facilities were refurbished and improvements made in the mining and processing methods. The plant facilities were completed in February 2005, with a rated capacity of 4,200 tonnes per day and expected annualized production of some 100,000 ounces. The first gold pour took place in March 2005 and commercial production was declared as of July 1, 2005.
  • With production at the Jacobina Mine approaching 100% of design capacity, the Company has initiated the third stage (2005 - 2009) of its development program, the goal of which is the expansion of annual production through development of additional mining areas within the immediate vicinity of the existing plant facilities to over 250,000 ounces per annum. Planning done to date has highlighted the potential for developing four additional mining areas over the next three to four years in order to successfully achieve this goal.

DSM began exploring the property in September 2002 and has had on-going exploration
programs ever since. Over the past three and one-half years to December 31, 2005, a total of

1



Updated Resource & Reserve Estimate, Jacobina Dec 2005

65,538 in 447 surface and underground diamond drill holes have been completed. Results of this
exploration which have been positive are discussed in detail within this report.

1.2 GEOLOGY AND MINERALIZATION

The gold mineralization of the Jacobina mine is hosted almost entirely within quartz pebble
conglomerates of the Serra do Córrego Formation, the lowermost sequence of the Proterozoic-
age Jacobina Group. This Formation is typically 500 m thick but locally achieves thicknesses of
up to one kilometre. Overall, the property covers 155 km of strike length (8728800N –
8,900,000N) along the trend of the Jacobina Group. Within the property the Serra do Córrego
Formation is exposed for 75 km (8,728,800 N – 8,810,330 N). Despite the extensive exposure of
the mine sequence most of the exploration and all of the non-artisanal mining activities have
been concentrated along a 10-km long (8749000N - 8759000N) central zone.

The host rocks to the Jacobina gold mineralization are highly sorted and rounded quartz pebble
conglomerate reefs of the Serra de Córrego Formation. Gold as fine grains 20 to 50 microns in
size predominantly within well packed conglomeratic layers in which medium to larger- sized
quartz pebbles are present. The gold occurs within the matrix and often in association with
pyrite and fuchsite. However, these accessory minerals also occur in the absence of gold. Gold-
rich reefs show a characteristic greenish aspect because of the presence of the chromium-rich
muscovite, fuchsite. Intra-reef quartzites typically contain low gold grades (<0.70 g/t Au).
Higher concentrations of gold are often encountered within the foreset beds, adjacent to topset
beds, within a cross-bedded reef although this may also reflect structural upgrading. An
important example of this style of mineralization is the Canavieiras mine, an important
exploration targets.

The gold-bearing reefs range in size from 1.5 to 25 m wide and can be followed along strike for
hundreds of metres, and in some cases for kilometres. Some contacts between reefs and the later
crosscutting mafic and ultramafic intrusives are enriched in gold.

Not all conglomerates of the Serra do Córrego Formation are mineralized, and many are
completely barren of gold. Although they are quite homogeneous along their strike and dip
extensions, the mineralized conglomerates differ from one another in stratigraphic position and
mineralization patterns. The differences are likely due to changes in the depositional
environment, and possibly also in the source areas. Recent work by DSM, however, indicates
that structure and hydrothermal solutions have had a more important role in localizing gold
mineralization than previously recognized.

1.3 MINERAL RESOURCES

Measured and Indicated mineral resources for all zones at Jacobina now total 27,900,000 tonnes
grading 2.57g Au/t containing 2,311,000 ounces of gold (Table 1.1) . This is a significant
increase of 261,000 ounces of gold compared to the December 2004 measured and indicated
resource of 24,800,000 tonnes grading 2.53g Au/t containing 2,050,000 ounces of gold. Since

2



Updated Resource & Reserve Estimate, Jacobina Dec 2005

the August 2003 resource estimate that formed the basis for the SNC-Lavalin feasibility study,
exploration and development work by Desert Sun has increased Measured and Indicated mineral
resources by 949,000 ounces of gold at an average discovery cost of approximately US$10 per
ounce. At the Jacobina Mine, drilling and development has outlined sufficient new measured
and indicated resources to replace 2005 production.

Additionally, Inferred mineral resources in all zones now total 33,600,000 tonnes grading 2.80g
Au/t containing 3,029,000 ounces of gold. This a substantial addition of 1,129,000 ounces of
gold compared to the December 2004 inferred mineral resource of 22,200,000 tonnes grading
2.61g Au/t containing 1,900,000 ounces of gold. This increase reflects major additions at the
Jacobina Mine (João Belo zone) where inferred mineral resources now total 14,430,000 tonnes
grading 2.66g Au/t containing 1,235,000 ounces of gold compared to the December 2004
inferred resource of 5,300,000 grading 2.33g Au/t containing 390,000 ounces of gold. The
Inferred mineral resource at Canavieiras now totals 6,900,000 tonnes grading 3.29 g Au/t
containing 730,000 ounces compared to the December 2004 Inferred mineral resource of
3,700,000 tonnes grading 2.41g Au/t containing 290,000 ounces of gold, an increase of 440,000
ounces.

  TABLE 1.1
MINERAL RESOURCE SUMMARY FOR THE JACOBINA PROJECT AS OF
DECEMBER 20, 2005

Category  Tonnes  Grade  Contained 
    (g/t Au)  Gold 
      (ounces) 

Measured  3,400,000  2.68  295,000 
Indicated  24,500,000  2.56  2,016,000 

 
Total Measured and  27,900,000  2.57  2,311,000 
Indicated       
 
Inferred  33,600,000  2.80  3,029,000 

B. Terrence Hennessey, P.Geo., of Micon International reviewed the updated resource estimate
and confirmed that they were estimated in accordance with the requirements of National
Instrument 43-101.

1.4 MINERAL RESERVES

Proven and probable mineral reserves in the Jacobina Mine (João Belo Zone) are 13,220,000
tonnes grading 2.15 g Au/t containing 913,100 ounces of gold. Total Proven and Probable
mineral reserves in all zones are 21,580,000 tonnes grading 2.18 g Au/t containing 1,510,000

3



Updated Resource & Reserve Estimate, Jacobina Dec 2005

  ounces as summarized in Table 1.2 below. This is an increase of 310,000 ounces from the
August 2005 reserve estimate (see press release August 11, 2005)

This new reserve estimate is now being used in the Jacobina Mine development plan and
increases mine life by over three years. A pre-feasibility study is currently in progress for the
Canavieiras Mine, which has the potential to further increase reserves. The new estimate at João
Belo contains a contribution from the newly discovered FW (Footwall) Reef in the main ore
zone. The exploration drilling program at João Belo in 2005 also outlined inferred mineral
resources totaling 1,235,000 ounces and the potential is very good that a significant portion of
this resource can eventually be upgraded with further drilling to a reserve based on historical and
recent experience.

The mineral reserve estimate is set out in Table 1.2 below. The reserves were estimated using a
gold price of US$400 per ounce and a block cutoff grade of 1.41 g Au/t. Dilution and mining
recovery rates appropriate for each zone were applied following established practices at the
mine. Desert Sun has all operating permits in place for production.

TABLE 1.2  ESTIMATED MINERAL RESERVES AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2005, 
    JACOBINA MINE AREA       
 
Mine/Area  Proven  Probable  Proven & Probable   
              Ounces 
  Tonnes  g Au/t  Tonnes  g Au/t  Tonnes  g Au/t   
              Contained 

Joao Belo 2  3,007,000  2.18  10,215,000  2,14  13,220,000  2.15  913,000 
Morro do Vento 4  Nil  Nil  4,672,000  1.95  4,672,000  1.95  292,000 
Morro do Vento               
3  58,000  3.57  2,712,000  2.68  2,770,000  2.69  240,000 
Ext. (Basal Reef               
Serra de Córrego 3  Nil  Nil  918,000  2.17  918,000  2.17  64.000 

Total 5          21,580,000  2.18  1,510,000 

  1 Mineral reserves have been classified in accordance with CIM standards under NI 43-101.
2 Desert Sun Mining mineral reserve estimate December 31, 2005
3 Updated following original Dynatec mineral reserve estimation of September 2003 in the SNC
Lavalin feasibility study (see DSM Press Release September 12, 2003).
4 Desert Sun Mining mineral reserve estimate August 11, 2005 (reviewed by Devpro Mining
Inc.) (see DSM Press Release August 11, 2005).
5 Totals have been rounded.

4



Updated Resource & Reserve Estimate, Jacobina Dec 2005

1.5 CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

It is recommended that DSM carry out a major exploration and development program
collectively estimated to cost US$7.5 million for 2006 to followup on the success of 2005 as
follows:

  • US$4.0 million exploration including a total 13,000m of diamond drilling in the Canavieiras, Serra do Córrego and Pindobaçu target areas
  • US$1.5 million surface and underground drilling at Joao Belo
  • US$1.5 million to drift 1500 metres and further drilling at Canavieiras
  • US$0.5 million for an independent pre-feasibility study for a plant expansion, metallurgical tests for this study and geotechnical studies.

These recommended expenditures are budgeted separately from the costs required for operation
of the Jacobina mine, development of the Morro do Vento mine and operation of the processing
plant. The operations budget and program are not reviewed in this report.

Exploration

At Canavieiras, the proposed exploration program, which is budgeted at US$2.0 million and
includes 7,000m of diamond drilling, will focus on further extending the known mineralized
reefs to the south and east. Downhole induced polarization (IP) surveys will be carried out to
help define drill targets and give the wide spaced drill holes a greater area of influence in target
generation. Dr. Paul Karpeta, an expert on Precambrian quartz pebble conglomerate-hosted gold
deposits, will carry out a structural study of the Jacobina area to better characterize the controls
on gold mineralization, especially the late hematite-gold enrichment which is the source for the
very high grade intersections in the deposit.

The proposed exploration program at Serra do Córrego, which includes diamond drilling of
2,800m, will focus on the Maneira, Lagartixa and Viuva target areas which have potential to host
higher grade gold mineralization similar to Canavieiras. This area will also be included in Dr.
Karpeta’s structural study. The budget for the proposed exploration program at Serra do Córrego
is $US1.0 million.

Work in 2005 continued to demonstrate the excellent potential of the Pindobaçu area to host
significant gold deposits. The recommended program, which is budgeted at US$1.0 million,
includes 3,200m of drilling to test the strong hydrothermal alteration zone deeper. Downhole IP
surveys will be completed at Pindobaçu to aid in location of drill holes. Exploration work
including geological mapping and geochemical sampling will also continued to be carried out in
the Entry Point area to better characterize the distribution of the conglomerates and locate the
thickest sections of conglomerates. A regional mapping and prospecting program will also be
completed in the 60km of property held by DSM north of Pindobaçu.

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Updated Resource & Reserve Estimate, Jacobina Dec 2005

Development and Exploration

A US$1.5 million surface and underground exploration program is recommended at Joao Belo to
followup on the successful results from the 2005 program. Drilling of deep targets will be done
from surface while shallower targets will be from underground. As underground development
advances, more drilling will likely be done from underground. The exploration holes will test
the full stratigraphic section. Total drilling will be in the order of 8,000m.

The budget includes a provision for $US1.5 million to drift 1500 metres at Canavieiras to
strategically place drill platforms to test extensions of known zones, reduce drill hole length
thereby enabling more ground to be tested with the same amount of drilling and increase
resources. In addition this underground development will allow the opportunity to drift through
the MU and LU reefs to test mining conditions and continuity of grade in the zones. Planning of
the development work is in progress and the amount of drilling that can be completed in 2006 in
this program will depend on the final cost and rate at which development is completed.

The budget of $US0.5 million for the independent pre-feasibility study for a plant expansion
includes provisions for metallurgical tests for this study and geotechnical studies. This study
will look at potential plant expansion scenarios to 6,500tpd and 10,000tpd. AMEC Americas has
been selected to do this work. Metallurgical tests will include testing the variability of different
ore feeds to the expanded plant, test work for a potential gravity circuit and test work to size the
key components in the expanded plant such as crushers, grinding mills, and leach circuit. In
addition, a geotechnical assessment will be carried out at Morro do Vento Extension and
Canavieiras.

6



  Updated Resource & Reserve Estimate, Jacobina Dec 2005

2.0 INTRODUCTION AND TERMS OF REFERENCE

This report summarizes the results of the 2005 exploration program and presents updated mineral
resource and mineral reserve estimates incorporating new drilling results in the Jacobina Mine
area and the 155km long Bahia Gold Belt property owned by Desert Sun Mining Corp. (DSM) in
Bahia, Brazil. This report and the updated mineral resource estimate draws heavily from
previous NI 43-101 reports prepared Dr. William Pearson, P.Geo. and Peter Tagliamonte, P.Eng.
in March 2005 (Pearson and Tagliamonte, 2005) and by B. Terrence Hennessey, P.Geo. of
Micon International Limited (Micon) in August 2003 (Hennessey, 2003b). Similarly, the
updated mineral reserve estimate draws from the Pre-feasibility study prepared by Devpro
Mining in August 2005 (Adams et al., 2005) and the Feasibility study prepared by SNC Lavalin-
Dynatec in September 2003. All reports are filed on SEDAR.

Desert Sun owns 100% of the Jacobina property, which includes the Jacobina Gold Mine, the
Morro do Vento project currently under development, additional projects in the mine area slated
for near term development, and the associated 155-kilometer long Bahia Gold Belt. Since 2002,
DSM has completed a three-stage development program as follows:

x In the first stage (2002 - 2003), completed in September 2003, Desert Sun secured
exclusive ownership of the Jacobina property and completed a feasibility study that
supported the reopening of the Jacobina Mine.

  • The second stage (2003 - 2005), completed in June 2005, involved bringing the Jacobina Mine back into production in line within the proposals contained in the SNC Lavalin feasibility study, as modified through the development process. Rehabilitation of the Jacobina Mine started in earnest in April 2004. Existing facilities were refurbished and improvements made in the mining and processing methods. The plant facilities were completed in February 2005, with a rated capacity of 4,200 tonnes per day and expected annualized production of some 100,000 ounces. The first gold pour took place in March 2005 and commercial production was declared as of July 1, 2005.
  • With production at the Jacobina Mine approaching 100% of design capacity, the Company has initiated the third stage (2005 - 2009) of its development program, the goal of which is the expansion of annual production through development of additional mining areas within the immediate vicinity of the existing plant facilities to over 250,000 ounces per annum. Planning done to date has highlighted the potential for developing four additional mining areas over the next three to four years in order to successfully achieve this goal.

DSM began exploring the property in September 2002 and has had on-going exploration
programs ever since. Over the past three and one-half years to December 31, 2005, a total of
65,538 in 447 surface and underground diamond drill holes have been completed. Results of this
exploration which have been positive are discussed in detail within this report.

7



Updated Resource & Reserve Estimate, Jacobina Dec 2005

Dr. William N. Pearson, P.Geo. and Mr. Peter Tagliamonte, P.Eng., the authors of this report, are
both experienced exploration and mining professionals who have extensive experience at
Jacobina and in Brazil. Dr. Pearson is Vice President, Exploration for DSM and has made
numerous trips to Jacobina in the course of the exploration work carried out since August 2002
and is the qualified person responsible for the scientific and technical work for all exploration at
DSM. In addition, he worked at the Jacobina Mine from 1996 to 1998 while with the previous
owner, William Resources. Mr. Tagliamonte, P.Eng., is the Vice President, Operations and
Chief Operating Officer for DSM, responsible for overseeing all aspects of the operation and
expansion of the Jacobina mine. He has been on-site at Jacobina since April 2004. Prior to
joining DSM, he was Manager of the Sao Bento mine in Minas Gerais, Brazil for Eldorado
Resources from 1997 - 2003.

8



Updated Resource & Reserve Estimate, Jacobina Dec 2005

3.0 DISCLAIMER

All of the technical information presented in this report has been prepared by DSM or in the case
of work by previous operators, reviewed and verified by DSM. In the course of the exploration
and mine development program, DSM has employed a number of independent consultants to
perform various reviews including Devpro Mining (Pre-Feasibility study of Morro do Vento,
Adams et al., 2005), Micon International (review and audit of exploration programs and mineral
resources – resources at Morro do Vento in Adams et al., 2005; audit in 2004 sited in Pearson
and Tagliamonte, 2005, and Hennessey 2003a and 2003b), SRK Consulting (preliminary
economic evaluation - 2004) and SNC Lavalin (feasibility study - 2003). All of these reports are
available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

The various agreements under which DSM through its wholly owned Brazilian subsidiary
Jacobina Mineração e Comércio (JMC) holds title to the mineral lands for this project have been
reviewed by Maria Raquel Sartori de Toledo Aguiar, a legal firm based in Sao Paulo, Brazil who
is the legal counsel for DSM in Brazil. DSM maintains a comprehensive mineral title
administration system in Jacobina using ArcView, a well known GIS software package. The
DIÁRIO OFICIAL DA UNIÃO (Official Diary) of the Brazilian government, which is issued
daily, is regularly reviewed by DSM personnel and any updates to the claims recorded as they
are published.

The metallurgical, geological, mineralization and exploration techniques and results descriptions
used in this report are taken from reports and internal memorandums prepared by DSM, Micon,
William Resources, the BLM Service Group and the JMC mine staff. The name Jacobina, as
used herein, refers to the mountain range, stratigraphic group designation, mine or town as
specified.

All currency amounts are stated in US dollars with occasional reference to the Real, the Brazilian
currency. Quantities are stated in SI units, the Canadian and international practice, including
metric tons (tonnes, t) and kilograms (kg) for weight, kilometres (km) or metres (m) for distance,
hectares (ha) for area, grams (g) and grams per metric tonne (g/t) for gold grades (g Au/t).
Precious metals quantities may also be reported in Troy ounces (ounces, oz), a common practice
in the gold mining industry.

9



Updated Resource & Reserve Estimate, Jacobina Dec 2005

4.0 PROPERTY DESCRIPTION AND LOCATION

The Jacobina property, as shown in Figure 4.1, is located in the state of Bahia in northeastern
Brazil approximately 340 km northwest of the city of Salvador. Salvador, the state capital of
Bahia, has a population of 2.5 million.

The property is comprised of 5,996 ha of mining concessions, 129,572 ha of granted exploration
concessions and 6,012 ha of filed exploration claims for a total of 141,580 ha. A complete list of
all exploration concessions and claims, with their current status and the text of an opinion letter
by Maria Raquel Sartori de Toledo Aguiar of Monaco Moherdaui, a Brazilian legal firm located
in Sao Paulo, are given in Appendix I. The title opinion includes a list of all concessions owned
by DSM through its wholly owned subsidiary Jacobina Mineração é Comércio (JMC) along with
a series of maps showing the locations of the concessions. The leases and granted exploration
concessions were surveyed a number of years ago and are marked by concrete monuments at
each corner which remain in place.

The Jacobina property forms a contiguous elongated rectangle extending 155 km in a north-south
direction, and varying from 2.5 to 4 km in width. This shape is a reflection of the underlying
geology with the gold-mineralized host rocks trending along the property's north-south axis.
DSM has a full computerized claim management system in place to closely monitor its land
holdings.

The Brazilian government department responsible for mining lands (DNPM) has recently
introduced an internet-based system for accessing information on exploration concessions
granted in Brazil. DSM monitors this site regularly and updates its claim data as appropriate as
well as monitoring the DIÁRIO OFICIAL DA UNIÃO (Official Diary) which is published daily
with legal details on issuance of claims.

10





Updated Resource & Reserve Estimate, Jacobina Dec 2005

  5.0 ACCESSIBILITY, CLIMATE, LOCAL RESOURCES,

INFRASTRUCTURE AND PHYSIOGRAPHY

Salvador is a key commercial centre in Brazil and is serviced by an international airport with
numerous daily flights, as well as by a large port facility. It is one of the oldest cities in the
country and, until about two centuries ago, was the capital. Access to the property from
Salvador is via paved secondary highway to the town of Jacobina approximately 330km north-
northwest and by a well-maintained paved road from the town to the mine site and the Jacobina
mine (Joao Belo zone) and processing plant. Travel times are typically 4 to 5 hours from the
mine to Salvador and less than 20 minutes from the mine to Jacobina. A second field exploration
office has also been established at the town of Pindobaçu located 50km north of Jacobina.
Pindobaçu is accessible by a well-maintained paved road with access to various working areas by
secondary unpaved roads.

The town of Jacobina was founded in 1722 and is a regional agricultural centre with an official
population of 76,484 as reported in 2003 by the INSTITUTO BRASILEIRO DE GEOGRAFIA
E ESTAT¥STICA (IBGE). It provides all the accommodation, shopping and social amenities
necessary for the mine's labour force. As part of the re-development of the Jacobina Mine,
electrical services were re-established to the mine by COELBA – Companhia de Eletricidade da
Bahia. Telephone and high speed internet service are available in Jacobina and these services
have been installed at both the mine site and at the exploration offices in the town of Jacobina.
High speed service is not yet available in Pindobaçu but is expected to be installed sometime in
2006.

The Jacobina project is located in a region of sub-tropical, semi-arid climate with generally flat
to low rolling hills. Precipitation at Jacobina is somewhat higher that the regional average, likely
due to the mountain range which hosts the deposits. Average annual precipitation is 84 cm with
the May to October period being somewhat drier than the rest of the year. Temperatures vary
little throughout the year. July is the coldest month with average daytime highs of 26º and
nightly lows of 17º. February is the warmest month with average daily highs of 32º and nightly
lows of 20º (Weather Underground website at www.wunderground.com).

The Jacobina mine itself is located within the heart of the Serra do Jacobina mountain chain, a
local exception to the regional topography. The mountains exist due to the resistant weathering
of the quartzite and quartz pebble conglomerate of the Serra do Córrego and Rio do Ouro
Formations from which they are formed and which have been thrust faulted to surface at this
location. The mountains have resulted in a local micro-climate of highly variable but somewhat
greater rainfall amounts than the surrounding region.

12



Updated Resource & Reserve Estimate, Jacobina Dec 2005

  6.0 HISTORY

6.1 PRE-1970’S

  The Serra do Jacobina mountains have been mined for gold since the late 17th century.
Numerous old workings (garimpos) from artisanal miners (garimpeiros) can be seen along a 15
km strike length, following the ridges of the mountain chain. Garimpeiro activity, on a small
scale, has taken place sporadically up to the present day, mining mostly weathered ores.

From 1889 to 1896, Companhia Minas do Jacobina operated the Gomes Costa Mine in the Morro
do Vento area. Total reported production is 84 kg of gold from a 130-m long drift. In the
1930's, when the price of gold rose, the garimpeiro activity increased until the easily accessible
weathered surface ore was mostly exhausted.

In the 1950's three mines opened, Canavieiras, João Belo, and Serra Branca. Canavieiras was the
largest of these operations, and, at a capacity of 30 t per day (t/d), it produced 115,653 t with an
average recovered grade of 18.13 g Au/t. By the 1960's all three of these operations were shut
down due to political circumstances.

6.2 ANGLO AMERICAN-WILLIAM RESOURCES (1970-1998)

  The modern history of the Jacobina mining camp began in the early 1970's with extensive
geological studies and exploration carried out by Anglo American. The company was attracted
to the Jacobina area because of the apparent strong similarity of the local gold-bearing
conglomerates to the well-known Witwatersrand reefs in South Africa. This work, which was
carried out from 1973 to 1978, provided the basis for proceeding with a feasibility study in 1979-
80.

The feasibility study recommended that a mine be developed at Itapicurú (now covered by the
Morro do Vento and Morro do Vento Extension areas) with an initial plant capacity of 20,000
tonnes per month (t/m). Development of the Itapicurú mine to access the Main Reef commenced
in October, 1980. The processing plant was commissioned in November, 1982. In 1983, the
first full year of production, production was 242,550 tonnes with a recovered grade of 4.88 g
Au/t yielding 38,055 ounces of gold.

From 1984 to 1987, exploration focussed on evaluating the mineralized conglomerates of the
João Belo Norte Hill, located about two kilometres south of the Itapicurú mine. This work
outlined sufficient reserves to warrant an open pit operation, development of which commenced
in August, 1989. Concurrently, the processing plant capacity was increased to 75,000 t/m. In
1990, 538,000 tonnes grading 1.44 g Au/t were produced, mainly from the open pit. Total
production at Jacobina in 1990 was 45,482 ounces of gold from 680,114 tonnes milled for a
recovered grade of 2.08 g Au/t. Underground development at João Belo commenced in 1990, as
open pit reserves were limited.

13



Updated Resource & Reserve Estimate, Jacobina Dec 2005

  William Resources Inc. (now Valencia Ventures Inc.) acquired 100% of the Jacobina gold mine
and assumed management effective August 1, 1996, by purchasing JMC from subsidiaries of
Minorco of Luxembourg and Banque Paribas de France.

William operated the João Belo and Itapicurú mines from August, 1996 until December, 1998
when the mines were closed due to depressed gold prices and the strong Brazilian currency. The
Canavieiras mine was also dewatered and rehabilitated during this period with a small amount of
production. William did considerable work on optimizing the operations, increasing plant
capacity and it began an evaluation of the exploration potential however only limited exploration
drilling was carried out due to a lack of funds.

From 1983 to 1998 JMC processed 7.96 million tonnes of ore at a recovered grade of 2.62 g Au/t
to produce approximately 670,000 ounces of gold as shown in Table 6.1. The bulk of historic
production came from the Itapicurú (Morro do Vento and Morro do Vento Extension) and João
Belo areas. João Belo production during 1989 to 1993 was predominantly from open pit reserves
whereas Itapicurú and post-1993 João Belo production was from underground.

  TABLE 6.1  JACOBINA ANNUAL PRODUCTION HISTORY 1983-1998   
 
Year  Itapicurú  Canavieiras  João Belo    Stockpile    Total   
  Tonnes  g Au/t1  Tonnes  g Au/t1  Tonnes  g Au/t1  Tonnes  g Au/t1  Tonnes  g Au/t1  Ounces 

1983  218,117  4.68  24,433  6.67            242,550  4.88  38,055 
1984  233,059  4.73  60,490  5.26  8,397    2.97      301,946  4.79  46,500 
1985  202,088  4.48  46,470  4.88  34,319    1.78      282,877  4.22  38,380 
1986  246,500  3.91  34,506  3.20  30,128    1.58      311,134  3.61  36,111 
1987  290,322  3.98  30,271  4.57  866    1.71      321,459  4.03  41,651 
1988  267,076  3.82  32,370  4.93  23,819    2.71      323,265  3.85  40,014 
1989  116,713  3.61  23,908  4.09  58,259    2.26  82,024  0.90  280,904  2.58  23,301 
1990  113,726  4.36  27,960  5.19  538,428    1.44      680,114  2.08  45,482 
1991  142,160  3.99  29,371  6.22  604,069    1.75      775,600  2.33  58,101 
1992  105,750  4.50  2,802  5.64  485,629    1.81      594,181  2.31  44,129 
1993  7,532  3.62      511,355    2.14      518,887  2.16  36,035 
1994  105,167  3.94      445,974    1.90      551,141  2.29  40,578 
1995  105,865  3.82      474,048    2.15      579,913  2.45  45,679 
1996  105,683  3.63      447,745    2.00  34,741  0.93  588,169  2.23  42,380 
1997  107,732  3.38      540,283    2.07  217,666  0.84  865,681  1.92  53,562 
19982  82,728  2.09  30,013  2.27  593,957    1.68  34,391  1.61  741,089  1.76  39,695 

Total  2,450,218  4.04  342,594  4.75  4,797,276    1.88  368,822  0.93  7,958,910  2.62  669,653 

1      Recovered.
2      To November 30, 1988

14



Updated Resource & Reserve Estimate, Jacobina Dec 2005

6.3 DESERT SUN MINING (2002 – PRESENT)

On January 8, 2002, Desert Sun Mining Corp. (DSM) entered into a letter of intent with William
Multi-Tech Inc. (formerly William Resources Inc. and now Valencia Ventures) (“William”)
whereby William agreed to option its Jacobina gold property in Brazil to DSM.

On May 1, 2002, the Company entered into a revised agreement with William, whereby William
granted the Company the option to earn a 51% interest in William’s wholly owned subsidiary,
Jacobina Mineração e Comércio S.A. (“JMC”), which owns the mineral rights, mines and a
4,000 tonne per day plant located on the Jacobina Mine paleoplacer gold property in Brazil. The
total land position at that time was approximately 64 kilometres long and two to four kilometres
wide. To earn the 51% interest in JMC, the Company was required to spend US$2,000,000
exploring the Jacobina property prior to December 31, 2004.

On September 20, 2002, DSM entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (“MOU”),
pursuant to which William granted the Company an option to acquire the remaining 49% interest
of the mine and related mineral concessions by making an option payment of $100,000 at the
time of execution of the MOU and a further $5 million in cash within 90 days of earning the
initial 51% interest, of which up to $2,500,000 could be satisfied in equivalent value of shares in
the Company.

In September 2003, DSM completed the required exploration expenditures to earn a 51% interest
in the property and then exercised its option to acquire the remaining 49% interest of the
Jacobina property. As a result of the exercise of its option, the Company owns 100% of the
Jacobina property.

6.3.1 EXPLORATION 2002-PRESENT

DSM initiated exploration in the Jacobina Mine in the fall of 2002. This program was
substantially expanded in September 2003 and has continued at the rate of 25,000m of drilling
per year since that time. The original property holdings which extended approximately 62km
along strike have been expanded considerably so that the current property covers a strike length
of 155km. The term “Bahia Gold Belt” was coined by DSM to describe the overall gold
mineralized belt of Proterozoic sediments. In the last three years, exploration has outlined five
development projects (Joao Belo extension, Serra do Córrego, Morro do Vento, Morro do Vento
Extension and Canavieiras) as well as outlined a promising target at Pindobaçu located 50km
north of the town of Jacobina.

Results of the 2002-2003 exploration program are discussed in Hennessey (2003b) and for the
2004 program in Pearson and Tagliamonte (2005). This report discusses results of the 2005
exploration program and updated mineral resource and mineral reserve estimates for each of the
major target zones.

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Updated Resource & Reserve Estimate, Jacobina Dec 2005

6.3.2 RESOURCE AND RESERVE ESTIMATION (2003-PRESENT)

Prior to DSM’s involvement, the most recent mineral resource and reserve statement issued by
the mine was produced in May, 1998 by the BLM Engineering Group for William Resources.
The mineral resources and reserves from this statement were reviewed in Hennessey (2002,
2003a). Micon was of the opinion in these reports that the historical mineral resources were
relevant at that time and that it was reasonable for DSM to rely on them as justification for its
proposed exploration program (Hennessey, 2002). This information was superseded by an
updated mineral resource estimate incorporating diamond drilling results in 2002-2003 by DSM
and reviewed by Micon in August 2003 (Hennessey, 2003b). The August 2003 resource
estimate was further updated to include diamond drilling results in 2004 by DSM (Pearson and
Tagliamonte, 2005) in a report dated March 2005. This resource estimate was also reviewed by
Micon. The current report presents an updated mineral resource estimate, reviewed by Micon,
incorporating results of the 2005 exploration program.

The original feasibility study completed by SNC-Lavalin and Dynatec in September 2003,
established a new mineral reserve for Jacobina and was based on the resource estimate of August
2003 reviewed by Micon (Hennessey, 2003b). The Pre-Feasibility study completed by Devpro
Mining in association with Micon International and AMEC Americas Inc. in August 2005
established a mineral reserve at Morro do Vento (Adams et al., 2005). An updated mineral
reserve including an adjustment for production since March 2005 was released by DSM in
August 2005. The current report updates the mineral reserves in the Jacobina Mine area based
on the updated 2005 mineral resource estimate, results of production and new engineering work
presented in this report.

6.3.3 MINING (2004-PRESENT)

Reactivation of the Jacobina Mine started in earnest in April 2004. By May 2004, the
underground mine was de-watered, by June 2004 the antiquated rail haulage system was
removed, the drifts enlarged to accommodate mechanized equipment and new ramp development
started, and in July 2004 ore development commenced. A complete fleet of new equipment was
purchased from Atlas Copco and Volvo, which included 15-tonne LHDs (Load Haul Dump), 35-
tonne haulage trucks, electric hydraulic 2-boom jumbos, and electric hydraulic ITH (in-the-hole)
production drills. New ventilation, compressed air, and electrical systems were installed. Mine
offices, heavy equipment mechanical shops, warehouses, staff facilities and a haulage road were
completed by October 2004.

The plant has been completely refurbished and modernized, with four additional leach tanks
installed to increase leach time and gold recovery from the historical 92% to 96.5% . A new
regeneration kiln has been installed and the CIP (carbon-in-pulp) circuit has been upgraded with
a 100% increase in the screen capacity. A new crushing plant has been constructed with a
throughput capacity of 500 tonnes per hour. The production plant has been fully automated with
Siemens technology and is now operating with 40% less manpower.

16



Updated Resource & Reserve Estimate, Jacobina Dec 2005

The capital project, including development of the Jacobina Mine, refurbishment of the mill
facilities and the purchase of all machinery, equipment and vehicles, cost approximately US$37
million. The original 2003 SNC Lavalin Feasibility Study projected costs of US$34 million.
Lower development costs were offset by later than expected pre-operational revenue, as a result
of the delayed delivery of the long hole drills.

Desert Sun poured the first gold bar at the Jacobina Mine in March 2005 and declared
commercial production effective July 1, 2005. The mine produced at 75% of operating capacity
during the third quarter as part of the planned ramp-up to full production.

In November 2005, DSM reported that total ore mined in the third quarter ended September 30,
2005 was 340,913 tonnes and ore milled was 300,505 tonnes at an average grade of 2.03 g Au/t.
Gold production was 18,683 ounces at an average cash cost of US$292 per ounce. The average
recovery rate at the mill was 95.4% .

Total production for 2005 is forecast at 55,000 ounces, including production of 11,935 ounces in
the preproduction phase. Average head grade at full production is projected to be 2.1g Au/t with
an average recovery rate expected at the plant of 96.5% . The production forecast is based on
milling 4,200 tonnes per day.

In August 2005, DSM issued the results of a positive pre-feasibility study prepared by Devpro
Mining in association with Micon International and AMEC Americas on the Morro do Vento
target area located 1.5 kilometers north of the processing plant. The Morro do Vento mine will
be the second production area at Jacobina and will add an additional 50,000 ounces per year
bringing overall production to 150,000 ounces per year. The mining method and equipment will
be similar to that currently used at the Jacobina Mine operations. AMEC Americas has been
retained to carry out a feasibility study for the plant expansion. Options of expanding to 6,500
tonnes per day and 10,000 tonnes per day are being studied. Metallurgical tests are also in
progress at SGS Lakefield in Lakefield, Ontario to optimize the process.

The Company has started work on collaring the 720 Level access portal for Morro do Vento and
slashing the access adit. A power line directly to the Morro do Vento site is currently under
construction and the mining equipment has been ordered. A strong mine development team has
been assembled that will oversee all work on the project.

17



Updated Resource & Reserve Estimate, Jacobina Dec 2005

7.0 GEOLOGICAL SETTING

7.1 REGIONAL GEOLOGY

The Precambrian terrains of the northeastern part of the São Francisco Craton (Almeida, 1977),
in the state of Bahia show evidence of a prolonged terrain accretion history. The three major
Archean crustal units, the Gavião, Serrinha and Jequié blocks, underwent several episodes of
tectonism that culminated in a continental-continental collision during the Paleoproterozoic,
when the consolidation of the craton took place along a main orogenic belt named the Salvador-
Curaçá mobile belt as shown in Figure 7.1.

A prominent zone of crustal weakness within this portion of the craton is the Contendas-Jacobina
lineament, a 500 km long and approximately north-trending suture zone, located close to the
eastern margin of the Gavião block (Fig. 7.1) . The first evidence of activation of the Contendas-
Jacobina lineament was in Archean times when the volcano-sedimentary rocks of the Mundo
Novo Greenstone Belt were deposited. The Mundo Novo Greenstone Belt is thought to have
been deposited in a back-arc extensional setting and deformed by an early collision
(Mascarenhas et al., 1994). A re-activation of the Contendas-Jacobina lineament during the
Paleoproterozoic, prior to, and during the continental-continental collision, gave rise to a
continental margin rift-type basin where the siliciclastic sediments of the Jacobina rift were
deposited.

7.2 PROPERTY GEOLOGY

Figure 7.2 shows the geology of the complete Bahia Gold Belt and its neighborhood. Figure 7.3
is a more detailed geological map of the central portion of the Bahia Gold Belt extending
approximately 110km along strike.

The Bahia Gold Belt overlays most of the Jacobina range, where quartzites, metaconglomerates
and schists of the Paleoproterozoic Jacobina Group constitute a series of north-south, elongated,
mountain ranges that rise up to 1,200 metres above sea-level. The deep and longitudinal valleys,
bordering the mountains, correspond to deeply weathered ultramafic sills and dikes. The east-
west oriented valleys represent weathered mafic to intermediate dikes. Archean tonalitic,
trondhjemitic and granodioritic gneiss-dominated basement and related remnants of supracrustal
rocks, grouped as the Mairi Complex, are found on both flat to slightly hilly areas east of the
Jacobina range. At its eastern border and also in a flat landscape, there are the fine-grained
biotite gneisses of the Archean Saúde Complex. The transition between the hilly and the scarped
domains of the eastern border corresponds to the exposures of the Archean Mundo Novo
Greenstone Belt. To the west of the Jacobina range, Paleoproterozoic late- to post-tectonic,
peraluminous granites (the Miguel Calmon-Itapicuru, Mirangaba-Carnaíba, and Campo Formoso
granitoids) outcrop as hilly landscapes.

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Updated Resource & Reserve Estimate, Jacobina Dec 2005

The following sections present a brief description of the main geological units within the Bahia
Gold Belt and its neighborhood.

7.2.1 ARCHEAN BASEMENT ROCKS

Basement rocks of Archean-age in the Bahia Gold Belt include the Mairi Complex, Saude
Complex and the Mundo Novo Greenstone Belt.

Mairi Complex

The Mairi Complex (Melo, 1991), which corresponds to the eastern portion of the Gavião block,
comprises tonalitic, trondhjemitic, and granodioritic gneiss-dominated basement, of Archean
age, and remnants of Archean supracrustal rocks, including quartzites, schists, calc-silicate rocks,
banded iron formations, amphibolites and mafic-ultramafic bodies. The complex crops out on
both flat to slightly hilly sides of the Jacobina range. The complex underwent multiple
deformation events, and displays a marked northeast-southwest foliation, with a regional
amphibolite facies metamorphism paragenesis. The Mairi Complex constitutes, together with
the Mundo Novo Greenstone Belt and the Campo Formoso Mafic-Ultramafic Complex, the
basement for the detritic Jacobina sequence.

Saúde Complex

The Saúde Complex, as re-defined by Melo (1993), represents a volcano-sedimentary association
comprised predominantly of aluminum-rich gneisses, quartzites, calc-silicate rocks, biotite
gneisses, mafic and ultramafic rocks, banded iron formations, and aluminum-micaceous schists,
which exhibit a regional amphibolite facies metamorphism, and evidence of granitization and
migmatization. Pearson et al. (in press) consider the term Saúde Complex to refer only to the
characteristic fine-grained biotite gneisses, locally exhibiting porphyroblasts of garnet, which
outcrop between the towns of Caém and Antônio Gonçalves (Fig. 7.3) . The supracrustal
remnants, which were previously considered part of this complex, are interpreted as slices of an
Archean greenstone belt type association, intimately related to the surrounding gneissic and
migmatized basement (Mairi Complex). These rocks are thought to represent higher grade
metamorphosed equivalents of the Mundo Novo Greenstone belt.

Mundo Novo Greenstone Belt

The Mundo Novo Greenstone Belt, according to Mascarenhas et al. (1994 and 1998) and Souza
et al. (2002), comprises an Archean greenschist facies volcano-sedimentary sequence bounded to
the west by the Jacobina Group, along the Pindobaçu-West fault (Fig. 7.3) . To the east, the
Mundo Novo Greenstone Belt is in contact with the Saúde gneisses, and supracrustal rocks and
gneisses of the basement, along the Pindobaçu fault. To the west of Pindobaçu and Antônio
Gonçalves, and to the north of Carnaíba, the Mundo Novo Greenstone Belt has its widest east-
west outcropping exposure, occupying the low-lands among the hills made up of the Serra da
Paciência Formation rocks.

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Updated Resource & Reserve Estimate, Jacobina Dec 2005

In the central part of the Bahia Gold Belt, the Mundo Novo Greenstone Belt is subdivided in two
major units: (1) a lower unit, represented by massive to pillowed, mafic metabasalts, displaying
locally variolitic and amygdaloidal textures, and minor intercalations of banded iron formation,
and metagreywackes; and, (2) an upper unit, comprising a thick package of metagreywackes
with subordinate conglomeratic horizons, which grades to a chemical-exhalative zone (banded
iron formation and metachert), and pelitic sediments (pyrite-bearing, graphite schist). No
evidence of intermediate, or felsic, metavolcanic rocks have been identified, thus far, in this
central part of the Mundo Novo Greenstone Belt outcrops.

The Mundo Novo Greenstone Belt can also be divided in two metamorphic domains: an
amphibolite facies domain, and a greenschist facies domain. The amphibolite facies domain is
well exposed at the Serra do Cantagalo and Brejo dos Paulos hills, and to the east of the Itaitú
village (Fig. 7.3) . While the greenschist facies domain, corresponds to the classical Mundo
Novo Greenstone Belt, as defined by Mascarenhas et al. (1994). These authors and Souza et al.
(2002), considered the biotite gneisses of the Saúde Complex as a probable equivalent to felsic
metavolcanic rocks related to the development of the Mundo Novo Greenstone Belt. This
genetic discussion is still however, an open question, hence the Saúde biotite gneisses have been
left separated from the supracrustal rocks.

7.2.2 CAMPO FORMOSO MAFIC-ULTRAMAFIC COMPLEX

The chromite-bearing Campo Formoso Mafic-Ultramafic Complex occurs in the northern portion
of the mapped area as a 40 km long by 0.1 to 1.0 km wide northeast-southwest elongated body
(FigS. 7.2 and 7.3), dipping 50º-60º to the south-southeast. The complex overlies gneisses of the
Mairi Complex, is intruded by the Campo Formoso granite, and underlies the Jacobina Group
metasediments. It comprises metamorphic rocks (actinolite gneisses, tremolite-actinolite
serpentinite and serpentine-chlorite-carbonate-talc schists) derived from peridotites and
pyroxenites. This complex is interpreted as a layered intrusion (Couto et al., 1978), or a thick
differentiated peridotite dike of komatiitic affinity (Topitsch, 1993).

7.2.3 JACOBINA GROUP

The stratigraphic subdivisions of the Jacobina Group (Leo et al., 1964; Griffon, 1967;
Mascarenhas et al., 1998) have long been controversial. While the stratigraphy in the Jacobina
mine area has been well documented, the most difficult task is to develop a usable nomenclature
to define the eastern formations within the Jacobina Group, specifically the Cruz das Almas,
Serra do Meio, and the Serra da Paciência Formations.

Pearson et al. (in press) considers that the Jacobina Group comprises basically the lower Serra do
Córrego, and the upper Rio do Ouro Formations, characterized below, according to sedimentary
and stratigraphic studies carried out by Oram (1975), Minter (1975), Strydom and Minter (1976),
Couto et al. (1978), and Molinari et al. (1986). The stratigraphic nomenclature developed by
these writers has been successfully employed within the Jacobina Mine area for over 25 years
and its usage has been continued by Desert Sun.

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Updated Resource & Reserve Estimate, Jacobina Dec 2005

The Cruz das Almas Formation, which was previously interpreted as the uppermost part of the
Jacobina Group (Leo et al., 1964), is correlated by Pearson et al. (in press) with the upper
sedimentary unit of the Mundo Novo Greenstone Belt. The Serra do Meio and Serra da
Paciência formations are assumed by Pearson et al. to be part of one thick package of fine- to
coarse-grained quartzites with minor metaconglomerates, and andalusite schists, and metapelites,
which are interpreted as time-equivalent to the Serra do Córrego and lower Rio do Ouro
Formations, tectonically imbricated with slices of Mundo Novo Greenstone Belt lithologies,
along the eastern border of the Jacobina range (Fig. 7.3) .

Serra do Córrego Formation

The Serra do Córrego Formation forms the western ridge of the Serra da Jacobina and is exposed
for a strike length of about 85 km from 18 km south of Jacobina to 67 km to the north. It
consists of an interbedded series of orthoquartzites and oligomictic conglomerates that
collectively range in total thickness from 500 to 1,000 m. The conglomerate pebbles are
composed of polycrystalline quartz with rare, fine-grained, fuchsite and rutile-bearing quartzite,
with a matrix of quartz, sericite and fuchsite with detrital zircon, non-chromiferous rutile,
tourmaline, and chromite grains (Ledru et al., 1997). The three Al2SiO5 polymorphs occur within
the matrix with poikiloblastic grains of andalusite and sillimanite, with aggregates of acicular
fibrolite being the most common (Ledru et al., 1997; Teixeira et al., 1999 and 2001). Rare
kyanite is restricted to major thrust faults indicating that pressures higher than 4 kb were reached
during thrusting (Teixeira et al., 1999 and 2001).

Figure 7.4 is a geological plan map of the Jacobina mine area showing the distribution of the
Serra do Córrego Formation. Figure 7.5 is a stratigraphic column of the Serra do Córrego
Formation modified after Molinari et al. (1986) and Figure 7.6 shows the correlation of
stratigraphy among the major present and former mines. The formation in the Jacobina mine
area is divided into three major units as follows:

1)      Lower Conglomerate (40 - 200 m)
 
  This lower zone outcrops along the lower parts of the western slopes of the Serra do Córrego, Morro do Vento, and Morro do Vento Extension areas (Fig. 7.3), and is composed of interbedded quartzites and pebbly quartzites and conglomerates. The reef zones are oligomictic conglomerates with pebble sizes ranging from 35 mm to 60 mm that are interbedded with orthoquartzites. This unit hosts the gold orebodies of the Basal Reef and the Main Reef (Fig. 7.5).
 
2)      Intermediate Quartzite (130 - 425 m)
 
  This unit is primarily orthoquartzites with little or no conglomerate. In the upper part of this unit is a distinct horizon known as the “marker schist” which is highly sheared quartz-sericite-chlorite schist that appears to represent a hiatus in the typical sedimentation pattern.
 

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Updated Resource & Reserve Estimate, Jacobina Dec 2005

3)      Upper Conglomerate (120 – 400 m)
 
  This zone forms the most extensive division, and occurs from the Serra Branca block, in the north, to the Campo Limpo block, in the south (Fig. 6). The sequence is comprised of quartzites, and pebbly quartzites with a number of conglomerate layers. The reef zones are interbedded conglomerates and orthoquartzites with pebble sizes ranging from 50 mm at Canavieiras in the north to 100 mm at the João Belo Mine in the south. The Upper Conglomerate Zone hosts the main gold orebodies of the Canavieiras, Morro do Vento and João Belo mines, as well as, the Serra Branca and Serra do Córrego gold mineralization.
 

Oram (1975), Minter (1975), and Strydom and Minter (1976) concluded, based on isopachs and
pebble size data, that the paleoslope during the sedimentation of the Serra do Córrego Formation
was inclined to the west. The westerly paleocurrent direction, indicated by the vectoral data,
drained a provenance area to the east of the present outcrop area, and deposited these sediments
in a fluvial environment.

  Rio do Ouro Formation

  The Rio do Ouro Formation crops out on the central ridges of the Serra de Jacobina Range and
extends further to the north and south than does the Serra do Córrego Formation. The Rio do
Ouro Formation comprises orthoquartzites, generally finer grained than the Serra do Córrego,
that in places reach a high degree of purity.

According to Minter (1975), the Rio do Ouro Formation quartzites were transported from the
west direction, diametrically opposed to the source of the Serra do Córrego Formation. A
vectoral mean of 126º, measured from small scale trough crossbedding, is substantiated by
asymmetrical ripple marks. Consequently, the Rio do Ouro Formation has transgressively buried
the Serra do Córrego Formation.

The contact between the Serra do Córrego and Rio do Ouro formations, is transitional and
represents a continuance of the transgression evident towards the top of the Serra do Córrego
Formation. Consequently, the Rio do Ouro Formation may represent a shallow marine overlap.

  Serra do Paciencia Formation

  The Serra do Paciencia Formation is exposed along the eastern margin of the Jacobina basin and
comprises thick packages of orthoquartzites with local andalusite-quartz-graphite schist beds and
minor polymictic metaconglomerate. A recent exposure at a newly constructed water dam at the
Itapicuru river, southwest from Pindobaçu, indicates that the andalusite schist units are original
pelitic layers interbedded with fine-grained quartzites. Pebbles in the conglomerates comprise
black metachert, metagraywacke, and polycrystalline quartz suggesting the Mundo Novo
Greenstone Belt as the source area.

The Jacobina metasediments on the eastern flank of the Jacobina Basin appear to form an
overturned and east-dipping limb of a regional syncline which is better preserved to the east of

28



Updated Resource & Reserve Estimate, Jacobina Dec 2005

Campo Formoso (Pearson et al. in press). This limb has been fragmented in several up-thrown
blocks that are apparently intercalated with metapelites, metacherts and metagreywackes of the
Mundo Novo Greenstone Belt. These pelitic and immature sediments are considered by Pearson
et al. to correspond to slices of the upper unit of the Mundo Novo Greenstone Belt imbricated
within these Jacobina metasediments, which corresponds to the Serra do Meio Formation which
is group by Pearson et al. with the Serra da Paciência Formation.

The eastern-most Jacobina blocks comprise fine- to coarse-grained quartzites,
microconglomeratic quartzites, grit, and minor metaconglomerates, with characteristic blue-
quartz grains of possible volcanic/sub-volcanic origin (Serra da Paciência, Santa Cruz and
Guardanapos). Locally these are intercalated with fine-grained quartzites (displaying
herringbone crossbedding and small-sized ripple-marks), and coarse-grained andalusite-quart-
graphite schists, previously referred as the Serra do Meio Formation (Griffon, 1967;
Mascarenhas et al., 1992 and 1998). This package of metasediments is considered by Pearson et
al. to be part of the Serra da Paciência Formation, due to the overall sedimentological
characteristics it shows along the eastern border of the Serra de Jacobina.

Pearson et al. (in press) further note that the poorly-sorted, poorly-rounded, and cobble/pebble-
supported conglomerates and sedimentary breccias that are well exposed eight km southwest and
one km northwest of the town of Saúde, may represent proximal entry-points for the Jacobina
basin. In addition, the occurrences of sedimentary breccias and conglomerates at apparently
different stratigraphic horizons (west of Saúde area, Pindobaçu, Fumaça, Cercadinho) in the
vicinity of the Pindobaçu-West fault, on the eastern border of the Jacobina range, are thought to
be evidence of long-lived periods of movement on the Pindobaçu fault system.

7.2.4 ULTRAMAFIC SILLS AND DIKES

The deep and longitudinal valleys bordering the mountains which form the Jacobina range,
correspond to weathered pre- to syn-tectonic ultramafic sills and dikes. These intrusives include
dark-green metaperidotite and metapyroxenite, which acquire a brownish stain where weathered
(Teixeira et al., 2001). According to these authors, deformation and metamorphism, coupled
with hydrothermal alteration, have transformed these rocks into fine-grained, protocataclastic
schists containing talc, serpentine, chlorite, tremolite, and carbonate. These intrusive rocks are
known to host high grade pyritic gold-bearing quartz veins in the Jacobina mine area, and at
several other places like Rio Coxo, Jaqueira, Mina Velha and Várzea Comprida. The age of
these sills and dikes is still unknown.

Field evidence by DSM reported by Pearson et al. (in press) indicates that these rocks are
intrusive bodies and not tectonic slices of Mundo Novo Greenstone Belt ultramafic rocks, as
suggested by Mascarenhas et al. (1992, 1994 and 1998) and Topitsch (1993). In the Jacobina
mine area, the ultramafic rocks, which were emplaced along north-trending structures, affected
and reacted with the host rocks (quartzites and conglomerates of the Serra do Córrego and Rio do
Ouro Formations) producing metre-scale mottled zones in the hosts. The ultramafic rocks

29



Updated Resource & Reserve Estimate, Jacobina Dec 2005

display textural variation from aphanitic borders to a porphyroblastic core, textures typical of the
chill margins of an intrusion.

7.2.5 LATE- TO POST-TECTONIC GRANITES

According to Teixeira et al (2001), several Paleoproterozoic, two-mica- (sillimanite-bearing) and
muscovite-bearing granitoid massifs are exposed along the 500-km long Contendas-Jacobina
lineament, and particularly in the Campo Formoso, Carnaíba and Jacobina regions (Fig. 7.3) .
Trace element and REE data indicate that these leucogranites crystallized from peraluminous
magmas during syn-collisional tectonism at 1.97 to 1.88 Ga (Sabaté et al., 1990 and 1992). This
probably represents an episode of S-type granitoid generation along the sutures between the
Gavião block, the Jequié block, and the Salvador-Curaçá mobile belt. Important occurrences of
beryl (emerald), molybdenite, and scheelite mineralization in the Campo Formoso and Carnaíba
regions are related to the hydrothermal alteration associated with these peraluminous granitoids.
However, there is no direct evidence to suggest a correlation between the gold mineralization
with this episode of igneous activity.

Field mapping and interpretation of airborne geophysical data by DSM indicates that the
Carnaíba and the Mirangaba granites, are part of one continuous intrusive body in which there
are a large number of zenoliths of basement rocks (gneisses, migmatites, amphibolites), and not
two separate intrusive bodies as represented by Couto et al. (1978).

7.2.6 MAFIC DIKES

Distinct from the ultramafic intrusions, there is a set of east-west oriented mafic to intermediate
dikes that are typically weathered and marked by valleys. These dikes correspond to a late-
tectonic intrusive event, which affected the Serra de Jacobina range. These metamorphosed
intrusive rocks are a distinctly later phase of intrusion cross-cutting the ultramafic sills, and the
metasediments of the Serra do Córrego, Rio do Ouro and Serra da Paciência formations. The
main rock types are metagabbro and metadiorite. Locally, these dikes host restricted gold
mineralization.

7.2.7 CHAPADA DIAMANTINA AND UNA GROUPS

Meso- and Neo-Proterozoic, low metamorphic grade, detritic-carbonatic and carbonatic-detritic
metasediments occur to the west from the Jacobina range, grouped in the Chapada Diamantina
and Una groups, respectively (Fig. 7.3) . The former comprises conglomerates, deposited directly
over Archean gneisses and supracrustal rocks, conglomeratic sandstones, sandstones, siltstones,
shales and carbonatic shales. The latter is constituted by diamictites, slates, limestones,
dolomites, and carbonaceous shales and quartzites.

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Updated Resource & Reserve Estimate, Jacobina Dec 2005

7.2.8 STRUCTURAL GEOLOGY

Different styles of deformation are recognized within the Jacobina Group and surrounding
Archean rocks, along and across the northern portion of the 500 km long, and north-trending
Contendas-Jacobina lineament. Thrust-faults, sinistral strike-slip faults with reverse
components, followed by regional open and tight folding, were developed in response to the
strong westward-verging mass transport event, caused by the Paleoproterozoic continental-
continental collision. Regional mapping by Desert Sun has lead to a re-interpretation of several
major structural elements as discussed below.

To the west, the Jacobina Group is thrust over the Archean Mairi Complex metamorphic terrain,
the chromium-bearing Campo Formoso Mafic-Ultramafic Complex, and the late- to post-tectonic
granites (Miguel Calmon-Itapicuru, Mirangaba-Carnaíba and Campo Formoso intrusives), along
a thrust-fault named the Jacobina fault. This pattern changes progressively eastwards, to a series
of steeply east dipping blocks, bounded by several sub-parallel reverse-faults, such as, the
Maravilha, the Pindobaçu-West and the Pindobaçu faults (Figs. 7.2 and 7.3), producing a domino
structural style of blocks.

The Serra do Córrego Formation exposed on the west side of the basin forms part of an extensive
homocline that dips consistently 50 to 70Ú to the east with top indicators to the east. It appears
that this orientation is the result of tilting during the intrusion of the late to post-tectonic
Mirangaba / Carnaíba granite.

The total thickness of the Rio do Ouro Formation is probably less than previously stated (2,000
m) due to partial repetition of the stratigraphy caused by the up-throw of successively more
easterly blocks.

Most of the apparent intercalations of phyllites/schists with quartzites, and minor
metaconglomerates and andalusite schists, known along the eastern portion of the Jacobina
range, were previously considered part of the Cruz das Almas and Serra do Meio formations
(Griffon, 1967; Mascarenhas et al., 1992). However, regional and detailed mapping by Desert
Sun has shown that they are slices of metapelites and metagreywackes of the Mundo Novo
Greenstone Belt, tectonically imbricated with coarse-grained quartzites, metaconglomerates and
sedimentary breccias and andalusite schists.

As previously noted, these rocks are herein interpreted to be part of the Serra da Paciência
Formation and a probable time-equivalent to the Serra do Córrego and the lower part of the Rio
do Ouro formations. These coarse sediments appear to represent the east-dipping and overturned
limb of a regional syncline, part of which is preserved along the road linking Campo Formoso
and Antônio Gonçalves in the north. Evidence of imbrications of Mundo Novo Greenstone Belt
rocks with the Serra da Paciência Formation is found along the Rio das Pedras and Rio Paiaiás
sections, located eight km south-southwest and four km north-northwest, respectively, from the
Saúde town, and in the Serra de Santa Cruz, and Serra da Paciência areas, to the west of
Pindobaçu.

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Updated Resource & Reserve Estimate, Jacobina Dec 2005

The phyllites and schists found at the base of the Serra da Paciência, west of Pindobaçu, are
considered to be part of the Mundo Novo Greenstone Belt. They comprise carbon-rich
metapelites and metagreywackes, with local metachert and banded iron formation intercalations.
The thick sedimentary package of quartzite and minor conglomerate, with local andalusite schist,
exposed at the Serra de Santa Cruz and Serra da Paciência, corresponds to a “nappe” front,
thrusted over Mundo Novo Greenstone Belt rocks. In this sense, these clastic metasediments are
correlated with the Serra do Córrego and Rio do Ouro Formations.

A conspicuous structural feature of the Mundo Novo Greenstone Belt, along the eastern border
of the Serra de Jacobina, is the presence of elongated and imbricated slices of metagraywacke of
its upper unit into orthoquartzites of the Serra da Paciência Formation.

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Updated Resource & Reserve Estimate, Jacobina Dec 2005

8.0 DEPOSIT TYPES

Anglo American was attracted to the Jacobina area in the early 1970’s by what it felt was the
remarkable similarity of the local gold-bearing conglomerates to the well-known Witwatersrand
reefs in South Africa. More recently, Goldfields’ success at Tarkwa in Ghana highlighted the
unique gold-bearing quartz pebble conglomerates in the lower Proterozoic of Africa and South
America.

Africa and South America were originally part of a supercontinent known as Gondwanaland.
Gondwanaland was originally part of an even greater land mass known as Pangea, but separated
from that continent about 180 million years ago. Later, Africa and South America broke apart
and drifted to their present positions.

Africa and South America have large Precambrian shield areas which underlie significant
portions of both continents. The shields are composed of ancient rocks such as granite, gneiss,
schist, and greenstone which were part of the primordial surface of the Earth. Sedimentary and
metamorphic rocks of younger Precambrian age overlie the older rocks. The younger
Precambrian rocks contain gold-bearing conglomerates. These include the Roraima, Tarkwa,
and Witwatersrand sequences in South America and Africa, which are many thousands of metres
in thickness (Heylmun, 2000).

8.1 THE WITWATERSRAND BASIN

The Witwatersrand Basin lies within the Kaapvaal Craton of southern Africa, formed 3.7 to
2.7 Ga. The strata of the basin lie unconformably on the Archean cratonic basement. The basal
sequence, the Dominion Group, is a sequence of thin conglomerates and thick lava flows
containing only one known gold-bearing zone and a uranium-rich stratum. The basal sequence
was deposited approximately 3.0 to 2.7 Ga. After a hiatus of 100 million years, the
Witwatersrand Supergroup was deposited. The Supergroup is divided into two units, the lower
West Rand Group and the upper Central Rand Group. The West Rand Group was deposited at
approximately 2,970 Ma and consists of shales, quartzites, grits and conglomerates and only one
gold-rich conglomerate bed. In contrast, the Central Rand Group, deposited from approximately
2,914 Ma on, consists of quartzites (90%), grits and rare shale and, most importantly, numerous
gold-bearing conglomerate horizons (Minter and Loen, 1991 and Karpeta et al., 1991).

The exceptional gold reefs of the Witwatersrand Basin dip at 20 to 25° towards the centre of the
basin and are found to persist over areas of 10 to 100 km2, maintaining consistent gold grades
(approximately 15 g/t) and reef mineralogy. The auriferous reefs are commonly no more than
one metre in thickness, although some of the richest reefs within the mid-fan facies are only
centimetres thick. These reefs are conglomeratic units commonly overlying "interformational"
unconformities in the alluvial fan deposits (Barnicoat et al., 1997). The conglomerate units are
typically pebble-supported, mature (free of clays and silts) and tightly cemented.

33



Updated Resource & Reserve Estimate, Jacobina Dec 2005

There are two families of thought on the formation of the Witwatersrand deposits, the modified
paleoplacer group and the hydrothermal group. There is some evidence supporting both models.
While all writers today accept that there is a hydrothermal component to the mineralization, there
is no agreement on whether the hydrothermal activity was directly responsible for formation of
the deposits or only reflects re-mobilization of original paleo-placer gold.

The Witwatersrand has produced over 46,000 tonnes (1,500 Moz ounces) of gold and the
remaining reserves are known to contain another 40,000 tonnes (1,300Moz), making it, by well
over an order of magnitude, the greatest gold producing area in the world.

8.2 TARKWA

The Tarkwa mine is located in south central Ghana. In Ghana, the Birimian greenstone belt
sequence occurs as irregular basins of predominantly metasedimentary strata, separated by a
series of north-east trending belts of metavolcanics, on which the majority of the major gold
deposits are clustered, and a north-northwest striking belt, the Lawra belt, which extends
northwards into Burkina Faso. The Birimian greenstone belts in Ghana are unconformably
overlain by Proterozoic age Tarkwaian metasediments, which are host to the gold mineralization
at the Tarkwa mine. The style of the gold mineralization is similar to that found in the
Witwatersrand Basin, concentrated in conglomerate reefs.

The deposits at Tarkwa are composed of a succession of stacked tabular palaeoplacer units,
consisting of quartz pebble conglomerates, developed within Tarkwaian sedimentary rocks.
Approximately ten such separate economic units occur in the concession area within a
sedimentary package ranging between 40 m and 110 m in thickness. Low grade to barren
quartzite units are interlayered between the separate reef units. A second important deposit type
that occurs in the Tarkwa belt is found at Damang. In contrast to the quartz pebble
conglomerate-hosted deposits, gold ore at Damang occurs within sheet quartz veins cutting
sedimentary rocks.

Five separate production areas are located on and around the Pepe Anticline at Tarkwa, a gently
north-plunging fold structure that outcrops as a whaleback hill. The sedimentary sequence and
the interlayered waste zones between the mineralized units thicken to the west. In 2005,
Goldfields reported mineral reserves of 324.1 million tonnes grading 1.3 g Au/t containing 13.41
million ounces (Moz) of gold at Tarkwa and. total mineral resources, which include the mineral
reserves, of 409.5 million tonnes grading 1.5 g Au/t containing 20.16 Moz of gold. At Damang
mineral reserves are reported as 23.5 million tonnes grading 1.8 g Au/t containing 1.34 Moz and
total mineral resources of 37.1 million tonnes grading 1.8 g Au/t containing 2.09 Moz of gold
23.5 million tonnes grading 1.8 g Au/t containing 1.34 Moz. (Goldfields Annual Report 2005).

34



Updated Resource & Reserve Estimate, Jacobina Dec 2005

8.3 THE RORAIMA GROUP

The Roraima group in northern Brazil, southern Venezuela and the Guyanas contains
conglomerate beds in which gold and diamonds are found. Most of the placer gold and
diamonds found in Venezuela and northern Brazil are thought to have been derived from gold
deposits in the Roraima (Heylmun, 2000). The gold-bearing quartz pebble conglomerates of the
Serra do Córrego Formation at Jacobina are the most significant known deposit of this type in
South America.

8.4 JACOBINA

Anglo American proposed a Witwatersrand-type paleoplacer model for the deposits of the
Jacobina area and operated its mines on this principle, concentrating on stratigraphic mapping
and correlation. DSM is of the view as summarized by Pearson et al. (in press), however, that
the majority of gold mineralization formed as a result of extensive hydrothermal alteration
related to fluid flow along the Pindobaçu Fault system which forms the eastern margin of the
Jacobina basin. Fuchsite, which is widespread and often associated with gold, is a hydrothermal
alteration mineral. Gold mineralization is associated with strong silicification and pyritization
and occurs both within the conglomerates in the Jacobina mine area as well as strongly fractured
and brecciated quartzites in the Pindobaçu area, 50km north of Jacobina. In addition, the
highest-grade mineralization known to exist in the area occurs at Canavieiras where the most
extensive structural deformation occurs.

DSM has employed a hydrothermal model for mineralization in its exploration but stratigraphy is
nonetheless very important because the conglomerates are the most permeable units in the
package and are prime sites for deposition of hydrothermal mineralization.

8.5 COMPARISONS BETWEEN JACOBINA, TARKWA AND WITWATERSRAND

Dr. Paul Karpeta, an expert on Precambrian quartz pebble conglomerate gold deposits who has
worked extensively in all three major gold belts compares and contrasts the characteristics of
each of the areas in Pearson et al. (in press). The following section is drawn from this paper.

The Witwatersrand, Tarkwa and Jacobina basins are the three conglomerate-hosted gold deposits
that have been mined extensively. Historically, the Witwatersrand has produced at least 1,500
million ounces, the Tarkwa belt 10 million ounces from conglomerates plus 3 million ounces
from quartz veins, and Jacobina has produced 0.7 million ounces. Whether the conglomerate-
hosted gold mineralization is paleo-placer, or hydrothermal, or both, a number of paleo-factors
appear to control the extent of gold mineralization in such basins. These factors are the
depositional basin style, the type, number, and lateral extent of the auriferous conglomerates
(“reefs”), and their subsequent structural, metamorphic and hydrothermal histories. A summary
of the characteristics of gold deposits in each of these areas is given in Table 8.1.

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Updated Resource & Reserve Estimate, Jacobina Dec 2005

The Tarkwa and Jacobina basins both probably originated as linear rift basins (Karpeta et al.,
2002; Teixeira et al., 2001), whereas the Witwatersrand is thought to represent a foreland basin
(Burke et al., 1986; Winter, 1987). Whereas the Tarkwa basin sits on early Proterozoic Birimian
volcanics and volcaniclastics (Pohl and Carlson, 1993; Hirdes and Nunoo, 1994) in what was
probably an oceanic back-arc rift setting, Jacobina sits on Archaean gneisses and greenstones
(Teixeira et al., 2001) possibly representing rifted continental crust. The Witwatersrand basin,
like Jacobina, rests on an Archaean granite-greenstone basement (Tainton, 1994; Robb and
Meyer, 1995). Although Jacobina resembles Tarkwa in that it is a rift basin, it resembles the
Witwatersrand more with its continental basement. Continental basement would result in the
development of larger fluvial catchments producing more extensive river systems, and hence
potentially auriferous fluvial conglomerates (“reefs”). Foreland basins, such as the
Witwatersrand, typically have greater areas than rifts, and hence have more entry points.
Therefore, if auriferous, they should produce more gold. As expected the Witwatersrand has at
least six (Minter and Loen, 1991; Tainton, 1994; Robb and Meyer, 1995), whereas Tarkwa has
four entry points (Strogen, 1988), and Jacobina has one so far (Molinari and Scarpelli, 1988).
However, the length of the Jacobina basin indicates that more entry points, and therefore, more
undiscovered gold-bearing conglomerates could be present.

The richest reefs in the Witwatersrand and Tarkwa are the oligomictic conglomerates comprising
predominantly of well-packed, well-sorted, well-rounded pebbles mainly of quartz with minor
amounts of chert and non-durable pebbles (Tainton, 1994; Robb and Meyer, 1995). The
conglomerates at Jacobina show identical characteristics reflecting both source area rock types
and a high degree of reworking during deposition. The Witwatersrand appears to have a larger
variety of reef depositional environments (alluvial fan, gravelly braided river, carbon seam and
estuarine-submarine channel) than Tarkwa and Jacobina (alluvial fan and braided river only) but
this may be due to the foreland-basin setting and the strong marine influence in Witwatersrand
deposition. The estuarine-submarine channel reefs may be related to sea-level fluctuations
(Karpeta, 1994; Karpeta et al., 1991). The marine shales in the Witwatersrand could also have
acted as a source rock for the hydrocarbons in the rich carbon seam reefs (Gray et al., 1998).
The carbon granules locally present in the Jacobina conglomerates (Horscroft, 1986) and the
more extensive graphitic sediments in the Serra do Paciencia Formation could indicate the
presence of such organic-rich marine shales in the associated sediments, which could have acted
as a hydrocarbon source rock similar to the Witwatersrand.

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Updated Resource & Reserve Estimate, Jacobina Dec 2005

TABLE 8.1 A COMPARISON BETWEEN JACOBINA, TARKWA AND THE WITWATERSRAND GOLD DEPOSITS

FEATURE  JACOBINA    TARKWA    WITWATERSRAND 

 
AGE  2.0 By        2.1 By    2.7 By       
DIMENSIONS  200km by 25km    220km by 40km  300km by 150km 
BASEMENT  Archaean gneiss and  Proterozoic    Archaean granites and 
  greenstones      greenstones    greenstones     
SHAPE  Linear        Linear    Arcuate     
SETTING  Inverted rift      Inverted rift    Inverted foreland or 
                escape basin     
BASIN FILL  Conglomerate  to  Conglomerate  to  Quartzite to phyllite to 
SEQUENCE  quartzite to phyllite  quartzite to phyllite  quartzite to 
  (fining up)      (fining up)    conglomerate   
                (coarsening up)   
FILL THICKNESS  2,500m        2,600m    7,000m       
ENVIRONMENTS  Alluvial  fan  to  Alluvial fan to fluvial  Fluvial to marine 
  marginal marine  to  lacustrine,  no  marginal to deep 
          marine    marine to fluvial to 
                alluvial fan     
ENTRY POINTS  Two known      Four known    Six known     
REEF TYPES  Braided      river,  Braided  river,  Braided river, alluvial 
  alluvial fan      alluvial fan    fan,    estuarine- 
                submarine fan?   
MAGMATISM  Post-depositional.  Post-depositional  Syn-depositional 
  mafic,  ultramafic  felsic and mafic sills  granitoids,    post 
  sills and dikes, late  and dikes,  late  depositional    mafic 
  granitoids      granitoids    sills, dikes and lavas 
METAMORPHIC  Medium grade    Low  grade  Low Grade     
GRADE          occasionally medium         
MAIN MINERALS  Au, minor U    Au, no U    Au, U       
GANGUE  Pyrite, hematite    Hematite, magnetite  Pyrite, pyrrhotite 
MINERALS                       
OTHER  Much    fuchsite,  Spessartine,    “Carbon”,  fuchsite, 
MINERALS  tourmaline      tourmaline,  local  little tourmaline 
          fuchsite           
QUARTZ VEIN  Yes        Yes (Damang)    Yes but small (e.g. 
DEPOSITS  (Pindobaçu)            Wilgespruit)     
HISTORICAL  0.7 Moz  (1745-  10 Moz (1880-2000)  1500 Moz (1886-2000) 
PRODUCTION  1998)                     
SURFACE  1.9g/t        1.2g/t    1.1g/t       
MINING GRADE                       
UNDERGROUND  2.5-9.5 g/t      >6g/t    >6g/t       
MINING GRADE                       

37



Updated Resource & Reserve Estimate, Jacobina Dec 2005

The number of reefs in a given basin greatly affects the productivity and the Witwatersrand has a
significantly greater number (over 40 reefs), than Tarkwa (seven), or Jacobina (at least seven),
and is a reflection of the number of entry points. In the East Rand alone there are at least twenty-
four gold-bearing conglomerates (including the Nigel Reef, the Next-Aboves, the Next-Belows,
the Kimberley Reefs, and the Black Reef) though only the Nigel Reef was mined everywhere.

The structural deformation history subsequent to the deposition of the sediments of the Tarkwa
and Jacobina basins is similar as they both appear to be inverted rifts that underwent
compression and thrusting (Teixeira et al, 2001; Karpeta et al., 2002; Tunks et al., 2004),
whereas the Witwatersrand is probably an inverted foreland basin (Burke et al., 1986; Winter,
1987; Coward et al., 1995) that underwent extensional faulting after thrusting. Since rift basins
have higher heat flows potentially creating more hydrothermal fluids, epigenetic (disseminated
and quartz vein hosted) gold mineralization should be more extensively developed in them. It
has also been argued that inverted normal faults develop the geometries necessary for the
creation of fault-valves in quartz vein formation (Gibson, 1995). In the Tarkwa belt at least a
third of gold production has come from quartz veins (Tunks et al., 2004), whereas the
Witwatersrand has produced very little quartz vein hosted gold. Present drilling in the Jacobina
belt has also indicated that significant quartz-vein hosted gold mineralization may be present.

The metamorphic grade of the three basins varies from low in the Witwatersrand (Barnicoat et
al., 1997; Jolley et al., 2004), through low and medium in Tarkwa (Sestini, 1973; Pigois et al.,
2003) to medium at Jacobina (Teixeira et al., 2001). It is interesting that in the Tarkwa belt,
Damang-style quartz vein-hosted gold mineralization occurs in an area of medium grade
metamorphism (Pigois et al., 2003), whereas similar stacked quartz veins associated with low
grade metamorphic rocks in the same belt lack gold mineralization. Similarly, the presence of
low grade metamorphism may explain the very small amount of gold recorded from quartz veins
in the Witwatersrand. This suggests that medium grade metamorphism may be one of the factors
necessary to form quartz vein-hosted deposits. Since the Jacobina belt shows medium grade
metamorphism it has definite potential for quartz vein-hosted mineralization, as shown by recent
drilling results.

Hydrothermal alteration in the three basins (Barnicoat et al., 1997; Jolley et al., 2004; Pigois et
al., 2003; Milesi et al., 2002) is quite variable having silicification and sericitization (muscovite
in the Witwatersrand and Tarkwa, but chrome-muscovite at Jacobina) in common in all three.
However, in the Witwatersrand and Jacobina the presence of pyrite suggests reducing fluids,
whereas tourmaline in Tarkwa and Jacobina suggests boron-rich, intrusive-related (?) fluids, and
specularite indicates oxidizing fluids at Tarkwa and Jacobina. It should be noted that locally
reducing hydrothermal fluids have been recorded from the Tarkwa belt associated with
auriferous quartz veins. The apparent pervasive migration of both oxidizing and reducing
hydrothermal fluids through the Jacobina sediments suggests that repeated post-depositional
movement of hydrothermal fluids took place in the Jacobina basin, resulting in the enhanced
potential for epigenetic gold mineralization in this basin.

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Updated Resource & Reserve Estimate, Jacobina Dec 2005

9.0 MINERALIZATION

9.1 GOLD MINERALIZATION

In the Jacobina area the important gold-bearing units known thus far occur along the southern 40
km of the 85 km long conglomeratic and quartzitic Serra do Córrego Formation, which is
overlain by the quartzitic Rio do Ouro Formation. Together, these formations comprise the
Jacobina Group. To the east and north of the project, quartzites, metaconglomerates and
andalusite schists of the Serra da Paciência Formation, here interpreted as equivalents to the
Serra do Córrego and Rio do Ouro Formations, and metacherts, metagreywackes, banded iron
formations, and metapelites, of the Mundo Novo Greenstone Belt, are strongly affected by the
north-northeast-trending strike-slip faults with reverse components of the Pindobaçu fault
system. Along these structures significant structurally-controlled and epigenetic gold
occurrences, like the Pindobaçu and Fumaça garimpos (artisanal gold workings), are related to
kilometer-sized hydrothermal alteration zones. The main hydrothermal alteration types are:
fuchsitization; silicification; pyritization; tourmalinization; sericitization; and, hematitization.
Gold occurrences are found in areas displaying a regional fuchsitization, followed by local
silicification and pyritization, and sometimes, localized tourmalinization. Hematitization is a late
alteration.

Figure 9.1 shows the distribution of gold occurrences in the Bahia Gold Belt. In the southern part
of the belt, gold is predominantly hosted in pyritic or hematitic, silicified and fuchsite- altered
quartz pebble conglomerates of the Serra do Córrego Formation. However, as one moves to the
north along the belt, the focus of gold mineralization appears to shift eastward. The bulk of
occurrences in the northern part of the belt occur within quartz veins and silicified zones in
orthoquartzites, andalusite schists and minor conglomerates of the Jacobina Group that are
tectonically imbricated with slices of Mundo Novo Greenstone Belt lithologies. Hydrothermal
alteration shows a strong relationship to major faults, particularly the Pindobaçu fault system.

Teixeira et al. (1999 and 2001), classified the gold deposit/occurrences of the Jacobina range into
four groups, mainly based on the nature of the host rock. These groups are: (1) conglomerate-
hosted gold deposits – encompasses the pyritic, gold-bearing, quartz-pebble conglomerates and
quartzites of the Serra do Córrego Formation, which host the gold deposits of the Jacobina gold
district (the Jacobina Mine (Joao Belo Zone), Itapicurú (Morro do Vento/Morro do Vento
Extension) and Canavieiras mines and other smaller occurrences); (2) mafic-hosted gold deposits
- represented by small gold workings where gold is associated with disseminated hydrothermal
pyrite near tension gashes and quartz-pyrite veins and veinlets, hosted by late-tectonic gabbroic
and dioritic dikes, which cut the Serra do Córrego and the Rio do Ouro Formations; (3)
ultramafic-hosted gold deposits – represented by narrow quartz veins with pyrite and
arsenopyrite developed along the sheared footwall contact between metamorphosed peridotite
and pyroxenite dikes and quartzites of the Serra do Córrego or Rio do Ouro Formations (e.g.
Mina Velha and Jacinto); and (4) quartzite-hosted gold deposits – represented by shear zone-
related quartz veins hosted by quartzite of the Rio do Ouro and “Cruz das Almas” Formations
(e.g. Maravilha and Goela da Ema).

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Updated Resource & Reserve Estimate, Jacobina Dec 2005

A fifth group has been defined by DSM (Pearson et al., in press) and corresponds to gold
mineralization related to strongly, hydrothermally altered zones, which occur along the
Pindobaçu fault system, which also affects the Mundo Novo Greenstone Belt rocks (e.g.
Pindobaçu, Santa Cruz and Fumaça garimpos).

DSM recently concluded an inventory on primary gold showings throughout the Bahia Gold
Belt. A total of 69 gold workings, occurrences and deposits were visited and described in detail.
The inventory allowed further additions to Teixeira´s classification, taking into account the host-
rocks, the local structural setting, and the type/degree of hydrothermal alteration in the Jacobina
Group Domain and Mundo Novo Greenstone Belt terrains as described in sections 9.1.1 and
9.1.2 below (Pearson et al., in press):

9.1.1 JACOBINA GROUP DOMAIN

The Jacobina Group Domain hosted four different major types of gold deposits; conglomerate-
hosted; quartzite, andalusite schist- and metaconglomerates-hosted; Ultramafic-hosted; and
mafic/intermediate dike-hosted. The characteristics of each of these principal types of gold
deposits are described in the following section:

Conglomerate-hosted gold deposits

These deposits comprise sheared and micro-fractured, gold-bearing, recrystallized, silicified and
pyritic metaconglomerates with a greenish, fuchsitic matrix, of the Serra do Córrego Formation,
Jacobina Group. These rocks often show overprints of hematite coatings along shear-plane, joint
and fracture surfaces, which post-date gold-mineralized fabrics. The best examples of this group
are found within the 40 km long Jacobina gold district (Canavieiras, Itapicurú (Morro do Vento
and Morro do Vento Extension) and João Belo mines, Serra Branca and other minor
occurrences), which extends from Campo Limpo, in the south, to Santa Cruz do Coqueiro, in the
north.

Figure 9.2 is a geological plan map of the Jacobina mine area showing the distribution of the
gold-bearing reefs, and Figures 9.3 and 9.4 are cross sections of the Morro do Vento and João
Belo areas, respectively. In the mine area, stratigraphy dips consistently eastward at 50o to 70o.
Cross bedding and ripple marks indicate that the sequence is right-side-up. Table 9.1
summarizes the principal characteristics of the main gold mineralized reefs at Jacobina.
Economically, the most important past producers have been the Basal and Main reefs in the
Lower Conglomerate Unit and the lower part of the Upper Conglomerates (Figs. 7.4 and 9.3) .
The majority of current mineral resources are in the lower unit of the Upper Conglomerates
(Figs. 7.4 and 9.4) . It is important to note, however, that only certain reefs within a particular
package will be mineralized. Other sub-parallel reefs with similar sedimentalogical features may
be unmineralized.

41









Updated Resource & Reserve Estimate, Jacobina Dec 2005

  TABLE 9.1 CHARACTERISTICS OF PRINCIPAL MINERALIZED REEFS, JACOBINA MINE AREA

MINE  ZONE  LOCATION  STRIKE  THICKNESS  AVG. GRADE  DESCRIPTION 
        (m)    (g Au/t)     

MORRO DO VENTO/MORRO DO VENTO EXTENSION (ITAPICURÚ)       
  LVLPC  Morro  de  400  2 m  4.8  Large and very large pebbles, 
    Vento          only locally mineralized. 
  MU (Superior)  Morro  de  1700  3 to 10  2.0  Medium to small pebbles 
  Reef  Vento             
  LU (Inferior)  Morro  de  1700  3 to 10  2.4  Medium to large pebbles. 
  Reef  Vento             
  Main Reef  60 to 90 m  3000  Beds of 0.1 to  6.0  Pyritic, small to medium pebble 
    above      3, Zone up to    conglomerate  beds. 
    basement      12    Three channels of deposition, 
    Itapicurú          broken by faults.   
  Basal Reef  At or very near  1600  3 to 10  4.0  Small to medium pebble, 
    basement          enrichment of gold at its upper 
    contact  -        and lower portions.   
    Itapicurú             

CANAVIEIRAS               
  Maneira  Canavieiras  600+  Beds of 0.4 to  1.7  Large to very large pebbles 
          7, Zone up to       
          70       
  Holandez  Canavieiras  600+  Beds of 0.9 to  1.7  Large to medium pebble 
          6, Zone up to       
          30       
  Piritoso  Canavieiras  600+  1 to 3  9.5  Medium size pebbles with 
              abundant pyrite   
  Liberino  Canavieiras  600+  1 to 3  6.1  10 metres above Piritoso; medium 
              to large pebbles.   
  MU  Canavieiras  400+  10 to 25  3.2  Pyritic, medium to large pebble 
              conglomerates.   
  LU  Canavieiras  400+  1 to 10  2.2  Pyritic, large  pebble 
              conglomerate.   

JACOBINA MINE (JOÃO BELO)             
  LVLPC  João  Belo  1000+  1 to 3  4.4  Large to very large pebbles. 
    North             
  LMPC  João  Belo  1000+  10 to 25  2.2  Large to medium pebbles. 
    North             
  MPC  João  Belo  1000+  1 to 4  3.6  Medium sized pebbles; locally 
    North          contains gold values.   

 
 
ANGLO AMERICAN CLASSIFICATION TERMINOLOGY FOR CONGLOMERATES OF THE JACOBINA GROUP 

  SIZE  < 4mm    4 – 16 mm  16 – 32mm  32 – 64mm  > 64mm   
 
  SYMBOLOGY  VSPC    SPC  MPC  LPC  VLPC   
 
  NAME  Very Small    Small  Medium  Large  Very Large   
    Pebble    Pebble  Pebble  Pebble  Pebble   
    Conglomerate  Conglomerate  Conglomerate  Conglomerate  Conglomerate   

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Updated Resource & Reserve Estimate, Jacobina Dec 2005

The vast majority of significant gold mineralization occurs within the matrix of the
conglomerates. Gold occurs as very fine grains of native gold typically 20 to 50 microns in size.
Gold mineralization rarely occurs in the pebbles but when it does, it is along fractures.
Interbedded quartzites host gold mineralization almost exclusively along fractures especially
near late mafic dikes. Fracture-controlled mineralization in the quartzites is rare in the absence
of late mafic dikes in the Jacobina mine area, however structurally controlled gold mineralization
in pyrite-tourmaline-bearing quartz veins is abundant in the Pindobaçu area, 50km north of
Jacobina.

Fuchsite is far more extensive than gold mineralization. Conglomerates with white quartz
pebbles and a green matrix dominated by fuchsite, generally contain only low or erratic gold
values. Gold mineralized conglomerates typically have grayish-blue pebbles and fine,
disseminated pyrite and/or hematite in the matrix with strong silicification.

Within particular reefs, there is considerable local grade variation with higher grade zones
concentrated along shear zones parallel to stratigraphy as noted by Milesi et al. (2002) at João
Belo. In the Basal Reef, previous mining was concentrated at the base of the conglomerate with
stopes typically 2-2.5m wide although the actual mineralized zone is 10 to 12 m wide. Despite
this local grade variation, the overall grade of different reefs based on production records is
remarkably consistent both along strike and down-dip.

Fluvial channels are important controls on the distribution of gold mineralization as documented
by Oram (1975), Minter (1975), and Strydom and Minter (1976), in the Main Reef. Recent
drilling indicates that the mineralized zone in the reef at João Belo has a 150º azimuth/44o south
plunge, whereas the plunge at Morro do Vento in both main mineralized reefs the MU and LU
plunges to the north at 55o.

In comparing different gold mineralized reefs, those with larger pebbles tend to have higher
grades and greater potential to host gold mineralization, as at João Belo and Morro do Vento,
however, this is not always the case, for example at Canavieiras (Pearson et al., in press).

The Canavieiras mine is in a distinct thrust slice separate from the main conglomerate trend that
is bounded on all sides by ultramafic intrusions. Sinistral shearing in this block has resulted in in
a greater concentration of gold along dilation zones. Previously it was thought the open folding
may have influenced controls on higher grade gold mineralization however work by DSM shows
that the folding is a later buckling event and does not have a major influence on the distribution
of gold mineralization. Zones of hydrothermal quartz with fine, disseminated, native gold and
pyrite have been intersected in several holes attesting to the importance of hydrothermal
mineralization in forming this deposit.

The gold occurrences which are related to disseminations of pyrite in a fuchsitic matrix of
coarse-grained quartzites and minor metaconglomerates of the Serra da Paciência Formation,
which is considered herein to be equivalent to the Serra do Córrego Formation, are also likely

46



Updated Resource & Reserve Estimate, Jacobina Dec 2005

genetically related to this group. Such examples are found at Biquinha, Cercadinho, Samburá,
Pindobaçu and Fumaça gold workings, which are distributed along or close to the Pindobaçu
fault system. At these localities the gold mineralization is also intimately associated with gold-
bearing quartz veins deposited in tension gashes classified as Group 2, below.

Quartzite, andalusite schist- and metaconglomerates-hosted gold deposits

This group encompasses gold-bearing quartz veins and veinlets, which fill tension gashes and
open fractures, related to semi-concordant shear zones hosted by quartzites and andalusite-
graphite-quartz schist, and local metaconglomerates of the Rio do Ouro and Serra da Paciência
formations (e.g. Goela da Ema, Biquinha, Cercadinho and Guardanapo gold workings). The
main hydrothermal alterations associated with these are: silicification, sericitization,
chloritization and pyritization, with minor chalcopyrite and tourmaline.

The gold-bearing quartz vein and veinlets deposited along shallow-angle, west-dipping shear
zones, hosted by Rio do Ouro quartzites, are also included in this group, but it is emphasized that
according to their specific positioning (situated in the west block of the Maravilhas fault and
positioned at nearly 90º to the bedding of the quartzites), they are thought to represent vertical
shear zones developed before tilting of the Jacobina Group. The best examples of this group are:
Coxo, Jaqueira, Maravilha and Lajedo gold workings. The main related hydrothermal alterations
for this group are: silicification, sericitization, chloritization, pyritization (locally with
chalcopyrite), and local tourmalinization.

Ultramafic-hosted gold deposits

These deposits comprise narrow, up to 4 metres thick, shear zones developed in north-south
oriented ultramafic sills and dikes, close to their footwall and hangingwall contacts with the
hosting quartzites and metaconglomerates of the Serra do Córrego, Rio do Ouro, and Serra da
Paciência Formations. This group of gold occurrences is strongly linked with those of Group 1
above. The mineralized shear zones are characterized by the development of gold-bearing quartz
veins and/or stockworks. The main hydrothermal alteration types are: silicification,
fuchsitization, pyritization, and sericitization, with local tourmalinization. A number of
examples of this group are known at the mine sites and surrounding areas (Canavieiras,
Itapicurú, Serra do Córrego, Morro do Vento and João Belo), and at the Serra da Paciência (Mina
Velha, Várzea Comprida, Ciquenta e Um, Cabeça de Nego and Milagres gold workings), in the
north.

Mafic/Intermediate Dike-hosted gold deposits

This type is the last developed, and least important, group of gold mineralization within the
Jacobina area. It consists of gold-bearing quartz veins in tension gashes, with local pyrite
remobilization, close to the contacts between late-tectonic gabbroic and dioritic dikes and
metaconglomerates and quartzites of the Serra do Córrego and Rio do Ouro Formations. The
dikes are emplaced along east-west and northwest-southeast-oriented fractures and faults. Pyrite

47



Updated Resource & Reserve Estimate, Jacobina Dec 2005

is concentrated along the contact zone with hosting metasediments, where a hornfels texture is
developed in the gabbroic or dioritic rocks.

9.1.2 MUNDO NOVO GREENSTONE BELT DOMAIN

Metasedimentary-hosted, shear-controlled gold deposits

Within the Mundo Novo Greenstone Belt Domain, gold mineralization occurs with disseminated
pyrite and/or quartz veins in shear zones within metasedimentary rocks of the Mundo Novo
Greenstone Belt. Host rocks are strongly altered chemical (metachert, banded iron/manganese
formation), detritic (metagraywacke) and pelitic (graphite schist) metasediments of the Archean
Mundo Novo Greenstone Belt (e.g. Santa Cruz, Pindobaçu and Fumaça/Guiné gold workings).
In addition to gold, the Mundo Novo Greenstone Belt also hosts deposits of manganese oxides,
Zn-Cu-Pb massive sulfides and barite.

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Updated Resource & Reserve Estimate, Jacobina Dec 2005

10.0 EXPLORATION

10.1 OVERVIEW

Anglo American conducted several decades of extensive exploration work on the Serra do
Córrego Formation, principally in the area of the Itapicurú (Morro do Vento and Morro do Vento
Extension), João Belo and Canavieiras mines, resulting in the discovery of these deposits. Once
the mines were discovered however, regional exploration of the Serra do Jacobina was limited.

William completed a limited exploration program in 1997 to search for depth extensions to the
Canavieiras mine and southerly extension to the João Belo mine. The results of this program are
discussed in Sections 7, 8, 9 in this report and in Section 19 of DSM’s previously filed Technical
Report entitled “A Review of The Exploration Potential of, and A Proposed Exploration Program
For, The Jacobina Property, Bahia State, Brazil” (Hennessey, 2002). Except for work by
garimpeiros, most of the belt of Serra do Córrego Formation rocks outside the Jacobina mine
area has been relatively unexplored with the exception of some drilling carried out by Montana
Minerals in the mid-1980’s in the Pindobaçu area which is described in Section 10.5.3.

DSM has been carrying out systematic exploration of the Jacobina property since September
2002. In late 2003, as a result of positive results, the exploration program was substantially
increased. The following sections (10.2 to 10.4 inclusive) summarize results of the exploration
programs in 2002 to 2004 inclusive. The discussion of the results in each of the major target
zones discussed in Section 10.5 “2005 Exploration Program Results” incorporates results of the
2002 to 2004 program and therefore these are not discussed separately. Figure 10.1 shows the
locations of the major target areas in the Jacobina mine area discussed in the following sections.

Assaying for the programs has been carried out by Lakefield Geosol, an ISO 9000-2001 certified
laboratory based in Brazil, using fire assay on 50-g pulps. Check assaying was routinely carried
out, by ALS Chemex in Vancouver, on 10% of sample pulps and 5% of sample rejects. External
reference standards are also routinely added to monitor the quality of analyses by the
laboratories. Security is maintained at the core logging and sampling facility. Dr. William N.
Pearson, P.Geo., is DSM’s QP, as defined under NI 43-101, responsible for the scientific and
technical work on the programs and has regularly visited the site from 2002 to the present.

10.2 2002 EXPLORATION PROGRAM

The results of DSM’s Phase I exploration program are described in Hennessey (2003a) a
Technical Report which is available on SEDAR (www.sedar.com). The Phase I exploration drill
program consisted primarily of 12 NQ-sized (47.6 mm core) diamond drill holes totalling 2,245
m however, additional work included a regional exploration program using remote sensing
imagery, analysis of airborne geophysical data, geological data compilation using GIS
(geographic information system software), and a program of prospecting, sampling and mapping
using garimpeiros.

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Updated Resource & Reserve Estimate, Jacobina Dec 2005

10.3 2003 EXPLORATION PROGRAM

The 2003 exploration program commenced in March, 2003 and included 8,988m of diamond
drilling in 75 NQ-sized (47.6 mm core) holes, induced polarization (IP) geophysical surveys and
continuation of the regional exploration program. The bulk of the drilling in this program tested
the Serra do Córrego, Morro do Vento and Joao Belo Sul areas. The budget for the program was
$US1.5 million. Upon completion of this work in September 2003 and the Feasibility study,
DSM earned a 51% interest in the Jacobina property and triggered its option to acquire the
remaining 49% to own a 100% interest in the property. Results of this program are described in
Hennessey (2003b)

10.4 2004 EXPLORATION PROGRAM

In 2004, the program was substantially expanded with a total of 28,866m of NQ diamond drilling
in 125 holes being completed. The prime target areas drilled were Morro do Vento, Joao Belo
Norte, Joao Belo Sul and Canavieiras as shown in Figure 10.1. Included in this total was 2,000m
of diamond drilling completed in the northern area of the Bahia gold belt property to test several
targets outlined by geological mapping, sampling, soil geochemical surveys and induced
polarization surveys. Results of this program are described in detail by Pearson and Tagliamonte
(2005).

10.5      2005 EXPLORATION PROGRAM
 
10.5.1      OVERVIEW
 

In 2005, the exploration program continued at high level of activity with a total of 25,676m of
NQ diamond drilling completed in 130 holes. The prime target areas drilled were Canavieiras
and Morro do Vento Extension in the Jacobina mine area and Pindobaçu in the northern Bahia
Gold Belt, 50km north of the town of Jacobina. Overall two-thirds of the total drilling was
completed in the Jacobina mine area with one-third allocated to the northern area.

Sections 10.5.2 and 10.5.3, respectively, provide an overview of the exploration program carried
out in the Jacobina Mine area and the northern Bahia Gold Belt, respectively. Results of the
drilling in the Jacobina mine area are discussed in Section 11.4 below. Results of drilling in
targets in the northern Bahia Gold Belt are discussed in Section 11.5

Geological mapping, sampling, soil and rock geochemical sampling and geophysical (induced
polarization) surveys were continued over much of the property especially in the northern Bahia
Gold Belt in the Pindobaçu-Fumaça area

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Updated Resource & Reserve Estimate, Jacobina Dec 2005

10.5.2 EXPLORATION PROGRAM, JACOBINA MINE AREA

A total of 17,130m in 82 holes were drilled in targets in the Jacobina Mine area excluding the
Jacobina Mine (Joao Belo Zone) with the bulk of meterage drilled at Canavieiras and Morro do
Vento Extension as shown in Table 10.1.

TABLE 10.1  EXPLORATION DIAMOND DRILLING IN JACOBINA MINE AREA BY 
  DSM, 2005 EXPLORATION PROGRAM 
 
  TARGET AREA  Total Metres Drilled 

  Jacobina Mine Area   
  Canavieiras (CAN)  8,309.40 
  Morro do Vento Extension (MCZ/MVT)  8,511.10 
  Serra do Córrego (SCO)  309.55 

  Total  17,130.05 

Drilling was very successful at upgrading and expanding mineral resources at both Canavieiras
and Morro do Vento Extension. Results are described in Sections 11.4.1 and 11.4.2, respectively
and the updated mineral resource estimate for the areas is presented in Section 17.2.

In addition to the above diamond drilling, at the Joao Belo Mine (Joao Belo zone) two holes
totalling 1,613 m were completed by the mine in a deep drilling program to test the downdip and
along strike extension of the main (LMPC reef) ore zone. Definition drilling and development
work continued to expand the geological knowledge of the deposit and outlined a new
conglomerate reef in the footwall of the ore zone. Results of this program are described in
Section 11.3.3 and the updated mineral reserve estimate for the Joao Belo mine is presented in
Section 17.5. The mining department also revised the mineral reserves previously defined at the
Morro do Vento Extension as outlined in Section 17.5. No new drilling was completed at the
Morro do Vento and Serra do Córrego zones, however the mineral reserves previously defined
were reviewed (see Section 17.5)

10.5.3 EXPLORATION PROGRAM, BAHIA GOLD BELT (EXCLUDING JACOBINA MINE AREA)

DSM holds property in the Bahia Gold Belt totaling 141,580 ha (see Section 4.0) and essentially
controls the entire Bahia Gold Belt which extends for some 155km along strike in a north-south
direction as shown in Figure 7.2. In 2004-2005, DSM carried out a program of regional and
detailed geological mapping, prospecting, rock and soil geochemical sampling that allowed the
classification of the primary types of gold occurrences as discussed in Sections 9.1.1 and 9.1.2,
previous and to define four major target areas across the belt outside of the Jacobina mine area.

These target areas are, from north to south:

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Updated Resource & Reserve Estimate, Jacobina Dec 2005

  • Gold-bearing quartz veins, stockworks and extensive silicified zones in a thick package of fuchsite-bearing, locally oxidized (after pyrite) quartzites and metaconglomerates in the Pindobaçu -Fumaça area which may be the northern and separate extension of the Serra do Córrego Formation. Ultramafic dikes and sills emplaced in these sediments also host gold-bearing pyritic quartz veins. This target zone extends along strike for at least 18km north from Pindobaçu, a small town located 55 km north-northeast of Jacobina.
    Gold-bearing shear zones related to the Pindobaçu West Fault, which marks the contact between the Jacobina Group and the Mundo Novo Greenstone Belt, have also been identified within greenstone rocks in the Pindobaçu-Fumaça area. These zones are characterized by strong silification and quartz veining typically with pyrite.
  • Targets along the Serra do Guardanapo hill, which extends for 23km along strike starting about 25 km north-northeast of Jacobina. Gold mineralization in this target occurs in steeply dipping quartz veins and associated hydrothermal alteration (silicification, sericitization, chloritization and pyritization) in fine-grained quartzites and meta-pelites (andalusite schists) of the Serra da Paciência Formation;
  • The Maravilha Fault zone the south end of which is located 4km east of Jacobina at the Rio Coxo garimpo and that extends for 60 km along strike northwards from there. A large number of gold occurrences are associated with this structure in shallow west dipping shear zones in Rio do Ouro Formation quartzites; and
  • Gold-bearing quartz pebble conglomerate of the northern extension of the Serra do Córrego Formation that extends for 45km along strike, north from the town of Jacobina.
    This formation hosts the mineral resources and mineral reserves in the Jacobina mine area to the south.

Gold occurrences associated with transversal dikes of gabbroic or dioritic composition, due to
their very local importance, are not outlined as a significant target area.

In addition to the work sited above, Fugro-LASA-Geomag was contracted by DSM in both 2004
and 2005 to complete induced polarization (IP) surveys over a number of targets identified in
these major areas. Results of this survey along with soil and rock chip sampling results and
detailed geological mapping were used to outline drill targets. An initial drilling program
totaling 2,000m was completed in late 2004 to test principally the Pindobaçu-Fumaça area and
this program was expanded to 8,546m in 2005 as shown in Table 10.2 below. The total number
of assay samples in the database is 12,823 as set out in Table 10.2.

Figure 10.2 shows the geology of the northern Bahia Gold Belt with locations of gold deposits
and occurrences as well as principal target areas where work was completed in 2005. The
following provides a summary of the major target areas explored in 2005. Results of the 2005
drilling program are discussed in Section 11.5 following. Results of the 2004 drill program are
summarized by Pearson and Tagliamonte (2005).

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Updated Resource & Reserve Estimate, Jacobina Dec 2005

Pindobaçu

The Pindobaçu target, located 50km north of Jacobina, is accessible by paved road from Jacobina
and is 2km west of the town of Pindobaçu. At Pindobaçu, there are a number of active garimpos
(free miner workings) which extend along a strike length of 1.2km. Gold occurs as fine to
locally coarse-grained native gold or associated with pyrite (or its weathered product, goethite)
with tourmaline and fuchsite in quartz vein stockworks along low-angle thrust faults, high-angle
reverse faults and fractures.

The host rocks are metagraywacke, banded iron formation and metachert of the Archean Mundo
Novo Formation and strongly silicified and fuchsitic, fine to coarse-grained quartzite with minor
metaconglomerates lenses of the Paleoproterozoic Jacobina Group. Alteration and
mineralization occur along the contact zones of these major rock units associated with fault
structures of the regional Pindobaçu Fault system which forms the eastern margin of the Jacobina
Basin. These faults are westerly-directed thrusts which also have some sinistral strike slip
component of movement.

Montana Minerals investigated this area during the mid-1980’s by trenching and some shallow
diamond drilling. After Montana, a number of garimpeiros starting mining some of the
mineralized outcrops and carried out shallow underground mining, an activity that is locally and
currently underway. Only partial information on the results of the Montana work is available
from a report filed with the Departamento Nacional da Produçâo Mineral (DNPM).

Trenching and pitting by Montana was reported to outline a N10oE trending mineralized zone 18
metres thick with an average grade of 1.91 g Au/t over a strike length of 800m. According to the
DNPM report, Montana completed 18 shallow diamond drill holes of which only partial results
are included in the report from which samples from 13 of these holes were selected for
metallurgical testing. The head grade of the composite of core samples was reported to be 4.52 g
Au/t with recovery after a 30 day bottle roll test reported to be 82.1% .

Geological mapping, IP surveys and rock/soil geochemical surveys by DSM indicates that the
hydrothermal alteration zone is much more extensive than indicated by the previous work. The
zone has been traced for at least 3.2km along strike at Pindobaçu and it likely extends a further
15km along strike to the north through Fumaça. The alteration zone is up to 100m wide with the
most intense portion characterized by intense silicification and quartz-tourmaline veining.

Results of diamond drilling at Pindobaçu are discussed in Section 11.5.

Fumaça

At Fumaça located 10km north of Pindobaçu, gold mineralization occurs in strongly silicified
quartzites and minor metaconglomerates of the Jacobina Group in the western part of the area
that are in fault contact with reddish clastic, chemical and pelitic metasediments and local
pillowed basalt of the Archean Mundo Novo Group to the east.

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Updated Resource & Reserve Estimate, Jacobina Dec 2005

Soil geochemical sampling by DSM has identified several anomalies in the area with a collective
strike length parallel to the main structural trend of 1.3km. An induced polarization geophysical
survey by Fugro-LASA-Geomag in 2005 has outlined a linear zone of coincident chargeability
and resistivity anomalies that extends over a strike length of 2 km, a width of approximately
300m and to an indicated depth extent of at least 200m. The strongest response is in a zone
approximately 50m wide that is coincident with the Fumaça garimpo. Sampling from the
garimpo by DSM returned 7.36 g Au/t over 4.5m including a very high grade bluish

Results of diamond drilling at Fumaça are discussed in Section 11.5.

Entry Point

Dr. Paul Karpeta, an expert on Precambrian quartz pebble conglomerate-hosted gold deposits
with extensive experience working on deposits in Witwatersrand, South Africa and Tarkwa,
Ghana, was retained by DSM in 2005 to carry out a study of the Jacobina basin in an attempt to
identify additional entry points outside of the Jacobina Mine area. Entry points are the areas in a
basin where major streams carry and deposit sediments into the basin and are typically marked
by the thickest conglomerates with the largest pebbles. This work, which was done in close
collaboration with DSM personnel led by senior geologist Pedro Moura de Macedo, identified a
significant area of Jacobina Group sediments with quartz pebble conglomerate layers which are
exposed in a large tectonic window across an area 5,000m long by 900m wide about 5km
northwest of Pindobaçu (see Fig. 10.2 ) . Gold garimpos (free miner workings) occur around this
“window” near the contact with volcanic rocks of the Mundo Novo Formation which have been
thrust over the conglomerates and then subsequently eroded. In contrast to the mine area, the
sedimentary rocks here are relatively flat lying hence only a small portion of the overall
stratigraphic sequence is actually exposed.

Dr. Karpeta concluded that the Jacobina Basin has been subdivided by cross structures into
major compartments, which controlled sedimentation in those compartments. One such cross
structure is marked by a prominent lineament about 6km south of the town of Pindobaçu, north
of which is the Pindobaçu Compartment and to the south is the Jacobina Compartment. Each of
these compartments will have a different stratigraphy and hence different auriferous
conglomerates. Typically, within each compartment there is usually one entry point marked by
the thickest conglomerates with the biggest pebbles and typically are the richest conglomerates.
Dr. Karpeta concluded that these entry points occur around the Jacobina Mine Area in the
Jacobina Compartment and potentially around Mina Velha, 5km northwest of Pindobaçu, in the
Pindobaçu Compartment (Figs. 9.1 and 10.2 ).

Induced polarization (IP) surveys completed by Fugro-LASA-Geomag in this newly recognized
area outlined targets that appear to be strongly silicified rocks with disseminated sulphides. A
limited diamond drilling program was completed in 2005 to complete a section of holes across
this area and to test several of the IP survey anomalies. Results of this drilling program are
discussed in Section 11.5 below.

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Updated Resource & Reserve Estimate, Jacobina Dec 2005

11.0 DRILLING

11.1 JMC

The original database, from which JMC estimated the mineral resources at the Jacobina project
in 1998 (Hennessey 2002, 2003b) is comprised of two types of samples: diamond drill core and
chip/channel samples. Until the mid 1990’s, the database was strictly a paper one with holes and
sample information plotted on plan, section and longitudinal sectional projections. JMC partially
computerized the database after acquisition by William. DSM later completed a detailed
verification of all the old drill holes including the checking of original drill logs, assay
certificates, survey data and maps and sections. All holes have now been verified and entered
into the electronic database by DSM.

The drill holes in the JMC database are a mixture of BQ-sized (core diameter = 36.5 mm) and
TT-sized (slightly smaller than BQ) core. The BQ core was drilled from company-owned
surface exploration drill rigs and the TT core from underground.

All drill hole setups were marked up underground, in paint, by a surveyor. The mark-up
included a foresight and backsight in addition to the hole number, inclination and hole length.
Drill holes were stopped by the driller at the specified footage, but the drill was not moved to the
next hole without the permission of the geological technician in charge, who inspected the core
prior to moving.

In addition to drill hole logging and sampling, all development headings were mapped at 1:200
scale and sampled when in, or near, conglomerate. The mapping and chip channel sampling
were plotted on plans and is available for interpretation purposes during resource estimation.
The chip/channel sampling was also sometimes composited into pseudo drill holes for use in
resource estimation.

11.2 DESERT SUN

All DSM drilling was conducted by contract diamond drillers using modern wireline surface drill
rigs. The drills were aligned using foresights and backsights set up by DSM geologists. All
holes were stopped under geological control to ensure that target horizons had been reached.

Several of the current DSM geological staff are former JMC employees. They are familiar with
the local rock types, stratigraphic sequence, mineralization controls and rock codes previously
used. Similar logging techniques and rock codes are being employed by DSM to allow for ease
of use with the previous data. The lithologic codes were developed after extensive study by
Anglo American geologists and sedimentologists. More extensive sampling has been performed
however compared with historical sampling. In addition logging of hydrothermal alteration
minerals, structural features and geotechnical data is routinely done.

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Updated Resource & Reserve Estimate, Jacobina Dec 2005

Logging was originally performed on paper and transferred to an Excel database. Gemcom was
contracted to write a software entry program know as “Logger” for the electronic capture of data
into a Gemcom format during logging. This program was tested and implemented in September
2003. The logging process was fully automated in 2004 with all data captured directly in the
Logger program.

11.3      DRILL HOLE DATABASE
 
11.3.1      JACOBINA MINE AREA
 

There are 1,461 drill holes totalling 185,565m of drilling in the DSM database for the Jacobina
Mine area as outlined in Table 11.1 below. This total includes all surface (approximately 50%)
and underground (approximately 50%) diamond drill holes. Since commencing exploration in
2002, DSM has drilled a total of 447 drill holes totalling 65,538m of which the bulk were drilled
in the 2004 and 2005 exploration campaigns.

TABLE 11.1 SUMMARY OF DIAMOND DRILLING, JACOBINA MINE AREA (AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2005)

  Holes in Data Base  Old Drill Holes  New DSM Drill Holes 
Area  Number  Length  Number  Length  Number  Length 
  of Holes  (m)  of Holes  (m)  of Holes  (m) 

Campo Limpo  9  1,744.23  9  1,744.23  0  0.00 
(CLP)             
Canavieiras (CAN)  208  26,207.13  107  11,330.27  101  14,876.86 
Rio Coxo (COX)  2  189.18  0  0.00  2  189.18 
João Belo Norte  537  47,193.12  340  29,780.17  196  17,412.95 
(JBA)             
João Belo Sul (JBS)  28  9,094.58  15  3,354.34  13  5,740.24 
Lagedo Preto (LGP)  22  3,724.47  22  3,724.47  0  0.00 
Serra da Lagartixa  1  740.42  1  740.42  0  0.00 
(LGX)             
Morro do Vento  113  19,730.98  88  11,209.88  25  8,521.10 
Extension (MCZ)             
Morro da Viuva  8  1,257.98  8  1,257.98  0  0.00 
(MVA)             
Morro do Vento  414  57,827.78  330  42,118.83  84  15708.95 
(MVT)             
Serra Branca (SBC)  7  2,050.71  7  2,050.71  0  0.00 
Serra do Córrego  111  15,299.61  85  12,210.52  26  3,089.09 
(SCO)             
Jacobina Sudeste  1  505.36  1  505.36  0  0.00 
(JSE)             

TOTAL  1461  185,565.55  1013  120,027.18  447  65,538.37 
 
Note: 1) From 2005 to 2006, there were 3 drill holes in progress (JBA450, JBA484 and JBA485);   
2) Total for JBA includes drill holes for Mine evaluation;       

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Updated Resource & Reserve Estimate, Jacobina Dec 2005

  3) Drill holes from João Belo Norte (JBA) and João Belo South (JBS) have been separated at coordinate
N8,750,400;
4) Drill holes drilled from Morro do Vento to Basal Reef, FW Zone and MR Zone (Morro do Vento
Extension Reefs) were located in Morro do Vento, see MVT374.

The total number of assay samples in the database is 209,032 as set out in Table 11.2 below.

  TABLE 11.2
ASSAY SAMPLES IN DATABASE – JACOBINA MINE AREA
(AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2005)

Samples from Old Drill Holes    130,413 
Samples from New Drill Holes -  2002  2,840 
Samples from New Drill Holes -  2003  14,261 
Samples from New Drill Holes -  2004  29,443 
Samples from New Drill Holes -  2005  32,075 

Total Samples in Data Base    209,032 

Results of from drilling in the 2005 exploration program are described below in Section 11.4

11.3.2 NORTHERN BAHIA GOLD BELT

There are 59 drill holes totalling 10,547m of drilling in the DSM database for Northern Bahia
Gold Belt as outlined in Table 11.3 below. The number of assay samples in the database totals
12,823 as outlined in Table 11.4.

  TABLE 11.3
SUMMARY OF DRILLING, NORTHERN BAHIA GOLD BELT
(AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2005)

  Number  Length 
  Area of Holes  (m) 

2005 DRILLING NORTHERN AREA     
Pindobaçu  37  5942.12 
Entry Point  6  1608.20 
Fumaça  5  995.95 
TOTAL  48  8,546.27 
 
DRILLING BY TARGET AREA     

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Updated Resource & Reserve Estimate, Jacobina Dec 2005

  Number  Length 
  Area of Holes  (m) 

Biquinha  1  170.56 
Cahoeira dos Alves  1  383.47 
Entry Point  6  1608.20 
Fumaça Norte  10  1575.60 
Pindobaçu  39  6575.73 
Samburá  1  198.91 
Santa Cruz  1  34.94 

TOTAL  59  10,547.41 
 
DRILLING BY YEAR     
Drill Holes – 2004  12  2,000.69 
Drill Holes – 2005  47  8,546.72 

TOTAL  59  10,547.41 

TABLE 11.4

ASSAY SAMPLES IN DATABASE - NORTHERN BAHIA GOLD BELT (AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2005)

ASSAY SAMPLES IN DATABASE   
Samples from New Drill Holes -  2004  2,091 
Samples from New Drill Holes -  2005  10,732 

TOTAL    12,823 

11.4 DRILLING RESULTS – JACOBINA MINE AREA

Summary results of the targets tested in the Jacobina Mine area are provided in the sections
below. Emphasis is on results from the 2005 drilling program however summaries of previous
work especially the 2004 drilling program have been incorporated to present a full picture of all
targets tested to date. Results of the 2002-2003 exploration programs are outlined in Hennessey
(2003b) and for the 2004 program in Pearson and Tagliamonte (2005).

11.4.1 CANAVIEIRAS

The former Canavieiras mine is located 3 km north of the processing plant and is located in a
block bounded by faults that is approximately 1.2 km long and 400 metres wide. In contrast to

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Updated Resource & Reserve Estimate, Jacobina Dec 2005

the main conglomerate trend, Canavieiras is characterized by moderate folding. The high grades
at Canavieiras compared to the other zones in the Jacobina mine area appears to results from a
later stage of hydrothermal activity characterized by hematite-gold that is related to sinistral
shearing. Past production, primarily from the Piritoso and Liberino reefs, in the Canavieiras
Mine is reported by Anglo American to total 458,247 tonnes at a grade of 8.65 g Au/t. Hole
CAN-13 drilled in 1997 by William Resources intersected 7.0 g Au/t over a true width of 24.0m
in the MU reef below the old workings but no further followup drilling was done at that time.

Work by DSM has focused on evaluating the full stratigraphic package hosting the favourable
conglomerate beds which is estimated to be over 300m thick. During 2005, the workings
including drifts, raises, stope limits, old drill holes and major faults in the old mine was re-
surveyed to eliminate survey errors that were found during data compilation and modeling. A
new cross-cut, 92 m long was also driven from an old stope in the southeastern part of the old
workings to provide access to more effectively drill potential extensions to the east and south.

In 2005, a total of 56 holes totalling 8,287.40 m were completed. The bulk of the program
focussed on upgrading existing inferred mineral resources to the indicated category and
exploring the potential extensions of the mineralized stratigraphy to the south and east. Several
step out holes were completed up to 300m to the south of the old mine to explore the potential of
the stratigraphy there.

  • Major targets at Canavieiras include:
  • MU and LU reefs about 50m below the Canavieiras mine workings.
  • Potential high grade extension in the Piritoso-Liberino reefs adjacent to the old stope in the southern end of the mine.
  • Hollandez-Maneira reefs above the old mine workings.
  • Southern continuation of favourable mineralized stratigraphy based on geological compilation work and induced polarization surveys.

Figure 11.1 is a typical cross section at Canavieiras showing the major target reefs. Table 11.5
lists significant drilling results at Canavieiras from the 2005 program. The following section
discusses the results from these major targets at Canavieiras including the step-out drill holes to
the south that indicated a major extension to the known mineralized zone. The area was also
surveyed using induced polarization and results of this survey were very important in defining
the overall target zone.

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Updated Resource & Reserve Estimate, Jacobina Dec 2005

TABLE 11.5  SIGNIFICANT DRILLING RESULTS, CANAVIEIRAS   
 
Hole No.*  From (m)  To (m)  Gold  Interval  True  Reef  Depth Below 
      (g/t)  (m)  Width    570 Adit 
            (m)    Level*** (m) 

CAN-59**  N8758382  E335062  El  577         
Dip -62º/Az 96°  no significant values           
 
CAN-60**  N8758412  E335060  El  568         
Dip -88º/Az62°  no significant values             
 
CAN-61**  N8758.467  E335045  El  562         
Dip -86º/Az217°  0.00  1.25  4.72  1.25  1.2  Piritoso 
 
CAN-62**  N8758468  E335046  El  564         
Dip +46º/Az90°  0.00  17.78  1.81  17.78  17.6  N° 4?  9 above 
incl.  0.00  7.10  3.35  7.10  7.0  N° 4? 
 
CAN-63**  N8758488  E335036  El  563         
Dip -88º/Az226°  no significant values             
 
CAN-64**  N8758506  E335046  El  556         
Dip -86°/Az148°  0.78  1.34  4.03  0.56  0.5  Piritoso  15 
 
CAN-65**  N8758586  E335040  El  550         
Dip -90º/Az194°  0.00  5.13  1.15  5.13  4.8  Piritoso  23 
incl.  3.64  5.53  1.88  1.89  1.8  Piritoso  24 
 
CAN-66**  N8758552  E335.048  El  547         
Dip -90°/Az172°  no significant values             
 
CAN-67**  N8758548  E335053  El 546         
Dip -45°/Az144°  1.20  2.41  7.62  1.21  1.1  Piritoso  26 
 
CAN-68**  N8758586  E335041  El 548         
Dip -41º/az=91º  7.88  9.08  2.30  1.20  0.9  Liberino  15 
 
CAN-69**  N 8758361  E335111  El 548         
Dip -62º/az=80º  Hole stopped due to stability issues. Target not reached.   
 
          63       



Updated Resource & Reserve Estimate, Jacobina Dec 2005

TABLE 11.5  SIGNIFICANT DRILLING RESULTS, CANAVIEIRAS   
 
Hole No.*  From (m)  To (m)  Gold  Interval  True  Reef  Depth Below 
      (g/t)  (m)  Width    570 Adit 
          (m)    Level*** (m) 

 
CAN-70  N 8758353  E335112  El 549         
Dip +59°/Az76°/  19.28  38.70  2.65  19.42  18.3  Liber+N°4+Pir  3 above 
Incl.  27.46  38.70  4.32  11.24  10.6  Liber + N°4  6 above 
 
CAN-71**  N8758060  E335196  El 548         
Dip -74º/Az=261º  3.76  6.90  4.49  3.14  3.0  Piritoso  25 
  52.83  72.90  1.02  20.07  19.5  MU  80 
Incl.  65.87  72.90  1.70  7.03  6.8  MU  85 
  97.40  101.90  2.41  4.50  4.4  LU  115 
 
CAN-72  N8758148  E335052  El 596         
Dip -66º/Az=90º  76.48  105.3  1.87  28.82  23.6  MU  60 
Incl.  76.48  91.3  2.4  14.82  12.2  MU  50 
Incl.  96.2  105.3  1.93  9.10  7.5  MU  65 
 
 
CAN-73*  N8758101  E335207  El 547         
Dip -74º/Az=261º  4.77  15.32  3.90  10.55  10.3  Lib + Piritoso  32 
Incl.  4.77  8.20  2.60  3.43  3.4  Liberino  30 
  12.09  15.32  16.52  3.23  3.2  Piritoso  35 
  42.98  57.72  2.38  14.74  14.4  MU  70 
Incl.  42.98  50.90  3.64  7.92  7.8  MU top  64 
  109.35  110.38  2.12  1.03  1.0  LU  123 
 
 
 
CAN-74  N8758037  E335191  El 548         
Dip 86º/Az=256º               
  59.40  67.00  2.40  7.60  6.8  MU  82 
  89.40  97.59  3.52  8.19  7.4  MU  110 
 
CAN-75  N8758195  E335048  El 596         
Dip -66º/Az=90º  83.74  84.21  2.08  0.47  0.5  MU  44 
 
 
        64       



Updated Resource & Reserve Estimate, Jacobina Dec 2005

TABLE 11.5  SIGNIFICANT DRILLING RESULTS, CANAVIEIRAS   
 
Hole No.*  From (m)  To (m)  Gold  Interval  True  Reef  Depth Below 
      (g/t)  (m)  Width    570 Adit 
          (m)    Level*** (m) 

  92.36  94.23  0.91  1.87  1.8  MU  55 
 
CAN76  N8758227  E335043  El 595         
Dip -63º/az=92º  93.92  97.78  2.31  3.86  3.1  MU  60 
 
CAN-77  N8758088  E335206  El 546         
Dip 69º/Az=267º  4.95  15.04  4.07  10.09  9.9  Lib + Piritoso  30 
Incl.  4.95  7.56  4.30  2.61  2.6  Liberino  20 
Incl.  12.64  15.04  11.94  2.40  2.4  Piritoso  35 
  66.72  71.50  1.39  4.78  4.7  MU  86 
  115.65  118.16  1.84  2.51  2.5  LU  133 
 
CAN-78*  N8758074  E335073  El 607         
Dip -75º/Az=90º  No significant values – MU and LU Reefs not intersected     
 
 
CAN79  N8758114  E335061  El 607         
Dip -64º/Az=90º  80.23  161.13  3.88  80.90  51.0  LU +MU  75 
  Highs cut to 30 g/t  3.52         
Incl.  80.23  92.90  14.57  12.67  8.0  MU  40 
  Highs cut to 30 g/t  13.50        35 
Incl.  80.23  104.32  8.40  24.09  15.2  MU  58 
  Highs cut to 30 g/t  7.84        70 
Incl.  151.03  161.13  9.29  10.10  6.4  LU  105 
  Highs cut to 30 g/t  7.75         
 
CAN-80  N8758124  E335202  El 547         
Dip -60º/Az=269º  4.00  8.3  4.82  4.30  4.0  Piritoso  25 
  31.99  67.00  2.05  35.01  32.9  MU  65 
Incl.  31.99  51.50  2.95  19.51  18.3  MU  55 
Incl.  40.78  51.5  4.47  10.72  10.1  MU  60 
  100.67  102.1  3.03  1.43  1.3  LU  113 
 
CAN-81  N8758037  E335191  El 548         
 
 
        65       



Updated Resource & Reserve Estimate, Jacobina Dec 2005

TABLE 11.5  SIGNIFICANT DRILLING RESULTS, CANAVIEIRAS   
 
Hole No.*  From (m)  To (m)  Gold  Interval  True  Reef  Depth Below 
      (g/t)  (m)  Width    570 Adit 
          (m)    Level*** (m) 

Dip 49º/Az=269º  0.00  2.40  6.61  2.40  2.2  Piritoso  20 
  58.88  65.69  4.83  6.81  6.1  MU  70 
 
CAN-82  N 8758257  E335041  El 602         
Dip -64º/Az=88º  86.54  92.29  1.15  5.75  4.2  MU  46 
Incl.  86.54  89.41  2.30  2.87  2.1  MU  45 
 
CAN-83  N8758254  E335161  El 547         
Dip -87º/az=89º  17.20  17.72  2.35  0.52  0.5  Piritoso  40 
 
CAN-84  N8758025  E335181  El 548         
Dip -40º/az=268º  0.00  10.11  7.04  10.11  9.9  Lib + Pir  26 
  highs cut to 30g/t  6.49         
incl.  0.00  2.69  4.60  2.69  2.6  Liberino  25 
incl.  7.47  10.11  21.62  2.64  2.6  Piritoso  30 
  highs cut to 30g/t  19.49         
  54.75  78.83  2.49  24.08  20.9  MU  68 
 
CAN-85  N8758091  E335064  El 607         
Dip -65º/az=92º  146.33  172.20  1.55  25.87  21.0  MU +LU  110 
incl.  146.33  154.19  3.28  7.86  6.4  MU  100 
incl.  166.83  168.77  2.21  1.94  1.6  LU  115 
 
CAN-86  N8758003  E 335178  El 548         
Dip-70º/az=270º  1.23  2.14  1.99  0.91  0.9  Piritoso  20 
  48.82  53.38  2.44  4.56  4.4  MU  72 
incl.  48.82  50.86  5.17  2.04  2.0  MU  70 
 
CAN-87  N 8758131  E335052  El 603         
Dip -63º/Az=90º  83.33  162.04  8.20  78.71  59.0  MU + LU  76 
  Highs cut to 30 g/t  5.52         
Incl.  83.33  152.54  8.82  69.21  51.9  MU total  70 
  Highs cut to 30 g/t  5.92         
Incl.  83.33  100.57  23.68  17.24  12.9  MU top  48 
 
 
        66       



Updated Resource & Reserve Estimate, Jacobina Dec 2005

TABLE 11.5  SIGNIFICANT DRILLING RESULTS, CANAVIEIRAS   
 
Hole No.*  From (m)  To (m)  Gold  Interval  True  Reef  Depth Below 
      (g/t)  (m)  Width    570 Adit 
          (m)    Level*** (m) 

  Highs cut to 30 g/t  14.66         
Incl.  143.90  162.04  11.02  18.14  13.6  MU base + LU  105 
  Highs cut to 30 g/t  7.93         
Incl.  156.83  162.04  2.63  5.21  3.9  LU  108 
 
CAN-88  N8758309  E335117  El 548         
Dip +49º/az=88º  21.37  29.81  4.06  8.44  8.4  Pir +Lib  2 
incl  21.37  22.41  1.66  1.04  1.0  Piritoso  5 
incl  26.34  29.81  7.31  3.47  3.4  Liberino  1 
 
CAN-89  N8758309  E335116  El 551         
Dip +60º/az=271º  11.58  13.89  18.12  16.35  2.3  Piritoso  10 
 
CAN-90  N8758175  E335050  El 597         
Dip -64º/az=90º    MU not intersected - faulted       
  127.62  130.55  1.67  2.93  1.6  LU  83 
 
CAN-91  N8758253  E335159  El 546         
Dip -53º/az=270º  32.40  52.84  1.48  20.44  19.8  MU  57 
incl.  28.90  36.90  3.16  8.00  7.8  MU  50 
incl.  32.40  36.90  5.23  4.50  4.4  MU  52 
 
 
CAN-92  N8758124  E335202  El 548         
Dip -30º/az=265º  3.50  7.66  2.77  4.16  2.7  Piritoso  20 
Incl.  6.42  7.66  4.56  1.24  0.8  Piritoso  22 
  48.77  52.02  2.41  3.25  2.1  MU  45 
  79.37  96.47  3.93  17.10  11.1  MU  60 
  50.30  96.47  1.75  46.17  30.0  MU Total  56 
  132.57  138.25  2.54  5.68  3.7  LU  90 
  79.37  138.25  1.44  58.88  38.3  LU+MU  73 
 
 
CAN-93  N8758179  E335193  El 550         
 
 
        67       



Updated Resource & Reserve Estimate, Jacobina Dec 2005

TABLE 11.5  SIGNIFICANT DRILLING RESULTS, CANAVIEIRAS   
 
Hole No.*  From (m)  To (m)  Gold  Interval  True  Reef  Depth Below 
      (g/t)  (m)  Width    570 Adit 
          (m)    Level*** (m) 

Dip -45º/az=268º  48.20  67.56  1.86  19.36  17.6  MU  76 
incl.  61.20  67.56  4.26  6.36  5.8  MU  70 
  90.75  94.20  4.95  3.45  3.1  LU  90 
 
 
CAN-94  N8758138  E335199  El 548         
Dip -16º/az=270º  5.60  7.99  17.57  2.39  1.4  Piritoso  25 
  highs cut to 30g/t  11.77         
  63.67  117.10  2.28  53.43  31.5  MU  45 
  highs cut to 30g/t  1.96         
incl.  91.06  117.10  3.97  26.04  15.4  MU  50 
  highs cut to 30g/t  3.31         
 
CAN-95  N8758007  E335217  El 578         
Dip -63º/az=236º  30.99  51.00  4.67  20.01  17.8  Lib + Pir  30 
incl.  30.99  35.85  4.62  4.86  4.3  Liberino  22 
incl.  46.55  51.00  15.28  4.45  4.0  Piritoso  40 
  MU/LU cut off by faults         
 
CAN-96  N8758197  E335191  El 547         
Dip -72º/az=264º  10.50  11.70  0.11  1.20  0.9  Piritoso  35 
  61.38  66.45  0.15  5.07  3.8  MU  80 
 
CAN-97  N8758009  E335220  El 578         
Dip -80º/az=72º  67.87  69.33  4.25  1.46  0.7  Liberino  60 
  156.32  168.50  1.43  12.18  6.1  MU  160 
  disrupted by faults and dykes         
 
CAN-98  N8758227  E335179  El 547         
Dip -71º/Az=267º  60.7  62.73  0.60  2.03  1.6  MU  80 
 
CAN-99  N8758147  E335198  El 547         
Dip -71º/Az=265º  5.67  6.44  21.45  0.77  0.4  Piritoso  28 
  52.51  69.42  3.14  16.91  9.5  MU  80 
Incl.  58.39  69.42  4.44  11.03  6.2  MU  82 
 
        68       



Updated Resource & Reserve Estimate, Jacobina Dec 2005

TABLE 11.5  SIGNIFICANT DRILLING RESULTS, CANAVIEIRAS   
 
Hole No.*  From (m)  To (m)  Gold  Interval  True  Reef  Depth Below 
      (g/t)  (m)  Width    570 Adit 
          (m)    Level*** (m) 

  93.35  96.87  0.60  3.52  2.0  LU  110 
 
CAN-100  N8758021  E335179  El 548         
Dip -54º/Az=268º  0.00  1.40  1.49  1.40  1.1  Piritoso  20 
  46.00  50.91  11.72  4.91  3.9  MU  60 
  highs cut to 30 g/t  9.68         
Incl.  48.55  50.91  22.56  2.36  1.9  MU  63 
  highs cut to 30 g/t  18.32         
 
CAN-101  N8758010  E335218  El 578         
Dip -68/Az=330  7.91  8.9  1.21  0.99  0.4  Holandêz  5 
  40.72  50.93  1.89  10.21  4.5  Liber+Piritoso  37 
Incl.  40.72  41.62  10.29  0.90  0.4  Liberino  35 
Incl.  49.16  50.93  3.76  1.77  0.8  Piritoso  43 
  105.36  109.89  0.15  4.53  2.0  MU  95 
  146.40  146.91  0.01  0.51  0.2  LU  135 
 
CAN-102  N8758240  E335187  El 547         
Dip --65º/Az=10º  no significant values           
 
 
CAN-103  N8758245  E335177  El 247         
Dip -64º/Az=86º  17.57  19.69  4.78  2.12  0.9  Piritoso  38 
Incl.  19.10  19.69  17.05  0.59  0.2  Piritoso  40 
  96.30  101.00  2.32  4.70  1.9  MU  108 
Incl.  96.30  99.04  3.53  2.74  1.1  MU  110 
  128.42  129.50  2.65  1.08  0.4  MU  140 
 
CAN-104  N8757996  E335251  El 578         
Dip -80º/Az=74º  167.82  168.34  1.45  0.52  0.4  MU  159 
  236.50  237.02  2.32  0.52  0.4  MU  222 
 
CAN-105  N8757800  E335163  El 641         
Dip -82/az=91  182.50  204.03  2.01  21.53  14.4  Holandez  120 
 
 
        69       



Updated Resource & Reserve Estimate, Jacobina Dec 2005

TABLE 11.5  SIGNIFICANT DRILLING RESULTS, CANAVIEIRAS   
 
Hole No.*  From (m)  To (m)  Gold  Interval  True  Reef  Depth Below 
      (g/t)  (m)  Width    570 Adit 
          (m)    Level*** (m) 

incl.  182.50  195.10  2.53  12.60  8.4  Holandez  116 
incl.  193.10  195.10  6.93  2.00  1.3  Holandez  122 
  229.57  237.04  2.46  7.47  5.0  Lib + Pir  160 
incl.  229.57  230.90  10.72  1.33  0.9  Liberino  157 
  253.06  261.00  11.71  7.94  5.3  MU top  185 
  highs cut to 30 g/t  10.09         
  334.30  336.50  1.42  2.20  1.5  MU  260 
  381.46  386.50  6.15  5.04  3.4  LU  310 
 
CAN-106  N8757730  E335172  El 645         
Dip -79/az=89  82.90  91.30  2.60  8.40  5.3  Holandez  9 
  132.26  132.70  37.45  0.44  0.3  Holandez  55 
  285.13  306.57  1.86  21.44  13.5  Lib+Pir  215 
incl.  285.13  294.47  3.20  9.34  5.9  Liberino  210 
incl.  304.50  306.57  2.52  2.07  1.3  Piritoso  225 
  350.50  400.35  2.36  49.85  31.4  MU total  320 
incl.  350.50  368.50  2.92  18.00  11.3  MU top  280 
incl.  350.50  358.90  5.00  8.40  5.3  MU top  278 
incl.  385.10  400.35  3.94  15.25  9.6  MU base  311 
incl.  395.50  400.35  7.02  4.85  3.1  MU base  317 
 
CAN-107  N8758309  E335119  El 548         
Dip -00º/Az=92º  No significant values           
 
 
 
CAN-108  N8757998  E335248  El 578         
Dip -66º/Az=326º  72.25  75.28  3.82  3.03  1.7  Liberino  60 
  80.50  83.24  1.72  2.74  1.5  Piritoso  67 
  72.25  83.24  1.61  10.99  6.2  Liber+Piritoso  65 
  169.16  171.68  1.05  2.52  1.4  MU  152 
  193.00  194.50  0.85  1.50  0.8  LU  172 
 
CAN-109  N8758350  E335113  El 547         
 
 
        70       



Updated Resource & Reserve Estimate, Jacobina Dec 2005

TABLE 11.5  SIGNIFICANT DRILLING RESULTS, CANAVIEIRAS   
 
Hole No.*  From (m)  To (m)  Gold  Interval  True  Reef  Depth Below 
      (g/t)  (m)  Width    570 Adit 
          (m)    Level*** (m) 

Dip -70º/Az=92º  89.91  91.51  1.77  1.60  1.2  MU  92 
 
CAN-110  Aborted Drill Hole – Stopped at 9.0 meters       
 
 
* all holes are NQ diamond drill core size         
** holes are LTK48 diamond drill core size           
*** depth calculated based on midpoint of intersection       

  Target Reefs below Old Workings (MU and LU Reefs)

  The MU (Middle Unit) and LU (Lower Unit) reefs are about 50 to 100 metres below the old
workings. Hole CAN-13, drilled in 1997, intersected 7.0 g Au/t over 24.0m true width in these
reefs. Initial surface drilling 40m south of this hole by DSM in 2002-03 (CAN-14 and CAN-15)
was not successful in confirming this intersection because of structural complications. However,
once the mine was dewatered in late 2003 and underground drilling could be carried out, the
results from MU and LU have been very positive in both the 2004 and especially, 2005, drill
programs.

The strike length of the MU and LU reefs is now at least 600 m with the zones open along strike
to the south. Thickness of the MU reef ranges from 8.8m to 27.5m with an average of 21.9m and
that of the LU reef, from 0.9m to 22.3m with an average of 5.2m. Stratigraphically the two reefs
are very close in the southern holes but become progressively more separated to the north by an
interbedded quartzite unit. In the northernmost hole to intersect MU/LU, the quartzite unit
separating these reefs is about 12m thick.

Drilling in 2005 intersected a number of very high grade intervals within the target reefs
Highlights include:

  • 8.40 g Au/t (7.84 g Au/t with highs cut to 30 g Au/t) over 15.2 metres in the MU reef and the LU (Lower Unit) zone grading 9.29 g Au/t (7.75 g Au/t with highs cut to 30 g Au/t) over 6.4 metres in CAN-79.
  • 23.88 g Au/t (14.66 g Au/t cut) over 12.9m in the top of the MU reef and 11.02g Au/t (7.93 g Au/t cut) over 13.6 in the base of the MU reef and the LU reef
  • 4.47g Au/t over a true width of 10.1m within a 32.9m (true width) section grading 2.05g Au/t in CAN-80
  • 4.83g Au/t over 6.1m true width in CAN-81
  • 3.52g Au/t over a true width of 7.4m in CAN-74

  71



Updated Resource & Reserve Estimate, Jacobina Dec 2005

  • 3.97 g Au/t (3.31 cut) over 15.4m true width in 31.5m grading 2.28 g Au/t (1.96 cut) in CAN-94
  • 2.49 g Au/t over a true width of 20.9m in CAN-84
  • 4.26 g Au/t over a true width of 5.8m in CAN-93
  • 5.23 g Au/t over a true width of 4.4m in CAN-91
  • 3.28 g Au/t over a true width of 6.4m in CAN-85

Figure 11.2 is a grade times thickness map of the MU reef showing the distribution of higher
grade areas. There is a very clear southwesterly plunge to the mineralized trend with areas of
very grade gold values such as in holes 79 and 87 within this zone. The high grade areas have
significant visible gold and there is in general a strong association with hydrothermal hematite
alteration.

Target Reefs extending zones previously mined (Piritoso and Liberino Reefs)

The Piritoso and Liberino reefs were previously mined at Canavieiras over a strike length of
about 600m and these were the richest reefs in the camp. Piritoso is a very pyritic medium sized
quartz pebble conglomerate reef that is from 0.1m to 5.6m thick averaging about 2.6m thick.
Average grade in the reef mined was 9.5 g Au/t. The Liberino reef is about 10m stratigraphically
above the Piritoso reef with a thickness ranging from 0.1m to 3.2m with an average thickness of
1.2. Pebble size in Liberino ranges from medium to large with less packing as compared to
Piritoso. Average grade in the reef mined was 6.1 g Au/t.

Highlights of drilling in 2005 in this target zone include:

  • 16.52g Au/t over 3.2m true width within 10.3m true width grading 3.90g Au/t in CAN-73
  • 11.94g Au/t over 2.4m true width within 9.9m true width grading 4.07g Au/t in CAN-77
  • 4.82g Au/t over a true width of 4.0m in CAN-80
  • 6.61g Au/t over a true width of 2.2m in CAN-81
  • 21.62g Au/t (19.49 highs cut to 30g/t) over 2.6m true width with in 9.9m (true width section) grading 7.04g Au/t (6.49 g Au/t with highs cut to 30 g/t) in CAN-84
  • 15.28g Au/t over 4.0m true width in 17.8m true width grading 4.67g Au/t in CAN-95
  • 18.12g Au/t over a true width of 2.3m in CAN-89
  • 17.57g Au/t (11.77 cut) over a true width of 1.4m in CAN-94
  • 4.06g Au/t over a true width of 8.4m in CAN-88

72





Updated Resource & Reserve Estimate, Jacobina Dec 2005

Results of the 2005 drilling are incorporated in the updated mineral resource estimate for these
target reefs as outlined in Section 17.5

Hollandez-Maneira Reefs

The Hollandez Reef is typically 15 to 20m thick, although in places is up to 40m thick, with
significant gold mineralization occurring in the lower part of the reef. The reef extends along a
north-south strike for at least 1km of which 500m of this strike length would be readily
accessible from existing mine workings in the Canavieiras Mine. The most significant
intersection in this reef in the old mine area was in Hole CAN-21, drilled in 2004, that
intersected 8.47 g Au/t over a core length of 13.02m (8.07g Au/t with highs cut to 30 g/t; true
width 5m – 10m) in a strongly silicified zone near the base of the Hollandez reef adjacent a
steeply dipping fault zone filled with a mafic dyke. Mineralization occurs as disseminated pyrite
and very fine native gold in a “silica gel” that is most likely the product of hydrothermal
alteration. Hole CAN-88, drilled in 2005, that intersected 4.06g Au/t over 8.4 metres in the
Piritoso and Liberino reefs is about 8 metres north of CAN-21. The mineralization in this hole
also displays a classic hydrothermal silica texture with disseminated pyrite and very fine native
gold.

These results combined with high grade holes (CAN-79 and CAN-87) strongly suggest that there
is a hydrothermal feeder system responsible for the high grade gold mineralization. This
structure is likely steeply dipping with a southeasterly strike. Wherever this structure cuts the
conglomerate stratigraphy, high grade gold mineralization is very likely to occur.

The Maneira Reef, which is 30m stratigraphically above the Hollandez reef, comprises the
upper sequence of conglomerates in the Serra do Córrego Formation. It is typically 70 metres
thick dipping 55 degrees to the east, and comprises a very large quartz pebble conglomerate at
the base which grades to a medium-sized quartz pebble conglomerate at the top. The
conglomerates typically have a fuchsite-rich matrix, sometimes oxidized. Gold mineralization is
presented at both the base and top.

This reef was only tested in a few holes in the 2005 program because it is the highest reef in the
stratigraphy and is usually exposed above most surface drill sites and well above underground
drill sites.

Step Out Holes south of old Mine area (Hollandez, Piritoso, Liberino, MU and LU reefs)

Historical diamond drilling, as summarized in Table 11.6 indicated that gold mineralized
conglomerates were present on strike to the south of the old mine area however these holes did
not test the full stratigraphic package and were drilled at less than favourable azimuths based on
the new geological data generated by the drill program in the old mine area. The location of the
collars of these holes is shown in Figure 11.2.

74



Updated Resource & Reserve Estimate, Jacobina Dec 2005

TABLE 11.6  SIGNIFICANT HISTORICAL DRILLING RESULTS, SOUTH 
  EXTENSION AREA, CANAVIEIRAS     
 
Hole No.*  From (m)  To (m)  Gold  Interval  True  Depth Below 
      (g/t)  (m)  Width  640 Adit 
          (m)  Level** (m) 

      El       
CAN-5  N8757853  E335263  641m       
Dip=-90º/Az=0º  111.83  114.10  3.65  2.4  1.4  111 
  128.74  131.56  3.17  2.8  1.7  131 
  309.57  324.79  1.91  15.2  7.6  315 
 
      El       
CAN-5D(wedge)  N8757853  E335263  641m       
Dip=-90º/Az=0º  296.78  308.38  2.13  11.6  5.8  300 
  115.54  117.22  3.48  1.7  0.8  108 
  307.56  308.91  5.89  1.4  1.2  297 
  377.08  383.68  3.14  6.6  3.3  377 
 
      El       
CAN-7  N335159  E8757918  640m       
Dip=-85º/Az=10º  185.61  191.09  1.96  5.5  3.7  187 
  206.74  213.97  10.42  7.2  4.8  209 
  Highs cut to 30 g/t  7.57       
 
      El       
CAN-8  N335165  E8757787  640m       
Dip=-  70.78  77.21  2.12  6.4  3.2  63 
60º/Az=168º             
  283.72  289.87  2.33  6.2  3.1  247 
  325.97  333.78  2.83  7.8  3.4  284 
Incl.  325.97  327.89  4.74  1.9  1.0  281 
 
* All drill holes BQ core size         
* * depth calculated based on midpoint of intersection     

Resampling of available core from the old drill holes as outlined in Table 11.7 below suggests
that previous sampling may be underestimating grade.

75



Updated Resource & Reserve Estimate, Jacobina Dec 2005

TABLE 11.7 RESULTS FOR RE-SAMPLING OF CORE FROM OLD DRILL HOLES 
      AT CANAVIEIRAS       
 
Hole  From (m)  To (m)  Gold (g/t) Gold (g/t)  Interval  True  Reef  Depth 
No.*      New  Old  (m)  Width    below 570 
            (m)    Adit Level 
                (m)** 

CAN-5  N8757853  E335262  El 640           
Dip -90/              Maneira   
az=0  0.19  4.31  1.68  1.31  4.12  2.8    70 above 
  110.52  131.90  1.24  0.89  21.38  14.8  Holandêz  50 
incl.  110.52  114.10  4.49  2.38  3.58  2.5  Holandêz  40 
incl.  128.94  131.90  2.75  2.83  2.96  2.0  Holandêz  60 
  279.34  285.18  1.29  2.50  5.84  4.0  Holandêz  213 
              Liberino   
  309.57  324.47  3.44  1.91  14.90  10.3  +Piritoso  245 
incl.  309.57  314.41  5.46  4.37  4.84  3.3  Liberino  236 
incl.  320.65  324.47  5.65  2.69  3.82  2.6  Piritoso  255 
 
CAN-8  N8757787  E335165  El 640           
Dip -60/              Holandêz   
az=0  285.46  290.81  3.09  2.25  5.35  2.7    180 
  310.44  311.27  4.12  0.99  0.83  0.4  Holandêz  200 
  325.55  327.89  2.97  4.02  2.34  1.2  Liberino  215 
Note only partial core available from this hole           
* all holes are AQ diamond drill core size         
** depth calculated based on midpoint of intersection       

  Two step holes were completed in 2005 and both of these holes intersected high grade gold
mineralization in the major reef targets (Hollandez, Piritoso-Liberino and MU and LU). The
Maneira reef was not tested because it is exposed above where the holes were collared.

Highlights from the two step-out holes are as follows. The locations of these holes are shown in
Figure 11.2. Figure 11.3 is a photo of the coarse-grained native gold intersected in the Hollandez
reef in hole CAN-106.

Hole CAN-105 
* 11.71g Au/t (10.09 g Au/t with highs cut to 30g Au/t) over a true width of 5.3m (MU 
  reef); 
6.15g Au/t over 3.4m true width Lower Unit (LU) reef 
* 2.53g Au/t over a true width of 8.4m in a wider zone grading 2.01 g Au/t over a 
  14.4m true width (Hollandez reef); 



January 2006



Updated Resource & Reserve Estimate, Jacobina Dec 2005

Hole CAN-106

  • 3.94 g Au/t over a true width of 9.6m in a wider section grading 2.36 g Au/t over a true width of 31.4m (MU reef) in CAN-106
  • 3.20 g Au/t over a true width of 5.9m (Liberino reef); 2.60 g Au/t over 5.3m and 37.45 over 0.3m true width (both Hollandez reef) in CAN-106

Figure 11.2, previous, a plan showing grade times thickness contours of the MU reef indicates
that there is a major southeasterly plunging high grade mineralized zone in the old mine area that
is open to the east and south with a second major trend developing to the south of the mine as
indicated by the step out holes. The plan map also shows the likely approximate limit of
mineralization based on an interpretation of results of the recently completed induced
polarization geophysical (IP) survey by John Buckle, P.Geo., consulting geophysicist for DSM.

Figure 11.4 is a 3-D model of the IP chargeability prepared by Mr. Buckle that shows the outline
of the anomalous area which extends in the north from the old mine area southwards for at least
1.6km. Holes CAN-105 and CAN-106 confirm the continuation of the mineralized reefs in the
gap in IP coverage due to steep topography. The potential to outline substantial additional
resources in this target area is excellent. A summary report by Mr. Buckle on the results of the
IP survey is included with this report as Appendix II.

In preparation for the 2006 drill program at Canavieiras, the old No. 6 adit located about 230m
south of the south limit of the stoped area of the old mine was rehabilitated and services for
drilling installed. Drilling from underground in the No. 6 adit will commence in January 2006.

78





Updated Resource & Reserve Estimate, Jacobina Dec 2005

11.4.2 MORRO DO VENTO EXTENSION

The Morro do Vento Extension target is located immediately north of the processing plant in the
Jacobina Mine area. The former Itapicurú mine had workings in both the Morro do Vento and
Morro do Vento Extension (Cuscuz) areas although most of the previous production came from
the Basal and Main Reefs. These reefs are stratigraphically 350 m and 300 m, respectively, the
Intermediate Reefs as shown in Figure 9.3. Previous mining and exploration focused on the
high-grade zones in these reefs which were mined in stopes that were typically 2 to 2.5 m wide
although the full width of the mineralized conglomerates is typically 10 to 15m wide.

Past production from the Basal and Main Reefs in both the Morro do Vento and Morro do Vento
Extension areas as reported by Anglo American data totalled 2,036,634 tonnes at a recovered
grade of 4.14 g Au/tonne producing 271,046 ounces of gold. Of the total past production, about
72% came from the Main Reef zone, however no previous production is recorded from this reef
in the Morro do Vento Extension area. Historic underground and surface diamond drill holes that
tested the Basal Reef also intersected the Main Reef target zone area however most drill core in
this zone was not previously assayed because of the predominantly structural style of the
mineralization. This core was sampled as part of the current program.

At the Morro do Vento Extension area located immediately north of the processing plant, 24
drill holes totaling 8,511 metres were completed in 2005. This drilling focused on testing the
downdip continuation of the Basal and Main reefs in the Morro do Vento Extension area as well
as the exploring the southern continuation of the Basal and Main reefs into the Morro do Vento
area which has a potential strike length of at least 600m. The Main Reef, which is
stratigraphically about 50 metres above the Basal Reef, is a major target that was intersected in
the new drill holes and is the northern extension of the same reef in the Morro do Vento area that
was previously mined.

A limited underground drilling program was also carried out in the Morro do Vento Extension
area from the 630-metre level to test the potential for the Main Reef at shallower levels. Surface
drilling is continuing to complete drilling needed to outline additional indicated mineral
resources and to continue to test the 600 metre long target area between the Morro do Vento
Extension and the north end of Morro do Vento.

Highlights of drilling results are as follows:

  • Holes MCZ-88 and MCZ-85 returned significant intersections in the Main Reef of 3.25 g Au/t over a true width of 17.8m and 3.71 g Au/t over 5.3m true width, respectively.
  • 3.25g Au/t over 17.8m true width in Main Reef in MCZ-88
  • 3.71g Au/t over 5.3m true width in Main Reef in MCZ-85
  • 3.25 g Au/t over a true width of 17.8m in the Basal Reef in MCZ-88
  • 3.21g Au/t over 7.4m true width in Main Reef and 2.88g Au/t over 8.8m true width in Basal Reef in MCZ-89

80



Updated Resource & Reserve Estimate, Jacobina Dec 2005

  • 3.84g Au/t over a true width of 7.1m in 14.4m (true width) grading 2.54g Au/t in Basal Reef in MCZ-92
  • 5.94g Au/t over 3.8m true width in Main Reef in MCZ-91
  • 3.51g Au/t over 4.9m true width in Main Reef in MCZ-93
  • 3.66g Au/t over a true width of 4.8m in 14.5m true width grading 1.99g Au/t in Basal Reef in MCZ-95 (underground hole)
  • 2.26 g Au/t over 7.6m true width in Basal Reef in MCZ-96
  • 5.81g Au/t over 2.3 metres true width in the Main Reef and 4.47g Au/t over 1.8 metres true width in the Basal Reef in MVT-371.
  • 3.23 g Au/t over 3.5m true width in Basal Reef in MVT-373

  Significant drilling results from the 2005 program are listed in Table 11.8. These drill results
have been incorporated in the updated resource estimate presented in Section 17.5. Figure 11.5 ,
a vertical longitudinal section of the Morro do Vento Extension/Morro do Vento area, shows the
distribution of the grade times thickness contours for the Basal Reef zone.

TABLE 11.8 SIGNIFICANT DRILLING RESULTS, MORRO DO VENTO EXTENSION (MAIN/BASAL REEF)

Hole No.*  From (m)  To (m)  Gold  Interval  True  Reef  Depth 630 
        (g/t)  (m)  Width    Adit Level** 
            (m)    (m) 

MCZ-84  N  8755440  E334866  El 696         
Dip -60º/Az=270º    368.13  369.45  2.34  1.32  1.2  Main Reef  240 
    398.50  409.02  1.40  10.52  9.6  Main Reef-FW  270 
Incl.    398.50  402.10  2.26  3.60  3.3  Main Reef-FW  270 
    Basal Reef not intersected due to faulting       
 
MCZ-85  N  8755380  E334870  El 687         
Dip -61º/Az=271º    414.85  420.98  3.71  6.13  5.3  Main Reef-FW  270 
    439.37  449.20  1.61  9.83  8.6  Basal Reef  300 
Incl.    439.37  442.22  3.18  2.85  2.5  Basal Reef  300 
 
MCZ-86  N  8755305  E334879  El 669         
Dip -56º/Az=271º    426.04  428.80  1.25  2.76  2.6  Main Reef-FW  315 
    454.10  456.37  3.04  2.27  2.1  Basal Reef  335 
 
MCZ-87  N  8755305  E334879  El 669         
Dip -67º/Az=265º  Main Reef – no significant values         

81



Updated Resource & Reserve Estimate, Jacobina Dec 2005

Hole No.*  From (m)  To (m)  Gold  Interval  True  Reef  Depth 630 
      (g/t)  (m)  Width    Adit Level** 
          (m)    (m) 

  Basal Reef – not intersected due to faulting       
 
MCZ-88  N8755260  E334873  El 661         
Dip -53º/Az=269º  427.61  446.95  3.25  19.34  17.8  Main Reef-FW  455 
  Basal Reef – not intersected due to faulting       
 
MCZ-89  N8755333  E334890  El 673         
Dip -51º/Az=269º  398.50  406.50  3.21  8.00  7.4  Main Reef-FW  270 
  442.15  451.65  2.88  9.50  8.8  Basal Reef  305 
 
MCZ-90  N8755261  E334873  El 661         
Dip -62º/az=270º  No significant values – Main Reef       
  Basal Reef - not intersected due to faulting       
 
MCZ-91  N8755110  E334850  El 639         
Dip -55º/az=268º  426.27  430.45  5.94  4.18  3.8  Main  330 
 
MCZ-92  N8755412  E334879  El 690         
Dip -56º/az=265º  397.45  403.55  1.00  6.10  5.5  FW  259 
  418.25  434.25  2.54  16.00  14.4  Basal  285 
  Highs cut to 30 g/t  2.50         
incl.  426.35  434.25  3.84  7.90  7.1  Basal  280 
  Highs cut to 30 g/t  3.75         
 
 
MCZ-93  N8755057  E334789  El 636         
Dip -50º/az=269º  299.96  316.74  1.55  16.78  15.8  Main+FW  120 
incl.  299.96  305.15  3.51  5.19  4.9  Main  115 
incl.  303.03  305.15  5.21  2.12  2.0  Main  115 
  365.20  372.60  2.19  7.40  7.0  Basal  154 
incl.  369.34  372.60  4.56  3.26  3.1  Basal  155 
 
MCZ-94  Main Reef – no significant values         
  Basal Reef – no significant values         
 
MCZ-95  N8755343  E334508  El 630         
Dip -59º/az=271º  68.52  85.15  2.00  16.63  14.5  Basal  68 
incl.  79.60  85.15  3.66  5.55  4.8  Basal  70 
 
MCZ-96  N8755261  E334874  El 661         
Dip -52º/az=262º  433.02  444.75  1.76  11.73  10.9  Basal  295 
 
 
      82         



Updated Resource & Reserve Estimate, Jacobina Dec 2005

Hole No.*  From (m)  To (m)  Gold  Interval  True  Reef  Depth 630 
      (g/t)  (m)  Width    Adit Level** 
          (m)    (m) 

incl.  436.62  444.75  2.26  8.13  7.6  Basal  297 
 
 
 
MCZ-97  N8755343  E334508  El 662         
Dip -76º/az=273º  48.83  49.90  1.09  1.07  0.7  Main Reef  50 
  139.40  141.00  1.65  1.60  1.1  Basal  134 
 
MCZ-98  N8755341  E334498  El 663         
            FW/Main   
              20 
Dip -18º/az=268º  58.23  60.78  1.90  2.55  2.5  Reef   
  79.75  85.25  3.51  5.50  5.3  Basal  25 
 
MCZ-99  N8755341  E334513  El 630         
Dip -51º/az=202º  93.85  95.05  1.32  1.20  1.1  Basal  75 
  111.50  115.12  1.17  3.62  3.4  Basal  85 
 
MCZ-100  N8755405  E334490  El 631         
Dip -16º/az=273º  Basal Reef – no significant values         
 
MCZ-101  N8755226  E334491  El 630         
            FW/Main   
              4 
Dip -21º/az=271º  0.00  6.72  1.12  6.72  6.5  Reef   
            FW/Main   
              3 
Incl.  0.00  1.60  1.84  1.60  1.6  Reef   
            FW/Main   
              6 
Incl.  5.21  6.72  2.14  1.51  1.5  Reef   
  54.24  56.92  2.84  2.68  2.6  Basal  32 
 
MCZ-102  N8755650  E334432  El 678         
Dip -1º/az=88º  Basal Reef – no significant values         
            FW/Main   
              48 above 
  43.35  46.81  1.99  3.46  3.0  Reef   
 
MCZ-103               
Dip 0º/az=88º  N8755600  E334417  El 677         
  0.00  16.50  1.65  16.50  14.4  Basal  47 above 
Incl.  11.03  16.50  3.26  5.47  4.8  Basal  47 above 
Incl.  7.80  16.50  2.50  8.70  7.6  Basal  47 above 
            FW/Main   
              47 above 
  70.75  74.15  3.05  3.40  3.0  Reef   
 
 
      83         



Updated Resource & Reserve Estimate, Jacobina Dec 2005

Hole No.*  From (m)  To (m)  Gold  Interval  True  Reef  Depth 630 
      (g/t)  (m)  Width    Adit Level** 
          (m)    (m) 

            HW/Main   
              47 above 
  98.05  100.15  2.91  2.10  1.8  Reef   
 
MVT-371  N8755000  E334860  El 642         
Dip -46º/az=270º  360.87  363.27  5.81  2.40  2.3  Main Reef  250 
  424.35  432.40  1.84  8.05  7.7  Basal Reef  295 
Incl  424.35  425.90  3.35  1.55  1.5  Basal Reef  294 
Incl  430.55  432.40  4.47  1.85  1.8  Basal Reef  296 
 
MVT-372  N8754884  E334897  El 653         
Dip -52º/az=254º  417.30  430.77  1.19  13.47  12.7  Main+FW  298 
incl.  417.30  418.50  2.84  1.2  1.1  Main  298 
incl.  426.70  430.77  2.37  4.07  3.8  FW  306 
  497.05  501.80  1.69  4.75  4.5  Basal  360 
incl.  499.70  501.80  2.96  2.1  2.0  Basal  360 
 
MVT-373  N8754938  E334897  El 649         
  499.76  506.35  1.35  6.59  5.7  FW/Main  415 
Dip -62º/az=267º               
            Reef   
  504.44  506.35  2.13  1.91  1.6  FW/Main  420 
            Reef   
  519.90  524.00  3.23  4.10  3.5  Basal  435 
 
MVT374  N8754710  E334898  El 670         
            FW+Main   
Dip -57º/az=268º  429.90  439.83  2.18  9.93  9.2  Reef  335 
Incl.  429.90  431.40  7.26  1.50  1.4  Main Reef  330 
  Basal Reef – no significant values         
 
* all holes are NQ diamond drill core size         
** depth calculated based on midpoint of intersection       
 
 
 
 
      84         





Updated Resource & Reserve Estimate, Jacobina Dec 2005

  11.4.3 JOAO BELO ZONE

Deep Drilling Program

  A deep surface drilling program was initiated at the Jacobina Mine (João Belo Zone) to test the
potential down dip extension of the ore zone to a depth of 600 metres the main haulage level and
along strike to the south. A total of eight holes are planned totalling 6,700 metres of which two
holes totalling 1,613 m were completed in 2005. The objective of this program is to significantly
expand the inferred mineral resources. Historical and recent experience at the mine indicates
that the conversion rate of inferred resources to indicated is generally very good. Knowledge the
location and extent of the inferred resources will enable more effective mine exploration and
development planning.

Significant results from the two holes completed to date are summarized in Table 11.9. The
results from these holes have been incorporated in the updated resource estimated as discussed in
Section 17.5. Figure 11.6 is a vertical longitudinal section of the Joao Belo zone showing the
approximately 50o southerly plunge of the mineralization.

TABLE 11.9  SIGNIFICANT RESULTS OF DEEP DRILLING AT THE JACOBINA 
    MINE (JOÃO BELO ZONE)       
 
Hole No.*  From (m)  To (m)  Gold  Interval  True  Reef  Depth 670 
      (g/t)  (m)  Width    Adit Level 
          (m)    (m)* 

JBA-370  N 8750772  E 334418  El 834.3         
Dip -82/az=267  583.83  598.78  2.77  14.95  9.4  LMPC  412 
  605.02  608.68  2.82  3.66  2.3  MPC  432 
  628.49  635.25  2.64  6.76  4.3  FW  455 
 
JBA-418  N 8750482  E 334450  El 834.6         
Dip -80/az=281  663.30  674.50  4.24  11.20  7.3  LMPC  484 
MPC reef appears to have merged with LMPC reef     
FW Reef was not intersected due to faulting       

*      all holes are NQ core size
**      depth calculated based on midpoint of intersection

  FW Reef

  In November 2005, DSM announced the discovery of a new conglomerate reef the Foot Wall
Reef (FW reef), located approximately 40 meters in the footwall of the ore zone that is currently
being mined. The new reef was encountered during main access ramp development at the 555
meter level and the 530 meter level. Work has included development of two cross-cuts to fully
expose the reef on the 530 and 555meter levels, channel sampling and diamond drilling.

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Updated Resource & Reserve Estimate, Jacobina Dec 2005

The ongoing development program has exposed the FW reef to date over a continuous strike
length of 180 meters and a step-out drilling program is underway. Significant channel sampling
results of 4.25g Au/t over a true width of 9.05m and 3.38g Au/t over a true width of 8.40m were
returned in the 530 and 555 level cross cuts, respectively. Underground drill hole JBA-390
intersected 5.2g Au/t over 0.6m true width within a broader zone of low grade mineralization
(0.58g Au/t over an 8.3m true width) in the FW reef 200 metres north of the 530 level cross cut,
suggesting a potential strike length of over 300 metres.

The deep surface drill holes also tested the potential downdip and along strike extension of the
new conglomerate reef. Hole JBA-370 (see Table 11.9 above) intersected 2.64 g Au/t over a
4.3m true width. In Hole JBA-418, collared 300m south of JBA-370, it appears that the FW reef
may have merged with the main LMPC reef as the FW Reef was not present as a distinct unit in
this hole.

Geological work by DSM mine staff and a recent review of the new zone by Dr. Paul Karpeta, a
well known expert on Precambrian conglomerate-hosted gold deposits, indicates that the FW
Reef is probably a north-south oriented gravel channel fill which likely lenses out laterally before
it reaches the surface. The reef is typically a very coarse conglomerate with fracturing and
widespread hematite alteration. There appears to be two stages of gold mineralization – an
earlier pyrite-gold stage which has been overprinted by a later hydrothermal hematite-gold stage
related to cross-cutting fractures; the latter appears to be responsible for the elevated grades seen
in several areas.

Dr. Karpeta commented “This is one of the conglomerate channels that trend along strike and
hence do not necessarily crop out on surface. Where they are intersected by cross-cutting
mineralizing fracture systems, they can be significantly upgraded. Other such “blind”
conglomerate channels can be expected.”

11.4.4 MORRO DO VENTO

The Morro do Vento target area is located about 1.5 km from the processing plant and
approximately 9 km from the town of Jacobina. The Intermediate reef package here is
consistently about 60-70m wide and extends along the full 2km strike length with extensive
garimpos (free miners workings). This target was identified as a result of drilling in the adjacent
Morro do Vento Extension (Cuscuz) area in 2002 and compilation of historical drilling data. The
results of an induced polarization survey completed in 2003 at Morro do Vento indicated that the
mineralized horizon likely extended over 400 metres down dip into the valley.

The former Itapicurú mine had workings in the Morro do Vento and Morro do Vento Extension
(Cuscuz) areas although most of the previous production came from the Basal and Main Reefs.
Past production from the Intermediate Reefs at Morro do Vento was 413,974 tonnes grading 3.87
g Au/t from one conglomerate layer 1.9 m thick at the north end of the area.

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Updated Resource & Reserve Estimate, Jacobina Dec 2005

The Intermediate Reefs are stratigraphically 350 m and 300 m, respectively, above the Basal and
Main Reefs as shown in Figure 9.3. The package is exposed on the east flank of the Morro do
Vento hill. The slope of the hill is a dip slope averaging about 55º E dip. The reefs extend from
the top of the hill, at elevation 1,000 m, to the valley, at elevation 630 m, where they are
truncated by a steeply dipping mafic intrusive. There are numerous garimpos along the entire
strike. The largest garimpo on the north end extends for 230 m along strike and is 10 to 20 m
wide.

At Morro do Vento, the Intermediate Reef package consists of quartz pebble conglomerate layers
interbedded with quartzite that averages about 40 to 70 metres in width and extends along strike
for 2 km. Conglomerates comprise approximately 25% to 40% of the package and have a
distribution typical of a braided stream environment in contrast to the likely alluvial fan
environment that the conglomerates in the main ore zone at the Jacobina mine were deposited in.
Figure 11.7 is a surface geological plan map showing the typical distribution of the
conglomerates and Figure 11.8 is a geological cross-section showing the principal mineralized
reefs known from bottom to top as the LU, MU, LVLPC and SPC reefs.

In 2003-2004, DSM drilled a total of 14,000m in 80 drill holes which outlined a new indicated
resource of 5,016,000 tonnes grading 2.08 g Au/t containing 335,000 ounces of gold above the
800 level as outlined in Adams et al. (2005). The majority of mineral resources are hosted
within the LU and MU reefs. Figures 11.9 and 11.10 are vertical longitudinal section of the MU
and LU Reefs, respectively, showing grade times thickness contours. Details of drilling results
at Morro do Vento are outlined in detail in Pearson and Tagliamonte (2005).

An internal mining study by DSM in the first half of 2005 identified Morro do Vento as the next
likely mine in the Jacobina mine area and concluded that development was best done from
underground. A positive pre-feasibility study was subsequently completed on Morro do Vento in
August 2005 by Devpro Mining (Adams et al., 2005) and slashing/development of the 720 level
adit access had began in late 2005 with the LU and MU conglomerates expected to be intersected
by the end of the year or in early January 2006.

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Updated Resource & Reserve Estimate, Jacobina Dec 2005

11.4.5 SERRA DO CÓRREGO

The Serra do Córrego target area, located 2 kilometres north of the processing plant, is a 900
metre long target zone. Two reefs known as MU and LU which are equivalent to reefs of the
same name in Morro do Vento to the south and Canavieiras to the north, are the principal targets.
Extensive garimpos are found across the hillside following these conglomerates. The MU reef is
best developed in the southern part of the target area and thins northward. In contrast, the LU
reef continues across the majority of the hillside with characteristically deeply incised garimpos.
DSM has carried out resampling of available old core in the vicinity of the MU and LU Reefs
which suggests that there may, in places, be underestimation of grade in lower grade areas such
as the quartzites between reefs.

The drilling results have been incorporated into the mineral resource estimate completed in
August 2003 reviewed by Hennessey (2003b) and discussed in Section 17.5.

11.4.6 OTHER TARGETS

Serra do Córrego – Maneira Reef

The Maneira reef is exposed at surface on the east side of the Serra do Córrego hillside for a
strike length of about 700m. Inferred mineral resources in two blocks total 1,252,000 tonnes
grading 3.53 g Au/t. Hole SCO-84 drilled in 2003 to followup a high grade intersection of 100 g
Au/t over 2.0m in an old Anglo hole returned an excellent result of 4 g Au/t over 10.0m true
width. Highlights from earlier Anglo holes also include 6.80 g Au/t over 5.70m true width in
Hole SCO-55, 4.48 g Au/t over 5.81m true width in Hole SCO-57A and 3.36 g Au/t over a true
width of 7.36 g Au/t in Hole SCO-54. This target is planned to be drilled in the 2006 program.

Serra do Córrego – Lagartixa/Viuva

This area is located on the west side of the Serra do Córrego hillside about 3 km (Lagartixa) to
4.5 km (Viuva) north of the processing plant. Geologically this is a complicated area with
thrusting and repetition of stratigraphy. Lagartixa/Viuva appears to be potential extensions of
the upper stratigraphy that hosts the gold-bearing conglomerates at Canavieiras. There is a 170m
long garimpo in the Lagartixa portion of the target area. Limited drilling by Anglo at Viuva
returned several significant intersections: Hole MVA intersected 12.00 g Au/t (10.38 g/t highs
cut to 30 g/t) over a true width of 2.2m and Hole MVA-3A returned 12.25 g Au/t (7.49 g/t cut)
over a true width of 1.8m. These two holes are about 50m apart along strike. Several other
Anglo holes elsewhere in Viuva did not intersect significant values but this appears to reflect
disruption of the mineralization by faulting. There is no previous drilling at Lagartixa. This
target is planned to be drilled in the 2006 program.

Serra do Córrego – Maricota

At Maricota, which is located beside the main mine highway and entrance to the road to Serra do
Córrego, garimpos have been mining high grade gold (5-6 g Au/t?) along fault structures cutting

94



Updated Resource & Reserve Estimate, Jacobina Dec 2005

the Basal Reef very close to the basement contact. The target area here has at least a 100m strike
length but may be more extensive. Two drill holes were completed in 2005 to test the potential
of the Basal Reef here but both holes returned no significant results.

Joao Belo Sul

In 2003, two holes, totaling 266 metres, were drilled at Joao Belo Sul, located 2km south of the
former Joao Belo Norte mine. Hole JBA-292 intersected 3.75 grams gold per tonne over a true
width of 14.6 metres at a depth of about 69 metres surface. This intersection included a high-
grade section of 10.62 grams gold per tonne over 3.6 metres true width. JBA-293 returned 1.69
grams gold per tonne over a true width of 11.4 meters at a depth of about 94 metres surface with
a higher grade section of 3.68 grams gold per tonne over 2.8 metres true width.

In 2004, 10 holes totaling 4,754m were completed to followup the favourable results from 2003.
These holes were successful in outlining a shallow zone of mineralization that is estimated to
contain an inferred mineral resource of 3,890,000 tonnes grading 1.67g Au/t. However, this
drilling did not confirm the depth extent of mineralization although the favourable stratigraphy
was intersected. Faulting may be complicating the distribution of mineralization. The
mineralized horizons intersected in the holes at Joao Belo Sul continue to the south for an
additional 9 km of strike length to the Campo Limpo area.

Campo Limpo

This target is situated 11 km to the south of the mine plant. A total of ten wide-spaced drill holes
were previously completed in the area over a strike length of 800m. Significant assay results
include 3.58 g Au/t over a true width of 9.06m in Hole CLP-01; 2.16 g Au/t over 3.5m true width
in CLP-03 and 1.18 g Au/t over 14.8m true width in LGP-4. There is potential for an open
pittable resource as there are numerous garimpos along the entire strike length. In 1997, JMC
estimated an inferred resource at Campo Limpo of 1,165,050 tonnes grading 2.10 g Au/t. The
average width was reported to be 8.6m.

Serra Branca

This area is located 12km along strike to the north from the plant. The two zones are garimpos
within the same stratigraphic package - the Intermediate Reefs of the Serra do Córrego
Formation. As indicated in Table F1 below, there are several higher grade intersections within
the target area that have the potential to be expanded upon, creating an opportunity to develop an
new open pittable resource. JMC in 1997 estimated an inferred resource of 1,476,702 tonnes
grading 4.10 g Au/t with an average width of 1.60m but did not consider a wider, bulk mineable,
zone at the time due to lack of drill information. Garimpeiros are currently actively mining at
Pingadiera and at Edvaldo, a garimpo approximately 100m north of Americano.

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Updated Resource & Reserve Estimate, Jacobina Dec 2005

  Rio Coxo

Rio Coxo is located 12 km north-northeast of the processing plant. Garimpeiros (free miners) are
currently working at Rio Coxo in an area about 300m long using short adits and a decline. Two
drill holes were completed in 2003 as well as a garimpo channel sampling program. Gold
mineralization occurs in a shallowly dipping (25 to 40 degrees west dipping), north striking shear
zone with highly altered ultramafics and quartz veins. Gold is hosted primarily within the quartz
veins associated with pyrite.

No significant values were obtained in the drill holes although the host structure was intersected
in both holes. Two garimpo workings (Galleria 1 and Galleria 2) approximately 30 metres apart
were channel sampled which returned 4.23 g Au/t (4.11 g Au/t with highs cut to 60 g Au/t) over
an average true thickness of 1.65 metres and a 15 metre horizontal width at Galleria 1. Galleria 2
returned 7.23 g Au/t (4.66 g Au/t with highs cut to 60 g Au/t) over an average true thickness of
1.69 metres and a 17 metre horizontal width.

  11.5 DRILLING RESULTS – NORTHERN BAHIA GOLD BELT

  The following sections outline drilling done in the Northern Bahia Gold Belt in 2005 and the
latter part of 2004. The bulk of diamond drilling in the 2005 program was completed to test the
Pindobaçu, Fumaça and Entry Point targets. A limited amount of drilling also tested other
targets in the belt.

  11.5.1 PINDOBAÇU

  A total of 36 holes totaling 5,942 m were completed in 2005 to test the Pindobaçu target area
located 50km north of Jacobina. These holes tested the zone over strike length of 1200m. The
latter series of holes (PB 21-35) focused on testing the core area that extends at least 700m along
strike at deeper level (100m to 150m) than the original series of 100m spaced holes (50-80m). In
addition to geological information from detailed mapping and drilling, locations of holes were
also optimized using results of the recently completed induced polarization geophysical survey
that has been analyzed by John Buckle, P.Geo., consulting geophysicist. Significant results from
drilling at Pindobaçu are given in Table 11.10. Figure 11.11 is a geological plan map showing
the locations of the drill hole collars and Figure 11.12 is a typical drill hole cross section.

  Highlights from drilling at Pindobaçu are:

  • PB-02 which intersected 5.46 grams gold per tonne (g Au/t) over a true width of 21.9m including higher grade portions grading 12.27 g Au/t over a true width of 4.7m and 10.22 g Au/t over 5.5 m true width in PB-02;
  • 1.46 g Au/t over a true width of 24.4m in PB-03;
  • 7.20 g Au/t over a true width of 2.0m in PB-01
  • 4.40 g Au/t over a true width of 3.4m in PB-21
  • 2.61 g Au/t over a true width of 1.8m in PB-23

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Updated Resource & Reserve Estimate, Jacobina Dec 2005

  • 23.63 (13.51 with highs cut to 30 g/t) over a true width of 2.5m in PB-30
  • 3.11g Au/t over a true width of 8.0m in PB-27
  • 3.02 g Au/t over a true width of 5.1m in PB-35

In addition, assay results for chip sampling in a shaft located at N8,811,938/E348,876 in the
Pindobaçu “garimpo” returned 3.27 g Au/t over 14.1m in a vertical section including 6.85 g Au/t
over 5.0m.

The deeper series of holes has confirmed that the strong alteration zone extends downdip to at
least 150m with significant assays in holes PB-27 and PB-35 as noted above. The most intense
portion of the alteration is widening with depth from about 10m in the shallower holes to 20m in
the deeper holes. Overall there is also more consistency in gold grades in the deeper holes
although the centre of the hydrothermal system as yet to be intersected.

Based on drilling and detailed mapping at the Pindobaçu, Entry Point and Fumaça targets, which
cover 18 km of strike length, a new model has been developed for the structural evolution and
deposition of gold mineralization. Deformation is much stronger that previously recognized
prior to drilling; gold mineralization occurs within fractured, faulted and brecciated quartzites in
the hinge area of a major east dipping overturned anticline fold structure where the quartzites are
capped by less permeable metavolcanic and metasedimentary rocks of the Archean Mundo Novo
Formation. This folding occurred during a major tectonic event where rocks of the Mundo Novo
Greenstone Belt were thrust westerly over quartzites and local conglomerates of the Jacobina
Group which are equivalent in age to the quartzites and conglomerates of the Serra do Córrego
Formation in the Jacobina mine area.

The mineralogy and geochemistry of this system is remarkably similar to the gold mineralization
in the quartz pebble conglomerates in the Jacobina mine area to the south. The regional
Pindobaçu Fault system which forms the eastern boundary of the Jacobina Basin is most likely a
major focus of hydrothermal alteration and mineralization. It is possible that there could be a
series of hydrothermal centres with significant gold mineralization along this extensive structure.

97



Updated Resource & Reserve Estimate, Jacobina Dec 2005

TABLE 11.10  SIGNIFICANT DRILLING RESULTS, NORTHERN AREA, BAHIA 
    GOLD BELT       
 
Hole No.*  From (m)  To (m)  Gold  Interval  True  Depth Below 
      (g/t)  (m)  Width  Surface** 
          (m)  (m) 

Pindobaçu (50km north of Jacobina)         
PB 01  N8812051  E348976  El 597       
dip -50º/az=270º  1.00  1.40  0.70  0.40  0.3  1 
  14.75  20.55  0.54  5.80  3.7  13 
  98.55  101.60  7.20  3.05  2.0  81 
  107.63  108.60  0.59  0.97  0.3  88 
  113.58  115.35  0.43  1.77  1.1  91 
  184.58  185.45  5.21  0.87  0.6  135 
 
PB 02  N8811930  E348930  El 628       
dip -50º/az=270º  43.48  67.77  5.46  24.29  21.9  35 
incl.  44.15  49.41  12.27  5.26  4.7  36 
incl.  61.63  67.77  10.22  6.14  5.5  55 
  86.40  87.40  2.05  1.00  0.9  79 
 
PB 03  N8811676  E348938  El 649       
dip -50º/az=270º  24.05  30.58  0.67  6.53  5.9  28 
  78.07  105.17  1.46  27.10  24.4  84 
  145.00  146.90  1.03  1.90  1.7  134 
 
PB-04  N8811849  E348920  El 641       
Dip -50º/Az=272º  43.07  62.50  0.51  19.43  15.9  47 
incl.  43.07  46.07  1.30  3.00  2.5  39 
incl.  61.13  62.50  1.38  1.37  1.1  59 
 
PB-05  N8811952  E348905  El 633       
Dip -45º/'Az=268º  28.98  47.30  0.78  18.32  18.1  32 
incl.  28.98  32.70  1.00  3.72  3.7  25 
incl.  40.90  47.30  1.17  6.40  6.3  37 
 
PB-06  N8811952  E348973  El 618       
Dip -48º/Az=269º  85.89  86.70  23.07  0.81  0.6  81 
  105.40  105.85  2.08  0.45  0.3  99 
  118.56  122.85  4.16  4.29  3.0  113 
incl.  120.21  122.85  6.57  2.64  1.9  114 
  Hole lost due to caving at 123.10       
 
PB-06A  N8811952  E348973  El 618       
Dip -50º/Az=270º  86.17  86.62  1.57  0.45  0.3  81 

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Updated Resource & Reserve Estimate, Jacobina Dec 2005

Hole No.*  From (m)  To (m)  Gold  Interval  True  Depth Below 
      (g/t)  (m)  Width  Surface** 
          (m)  (m) 

  98.95  100.98  2.41  2.03  1.4  94 
incl.  99.99  100.98  4.72  0.99  0.7  94 
  Hole lost due to caving at 114.00       
PB-06B  N8811952  E348974  El 619       
Dip 62º/az=270º  No significant values         
 
PB-07  N8811950  E349025  El 595       
Dip -50º/Az=270º  99.98  100.80  1.35  0.82  0.8  99 
  132.52  132.98  2.90  0.46  0.5  128 
  141.38  145.80  2.65  4.42  4.4  138 
  155.76  156.07  8.82  0.31  0.3  150 
  172.80  182.26  0.52  9.46  9.4  170 
 
PB-08  N8812050  E348928  El 611       
Dip 50º/az=265º  67.31  76.90  3.89  9.59  9.0  58 
Incl.  67.31  72.37  7.13  5.06  4.8  56 
 
PB-09  N8812051  E349034  El 577       
Dip 50º/az=271º  136.90  142.90  2.11  6.00  3.8  135 
Incl.  139.90  142.90  4.08  3.00  1.9  136 
  154.90  156.23  0.66  1.33  0.9  149 
  210.9  211.83  2.61  0.93  0.6  197 
 
PB-10  N8812001  E348952  El 613       
Dip 51º/az=269º  110.68  113.94  0.65  3.26  3.1  100 
  112.80  113.94  1.13  1.14  1.1  100 
 
PB-11  N8811900  E348913  El 633       
Dip -51º/az=269º  52.85  63.83  1.95  10.98  9.3  55 
incl.  57.24  60.85  4.92  3.61  3.1  55 
 
PB-12  N8811749  E348926  El 650       
Dip -51º/az=269º  57.93  60.75  1.41  2.82  2.7  55 
  84.37  86.00  1.62  1.63  1.6  78 
 
PB-13  N8811552  E348915  El 657       
Dip -55º/az=270º  no significant values         
 
PB-14  N8811451  E348876  El 658       
Dip -48º/az=271º  no significant values         
 
PB-15  N8811450  E348922  El 639       

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Updated Resource & Reserve Estimate, Jacobina Dec 2005

Hole No.*  From (m)  To (m)  Gold  Interval  True  Depth Below 
        (g/t)  (m)  Width  Surface** 
            (m)  (m) 

Dip  -48º/az=271º  31.54  32.90  0.58  1.36  1.1  24 
    47.36  48.48  1.28  1.12  0.9  40 
    125.20  125.73  20.12  0.53  0.4  147 
 
PB-16  N8811350  E348927  El 625       
Dip  -51º/az=270º  32.15  32.74  1.58  0.59  0.5  31 
    37.60  38.76  1.61  1.16  0.9  35 
 
PB-17  N8811246  E348847  El 611       
Dip  -49/az=268  103.87  107.99  0.85  4.12  2.3  104 
  incl.  103.87  104.73  1.89  0.86  0.5  102 
 
PB-18  N8811249  E348928  El 599       
Dip  -47/az=272  8.80  17.50  0.89  8.70  8.4  9.5 
  incl.  12.70  16.89  1.49  4.19  4.1  11 
 
PB-19  N8811150  E348849  El 624       
Dip  -50/az=270  136.17  138.55  1.81  2.38  1.0  122 
 
PB-20A  N8811049  E348784  El 602       
Dip  -50/az=270  34.31  37.14  1.09  2.83  1.4  45 
 
PB-21  N8812149  E348945  El 587       
Dip  -50/az=270  61.70  65.35  4.04  3.65  3.4  55 
 
 
PB-22  N8812250  E348968  El 558       
Dip  -50/az=273  No significant results         
 
PB-23  N8812350  E348997  El 533       
Dip  -50/az=270  76.00  76.92  1.69  0.92  0.8  64 
    84.08  86.23  2.61  2.15  1.8  71 
 
PB-24  N8811552  E349007  El 619       
Dip  -50/az=270  53.41  56.00  1.30  2.59  2.4  58 
    63.50  64.58  2.33  1.08  1.0  69 
 
PB-25  N8811899  E348978  El 617       
Dip  -50/az=270  95.00  96.64  0.91  1.64  1.5  92 
    101.84  102.75  2.32  0.91  0.8  98 
    115.32  116.00  2.03  0.68  0.6  109 
    122.42  123.40  2.05  0.98  0.9  117 

100



Updated Resource & Reserve Estimate, Jacobina Dec 2005

Hole No.*  From (m)  To (m)  Gold  Interval  True  Depth Below 
        (g/t)  (m)  Width  Surface** 
            (m)  (m) 

 
PB-26  N8811800  E348972  El 612       
Dip  -49/az=269  112.08  113.04  2.34  0.96  0.9  117 
    121.20  121.65  1.13  0.45  0.4  126 
 
PB-27  N8811700  E348972  El 636       
Dip  -50/az=270  93.97  102.60  3.11  8.63  8.0  92 
PB-28  N8811602  E348974  El 637       
Dip  -48/az=270  68.00  74.26  1.50  6.26  5.9  71 
    68.00  71.00  2.49  3.00  2.9  69 
 
PB-29  N8811999  E348999  El 597       
Dip  -50/az=269  No significant results         
 
PB-30  N8811603  E348917  El 661       
Dip  -50/az=269  101.73  104.37  23.63  2.64  2.5  88 
    Highs cut to 30 g/t  13.51       
 
PB-31  N8812100  E348975  El 585       
Dip  -47/az=270  85.00  90.35  1.21  5.35  5.0  81 
 
PB-32  N8812100  E349027  El 572       
Dip  -50/az=270  137.67  138.62  2.03  0.95  0.9  131 
 
PB-33  N8812150  E349000  El 572       
Dip  -49/az=270  99.48  101.10  1.80  1.62  1.6  93 
    106.62  110.66  1.35  4.04  3.9  100 
  incl.  106.62  108.13  2.97  1.51  1.4  99 
 
PB-34  N8812200  E349025  El 558       
Dip  -49/az=270  113.09  115.66  1.59  2.57  2.3  100 
 
PB-35  N8812300  E349025  El 539       
    114.98  120.88  3.02  5.90  5.1  96 

1 all holes are NQ diamond drill core size; dip and azimuth is measured in degrees
2 depth calculated based on midpoint of intersection

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Updated Resource & Reserve Estimate, Jacobina Dec 2005

11.5.2 FUMAÇA

At Fumaça, nine (9) holes totaling 1,575 m were completed to test several targets outlined by
geological mapping/sampling, soil geochemical surveys and induced polarization surveys. Hole
FN-01 tested below a garimpo where sampling by DSM had returned 7.36 g Au/t over 4.5m
including a very high grade bluish-grey quartz vein 0.3m wide that returned 91 g Au/t. Although
this hole intersected strongly silicified quartzites, it appears that faulting has offset the downdip
extension of this zone. Hole FN-2A tested a coincident soil Au geochemical and geophysical
anomaly and returned 0.72 g Au/t over a true width of 10.1m including a higher grade portion
grading 1.95 g Au/t over 2.2m. Hole FN-03, located 300m west of FN-04, tested a similar target
but did not intersect any significant values. Hole FN-04 which tested a coincident soil and
induced polarization anomaly located 700m east of Hole FN-1 returned 0.86 g Au/t over a true
width of 1.0m.

Hole FN-05 tested the downdip extension of the intersection previously obtained in Hole FN-2A
(0.7 g Au/t over a true width of 10.0m) . This hole returned 1.37 g Au/t over 3.6m including a
1m interval grading 3.37 g Au/t. FN-06, 320m west of FN-02A on the same section returned
5.38 g Au/t over 1.4m true width. FN-07, 80m east of FN-02A, also on the same section,
returned 1.53 g Au/t over a true width of 1.4m.

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Updated Resource & Reserve Estimate, Jacobina Dec 2005

TABLE 11.11  SIGNIFICANT DRILLING RESULTS, FUMACA, NORTHERN AREA, 
    BAHIA GOLD BELT       
 
Hole No.*  From (m)  To (m)  Gold (g/t)  Interval  True  Depth 
          (m)  Width (m)  Below 
              Surface** 
              (m) 

Fumaça (10 km north of Pindobaçu)           
FN-01  N 8824660  E 351374  El  545       
dip -50º/az=275º  No significant values           
 
FN-02  N 8823700  E 351315  El  681       
dip -50º/az=275º  No significant values           
 
 
FN-02A  N 8823700  E 351316  El  681       
dip -60º/az=275º  38.75  52.90  0.72  14.15  10.1  37 
incl.  38.75  41.90  1.95  3.15  2.2  37 
  65.10  66.10  0.59  1.00  0.7  62 
 
FN 03  N 8823801  E 351001  El  720       
dip -50º/az=275º  No significant values         
 
FN-04  N 8824427  E 352061  El  540       
Dip 50º/Az=275º  126.60  127.60  0.86  1.00  1.0  97 
 
FN-05  N 8823700  E 351350  El  675       
Dip 60º/Az=270º  54.00  57.68  1.37  3.68  3.6  55 
Incl.  54.00  54.97  3.37  0.97  1.0  53 
 
FN-06  N8823700  E350996  El  727       
Dip -50º/az=270º  116.98  117.27  1.07  0.29  0.2  136 
  125.20  127.26  5.38  2.06  1.4  147 
incl.  125.20  125.73  20.12  0.53  0.4  147 
 
FN-07  N8823700  E351396  El  664       
Dip -60º/az=270º  68.05  69.50  1.53  1.45  1.4  68 
 
FN-08  N8823881  E351268  El  634       
Dip -50º/az=270º  no significant values         
 
FN-09  N8823013  E351299  El  636       
Dip -50º/az=270º  no significant values         

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Updated Resource & Reserve Estimate, Jacobina Dec 2005

11.5.3 ENTRY POINT

The Entry Point Target is located 5.5 km north form the town of Pindobaçu, midway between the
Pindobaçu (5 km south) and Fumaça (6 km north) targets. Six reconnaissance drill holes totaling
1,608 m were completed in 2005 to test the stratigraphy of the area and to test for the potential to
host gold mineralization. Significant results from these holes are given in Table 11.12 below.
Holes EP-01 and EP-02 as shown in Figure 11.13, drilled to lengths of 440 metres and 488
metres, respectively, intersected a package of interbedded pebbly quartzite and quartzite with
several beds of conglomerates with small to medium-sized pebbles of quartz.

Widespread hydrothermal alteration including fuchsite and silicification was present in both
holes with local disseminated pyrite. Anomalous gold values typically ranging from 100 to 300
ppb were returned with a best result of 0.57 g Au/t over 0.59 metres in Hole EP-01 (see Table
11.12) . Hole EP-2 tested the area beneath a garimpos (local miner working area) and intersected
a mafic dyke cut by quartz veins with geochemically anomalous (100-200 ppb) Au values. Holes
EP-03 to EP-05 inclusive on the same section did not return any significant values.

Hole EP-06, collared 900 m to the south, tested an area where surface channel sampling had
returned 1.0 g Au/t over a strike length of 14.0m in quartz pebble conglomerate. This hole
intersected a medium pebble conglomerate which returned 1.55g Au/t over 5.4m.

The drill holes in the Entry Point area have confirmed the presence of quartz pebble
conglomerates with hydrothermal alteration. The results from Hole EP-06 are the first
significant quartz pebble conglomerate-hosted gold found outside the Jacobina mine area. The
thin layers of conglomerate intersected in the holes indicate that the holes were likely drilled on
the edge of the entry point system. Further work will focus on locating the centre of the entry
point where the channels with the coarsest conglomerates that are the prime target for gold
mineralization will likely be. Results of the IP surveys will also assist in locating this target.

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Updated Resource & Reserve Estimate, Jacobina Dec 2005

  TABLE 11.12  SIGNIFICANT DRILLING RESULTS, ENTRY POINT AREA, 
    NORTHERN AREA, BAHIA GOLD BELT   
 
Hole No.*  From (m)  To (m)  Gold (g/t)  Interval  True  Depth Below 
            (m)  Width  Surface** (m) 
              (m)   

Entry Point (5km north of Pindobaçu)           
EP-01  N 8817800  E 350275  El  576       
    109.23  109.82  0.58  0.59  0.59  100 
 
Dip  50º/Az=270º               
EP-02  N 8817800  E 349375  El  807       
Dip  50º/Az=270º  No significant values           
 
EP-03  N8817738  E349551  El  756       
Dip  -50º/az=270º  No significant values           
 
EP-04  N8818000  E349364  El  854       
Dip  -51º/az=268º  No significant values           
 
EP-05  N8816881  E349900  El  654       
Dip  -51º/az=º  No significant values           
 
EP-06  N8816882  E349845  El  670       
Dip  -49º/az=268º  180.30  186.27  1.55  5.39  5.4  160 
  Incl.  180.30  183.52  2.40  3.22  3.2  160 

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Updated Resource & Reserve Estimate, Jacobina Dec 2005

11.5.4 OTHER TARGETS

One drill hole was completed in each of two areas of garimpos 10km (Samburá) and 23km
(Biquinha) south of Pindobaçu, respectively. Both of these areas are characterized by the
presence of high grade (15-30 g Au/t) narrow (1-2cm wide) quartz veins cutting andalusite-
graphite-quartz schists; neither hole returned significant values. Hole CA-01 tested the potential
extension of the Serra do Córrego Formation conglomerates 10km north of Jacobina. This hole
intersected green fuchsite-bearing conglomerates similar to those in the Jacobina mine area but
did not return any significant values.

Other Targets     
Samburá (10 km south of Pindobaçu)   
SB 01  N 8802260 E 345257  El 729 
dip -     
50º/az=270º  No significant values   
 
Biquinha (23 km south of Pindobaçu)   
BQ-01  N 8789101 E 341655  El 949 
dip -     
50º/az=270º  No significant values   
 
Serra do Córrego Extension (10 km north of Jacobina) 
CA-01  N 8774422 E 335664  El 607 
dip -     
50º/az=270º  No significant values   
* all holes are NQ diamond drill core size and have been drilled + perpendicular to the 
north-south strike of the zones.   
** depth calculated based on midpoint of intersection 

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Updated Resource & Reserve Estimate, Jacobina Dec 2005

12.0 SAMPLING METHOD AND APPROACH

12.1 JMC EXPLORATION

JMC geologists lithologically logged and sampled all drill holes. Previous practice was to
sample all conglomerates, but William staff changed this to a practice of sampling through the
conglomerates into adjacent quartzites on both sides. Surface holes, which tend to be exploration
drilling, were split, half-core sampled and then stored for future reference. Underground
definition drill holes are whole-core sampled resulting in similar sample volumes to those taken
from surface core. Generally, all samples were submitted to the mine’s assay laboratory but, in
later years, William began submitting samples from exploration holes to an outside laboratory.

JMC beat geologists collected chip panel samples at regular intervals from all underground
development headings which were in, or near, mineralization. Samples were continuous
chip/channel samples collected by hammer and moil onto a canvas mat. Historically the samples
were collected over narrow widths, often less than 20 cm, however in 1996 this was modified to
a standard 50 cm sample except when approaching a lithological contact when shorter samples
were permitted.

12.2 DSM EXPLORATION

DSM has followed similar drill core sampling procedures to those used by JMC with some
modification. All drill core to be sampled was split in half and one half submitted for assay. In
the early portions of the program a hand splitter was used. In the latter part, a diamond saw was
obtained and sawing replaced most of the splitting except for lower priority samples. Sample
lengths were selected based on lithology with the typical sample being about 0.5 m long and the
longest being approximately 1.0 m. Much more extensive sampling of the surrounding
quartzites is now being conducted because of the potential for low gold grades to affect potential
open pit economics.

All samples were tagged with the sample tag stapled to the core box at the start of the sample and
a second tag with the same number placed in the sample bag. Care was taken to thoroughly
clean the splitter after each sample to avoid contamination of subsequent samples. All drill core,
with the exception of some sections of barren intrusive, was split and sent for assay.

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Updated Resource & Reserve Estimate, Jacobina Dec 2005

  13.0 SAMPLE PREPARATION, ANALYSES AND SECURITY

  13.1 JMC

During its operation the Jacobina mine had a relatively modern, well-equipped assay laboratory
on site, near the plant and metallurgical facility at the Itapicurú mine. The laboratory was
equipped for performing both fire assay (FA) and atomic absorption spectrophotometry (AAS)
analyses. AAS determinations of precious metals at Jacobina were used only for process control
samples which contain soluble gold. All samples from the geology department were analysed by
the FA method with gravimetric finish.

The sample preparation facility at the laboratory consisted of a sample drying and handling area
and a crushing room. After drying, samples were crushed in stages using a jaw crusher and roll
crusher. Samples were then split with a Jones riffle splitter to produce a large sample which was
ground to minus 100 mesh pulp in a disk pulverizer. The final pulp was rolled on a rubber mat
and then quartered. Sample increments were selected from opposite quarters to composite an
analytical subsample or aliquot. This sample was then subjected to FA analysis.

Historically JMC used 100-g aliquots for its fire assays. After a study performed in 1996, which
compared 50 g and 100 g samples, it was decided that all FA aliquots at Jacobina would continue
to be 100 g in size. In Micon’s experience this is a very large aliquot size and is likely to result
in relatively little variability being introduced at the final sample preparation stage. The 100-g
samples were fused in a single large crucible. Crucibles for metallurgical and geological
samples were kept separate.

Micon’s review in 1998 (Hennessey 1998) concluded that the sample preparation procedure
described above is a conventional one used in the mining industry for decades. It was noted,
however, that in recent years the use of disk pulverizers has been discouraged in the preparation
of samples which may contain native gold, as these devices have a tendency to smear gold onto
the plates and retain it, only to release the gold later in a following sample. Present best practice
is considered to be a ring and puck (or puck and bowl) pulverizer. The practice of rolling a
sample on a rubber mat was initiated to homogenize it before selecting a subsample for further
preparation or analysis. In a situation where free gold grains exist in a matrix of pulverized
silicate minerals, the extreme density contrast between them (19.3 for gold versus 2.7 to 3.1 for
most minerals) means that the gold grains are very quickly sifted to the bottom of the pulp and
left on the trailing edge as the sample is rolled. A sample processed this way has not been
homogenized but, rather, has been segregated. As a result, adequate subsampling for analysis
can become difficult. The practice of quartering the pulp to subsample, as used at Jacobina,
tends to mitigate this effect somewhat. The preferred practice is to select multiple sample
increments from a pulp, having disturbed it as little as possible, or to split a subsample using a
very small riffle splitter.

In 1998, Micon expressed its opinion that both of the items outlined above should be generally
discouraged given that they are not best analytical practice and tend to magnify problems

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Updated Resource & Reserve Estimate, Jacobina Dec 2005

associated with nugget effect. Nevertheless, given the relatively low and even gold grades of the
mineralization at Jacobina, and the general lack of coarse or even visible gold, Micon believed
that they have had a very limited effect on the accuracy of the resource estimation. The
discussion on data quality below tends to support this view.

In Micon’s view the Jacobina mine laboratory at that time was generally well-operated. and
exhibited a high degree of general cleanliness and good housekeeping.

13.2 DSM

13.2.1 SECURITY

At the Jacobina mine, DSM maintains a large covered storage facility (roof only), with office, for
logging and racking of core. This facility was protected by wire mesh and had a locked gate to
prevent unauthorized access. It has power and water and was located behind the mine’s main
gate. DSM maintains a 24hr security presence at the mine and this has been the case since
closure of the mine in 1998. Old core retained by the previous operators is intact and in
relatively good condition.

Core is transported directly here, from the drill rigs, and is logged and sampled at the core
logging facility. Bagged samples are stored in this secure environment at the mine until
transported to the laboratory.

13.2.2 SAMPLE PREPARATION AND ANALYSES

SGS Lakefield Geosol

The primary analyses of all samples were performed by Lakefield Geosol Ltda. (Lakefield), an
ISO 9001, 2000 certified laboratory located in Belo Horizonte, Brazil. Samples were routinely
shipped each 2-3, in batches of 100 to 250, by truck to Salvador and then by air freight to Belo
Horizonte. Turnaround time in the laboratory was approximately 7 to 10 days after receipt of
samples. Lakefield regularly provides DSM with a detailed status of all samples shipped to the
laboratory, when samples were received and when analytical work is planned to be completed.

Lakefield Geosol employed the following method for sample preparation and analysis in Phase I:

  • Core samples are initially crushed using a jaw crusher and then 250 g is split and pulverized using a “ring and puck” pulverizer to 95% passing 150 mesh. (Note: this procedure was changed early in the Phase II program, see below.)
  • Prior to processing of samples from new projects, pilot samples are analyzed to determine the correct flux and flux composition for best analysis, as determined by the size of the lead button produced.

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Updated Resource & Reserve Estimate, Jacobina Dec 2005

  • Fifty grams of pulverized material is weighed and transferred to plastic bags containing 120 g (+/-) of the pre-mixed flux as indicated in the worksheet. The addition or omission of other fluxes such as flour and nitre is based upon the sample appearance and/or data gleaned from the pilot samples.
  • The sample and fluxes are mixed, inquarted with AgNO3 and fused for approximately 45 minutes to 1 hour at 1,050°C.
  • The samples are then removed from the furnace and poured into molds.
  • Once cooled, the slag is separated from the lead button and the button is pounded into a cube to remove all remaining attached slag. A button weighing approximately 28 g is the ideal result. The button size is evaluated and any anomalies recorded.
  • The buttons are then transferred to cupels that have been preheated for approximately 15 minutes. The cupels are placed in the cupellation furnace for approximately 50 minutes at 950°C, ensuring that all the lead is oxidized.
  • The cupels are removed from the furnace and the remaining precious metal beads/prills separated for parting and acid digestion.
  • The beads are digested in aqua regia and bulked to a predetermined volume prior to analysis by Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS). All test tubes are calibrated to ensure equal bulk up volumes.
  • Fire assay trays hold 24 samples always including one in-house reference sample, a blank, and one duplicate.
  • Samples solutions are read by AAS with the data captured directly into the Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS). All sample data along with QC data are stored in the LIMS with a secure paper trail for traceability.
  • The detection limit for the AUFA50 procedure is 5 parts per billion (ppb).

After completion of DSM’s 2003 exploration program an analysis of the QA/QC data was
undertaken. Scatter plots of duplicate samples (both Lakefield vs. Lakefield and Lakefield vs.
ALS Chemex) showed regression lines without strong biases but a lot of scatter within the data
(see discussion in Section 14 below). A program of screen metallics fire assaying did not find
any significant nugget effect so a “cluster nugget effect” problem was suspected. Cluster nugget
effect is the tendency, in some deposits, of fine gold particles to be found near other fine gold
particles, in small clusters, rather than more evenly distributed. If care is not taken in sample
preparation this type of mineralization will behave like a nugget. The gold at Jacobina is known
to be generally fine in size hence it was considered possible that there may be a “cluster nugget”
effect.

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Updated Resource & Reserve Estimate, Jacobina Dec 2005

Generally, the most effective method of dealing with cluster nugget effect is to crush/pulverize to
a finer size before any splitting of the sample is done. This separates the clusters of fine gold
particles and distributes them more evenly through the sample before splitting. Additionally, a
larger aliquot may be used for assaying. Micon recommended to DSM that it look into this
phenomenon and a revised sample preparation protocol was introduced as of the end of April,
2004. One kilogram of sample was now pulverized (increased from 250 g) to 95% passing
minus 200 mesh (increased from 150 mesh). Check samples on rejects assayed at the second
laboratory used the same procedure. DSM has retained coarse sample rejects for the program so
any necessary reassays can be easily completed.

ALS Chemex

For all batches of samples, 10% of the pulps and 5% of the rejects were routinely sent to a
second laboratory, ALS Chemex (Chemex) in Vancouver, B.C. Selected pulps and rejects are
sent to ALS Brasil by Lakefield Geosol. ALS Brasil rebags and numbers the pulps and
pulverizes the rejects to 95% passing 150 mesh (changed to 95% passing 200 mesh in April,
2004 as described above). These samples are shipped to Vancouver for analysis. This check
procedure was continued for the 2005 exploration program. Due to significant cost increases and
the large number of checks already done which indicate good agreement between checks, the
number of pulps being re-checked in the 2006 program will be reduced to 5% from 10% so that
overall results of 10% of samples will be routinely checked.

The fire assay procedure at Chemex is as follows:

  • A prepared sample is fused with a mixture of lead oxide, sodium carbonate, borax, silica and other reagents as required, inquarted with 6 mg of gold-free silver and then cupelled to yield a precious metal bead.
  • The bead is digested in 0.5 ml dilute nitric acid in a microwave oven.
  • 0.5 ml concentrated hydrochloric acid is then added and the bead is further digested in the microwave at a lower power setting.
  • The digested solution is cooled, diluted to a total volume of 4 millilitres (ml) with de- mineralized water, and analyzed by AAS against matrix-matched standards. The detection limit is 5 ppb.

Samples with greater than 10 parts per million (ppm) Au (10 g/t) are assayed by gravimetric
finish as follows:

  • A prepared sample is fused with a mixture of lead oxide, sodium carbonate, borax, silica and other reagents in order to produce a lead button.

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Updated Resource & Reserve Estimate, Jacobina Dec 2005

  • The lead button containing the precious metals is cupelled to remove the lead.
  • The remaining gold and silver bead is parted in dilute nitric acid, annealed and weighed as gold. Silver, if requested, is then determined by the difference in weights.

Mine Laboratory

The mine laboratory in the Jacobina mine complex is operated for the mine under contract by
SGS Lakefield. All core and rock samples from production drilling and channel sampling of
development is analyzed on site by the mine laboratory. The laboratory also carries a number of
analyses for process control in the plant as well as for environmental monitoring. The laboratory
began operations on February 11, 2005.

Gold is analyzed by the conventional fire assay process as follows:

  • Method: Gold in Solids / Fire Assay
  • Parameter(s) measured: Gold
  • Typical sample size: 30g, 50g
  • Type of sample applicable (media): Ores, mill products, soils, and sediments
  • Sample preparation technique used: Pilots
    Pilot samples are analyzed to determine the correct flux and flux composition for best analysis as determined by the size of the lead button produced.
  • Weighing
  • Sample weights are chosen based upon the known composition of the sample, pilot sample(s), and the required detection limit.
  • Fusion and Cupelling
    Transfer the samples to plastic bags containing 150 – 170 g of the pre-determined flux as indicated in the worksheet. Add the necessary quantities of flour and nitre based upon the data gleaned from the pilots. Mix. Inquart with AgNO3. Fuse for approximately 1 hour at 1050+/-25°C. Remove from the furnace and pour the samples into the molds. Separate the slag from the lead button and pound the button into a cube. Transfer the buttons to cupels that have been heated for approximately 15 minutes. Place in the cupellation furnace for approximately 1hour at 950+/-25°C making sure all the lead is oxidized. Remove from the furnace and separate the beads for acid digestion.
  • Acid Digestion and Quality Control

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Updated Resource & Reserve Estimate, Jacobina Dec 2005

    The beads are digested in HNO3 and HCl and bulked to predetermined volume prior to analysis by AAS. Fire assay trays hold 50 samples always including one reference material, a blank, and usually two duplicates.
  • Sample preservation required and holding time: No requirement
  • Method of analysis used: Samples are analyzed by atomic absorption spectrophotometer.
  • Data reduction by: Data is stored in the Laboratory Information Management System with a secure paper trail for traceability.
  • Figures of Merit: Limit of Detection: 10 ppb (30g) ,5 ppb (50g)

External Reference Standards

In June 2004, DSM introduced three (3) external analytical standards developed by Ore Research
& Exploration Pty Ltd. of Australia and marketed in Canada by Analytical Solutions Ltd. The
standards, which come in sealed foil packages containing 50g of material, were inserted into
batches of samples at the rate of 1 per 75 samples. SGS Lakefield Geosol also employs external
standards and blanks in each batch of samples as part of their standard laboratory procedures.
Results of the standards inserted by DSM were within acceptable analytical limits as shown in
Figures 13.1, 13.2 and 13.3. Virtually all of the samples are with + or – 2 standard deviations of
the recommended values and the Best Fit line in each graph is very close to the recommended
value.

In the event that there is a deviation greater than 3 standard deviations in any result on the
independent standard, 25% of the batch is rerun with a representative range of assays being
selected. In the cases where this problem has occurred, results from the re-run have confirmed
the validity of the original assay results. In addition, the results outside the range are almost
always on the low side. It appears that occasionally the standard sample does not fuse properly
resulting in much lower results relative to the recommended standard value.

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Updated Resource & Reserve Estimate, Jacobina Dec 2005

  Figure 13.1 Graph of Analytical Results at Lakefield for Standard OREAS 6Pb.


117



Updated Resource & Reserve Estimate, Jacobina Dec 2005

Figure 13.2 Graph of Analytical Results at Lakefield for Standard OREAS 7Pa.


118



Updated Resource & Reserve Estimate, Jacobina Dec 2005

  Figure 13.3 Graph of Analytical Results at Lakefield for Standard OREAS 53P.


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Updated Resource & Reserve Estimate, Jacobina Dec 2005

14.0 DATA VERIFICATION

14.1 JMC

The old Jacobina mine laboratory ran a quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC) program.
This program consisted of introducing one sample duplicate and one blank sample with each tray
of 35 fire assays. At the time of Micon’s first visit in 1998 it was William’s intention to expand
the QA/QC program by purchasing and including an analytical standard and to involve the
laboratory in a round-robin cross checking program with other laboratories in Brazil and/or
elsewhere in South America.

William also performed an initial statistical analysis of a portion of the Jacobina database after
its acquisition of JMC. The data used for the estimation of the resource at João Belo were
studied and this study was reviewed by Micon in 1998. Frequency histograms and log
probability curves were plotted for the raw data.

The plots of raw data from João Belo showed a single, lognormally distributed population from
just above the 10th, out to beyond the 99th percentile, representing a gold grade range of about
0.1 to over 100 g Au/t. Below the 10th percentile, or approximately 0.1g Au/t, most of the data
reported as having a value of 0.01 g Au/t. No analytical results were reported with values of
0.02 to 0.04 g Au/t and very few for 0.05 g/t to 0.09 g Au/t. This probably indicates an inability
to discriminate between gold values in this concentration range and likely means that the mine
laboratory has an accuracy of about ±0.1 g Au/t. The data also show very few outliers. Of the
39,664 assays in the database, only 32 were above 30.0 g Au/t.

It was Micon’s opinion (Hennessey 2003b) that the portion of the database used by JMC to
estimate the resources at João Belo was a “clean” and well-sampled one and was suitable for use
in the accurate estimation of a resource. It is likely that the remainder of the database is of
similar quality.

14.1.1 PRODUCTION RECONCILIATION

During its operation the Jacobina mine reconciled its annual production with the mineral
resource estimates. Each year the portion of the mineral resource extracted by mining was
determined and multiplied by planned recovery and dilution factors. The grade of this diluted
mineral resource was reconciled to production figures, as determined by the mill, and a mine call
factor (MCF) was calculated and used to adjust diluted resource grades to produce the reported
mineral reserve grades. The MCF was calculated using the formula:

  (Recovered Grade + Tails Grade)/Diluted Resource Grade

The MCF in use at mine closure was 0.954 indicating that the true head grade was 95.4% of the
grade estimated from the mineral resources (prior to application of the MCF). Micon reviewed
the methodology used for the resource reconciliation and found it to be appropriate.

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Updated Resource & Reserve Estimate, Jacobina Dec 2005

The results of the reconciliation show that the diluted resource estimates were predicting the
head grade of mill feed to within a discrepancy of less than 5%. This indicates that the assay
data produced by the mine were, on average, producing an acceptable level of accuracy for the
resource estimates. Micon considered this to be within the normal range for mines and an
acceptable level of reconciliation, particularly once the MCF was applied (Hennessey 2003b).

At the time of preparing the year end 2005 mineral resource and mineral reserve update, the
mine had only reached its full capacity of 4,200 tonnes per day by the end of the year. Mill
reconciliation is currently being done based on comparison of results of daily belt feed samples
and calculated head grade based on bullion produced and the grade of the tailings as determined
by daily sampling. The initial data to the end of October 2005 indicated a very close agreement
between belt sampling that predicted a plant head grade of 1.97 g/t versus an actual of 2.01 g/t, a
difference of only 2% and a positive reconciliation.

As mine production continues, reconciliation will continue to be done on a regular basis and it is
expected that stoped areas will also be able to be reconciled to production in the near futures.
Preliminary data indicates that the SG being used may be low but further data is required to
confirm this.

14.2  DSM 
14.2.1  QA/QC 

In Hennessey (2003a) Micon discussed the QA/QC results for DSM’s Phase I exploration
program. Micon noted that scatter plots of pulp and reject duplicate assays showed that Chemex
was biased high relative to Lakefield. At the time Micon speculated that this bias was likely
caused by a few of the higher-grade assays and may be the result of nugget effect.

At the request of DSM, Lakefield carried out a test program of metallic screen assays where,
following pulverizing, the samples were screened at 200 mesh and the resulting size fractions
analyzed separately. The metallics assays at Lakefield essentially confirmed the original assays
and did not detect a significant amount of coarse gold, a result consistent with visual
observations. However, another effect was noted. Graphs for results on both pulps and rejects
examined by Micon (Hennessey 2003a) showed a fair amount of scatter between 500 and 1,500
ppb, even though the regression line showed relatively little bias. Micon felt at the time that this
type of behaviour suggested the possible existence of “cluster nugget effect”. As a consequence
DSM instituted a modified sample preparation protocol designed to deal with the cluster nugget
effect, as of the end of April, 2003. Micon concluded (Hennessey 2003a) that the new sample
preparation protocols have successfully dealt with the earlier problems noted.

Figures 14.1, 14.2 and 14.3 show results of check assay samples for all samples check, pulps
only and rejects only, respectively for samples analyzed in the 2005 program. The results
between the two laboratories compare within acceptable limits and there is no evidence of
systemic bias from one laboratory to another. Samples which do not correlate very well are

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Updated Resource & Reserve Estimate, Jacobina Dec 2005

routinely checked and results indicate that this problem is usually due to the nugget effect or in a
few cases, misnumbering of samples when they are sent out for checks.

Figure 14.1  Comparison of All Check Assay Data, 2005 Exploration Program (3 graphs 
  with different scales showing the overall range of the data set) 



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Updated Resource & Reserve Estimate, Jacobina Dec 2005


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Updated Resource & Reserve Estimate, Jacobina Dec 2005

  Figure 14.2 Comparison of Check Assay Data, 2005 Exploration Program – Lakefield
versus Chemex Pulps.


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Updated Resource & Reserve Estimate, Jacobina Dec 2005

Figure 14.3 Comparison of Check Assay Data, 2005 Exploration Program – Lakefield
versus Chemex Rejects.


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Updated Resource & Reserve Estimate, Jacobina Dec 2005

  14.2.2 DATABASE CHECKS

All assay results are received electronically from the laboratories along with assay certificates, in
paper form, which are mailed separately. These data are added into the Gemcom drill hole
database as results become available. In the 2002 program drill hole logging was performed
manually with information entered into Excel spreadsheets for importing into Gemcom. All
JMC holes were also entered manually into spreadsheets. During 2003 exploration Gemcom was
contracted to write a direct-entry software system which allowed data to be captured
electronically as logging occurs. The logging software known as “Logger” was fully
implemented in July, 2003.

DSM felt it was necessary to fully check the manually entered database files for mistakes. For
each drill log the original assay certificates were checked to ensure that the assays had been
entered correctly. Data, once confirmed, were entered into a spreadsheet for importation into
Gemcom. Once entry was complete, the spreadsheet was printed out and rechecked against the
drill log. Survey data for the drill hole collars were also checked to ensure that they were located
correctly. Once this stage of the checking was complete, plan maps and cross sections were
plotted at the same scale as the historical archive. The new sections were overlain on the old and
any discrepancies checked and corrected as necessary. DSM completed the data verification
process for the historical data in July 2003 with every record checked. All data since that time
has been directly entered digitally.

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Updated Resource & Reserve Estimate, Jacobina Dec 2005

15.0 ADJACENT PROPERTIES

DSM controls most of the Bahia Gold Belt including exposures of the Serra do Córrego
Formation in the entire Serra do Jacobina range with the exception of a few small garimpeiro
reservations. There are no known adjacent properties whose description or mineralization
materially affects the value of DSM’s land holdings.

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Updated Resource & Reserve Estimate, Jacobina Dec 2005

  16.0 MINERAL PROCESSING AND METALLURGICAL

TESTING

16.1 JACOBINA PROCESSING PLANT

The metallurgical process at the Jacobina Mine Complex uses a simple and efficient milling
process. The process involves the following activities; Grinding of the run of mine material into
a pulp, leaching the pulp in a conventional cyanide leaching process and then gold extraction of
the enriched solution in a Carbon-In-Pulp (CIP) circuit. Achieved mill statistics for the operating
year 2005 were 327,329 tonnes processed with mill recovery of 95.9% . A brief explanation of
the metallurgical process used at the Jacobina Mine is explained below.

The run of mine (ROM) material is hauled by trucks from the mine to the crushing facility
adjacent to the processing plant. The ROM is initially sized by a 50 x 80 cm opening grizzly /
rock breaker system located at the top of the primary jaw crusher. The primary jaw crusher,
which is fed by an 80 tonne hopper, is 1,200 mm x 900 mm and has a 350 tonne per hour
capacity.

The product from the jaw crusher, which is <200 mm, is fed into two silo’s. The material is then
feed into semi autogenous grinding mills and is ground to a size of 80% passing 200 mesh. The
No.1 Mill has the dimensions of 3,658 mm x 6,706 mm and features a single 1,342 kW motor.
The Mill No.2 is 4,572 mm x 9,144 mm and is equipped with two 1,342 kW motors.

The pulp from the grinding circuit is pumped to the leaching tanks. The leaching circuit consists
of four 9.5 m diameter x 10.25 m high mechanically agitated leach tanks and twelve 212 m3
Pachucas. The leach residence time is 24 hours.

The pulp is then sent to the CIP circuit. The CIP circuit consists of six 5.6 m diameter x 7.8 m
high, 180 m3 capacity mechanically agitated CIP tanks.

The enriched carbon from the CIP circuit is removed and striped of its gold. From here, the
pregnant solution is circulated through electro winning cells and a doré gold is produced
consisting of 96% gold and 3% silver.

The milling process is fully automated using modern Siemens instrumentation and automation
technology for better process control. All environmental issues are strictly monitored. The Mill
has “zero discharge” criteria for its effluent into the environment. All the water used in the
milling process is recycled.

Approximately 200 m3/hr of the 450 m3/hr make up water is reclaimed from the tailings pond. A
new tailings pumping system was added to handle the increased throughput. There is an
environmental engineer on staff who continually monitors and evaluates the mill and mines
performance

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Updated Resource & Reserve Estimate, Jacobina Dec 2005

16.2 MORRO DO VENTO TESTWORK

DSM carried out metallurgical tests on samples from diamond drill holes on the Morro do Vento
target area. Morro do Vento is located about 1.5 km from the processing plant and existing
mines, and approximately 9 km from the town of Jacobina. The metallurgical test work was
conducted to determine recoveries using conventional milling. DSM is continuing further test
work to determine the heap leach potential for Morro do Vento.

SGS Lakefield Research Limited of Lakefield, Ontario completed the test work on six grade/ore
type composites and one overall master composite prepared from rejects of diamond drill hole
samples from the Morro de Vento project. Samples were selected by DSM to provide a
representative range of grade and proportion of oxide/sulphide. Sample selection and the
metallurgical test process was reviewed by Bruce Ferguson, P.Eng. consulting metallurgist of
Kappes, Cassidy & Associates. All samples were originally prepared and tested for gold by fire
assay by Lakefield Geosol in Brazil.

The six grade/ore type composites and one overall Master Composite were crushed to -10 mesh.
Metallurgical tests consisted of grinding tests on the Master Composite, followed by cyanidation
tests on the Master Composite and the individual Grade/Ore Type composites. Averaged gold
assay results for the individual composites ranged from 0.53 g Au/t for the Low Grade Oxide
composite to 3.50 g Au/t for the High Grade Oxide composite. Direct assay of the Master
composite by screened metallics indicated a grade of 1.73 g Au/t.

SGS Lakefield reported that the overall gold extraction for the Master composite was 96.4% with
a range of 95.7% to 97.0% . No significant difference in extraction was observed for the tests
conducted at shorter, 12 hour, and longer, 48 hour, leach times. Cyanide and lime consumption
for the Master Composite were found to be at 0.81 kg/t and 0.22 kg/t, respectively. Extractions
for the individual grade/ore type composites ranged from 90.8% for Low Grade Oxide to 98.5%
for High Grade Mixed. Tailings gold grades for these samples ranged from 0.02 to 0.07 g Au/t.

Metallurgical tests were carried out by Lyn Jones, P.Eng., Project Metallurgist and Inna Dymov,
P.Eng., Senior Metallurgist of SGS Lakefield Research in Lakefield, Ontario. Mr. Jones and Ms.
Dymov are Qualified Persons as defined under National Instrument 43-101. Original sample
preparation was carried out by Lakefield Geosol, an ISO 9001-2000 laboratory based in Brazil.
Sample selection was done by DSM and reviewed by Mr. Bruce Ferguson, P.Eng. consulting
metallurgist for DSM with Kappes, Cassidy & Associates. Mr. Ferguson is a Qualified Person as
defined under National Instrument 43-101.

16.2.1 PROPOSED PLANT EXPANSION

DSM has commissioned AMEC Americas to complete a pre-feasibility study for the proposed
plant expansion to 6,500tpd and 10,000tpd. Additional metallurgical testing of the ore is planned
to determine how to best optimize the flow circuit in the expansion scenarios. It is anticipated
that this study will be completed in mid-2006.

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Updated Resource & Reserve Estimate, Jacobina Dec 2005

  17.0 MINERAL RESOURCE AND MINERAL RESERVE

ESTIMATES

17.1 OVERVIEW

DSM first estimated mineral resources for the Jacobina property in August 2003 and this
estimate was subsequently updated in December 2004. Both of these estimates were reviewed
and confirmed by B. Terrence Hennessey, P.Geo. of Micon International and outlined in the
reports of Hennessey (2003b) and Pearson and Tagliamonte (2005). This present report provides
an update of the mineral resources incorporating results of the 2005 diamond drilling as
discussed in Section 11 above. The methodology employed in preparing the new estimation
follows that outlined in Hennessey (2003b) and Pearson and Tagliamonte (2005) using the
polygonal longitudinal method. Some geostatistical analysis has been completed on some of the
zones and this work is continuing with intent of eventually moving to a block model
methodology. However, past production indicates that the polygonal longitudinal method
provides a reliable estimate of resources sufficient to provide the basis for mineral estimation.

17.2 MINERAL RESOURCE ESTIMATES

17.2.1 DATABASE

The assay database, from which the mineral resources at the Jacobina project are estimated, is
comprised of two sample types, drill core and chip/channel samples. All of the historical data
has been verified and entered into the Gemcom digital database by DSM. New drill holes are
logged and information entered directly in a digital database using the Logger program. As
assays are received, they are loaded into the Gemcom database which automatically matches the
assay results to the correct samples. Chip/channel samples have been entered as pseudo drill
holes for use in the resource estimation.

17.2.2 SPECIFIC GRAVITY

JMC used a specific gravity (SG) of 2.70 for all resource estimation at the mine because the host
rocks were composed dominantly of quartz and did not appear to be porous. This number
appeared to be confirmed by initial physical property work for DSM by Buckle and Alikay
(2002) who obtained an average SG of 2.68 from twelve hand specimen samples. However, as
part of the feasibility study being conducted by SNC-Lavalin, DSM submitted 18 core samples
for a “waxed core bulk density test”. The waxed core test returns a true bulk density allowing
for porosity in the rock samples.

The average result for the 18 bulk density tests was 2.62 with very little scatter to the data. As a
consequence DSM has chosen to pursue a somewhat conservative course and use a bulk density
of 2.60 tonnes per cubic metre for resource estimation. Micon concurred with the decision.

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Updated Resource & Reserve Estimate, Jacobina Dec 2005

17.2.3 ESTIMATION METHODOLOGY

The estimation methodology utilized is the same as outlined in the Hennessey (2003b) and
Pearson and Tagliamonte (2005) using the conventional polygonal method on vertical
longitudinal sections. The only exception to this methodology is Canavieiras where a polygonal
cross-sectional method has been used because of the flatter orientation. Geological interpretation
of the extent of mineralization for each reef is plotted on the long sections after interpretation has
been performed, using plans, drill sections and construction of a 3-D model in GEMCOM.
Individual polygons are created around separate drill hole pierce points. This process is
accomplished by plotting the halfway points between all drill holes which then become the
vertices at which two, or more, lines of a polygon join. Polygons at the outer edge of the area
drilled are terminated against bounding faults and dykes, projected to appropriate depth and
terminated or finished against blank polygons around low grade drill holes.

The interpreted extent of mineralization is also subdivided into separate blocks which overly the
polygons. The blocks conform to, and are limited by, existing or projected development, as
appropriate. These blocks represent individual mineable blocks or stopes or, in unplanned areas
of the mine, reasonable projection distances for assay data.

Polygons were done in AutoCAD and areas measured. The determination of volumes and
conversion to tonnes was done by the following formula:

Resource (tonne) = PLV (m²)* T. Width (m) * 2.6/ sin(d)
Where:

PLV (m²) = area on vertical longitudinal plane
T. Width (m) = true width of drill intersection
2.6 = Specific Gravity
sin (d) = sin dip angle of the mineralized zone

High assays were cut to 30 g Au/t however this only affected a small number of assays.

General economic criteria were applied to the resource estimation by DSM in that resource
blocks had to meet the average cash cost cut off grade in order to remain in the published table of
mineral resources. This was in practice about 1.4 – 1.5 g Au/t depending on the deposit.

The polygonal method is a long established method of resource estimation which has been
shown to be capable of producing accurate global grade estimates when properly used.
Jacobina’s production grade reconciliations discussed in Section 14.1.1, below, have
demonstrated that the mineral resource estimates have predicted mining block grades with
reasonable accuracy.

However, it is recognized by DSM that the polygonal method does have some drawbacks as
pointed out by Hennessey (2003b). Individual polygon grades are based on single drill holes.
The normal variability in sampling for gold makes it unlikely that individual polygon grades

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Updated Resource & Reserve Estimate, Jacobina Dec 2005

have been determined with great accuracy even if the average of a large number of polygons is
accurate. Therefore using individual polygon grades to “high grade” or selectively mine a
deposit is likely to lead to unachievable expectations.

At Jacobina this side effect is of little material impact as the extents of the zones have generally
been selected based on recognizable geological criteria and the extension of previous mining
experience. As such the grades of each level of the mine or annual production can be predicted
with some confidence. DSM is actively engaging experience geostatistical consultants to
determine a more optimum grade interpolation method to provide better local grade estimates to
facilitate mine planning.

The updated resource estimate has been reviewed and confirmed by B. Terrence Hennessey,
P.Geo. of Micon International. Mr. Hennessey, who is an independent qualified person as
defined under National Instrument 43-101, visited the site from November 30 to December 2,
2004. His opinion letter is included in this report as APPENDIX III.

17.2.4 RESOURCE ESTIMATION

The mineral resource estimate reported here in which is an update of the December 2004
estimate was done in accordance with the standards of Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy
and Petroleum (CIM) Standards on Mineral Resources and Reserves Definitions and Guidelines
adopted by CIM Council on August 20, 2000 and modified on December 11, 2005 (the CIM
Code) and reportable under NI 43-101. B. Terrence Hennessey, P.Geo. of Micon visited the site
from General economic criteria have been applied to the resource estimation in that blocks must
meet the average cash cost cut off grade to remain in the published table of resources. The
resources are classified into confidence categories of measured, indicated and inferred using the
following criteria;

João Belo Area

Measured Resources are located between drifting on two underground levels and grades 
  are estimated from channel samples from development headings with maximum 
  intervals of 5 m, cross cuts every 15m and drill holes every 20 m along the drifts. 
 
Indicated Resources are delimited by one underground drift along the strike of the zone 
  with similar sampling/drilling as in the measured resources. Below the drift the 
  distance between the drill holes is variable with an average of 130 m along strike and 
  50 m vertically. In the southern extensions of the João Belo North block the limits 
  are established by a higher drill hole density and the 730 level extension. In addition, 
  the extensive mined out stopes to the north strongly support indicated mineral 
  resources in this area. Development work and definition drilling at the Jacobina mine 
  in 2005 has continued to confirm the excellent continuity of the ore zones along strike 
  and downdip. 

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Updated Resource & Reserve Estimate, Jacobina Dec 2005

  • Inferred Resources have been estimated where wide spaced diamond drilling, surface geological data (including garimpos) and underground data indicate geological continuity. Inferred blocks are defined by at least one drill hole.

Basal Reef, Main Reef, Serra do Córrego, Intermediate MVT Reefs, Canavieiras and Other
Areas

Measured Resources are located between drifting on two underground levels. Grades are 
  determined from channel samples which were consistently taken from the face of the 
  two on-reef drifts with a maximum interval of 5.0 m. 
 
Indicated Resources are defined by a high density of diamond drill holes with a 
  maximum spacing of 50 m (Basal Reef - 50 m horizontal by 40 m vertical; Serra do 
  Córrego - 25 m horizontal by 30 m vertical; Intermediate MVT - 50 m horizontal by 
  50 m vertical and Canavieiras – 30 m horizontal in flat zone). Where the drilling 
  density is not as high, extensive mined out stopes indicate continuity of structure and 
  support grades estimated from adjacent drill holes. 
 
Inferred Resources have been estimated where wide spaced drilling, surface geological 
  data (including garimpos) and underground data indicates geological continuity. 
  Inferred blocks are defined by at least one drill hole. 

17.2.5 MINERAL RESOURCES

The mineral resources, as updated and determined by DSM and reviewed and confirmed by B.
Terrence Hennessey, P.Geo. of Micon International (see opinion letter in APPENDIX III), are
set out by area in Table 17.1 below.

Measured and Indicated mineral resources for all zones at Jacobina now total 27,900,000 tonnes
grading 2.57g Au/t containing 2,311,000 ounces of gold. This is a significant increase of
261,000 ounces of gold compared to the December 2004 measured and indicated resource of
24,800,000 tonnes grading 2.53g Au/t containing 2,050,000 ounces of gold. Since the August
2003 resource estimate that formed the basis for the SNC-Lavalin feasibility study, exploration
and development work by Desert Sun has increased Measured and Indicated mineral resources
by 949,000 ounces of gold. At the Jacobina Mine, drilling and development has outlined
sufficient new measured and indicated resources to replace 2005 production.

Additionally, Inferred mineral resources in all zones now total 33,600,000 tonnes grading 2.80g
Au/t containing 3,029,000 ounces of gold. This a substantial addition of 1,129,000 ounces of
gold compared to the December 2004 inferred mineral resource of 22,200,000 tonnes grading
2.61g Au/t containing 1,900,000 ounces of gold. This increase reflects major additions at the
Jacobina Mine (João Belo zone) where inferred mineral resources now total 14,430,000 tonnes
grading 2.66g Au/t containing 1,235,000 ounces of gold compared to the December 2004
inferred resource of 5,300,000 grading 2.33g Au/t containing 390,000 ounces of gold. The

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Updated Resource & Reserve Estimate, Jacobina Dec 2005

  Inferred mineral resource at Canavieiras now totals 6,900,000 tonnes grading 3.29 g Au/t
containing 730,000 ounces compared to the December 2004 Inferred mineral resource of
3,700,000 tonnes grading 2.41g Au/t containing 290,000 ounces of gold, an increase of 440,000
ounces.

The following sections summarize the updated mineral resources for each of the major target
areas and provide vertical longitudinal sections and plans showing the distribution of resource
blocks in the principal areas.

  TABLE 17.1 SUMMARY OF MINERAL RESOURCES UPDATED BY DSM AND
REVIEWED AND CONFIRMED BY MICON AS OF DECEMBER 20, 2005

      Grade  Contained Gold 
Category  Mine  Tonnes     
      (g/t Au)  (ounces) 

Measured  João Belo  3,100,000  2.35  234,000 
  Morro do Vento - Basal/Main  210,000  5.77  39,000 
  Morro do Vento Ext. – Basal/       
    40,000  5.34  7,000 
  Main       
  Canavieiras  60,000  6.73  13,000 
  Serra do Córrego  10,000  7.50  2,000 
  Subtotal  3,400,000  2.68  295,000 

 
Indicated  João Belo  10,570,000  2.29  780,000 
  Morro do Vento-Intermediate  5,800,000  2.18  407,000 
  Morro do Vento - Basal/Main  1,010,000  4.83  157,000 
  Morro do Vento Ext -       
    3,530,000  2.87  325,000 
  Basal/Main       
  Canavieiras  1,930,000  3.45  214,000 
  Serra do Córrego  910,000  2.39  70,000 
  Joao Belo Sul  770,000  2.55  63,000 
  Subtotal  24,500,000  2.56  2,016,000 

 
Total Measured  João Belo  13,670,000  2.31  1,015,000 
and Indicated         
  Morro do Vento-Intermediate  5,800,000  2.18  407,000 
  Morro do Vento - Basal/Main  1,220,000  4.99  195,000 
  Morro do Vento Ext -       
    3,560,000  2.89  332,000 
  Basal/Main       
  Canavieiras  1,990,000  3.54  227,000 

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Updated Resource & Reserve Estimate, Jacobina Dec 2005

      Grade  Contained Gold 
Category  Mine  Tonnes     
      (g/t Au)  (ounces) 

  Serra do Córrego  920,000  2.44  72,000 
  Joao Belo Sul  770,000  2.55  63,000 

  Total  27,900,000  2.57  2,311,000 

 
Inferred2  João Belo  14,430,000  2.66  1,235,000 
  Morro do Vento-Intermediate  2,460,000  2.42  191,000 
  Morro do Vento - Basal/Main  1,920,000  3.78  233,000 
  Canavieiras  6,900,000  3.29  730,000 
  Serra do Córrego  1,350,000  3.51  152,000 
  Joao Belo Sul  3,890,000  1.67  209,000 
  Other Areas  2,680,000  3.23  279,000 

  Total  33,600,000  2.80  3,029,000 

1Totals have been rounded

2 There are no inferred resources at Morro do Vento Ext. - Basal/Main as the target has been completely drilled off

  João Belo

  Total measured and indicated mineral resources at Joao Belo are 13,667,000 tonnes grading
2.31 g Au/t containing 1,015,000 ounces of gold as set out in Table 17.2 of which the bulk of
mineral resources are in the LMPC Reef which is the main ore zone being mined . Inferred
mineral resources as shown Table 17.3 total 14,432,000 tonnes grading 2.66g Au/t containing
1,235,000 ounces of gold which is a substantial increase of 845,000 ounces from the December
2004 total of 5,300,000 tonnes grading 2.33 g Au/t containing 390,000 ounces of gold. The FW
Reef is a new zone discovered in 2005 and has added 1,048,000 tonnes grading 2.84 g Au/t
containing 95,700 ounces of gold to measured and indicated and 3,088,000 tonnes grading 2.55 g
Au/t containing 253,200 ounces to the inferred category. Figure 17.1 is a vertical longitudinal
section of Joao Belo (LMPC reef) showing the distribution of resource blocks and current
development in the mine. The zone is open along strike and at depth. The outline of the mineral
resource in the FW reef which is 40m below the LMPC reef is shown in a dashed line.

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Updated Resource & Reserve Estimate, Jacobina Dec 2005

  TABLE 17.2 SUMMARY OF MEASURED AND INDICATED MINERAL
RESOURCES, JOAO BELO ZONE AS OF DECEMBER 20, 2005

JOÃO BELO  MEASURED  INDICATED  MEASURED + INDICATED 
Reef  Tonnes  Au  Tonnes  Au  Tonnes  Au  Contained 
    Grade    Grade    Grade  Oz. 
    (g/t)    (g/t)    (g/t)   

LMPC - BLOCKS  1,551,000  2.26  6,354,000  2.16  7,905,000  2.18  554,100 
LMPC - CROWN  1,109,000  2.29  1,178,000  2.13  2,287,000  2.21  162,500 
PILLAR               
LMPC-VERTICAL  359,000  2.71  0  0.00  359,000  2.71  31,300 
PILLAR               
LMPC- RIB  0  0.00  909,000  2.13  909,000  2.13  62,300 
PILLAR               
LMPC – OTHER  0  0.00  582,000  2.21  582,000  2.21  41,400 
PILLARS               
MPC REEF  82,000  3.35  495,000  3.66  577,000  3.62  67,200 
FW REEF  0  0.00  1,048,000  2.84  1,048,000  2.84  95,700 
LVL REEF  0  0.00  0  0.00  0  0.00  0 

TOTAL  3,101,000  2.35  10,566,000  2.29  13,667,000  2.31  1,015,000 

  TABLE 17.3 SUMMARY OF INFERRED MINERAL RESOURCES, JOAO BELO
ZONE AS OF DECEMBER 20, 2005

JOÃO BELO    INFERRED   
Reef  Tonnes  Au Grade  Contained Oz. 
    (g/t)   

LMPC - BLOCKS  10,297,000  2.57  850,800 
LMPC - CROWN  0  0.00  0 
PILLAR       
LMPC-VERTICAL  0  0.00  0 
PILLAR       
LMPC- RIB  0  0.00  0 
PILLAR       
LMPC – OTHER  0  0.00  0 
PILLARS       
MPC REEF  930,000  3.82  114,200 
FW REEF  3,088,000  2.55  253,200 
LVL REEF  117,000  4.38  16,500 

TOTAL  14,432,000  2.66  1,235,000 
 
 
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Updated Resource & Reserve Estimate, Jacobina Dec 2005

  Morro do Vento - Intermediate Reefs

  Total measured and indicated mineral resources at Morro do Vento in the Intermediate Reefs are
5,797,000 tonnes grading 2.18 g Au/t containing 407,000 ounces of gold as set out in Table
17.4. The bulk of these resources are in the MU and LU Reefs. Inferred mineral resources total
2,464,000 tonnes grading 2.42 g Au/t containing 191,000 ounces of gold (Table 17.5) . The
resource estimate for Morro do Vento is unchanged from the December 2004 estimate as no
further exploration drilling was done on this target in 2005. Figures 17.2 and 17.3 are vertical
longitudinal sections of the MU and LU reefs, respectively, showing the distribution of resource
blocks and current development in the mine. There is considerable potential to increase mineral
resources in both zones below the 800 level as there has been only limited previous drilling
below this level.

TABLE 17.4  SUMMARY OF MEASURED AND INDICATED MINERAL 
RESOURCES, MORRO DO VENTO ZONE, INTERMEDIATE REEFS   
 
MORRO DO VENTO  MEASURED  INDICATED  MEASURED + INDICATED 
Intermediate Reefs  Tonnes  Au  Tonnes  Au  Tonnes  Au  Contained 
    Grade    Grade    Grade  Oz. 
    (g/t)    (g/t)    (g/t)   

INTERMED. - LU REEF  0  0.00  2,052,000  2.38  2,052,000  2.38  157,000 
INTERMED. MU REEF  0  0.00  3,675,000  2.02  3,675,000  2.02  238,700 
INTERMED. LVLPC  0  0.00  70,000  4.83  70,000  4.83  10,900 
REEF               
INTERMED - SPC REEF  0  0.00  0  0.00  0  0.00  0 

TOTAL  0  0.00  5,797,000  2.18  5,797,000  2.18  407,000 

TABLE 17.5 SUMMARY OF INFERRED MINERAL RESOURCES, MORRO DO VENTO ZONE, INTERMEDIATE REEFS

MORRO DO VENTO    INFERRED   
Intermediate Reefs  Tonnes  Au Grade  Contained 
    (g/t)  Oz. 

INTERMED. - LU REEF  696,000  2.58  57,700 
INTERMED. MU REEF  1,385,000  2.46  109,500 
INTERMED. LVLPC  131,000  2.29  9,600 
REEF       
INTERMED - SPC REEF  252,000  1.79  14,500 

TOTAL  2,464,000  2.42  191,000 

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Updated Resource & Reserve Estimate, Jacobina Dec 2005

  Morro do Vento – Basal and Main Reefs

  Total measured and indicated mineral resources at Morro do Vento in the Basal and Main Reefs
are 1,217,000 tonnes grading 4.99 g Au/t containing 195,000 ounces of gold as set out in
Table 17.6. These resources are based on past production and historic drilling above the 400
level. Inferred mineral resources (Table 17.7) total 1,916,000 tonnes grading 3.78 g Au.t
containing 233,000 ounces of gold. This is an approximately 50% increase over the inferred
resources of December 2004. Figures 17.4 and 17.5 are vertical longitudinal sections of the Basal
and Main reefs, respectively, in the Morro do Vento – Morro do Vento Extension areas showing
the distribution of resource blocks and locations of old mine workings and stopes. There is good
potential to increase mineral resources in both reefs in the Morro do Vento area below the 400
level.

  TABLE 17.6 SUMMARY OF MEASURED AND INDICATED MINERAL
RESOURCES, MORRO DO VENTO ZONE, BASAL AND MAIN REEFS

MORRO DO VENTO  MEASURED  INDICATED  MEASURED + INDICATED 
Basal/Main Reefs  Tonnes  Au  Tonnes  Au  Tonnes  Au  Contained 
    Grade    Grade    Grade  Oz. 
    (g/t)    (g/t)    (g/t)   

BASAL REEF-OLD  25,000  4.20  557,000  3.07  582,000  3.12  58,400 
BASAL REEF-NEW  0  0.00  0  0.00  0  0.00  0 
MAIN REEF-OLD  183,000  5.99  452,000  7.00  635,000  6.71  137,000 
MAIN REEF - NEW  0  0.00  0  0.00  0  0.00  0 

TOTAL  208,000  5.77  1,009,000  4.83  1,217,000  4.99  195,000 

TABLE 17.7 SUMMARY OF INFERRED MINERAL RESOURCES, MORRO DO VENTO ZONE, BASAL AND MAIN REEFS

MORRO DO VENTO    INFERRED   
Basal/Main Reefs  Tonnes  Au Grade  Contained 
    (g/t)  Oz. 

BASAL REEF-OLD  150,000  3.29  15,900 
BASAL REEF-NEW  1,184,000  2.28  86,800 
MAIN REEF-OLD  350,000  8.48  95,400 
MAIN REEF - NEW  232,000  4.66  34,800 

TOTAL  1,916,000  3.78  233,000 

141







Updated Resource & Reserve Estimate, Jacobina Dec 2005

  Morro do Vento Extension – Basal and Main Reefs

Total measured and indicated mineral resources at Morro do Vento Extension in the Basal and
Main Reefs are 3,563,000 tonnes grading 2.89 g Au/t containing 332,000 ounces of gold as set
out in Table 17.8. There are no inferred mineral resources as the target was completely drilled off
in the 2005 program. Figures 17.4 and 17.5, previous, are vertical longitudinal sections of the
Basal and Main reefs, respectively, in the Morro do Vento – Morro do Vento Extension areas
showing the distribution of resource blocks and locations of old mine workings and stopes.
While the targets in the Morro do Vento Extension target have been extensively drilled from
surface hence there is limited potential to outline additional resources in this target area, there is
considerable potential to outline additional resources in the same target reefs, in the Morro do
Vento area to the south.

  TABLE 17.8 SUMMARY OF MEASURED AND INDICATED MINERAL

  RESOURCES, MORRO DO VENTO EXTENSION ZONE, BASAL AND MAIN REEFS

MORRO DO VENTO  MEASURED  INDICATED  MEASURED + INDICATED 
EXTENSION               

Basal/Main Reefs  Tonnes  Au  Tonnes  Au  Tonnes  Au  Contained 
    Grade    Grade    Grade  Oz. 
    (g/t)    (g/t)    (g/t)   

BASAL REEF MCZ - FW               
MINED  0  0.00  683,000  2.82  683,000  2.82  61,900 

BASAL REEF - MCZ -               
OLD PILLARS  0  0.00  120,000  2.93  120,000  2.93  11,300 

BASAL REEF - MCZ -               
LATERAL  0  0.00  51,000  2.22  51,000  2.22  3,600 

BASAL REEF - MCZ -               
BLOCKS  0  0.00  2,084,000  2.68  2,084,000  2.68  179,600 

MAIN REEF-OLD  38,000  5.34  48,000  5.69  86,000  5.54  15,300 

MAIN REEF-NEW  0  0.00  200,000  3.98  200,000  3.98  25,600 

MAIN REEF FW  0  0.00  339,000  3.14  339,000  3.14  34,200 

TOTAL  38,000  5.34  3,525,000  2.87  3,563,000  2.89  332,000 


  Canavieiras

  At Canavieiras, there are six (6) major mineralized reefs, from upper to lower, these are:
Maneira, Hollandez, Liberino, Piritoso, MU and LU. The Maneira and Hollandez reefs are
above the old mine workings, the Liberino and Piritoso reefs were previously mined and the MU
and LU reefs are below the old workings. Total measured and indicated mineral resources at
Canavieiras in all reefs are 1,989,000 tonnes grading 3.54 g Au/t containing 227,000 ounces of
gold as set out in Table 17.10. Inferred mineral resources total 6,904,000 tonnes grading 3.29
oz. Au/t containing 730,000 ounces of gold (Table 17.11) . These resources are significantly

144



Updated Resource & Reserve Estimate, Jacobina Dec 2005

  increased from the December 2004 estimate of 900,000 tonnes grading 3.80 g Au/t containing
110,000 ounces of gold in measured and indicated and 3,700,000 tonnes grading 2.41 g Au/t
containing 290,000 ounces of gold in inferred mineral resources. Figures 17.6, 17.7 and 17.8 are
plan maps of the Piritoso, MU and LU reefs, respectively, showing the distribution of resource
blocks. The location of the old mine workings and stopes (projected for the MU and LU maps)
are shown on each map. There is excellent potential to outline additional resources to the south
and east in all three of these reefs as well as in the other target reefs.

TABLE 17.9  SUMMARY OF MEASURED AND INDICATED MINERAL 
  RESOURCES, CANAVIEIRAS       
 
CANAVIEIRAS  MEASURED  INDICATED  MEASURED + INDICATED 
Reef  Tonnes  Au  Tonnes  Au  Tonnes  Au  Contained 
    Grade    Grade    Grade  Oz. 
    (g/t)    (g/t)    (g/t)   

PIRITOSO REEF  56,000  6.73  58,000  8.25  114,000  7.50  27,500 
LIBERINO REEF  0  0.00  51,000  6.16  51,000  6.16  10,100 
INTERMED. MU - CAN  0  0.00  1,492,000  3.27  1,492,000  3.27  156,900 
INTERMED. LU - CAN  0  0.00  332,000  3.01  332,000  3.01  32,100 
HOLLANDEZ REEF  0  0.00  0  0.00  0  0.00  0 

TOTAL  56,000  6.73  1,933,000  3.45  1,989,000  3.54  227,000 

  TABLE 17.10 SUMMARY OF INFERRED MINERAL RESOURCES, CANAVIEIRAS

CANAVIEIRAS    INFERRED   
Reef  Tonnes  Au Grade  Contained 
    (g/t)  Oz. 

PIRITOSO REEF  352,000  4.66  52,700 
LIBERINO REEF  503,000  3.84  62,100 
INTERMED. MU - CAN  4,469,000  3.28  471,300 
INTERMED. LU - CAN  1,039,000  3.20  106,900 
HOLLANDEZ REEF  541,000  2.10  36,500 

TOTAL  6,904,000  3.29  730,000 

145









Updated Resource & Reserve Estimate, Jacobina Dec 2005

  Serra do Córrego

  Measured and indicated mineral resources at Serra do Córrego total 919,000 tonnes grading
2.44 g Au/t containing 72,000 ounces of gold as set out in Table 17.12. All of these resources
are in the MU and LU Reefs. Inferred mineral resources in all reefs total 1,348,000 tonnes
grading 3.51 g Au/t containing 152,000 ounces of gold (Table 17.13) . The resource estimate
for Serra do Corrego is unchanged from the August 2003 and December 2004 estimate as no
further exploration drilling was done on this target in 2004 and 2005. Figures 17.9 and 17.10 are
vertical longitudinal sections of the MU and LU reefs, respectively, showing the distribution of
resource blocks and current development in the mine. There is considerable potential to increase
mineral resources in both zones along strike and down dip.

TABLE 17.11  SUMMARY OF MEASURED AND INDICATED MINERAL 
RESOURCES, SERRA DO CÓRREGO, INTERMEDIATE REEFS   
 
CANAVIEIRAS  MEASURED  INDICATED  MEASURED + INDICATED 
Reef  Tonnes  Au  Tonnes  Au  Tonnes  Au  Contained 
    Grade    Grade    Grade  Oz. 
    (g/t)    (g/t)    (g/t)   

LOWER UNIT (LU)  10,000  7.50  582,000  2.15  592,000  2.24  42,600 
MIDDLE UNIT (MU)  0  0.00  327,000  2.81  327,000  2.81  29,500 
MANEIRA SUL - SCO  0  0.00  0  0.00  0  0.00  0 
MANEIRA NORTE - SCO  0  0.00  0  0.00  0  0.00  0 

TOTAL  10,000  7.50  909,000  2.39  919,000  2.44  72,000 

TABLE 17.12 SUMMARY OF INFERRED MINERAL RESOURCES, SERRA DO CÓRREGO, INTERMEDIATE REEFS

CANAVIEIRAS    INFERRED   
Reef  Tonnes  Au Grade  Contained 
    (g/t)  Oz. 

LOWER UNIT (LU)  96,000  3.21  9,900 
MIDDLE UNIT (MU)  0  0.00  0 
MANEIRA SUL - SCO  341,000  3.53  38,700 
MANEIRA NORTE - SCO  911,000  3.53  103,400 

TOTAL  1,348,000  3.51  152,000 

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Updated Resource & Reserve Estimate, Jacobina Dec 2005

Joao Belo Sul

Total measured and indicated mineral resources at Joao Belo Sul, located 5.5 km south of the
Jacobina Mine (see Fig. 7.4) are 768,000 tonnes grading 2.55 g Au/t containing 63,000 ounces
of gold. Inferred mineral resources total 3,892,000 tonnes grading 1.67 g Au/t containing
209,000 ounces of gold. These resources are in the LMPC reef which is equivalent to the main
reef zone being mined at the Jacobina Mine (Joao Belo zone).

Other Areas

Inferred mineral resources in other areas total 33,640,000 tonnes grading 3.23 g Au/t
containing 279,000 ounces of gold as outlined in Table 17.14. There are no measured and
indicated mineral resources defined in these targets. The target areas in Jacobina Sul which are
Campo Limpo and Lagedo Preto (Fig. 7.4), are located 8.5 km and 13.0 km, respectively south
of the Jacobina mine. The Jacobina Norte area extends from just north of the city of Jacobina 5.0
km along strike to the north (Fig. 7.4) . Both of these areas have extensive garimpo (free miner)
workings with limited historical drilling.

TABLE 17.13 SUMMARY OF INFERRED MINERAL RESOURCES IN OTHER AREAS, JACOBINA MINE AREA

OTHER AREAS    INFERRED   
Reef  Tonnes  Au Grade  Contained 
    (g/t)  Oz. 

JACOBINA SUL       
CAMPO LIMPO  1,122,000  2.10  75,800 
LAGEDO PRETO  138,000  3.54  15,700 
SUBTOTAL  1,260,000  2.26  91,500 
 
JACOBINA NORTE       
SERRA BRANCA -1  241,000  4.21  32,600 
SERRA BRANCA -2  591,000  5.50  104,500 
SERRA BRANCA -3  590,000  2.64  50,100 
SUBTOTAL  1,422,000  4.09  187,200 

 
TOTAL OTHER AREAS  2,682,000  3.23  279,000 

152



Updated Resource & Reserve Estimate, Jacobina Dec 2005

  17.3 MINERAL RESERVES

  The updated mineral reserve estimate for the Jacobina mine area is set out in Table 1.2 below.
Proven and probable mineral reserves in the Jacobina Mine (João Belo Zone) are 13,220,000
tonnes grading 2.15 g Au/t containing 913,100 ounces of gold. Total Proven and Probable
mineral reserves in all zones are 21,580,000 tonnes grading 2.18 g Au/t containing 1,510,000
ounces as summarized in Table 17.14 below. This is an increase of 310,000 ounces from the
August 2005 reserve estimate (see press release August 11, 2005)

The reserves were estimated using a gold price of US$400 per ounce and a block cutoff grade of
1.41 grams gold per tonne. Dilution and mining recovery rates appropriate for each zone were
applied following established practices at the mine. Desert Sun has all operating permits in place
for production. Peter Tagliamonte, P.Eng., Vice President Operations and COO for DSM
supervised all aspects of the estimation of the updated mineral reserves. Mr. Tagliamonte is a
Qualified Person (QP) as defined under National Instrument 43-101.

TABLE 17.14  ESTIMATED MINERAL RESERVES AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2005, 
    JACOBINA MINE AREA       
 
Mine/Area  Proven  Probable  Proven & Probable   
              Ounces 
  Tonnes  g Au/t  Tonnes  g Au/t  Tonnes  g Au/t   
              Contained 

Joao Belo 2  3,007,000  2.18  10,215,000  2,14  13,220,000  2.15  913,000 
Morro do Vento 4  Nil  Nil  4,672,000  1.95  4,672,000  1.95  292,000 
Morro do Vento               
3  58,000  3.57  2,712,000  2.68  2,770,000  2.69  240,000 
Ext. (Basal Reef               
Serra de Córrego 3  Nil  Nil  918,000  2.17  918,000  2.17  64.000 

Total 5          21,580,000  2.18  1,510,000 

  1 Mineral reserves have been classified in accordance with CIM standards under NI 43-101.
2 Desert Sun Mining mineral reserve estimate December 31, 2005
3 Updated following original Dynatec mineral reserve estimation of September 2003 in the SNC
Lavalin feasibility study (see DSM Press Release September 12, 2003).
4 Desert Sun Mining mineral reserve estimate August 11, 2005 (reviewed by Devpro Mining
Inc.) (see DSM Press Release August 11, 2005).
5 Totals have been rounded.

  17.3.1 JACOBINA MINE (JOAO BELO ZONE)

  The mineral reserve estimate at the Jacobina Mine (Joao Belo zone) is based on the total
measured and indicated mineral resources of 13,667,000 tonnes grading 2.31g Au/t containing
1,015,000 ounces of gold. The proven and probable mineral reserve is 13,220,000 tonnes

153



Updated Resource & Reserve Estimate, Jacobina Dec 2005

grading 2.15 g Au/t containing 913,100 ounces as set out in Table 17.15. Figure 17.11 is a
vertical longitudinal section of the Joao Belo zone showing the location of reserve blocks and
development.

TABLE 17.15 MINERAL RESERVES, JACOBINA MINE (JOAO BELO ZONE) AS AT DECEMBER 31, 2005

  JOAO BELO MINERAL RESERVE   
  TONNES  GRADE  CONTAINED GOLD 
CATEGORY       
    (g Au/t)  (ounces) 

 
Proven  3,007,000  2.18  210,400 
Probable  10,215,000  2.14  702,700 

 
Total Proven and Probable  13,220,000  2.15  913,000* 
* total rounded       

The mineral reserve estimate is based on the updated mineral resource estimate which was
prepared using a conventional polygonal technique on vertical longitudinal sections using the
procedures as set out in the reports by Hennessey (2003b) and Pearson and Tagliamonte (2005).
Key parameters for the determining the reserve estimate are as follows.

Specific Gravity

A specific gravity of 2.6 was used. This is same value that was used in the Micon report
(Hennessey 2003b) based on tests by SGS Lakefield (SNC Lavalin 2003). A specific gravity of
2.6 was used in the estimate based on a “waxed core bulk density test” carried out in July 2003
by SGS Lakefield, as proposed by SNC-Lavalin; this lowered the specific gravity from earlier
estimates of 2.7 that were previously used at the mine.

Geometry

The average dip of the mineralized ore body (LMPC reef) is 60°E.

154





Updated Resource & Reserve Estimate, Jacobina Dec 2005

Methodology

The area of polygons was determined on vertical longitudinal section using AutoCAD. For
volume and tonnage calculation the following formulae was used.

  Reserve = Area of polygon (m2) x true width (m) x 2.6 / 0.87

Mining Method

The mining method that is used at the Jacobina Mine is sub-level retreat open stoping method as
shown in Figure 17.12. The ore reserve mine plan consists of stopes that approximately extend from
Joao Belo I 605 meter level to 445 meter level (N 8751100 to N8751570) and Joao Belo II 820
meter level to 280 meter level from ( N8750650 to N 8751100).

Pillars will be left based on the rock mechanics study done by MLF Geotecnica e Mechanicia de
Roches Ltda (MLF). Rib pillars will be left along strike where required but optimized in
sections of unpay or low grade zones within the ore body. Sill pillars and stope access pillars are
temporary left and removed once the mining above has been completed. Mining recovery based
on this application was calculated to be 88%, which is consistent with what is currently being
achieved and also consistent similar sized ore bodies with excellent ground conditions and using
Longhole mining methods. Generally, the layout provides for two parallel drill drives to be
established in both the footwall contact and hanging wall contact at intervals that generally limit
Longhole drilling to approximately 30 m. The drilling is by electric hydraulic tire-mounted, ITH
hammer drill rigs and takes place from the sub-level to the drill drift or undercut drift. Drill
patterns are based on what is currently being used and previous DSM experience with parallel
holes.

The parallel development drifts are established in both the footwall contact and hanging wall contact.
This allows for parallel straight holes and pre-shearing holes to be drilled along both the footwall and
hangingwall. Parallel holes in conjunction with pre-shearing holes are done with ITH electric
hydraulic drills which significantly reducing drill hole deviation and the introduction of wall
sloughing. Low energy ANFO will be the blasting agent used in the blast holes. Cartridges of
emulsion type explosive will be used for drill holes when wet conditions are encountered. All
production mucking will be performed by 15 tonne LHD’s (load-haul-dump) machines equipped
with remote controls. Material haulage will be done with 35 tonne trucks. Haulage trucks will
transport the ore from the underground on a dedicated haulage drift to the crusher plant or a surface
stockpile. Once the trucks leave the underground they will travel on a high speed double lane hard
pack haulage road and dump directly into the crusher plant or surface stockpile.

156





Updated Resource & Reserve Estimate, Jacobina Dec 2005

Dilution

Dilution estimates for the 2006 reserves are based on actual reconciled results from the operating
mine include an overall average of 10%. This was based on based on a continued dilution of 151 cm;
121 cm and 30 cm respectively from the combined hangingwall and footwall of the stopes for the
mine. MLF Geotecnica e Mechanicia de Roches Ltda (MLF), a Brazilian-based geotechnical firm
acts as a rock mechanics consultant for the Jacobina Mine and also participated in the 2003 feasibility
study for SNC Lavalin, also provided information related to dilution in the form of estimated
displacement and de-stressing around the stopes.

Dilution was calculated based on ore width (m) according to drilling or channel sampling
information plus 1.51 meters dilution; 1.51 meters on the hangingwall (HW) and 0.30 meters on
the footwall (FW) as shown in Figure 17.13. The grade of dilution is summarized in Table
17.16.

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Updated Resource & Reserve Estimate, Jacobina Dec 2005

  Figure 17.13 Schematic Diagram showing Typical Example of Dilution, Joao Belo Zone

The grade of dilution was estimated from diamond drill samples as follows: Dilution grade
calculations were done on an individual mining block basis with hanging wall and foot wall
grades initially kept separate. With known zone widths this was easily translated into a predicted
thickness of hanging wall and foot wall rock which would comprise the dilution. All drill holes
in each mining block were then queried for those intervals and their grades weight averaged.
Hanging wall and foot wall were at first averaged separately, in case the grade of each needed to
be known, but were later averaged together. Grades by zone were then averaged for each mining
block.

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Updated Resource & Reserve Estimate, Jacobina Dec 2005

TABLE 17.16  GRADE OF DILUTION, JOAO BELO ZONE 
 
  True Width  Dilution Grade 
CATEGORY     
  (m)  (g Au/t) 

Footwall     
Proven  1.0  0.23 
Probable  1.0  0.23 
Hangingwall     
Proven  1.0  0.53 
Probable  1.0  0.53 

The following formula was used for diluted grade:

  Diluted Grade = ((ore width x grade) + (1.21meters HW x HW grade) + (0.30 meters FW
x FW grade)) / stoping width

The control of dilution is achieved by using modern art electric hydraulic ITH drill capable of
drilling accurate straight holes up 50 meters. Development provides two parallel drill drives that
are established in both the footwall contact and hanging wall contact at intervals that generally
limit Longhole drilling to approximately 30 meters. The Drilling is done by the same electric
hydraulic tire-mounted, ITH drill rigs and take place from the upper sub-level drill drift to the
lower sub-level drift.

The parallel drill drives to be established in both the footwall contact and hanging wall contact
will allow for parallel straight holes and where required pre-shearing holes are drilled along both
the footwall and hanging wall. Parallel holes in conjunction with pre-shearing holes done with
ITH electric hydraulic drills significantly reducing drill hole deviation and the introduction of
wall sloughing. The hanging wall development is guided by a good physical contact and
precedes the footwall development. Diamond drilling is done from the leading hanging wall
development on twenty (20) meter spacing to establish the footwall contact. This procedure
allows astute determination of the actual footwall contact prior to the footwall development
taking place.

Block Cut off Grade

The Block Cut Off Grade used was 1.41 g Au/t and was calculated from the Jacobina Mine
Business Plan 2005 using a gold price of U$400/ounce and total operating costs of
U$17.00/tonne.

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Updated Resource & Reserve Estimate, Jacobina Dec 2005

17.3.2 MORRO DO VENTO

In August 2005, a positive pre-feasibility study on the Morro do Vento zone was completed by
Devpro Mining (Adams et al., 2005). This study considered the indicated resource above the
800 level that totalled 5,016,000 tonnes grading 2.08 g Au/t containing 335,000 ounces of gold.
The proven and probable mineral reserve at Morro do Vento is 4,672,000 tonnes grading 1.95 g
Au/t containing 292,000 ounces of gold as set out in Table 17.17. Figure 17.14 is a vertical
longitudinal section of the Morro do Vento zone showing the location of reserve blocks and
proposed development.

TABLE 17.17  MINERAL RESERVES, MORRO DO VENTO ZONE 
  AS AT DECEMBER 31, 2005   
 
  MORRO DO VENTO MINERAL RESERVE   
        CONTAINED 
    TONNES  GRADE   
CATEGORY        GOLD 
      (g Au/t)  (ounces) 

Proven    0  0  0 
Probable    4,672,000  1.95  292,000 

Total Proven and Probable  4,672,000  1.95  292,000 

The mineral reserve estimate is based on the updated mineral resource estimate which was
prepared using a conventional polygonal technique on vertical longitudinal sections using the
procedures as set out in the reports by Hennessey (2003b) and Pearson and Tagliamonte (2005).
Key parameters for the determining the reserve estimate are as follows.

Specific Gravity

A specific gravity of 2.6 was used based on tests previously carried out by SGS Lakefield for the
SNC Lavalin feasibility study in August 2003.

Geometry

The average dip of the mineralized ore body (MU and LU reefs) is 50o.

Methodology

The area of polygons was determined on vertical longitudinal section using AutoCAD. For
volume and tonnage calculation the following formulae was used.

  Reserve = Area of polygon (m2) x true width (m) x 2.6 / 0.77

161





Updated Resource & Reserve Estimate, Jacobina Dec 2005

Mining Method

The mining method selected is longitudinal longhole open stoping. This method is identical to
that used in the past and is currently utilized in other areas at the Jacobina Mine operations. This
method of mining has proven successful and is therefore incorporated into the Devpro pre-
feasibility study. Figure 17.15 is a typical stope cross section with level layouts. Figure 17.16 is
a typical stope Longhole layout.

For the purposes of the Devpro study, the drill level interval has been selected at 25 metres in
order to limit the length of drill hole to approximately 27 metres. This length of drill hole is felt
to be the limit for drilling accuracy using top hammer drilling equipment. Drilling accuracy is a
key issue in limiting dilution in long hole open stoping and the same techniques used to
minimize hole deviation at the Jacobina Mine will be used at Morro do Vento.

Dilution

Dilution was estimated by assuming that 0.5 m of wall rock from the hanging wall and footwall
would be excavated with the ore. The grade attributed to the dilution tonnage was based on
assays of drill holes for these intersections. The dilution tonnage amounted to 742,000 tonnes, or
approximately 13 % of the total reserve tonnes, at an average grade of 0.38 grams per tonne.

Block Cut-off Grade

The estimated mineral reserves area based on a cut-off grade of 1.41 g Au/t which is increased
slightly from the cut-off grade used in the Devpro report (1.3 g Au/t) reflecting increases in costs
since the report was completed, however the gold price has been increased from US$350 to
US$400 offsetting these increased costs. The cutoff grade was calculated from the Jacobina
Mine Business Plan 2006 using a gold price of U$400/ounce and total operating costs of
U$17.00/tonne. Since mining will be taking place in the same general geological and mining
environment as the Jacobina Mine (João Belo Zone), it is felt that the cut-off grade is appropriate
for mineral reserve estimation for the Morro Vento area.

163







Updated Resource & Reserve Estimate, Jacobina Dec 2005

17.3.3 MORRO DO VENTO EXTENSION

The mineral reserve estimate at the Morro do Vento Extension is based on the total measured and
indicated mineral resources of 3,560,000 tonnes grading 2.89g Au/t containing 332,000 ounces
of gold. The proven and probable mineral reserve is 2,770,000 tonnes grading 2.69 g Au/t
containing 240,000 ounces as set out in Table 17.18.

TABLE 17.18  MINERAL RESERVES, MORRO DO VENTO EXTENSION ZONE 
    AS AT DECEMBER 31, 2005   
 
  MORRO DO VENTO EXTENSION MINE   
    MINERAL RESERVE     
    TONNES  GRADE  CONTAINED GOLD 
CATEGORY         
      (g Au/t)  (ounces) 

Proven    58,000  3.57  6,700 
Probable    2,712,000  2.68  233,300 

Total Proven and Probable  2,770,000  2.69  240,000 

Specific Gravity

A specific gravity of 2.6 was used based on tests previously carried out by SGS Lakefield for the
SNC Lavalin feasibility study in August 2003.

Geometry

The average dip of the mineralized ore body (Basal reef) is 55o.

Methodology

The estimation process is similar to that at Joao Belo except that only larger mining blocks are
created. No individual polygons are created around drill holes. The area of mining blocks is
determined and converted to volumes using the average true width of all composites in block and
the correction for dip. Grades are interpolated by taking the weighted average, by composite
width, of all assay composites through the block. Assays are capped at 30 g Au/t. Due to a
relative lack of intercepts in the upper part of the deposit, chip/channel composites are used more
commonly; at deeper levels diamond drilling completed during 2004 and 2005 at approximately
50m centres has outlined the indicated resources used as the basis for the reserve estimation.

The area of polygons was determined on vertical longitudinal section using AutoCAD. For
volume and tonnage calculation the following formulae was used.

  Reserve = Area of polygon (m2) x true width (m) x 2.6 / 0.82

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Updated Resource & Reserve Estimate, Jacobina Dec 2005

Mining Method

The mining method will be Sub-level Open Stoping with drilling sublevels every 30m vertical
distance. Production headings will have drawpoints located at 630 m, 525 m and 390 m levels.

Dilution

Dilution was estimated by assuming that 0.5 m of wall rock from the hanging wall and footwall
would be excavated with the ore. The grade attributed to the dilution tonnage was based on
assays of drill holes for these intersections. Dilution grade estimated was 0.21 g Au/t for
hangingwall, 0.42 g Au/t for footwall and 0.30 g Au/t in total.

Block Cut-off Grade

Since mining will be taking place in the same general geological and mining environment as the
Jacobina Mine (João Belo Zone), and Morro de Vento, the 1.41 g Au/t cut-off grade is
appropriate for mineral reserve estimation for Morro do Vento Extension.

17.3.4 SERRA DO CORREGO

The mineral reserve estimate at Serra do Córrego is based on the total measured and indicated
mineral resources of 920,000 tonnes grading 2.44g Au/t containing 72,000 ounces of gold. The
proven and probable mineral reserve is 918,000 tonnes grading 2.17 g Au/t containing 64,000
ounces of gold as set out in Table 17.20. This reserve estimate was prepared as part of the SNC
Lavalin feasibility study completed in August 2003. A review of costs by DSM and in
consideration of the increased revenues from a higher gold price used for this reserve update
(US$400 versus $US350), indicate that this reserve estimate remains reasonable and
appropriate.

TABLE 17.19 MINERAL RESERVES, SERRA DO CÓRREGO ZONE AS AT DECEMBER 31, 2005

  SERRA DO CÓRREGO   
  MINERAL RESERVE     
CATEGORY  TONNES  GRADE  CONTAINED GOLD 
    (g Au/t)  (ounces) 

Proven  -  -  - 
Probable  918,000  2.17  64,000 

Total Proven and Probable  918,000  2.17  64,000 

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Updated Resource & Reserve Estimate, Jacobina Dec 2005

Specific Gravity

A specific gravity of 2.6 was used based on tests previously carried out by SGS Lakefield for the
SNC Lavalin feasibility study in August 2003.

Geometry

The average dip of the mineralized ore body (Mu and Lu reef) is 60o.

Methodology

The resources here in Serra do Córrego were estimated using a method similar to Joao Belo
except that little previous development exists. The area of polygons was determined on vertical
longitudinal section using AutoCAD. For volume and tonnage calculation the following
formulae was used.

  Reserve = Area of polygon (m2) x true width (m) x 2.6 / 0.87

Mining Method

The mining method will be Sub-level Retreat Longitudinal Open Stoping with drilling sublevels
every 30m vertical distance. Production headings with draw points located at 830m, and 784m
levels. It is estimated that a nominal target of 400 tonnes per day would be an appropriate rate for
an appropriate rate given the size of the deposit, mine layout and the allowable time for
preproduction development.

Dilution

Dilution was estimated by assuming that 0.5 m of wall rock from the hanging wall and footwall
would be excavated with the ore. The grade attributed to the dilution tonnage was based on
assays of drill holes for these intersections:

  • Dilution grade estimated in MU zone 0.36 g Au/t for the hangingwall and 0.21 g Au/t for the footwall.
  • Dilution grade estimated in LU zone 0.16 g Au/t for hangingwall and 0.36 g Au/t for the footwall.

Block Cut-off Grade

Since mining will be taking place in the same general geological and mining environment as the
Jacobina Mine (João Belo Zone), and Morro de Vento, the 1.41 g Au/t cut-off grade is
appropriate for mineral reserve estimation for Serra do Córrego.

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Updated Resource & Reserve Estimate, Jacobina Dec 2005

17.4 RESPONSIBILITY FOR ESTIMATION

The mineral resource estimates were done DSM employees Anselmo Rubio, Carlos Barbosa and
others under the direction of DSM’s in-house Qualified Person (QP) Dr. William N. Pearson,
P.Geo. who accepts responsibility for the mineral resource estimate as DSM’s QP for geological
and technical work, as required by NI 43-101

Mr. Rubio is a graduate of the school of geology at Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro
and has extensive experience at the Jacobina property having worked extensively on the original
exploration, mine development and production over a period of almost 30 years. Mr. Barbosa is
a graduate geological engineer from the Universidade Federal do Ouro Preto who is a computer
specialist in the mining industry in Brazil. Both would be considered Qualified Persons except
for the lack of membership in an appropriate self regulatory organization; such an organization is
not in existence at this time in Brazil.

B. Terrence Hennessey, P.Geo. (APGO membership #0038), the author of several independent
reports on the project (Hennessey, 2003a, 2003b and 1998) has reviewed the resource estimation
procedures and results on a regular basis at Jacobina.

The mineral reserve estimate was completed by DSM Mine Department personnel under the
supervision of Mr. Peter Tagliamonte, P.Eng., who accepts responsibility for the mineral
reserves as DSM’s QP for mining and engineering work as required by NI 43-101.

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Updated Resource & Reserve Estimate, Jacobina Dec 2005

  18.0 OTHER RELEVANT DATA AND INFORMATION

There is no other relevant data and information.

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Updated Resource & Reserve Estimate, Jacobina Dec 2005

19.0 INTERPRETATION AND CONCLUSIONS

Desert Sun owns 100% of the Jacobina property, which includes the Jacobina Gold Mine, the
Morro do Vento project currently under development, additional projects in the mine area slated
for near term development, and the associated 155-kilometer long Bahia Gold Belt. Since 2002,
DSM has completed a three-stage development program as follows:

  • In the first stage (2002 - 2003), completed in September 2003, Desert Sun secured exclusive ownership of the Jacobina property and completed a feasibility study that supported the reopening of the Jacobina Mine.
  • The second stage (2003 - 2005), completed in June 2005, involved bringing the Jacobina Mine back into production in line within the proposals contained in the SNC Lavalin feasibility study, as modified through the development process. Rehabilitation of the Jacobina Mine started in earnest in April 2004. Existing facilities were refurbished and improvements made in the mining and processing methods. The plant facilities were completed in February 2005, with a rated capacity of 4,200 tonnes per day and expected annualized production of some 100,000 ounces. The first gold pour took place in March 2005 and commercial production was declared as of July 1, 2005.
  • With production at the Jacobina Mine approaching 100% of design capacity, the Company has initiated the third stage (2005 - 2009) of its development program, the goal of which is the expansion of annual production through development of additional mining areas within the immediate vicinity of the existing plant facilities to over 250,000 ounces per annum. Planning done to date has highlighted the potential for developing four additional mining areas over the next three to four years in order to successfully achieve this goal.

DSM began exploring the property in September 2002 and has had on-going exploration
programs ever since. Over the past three and one-half years to December 31, 2005, a total of
65,538m in 447 surface and underground diamond drill holes have been completed. Over this
period exploration has resulted in the discovery and development of five development projects
(Joao Belo II, Morro do Vento, Morro do Vento Extension, Serra do Corrego and Canavieiras).
The 2005 exploration program was very successful in outlining new mineral resources as well as
upgrading existing inferred mineral resources to the indicated category in the Jacobina mine area.

Exploration by DSM in the northern Bahia Gold Belt near Pindobaçu, 50km north of Jacobina,
has outlined a major area of gold mineralization with excellent potential to host economic
orebody. New geological thinking arising from this exploration work focussing on the likely
hydrothermal origin of the gold mineralization has expanded areas with opportunities to find
significant deposits.

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Updated Resource & Reserve Estimate, Jacobina Dec 2005

19.1 MINERAL RESOURCES

Measured and Indicated mineral resources for all zones at Jacobina now total 27,900,000 tonnes
grading 2.57g Au/t containing 2,311,000 ounces of gold (Table 1.1) . This is a significant
increase of 261,000 ounces of gold compared to the December 2004 measured and indicated
resource of 24,800,000 tonnes grading 2.53g Au/t containing 2,050,000 ounces of gold. Since
the August 2003 resource estimate that formed the basis for the SNC-Lavalin feasibility study,
exploration and development work by Desert Sun has increased Measured and Indicated mineral
resources by 949,000 ounces of gold at an average discovery cost of approximately US$10 per
ounce. At the Jacobina Mine, drilling and development has outlined sufficient new measured
and indicated resources to replace 2005 production.

Additionally, Inferred mineral resources in all zones now total 33,600,000 tonnes grading 2.80g
Au/t containing 3,029,000 ounces of gold. This a substantial addition of 1,129,000 ounces of
gold compared to the December 2004 inferred mineral resource of 22,200,000 tonnes grading
2.61g Au/t containing 1,900,000 ounces of gold. This increase reflects major additions at the
Jacobina Mine (João Belo zone) where inferred mineral resources now total 14,430,000 tonnes
grading 2.66g Au/t containing 1,235,000 ounces of gold compared to the December 2004
inferred resource of 5,300,000 grading 2.33g Au/t containing 390,000 ounces of gold. The
Inferred mineral resource at Canavieiras now totals 6,900,000 tonnes grading 3.29 g Au/t
containing 730,000 ounces compared to the December 2004 Inferred mineral resource of
3,700,000 tonnes grading 2.41g Au/t containing 290,000 ounces of gold, an increase of 440,000
ounces.

  TABLE 19.1
MINERAL RESOURCE SUMMARY FOR THE JACOBINA PROJECT AS OF
DECEMBER 20, 2005

Category  Tonnes  Grade  Contained 
    (g/t Au)  Gold 
      (ounces) 

Measured  3,400,000  2.68  295,000 
Indicated  24,500,000  2.56  2,016,000 

 
Total Measured and  27,900,000  2.57  2,311,000 
Indicated       
Inferred  33,600,000  2.80  3,029,000 

B. Terrence Hennessey, P.Geo., of Micon International reviewed the updated resource estimate
and confirmed that this was estimated in accordance with the requirements of National
Instrument 43-101 (see APPENDIX III).

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Updated Resource & Reserve Estimate, Jacobina Dec 2005

  19.2 MINERAL RESERVES

  Proven and probable mineral reserves in the Jacobina Mine (João Belo Zone) are 13,220,000
tonnes grading 2.15 g Au/t containing 913,100 ounces of gold. Total Proven and Probable
mineral reserves in all zones are 21,580,000 tonnes grading 2.18 g Au/t containing 1,510,000
ounces as summarized in Table 119.2 below. This is an increase of 310,000 ounces from the
August 2005 reserve estimate (see press release August 11, 2005)

This new reserve estimate is now being used in the Jacobina Mine development plan and
increases mine life by over three years. A pre-feasibility study is currently in progress for the
Canavieiras Mine, which has the potential to further increase reserves. The new estimate at João
Belo contains a contribution from the newly discovered FW (Footwall) Reef in the main ore
zone. The exploration drilling program at João Belo in 2005 also outlined inferred mineral
resources totaling 1,235,000 ounces and the potential is very good that a significant portion of
this resource can eventually be upgraded with further drilling to a reserve based on historical and
recent experience.

The mineral reserve estimate is set out in Table 1.2 below. The reserves were estimated using a
gold price of US$400 per ounce and a block cutoff grade of 1.41 g Au/t. Dilution and mining
recovery rates appropriate for each zone were applied following established practices at the
mine. Desert Sun has all operating permits in place for production.

TABLE 19.2  ESTIMATED MINERAL RESERVES AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2005, 
    JACOBINA MINE AREA       
 
Mine/Area  Proven  Probable  Proven & Probable   
              Ounces 
  Tonnes  g Au/t  Tonnes  g Au/t  Tonnes  g Au/t   
              Contained 

Joao Belo 2  3,007,000  2.18  10,215,000  2,14  13,220,000  2.15  913,000 
Morro do Vento 4  Nil  Nil  4,672,000  1.95  4,672,000  1.95  292,000 
Morro do Vento               
3  58,000  3.57  2,712,000  2.68  2,770,000  2.69  240,000 
Ext. (Basal Reef               
Serra de Córrego 3  Nil  Nil  918,000  2.17  918,000  2.17  64.000 

Total 5          21,580,000  2.18  1,510,000 

  1 Mineral reserves have been classified in accordance with CIM standards under NI 43-101.
2 Desert Sun Mining mineral reserve estimate December 31, 2005
3 Updated following original Dynatec mineral reserve estimation of September 2003 in the SNC
Lavalin feasibility study (see DSM Press Release September 12, 2003).
4 Desert Sun Mining mineral reserve estimate August 11, 2005 (reviewed by Devpro Mining
Inc.) (see DSM Press Release August 11, 2005).
5 Totals have been rounded.

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Updated Resource & Reserve Estimate, Jacobina Dec 2005

19.3 EXPLORATION AND DEVELOPMENT

A major exploration and development program collectively estimated to cost US$7.5 million is
recommended for 2006 to followup on the success of 2005 as follows:

  • US$4.0 million exploration including 13,000m of diamond drilling
  • US$1.5 million surface and underground drilling at Joao Belo
  • US$1.5 million to drift 1500 metres and further drilling at Canavieiras
  • US$0.5 million for an independent pre-feasibility study for a plant expansion, metallurgical tests for this study and geotechnical studies.

These recommended expenditures are budgeted separately from the costs for operation of the
Jacobina mine, development of the Morro do Vento mine and operation of the processing plant.
The operations budget and program are not reviewed in this report.

19.3.1 EXPLORATION

The recommended exploration program will focus on the major target areas at Canavieiras, Serra
do Córrego and Pindobaçu as follows:

Canavieiras

The proposed exploration program at Canavieiras, which is budgeted at US$2.0 million, will
focus on further extending the known mineralized reefs to the south and east. Downhole induced
polarization (IP) surveys will be carried out to help define drill targets and give the wide spaced
drill holes a greater area of influence in target generation. This survey, which will be carried out
by JVX Limited under the supervision of John Buckle, P.Geo., consulting geophysicist, will also
include historical holes where they can be accessed. Diamond drilling totalling 7,000 metres has
been allocated for Canavieiras and will focus primarily on identifying new zones of gold
mineralization and expanding inferred mineral resources. Initial diamond drilling will be from
the No. 6 adit, 230m south of the old mine workings and then from surface. Depending on when
the new drift is completed some of the drilling may be completed from this new drift.

Dr. Paul Karpeta will carry out a structural study of the Jacobina area to better characterize the
controls on gold mineralization, especially the late hematite-gold enrichment which is the source
for the very high grade intersections in the deposit.

Serra do Córrego

The proposed exploration program at Serra do Córrego, which includes diamond drilling of
2,800m, will focus on the Maneira, Lagartixa and Viuva target areas which have potential to host
higher grade gold mineralization similar to Canavieiras. This area will also be included in Dr.
Karpeta’s structural study. The budget for the proposed exploration program at Serra do Córrego
is $US1.0 million.

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Updated Resource & Reserve Estimate, Jacobina Dec 2005

Pindobaçu

Work in 2005 continued to demonstrate the excellent potential of the Pindobaçu area to host
significant gold deposits. The recommended program, which is budgeted at US$1.0 million,
includes 3,200m of drilling to test the strong hydrothermal alteration zone deeper. Downhole IP
surveys will be completed at Pindobaçu to aid in location of drill holes. Exploration work
including geological mapping and geochemical sampling will also continued to be carried out in
the Entry Point area to better characterize the distribution of the conglomerates and locate the
thickest sections of conglomerates. A regional mapping and prospecting program will also be
completed in the 60km of property held by DSM north of Pindobaçu.

19.3.2 DEVELOPMENT AND EXPLORATION

A US$1.5 million surface and underground exploration program is recommended at Joao Belo to
followup on the successful results from the 2005 program. Drilling of deep targets will be done
from surface while shallower targets will be from underground. As underground development
advances, more drilling will likely be done from underground. The exploration holes will test
the full stratigraphic section. Total drilling will be in the order of 8,000m.

The budget includes a provision for $US1.5 million to drift 1500 metres at Canavieiras to
strategically place drill platforms to test extensions of known zones, reduce drill hole length
thereby enabling more ground to be tested with the same amount of drilling and increase
resources. In addition this underground development will allow the opportunity to drift through
the MU and LU reefs to test mining conditions and continuity of grade in the zones. Planning of
the development work is in progress and the amount of drilling that can be completed in 2006 in
this program will depend on the final cost and rate at which development is completed.

The budget of $US0.5 million for the independent pre-feasibility study for a plant expansion
includes provisions for metallurgical tests for this study and geotechnical studies. This study
will look at potential plant expansion scenarios to 6,500tpd and 10,000tpd. AMEC Americas has
been selected to do this work. Metallurgical tests will include testing the variability of different
ore feeds to the expanded plant, test work for a potential gravity circuit and test work to size the
key components in the expanded plant such as crushers, grinding mills, and leach circuit. In
addition, a geotechnical assessment will be carried out at Morro do Vento Extension and
Canavieiras.

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Updated Resource & Reserve Estimate, Jacobina Dec 2005

  20.0 RECOMMENDATIONS

It is recommended that DSM carry out a major exploration and development program
collectively estimated to cost US$7.5 million for 2006 to followup on the success of 2005 as
follows:

  • US$4.0 million exploration including a total 13,000m of diamond drilling in the Canavieiras, Serra do Córrego and Pindobaçu target areas
  • US$1.5 million surface and underground drilling at Joao Belo
  • US$1.5 million to drift 1500 metres and further drilling at Canavieiras
  • US$0.5 million for a pre-feasibility study and metallurgical tests for a plant expansion.

  These recommended expenditures are budgeted separately from the costs for operation of the
Jacobina mine, development of the Morro do Vento mine and operation of the processing plant.
The operations budget and program are not reviewed in this report.

(signed)     
“William N. Pearson”     
William N. Pearson, Ph.D., P.Geo.     
Vice President, Exploration     
(signed)     
Peter Tagliamonte”     
Peter Wilson Tagliamonte M.B.A., P.Eng     
Vice President, Operations and COO    January 20, 2006 
 
 
 
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Updated Resource & Reserve Estimate, Jacobina Dec 2005

21.0 REFERENCES

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Desert Sun Mining, Pre-Feasibility Study Report, a technical report filed on SEDAR
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Almeida, F.F.M., 1977, O Cráton do São Francisco: SBG. Rev. Bras. Geoc., São Paulo, v. 7, p.
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Barnicoat, A. C., Henderson, I. H. C., Knipe, R. J., Yardley, B. W. D., Napier, R. W., Fox, N. P.
C. et al. 1997, Hydrothermal gold mineralization in the Witwatersrand basin. Nature,
386, 820-824.

BLM Service Group, 1997, Operational, Technical Review and Business Plan of the Jacobina
Mine Operation, Brazil, prepared for William Resources Inc.

Buckle, J and Alikaj, P, 2002, Physical Property Measurements of Rock Samples From the
Jacobina Property, Bahia State, Brazil, An F1 Technical Report for Desert Sun Mining.

Buckle, J, 2003, Processing, Map Production and Interpretation of Airborne Magnetic and
Radiometric Data from the Jacobina Area of Brazil for Desert Sun Mining Corp., a
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Burke, K., Kidd, W.S.F., and Kusky, T.M., 1986, Archaean foreland basin tectonics in the
Witwatersrand, South Africa: Tectonics, v. 5, p. 439-456.

Couto, P.A., Sampaio, A.R., Gil, C.A.A., Loureiro, H.C., Arcanjo, J.B., Fernandes Filho, J.F.,
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geoquímica, relatório final, Salvador: CPRM. Convênio DNPM-CPRM., 415 p.

Coward, M.P., Spencer, R.M. and Spencer, C.E., 1995, Development of the Witwatersrand
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Geol. Soc. London Spec. Pub., n. 95, p. 243-269.

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Gibson, R.H., 1995, Selective fault reactivation during basin inversion: potential for fluid
redistribution through fault-valve action, in Buchanan, J.G., and Buchanan, P.G., eds,
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Updated Resource & Reserve Estimate, Jacobina Dec 2005

Gray, G.J., Lawrence, S.R., Kenyon, K., and Cornford, C., 1998, Nature and origin of “carbon”
in the Archaean Witwatersrand basin, South Africa: Jour. Geol. Soc. London, v. 155, p.
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Griffon, J.C., 1967, Apresentação do Mapa Geológico (1:100.000) da parte Central da Serra de
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Comunicações, Roteiro das Excursões. SBG, Curitiba, p. 33-34.

Hennessey, B. T., 2003a; A Review Of The Proposed Phase II Exploration Program For The
Jacobina Property, Bahia State, Brazil, a technical report for Desert Sun Mining Corp.,
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Brazil, a technical report for Desert Sun Mining Corp., filed on SEDAR www.sedar.com.

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Proposed Exploration Program For, The Jacobina Property, Bahia State, Brazil”, a
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Heylmun, Edgar B. 2000, International California Mining Journal, Gold Gravels in
Gondwanaland. ICMJ, June 2000,
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Horscroft, F.D., 1986, The occurrence of gold in quartz-pebble conglomerate at Jacobina, Bahia:
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Jolley, S.J., Freeman, S.R., Barnicoat, A.C., and others, 2004, Structural controls on
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Karpeta, W.P, 1994, Sea level changes and placer formation: The application of sequence
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Karpeta, W.P., Gendall, I.R., and King, J.A., 1991, Evidence for marine marginal and submarine
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Updated Resource & Reserve Estimate, Jacobina Dec 2005

Karpeta, W.P., Searra, J., Spathelf, P., Duvel, C., Woods, S., and Brown, A., 2002, The
sedimentology and structural setting of the banket on Tarkwa Gold Mine, Ghana: (Abs)
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bearing conglomerates: a new model for the Jacobina basin, São Francisco province,
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Mascarenhas, J.F., and Silva, E.F.A., 1994, Greenstone belt de Mundo Novo: caracterização e
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Molinari, L., Gama, H.B., and Schettini, P., 1986, Estratigrafia do Grupo Jacobina, Min. Morro
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Updated Resource & Reserve Estimate, Jacobina Dec 2005

Molinari, L., and Scarpelli, W., 1988, Depósito de ouro de Jacobina Bahia, in: Principais
Depósitos Minerais do Brasil, Coordenadores C. Schobbenhaus & C.E.S. Coelho.
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Pigois, J.P., Groves, D.I., Fletcher, N., McNaughton, N., and Snee, L.W., 2003, Constraints on
the age of Birimian gold mineralization and source of the Tarkwaian palaeoplacers in
Ghana: SHRIMP II U-Pb ages of detrital zircons and hydrothermal xenotime from the
Tarkwa Damang gold district. Mineralium Deposita, v. 38, p. 695-714.

Pearson, W., Moura de Macedo, P, Rubio, A., Lorenzo Lorenzo, C, and Karpeta, P., 2006;
Geology and Gold Mineralization of the Jacobina Mine and Bahia Gold Belt, Bahia,
Brazil; in Geological Society of Nevada Symposium Volume (in press)

Pearson, W. and Tagliamonte, P., 2005; An Updated Mineral Resource and Mineral Reserve
Estimate and Results of the 2004 Exploration Program for the Jacobina and Bahia Gold
Property, Bahia State, Brazil, 126p.

Reipas, K, 2003, Jacobina Production Rate Assessment, SRK Consulting, December 2003.

Robb, L.J., and Meyer, F.M., 1995, The Witwatersrand basin, South Africa: geological
framework and mineralization processes: Ore Geology Reviews, v. 10, p. 67-94.

Rodgers, K. R. and Hennessey, B. T., 1998; Review of the Gold Mining Operations of Jacobina
Mineração e Comércio Ltda., Bahia State, Brazil. A technical report by Micon
International Limited for William Resources Limited.

Rubio, A., Menchen, K. and Pearson, B., 2002, Summary Report, Geology and Exploration
Potential, Jacobina Project, State of Bahia, Brazil: technical report for Desert Sun Mining
Corp., August 30, 2002, 25p. filed on SEDAR as an appendix to Hennessey, (2002).

Rubio, A., Menchen, K. and Pearson, B., 2003, Summary Report, Phase I Exploration Program,
Jacobina Project, State of Bahia, Brazil: technical report for Desert Sun Mining Corp.,
April 16, 2002, 27p., Filed on SEDAR as an appendix to Hennessey, (2002).

Sabaté, P., Marinho, M.M., Vidal, P.H., Caen-Vachette, M., 1990, The 2 Ga peralulminous
magmatism of the Jacobina-Contendas-Mirante belts, Bahia, Brazil: geologic and
isotopic constraints on the sources. Chem. Geol., 83, p. 325-338.

180



Updated Resource & Reserve Estimate, Jacobina Dec 2005

Sabaté, P., Barbosa, J.S.F., Marinho, M.M., 1992, The São Francisco craton: a short outline.

I.G.C.P. 280. The oldest Rocks on Earth, Review Article, Salvador, Brazil, p.1-6.

Sestini, G., 1973, Sedimentology of a palaeoplacer: the gold-bearing Tarkwaian of Ghana, in:

  Amstutz, G.C., and Bernard, A.J., eds, Ores in Sediments, Springer Verlag, Berlin, p.
275-305.

SNC Lavalin Engineers and Constructors Inc., 2003, Jacobina Gold Project, Jacobina, Bahia
State, Brazil, Feasibility Report, September 2003 (Filed on SEDAR).

Souza, S.L. de, Garrido, I.A. de A., Oliveira, N.S. de, Fróes, R.J.B., 2002, Projeto Greenstone
Belt de Mundo Novo: Estudos Geológicos Regionais, SICM/CBPM, Salvador, 62 p.

Strogen, P., 1988, The structure and sedimentology of the Tarkwaian and its relevance to gold
mining, exploration and development: (Abs) International Conference and workshop on
the Geology of Ghana with Special Emphasis on Gold, Accra, Ghana, p. 41

Strydom, P.M., and Minter, W.E.L., 1976, A Stratigraphic and sedimentological report of the
Main Reef in the Itapicuru Prospect near Jacobina, Bahia, Brazil: 20 p. (unpublished
Anglo report).

Tainton, S., 1994, A review of the Witwatersrand basin and trends in exploration: Proc. XVth
CMMI Congress, v. 3, SAIMM, p 19-45.

Teixeira, J., de Souza, J., da Silva, M., Leite, C., Barbosa, J., Coelho, C., Abram, M., Filho, V.,
and Iyer, S., 2001, Gold Mineralization in the Serra de Jacobina region, Bahia Brazil:
Tectonic Framework and Metallogenesis, Mineralium Deposita (2001) 36, pp. 332-344.

Teixeira, J.B.G., Souza, J.A.B., Silva, M. da G. da, and others, 1999, Metalogênese dos depósitos
auríferos na Região Central da Serra de Jacobina, Bahia: Rel. Téc. preparado para a
William Resources Inc., Salvador, 39 p.

Topitsch, W.M., 1993, Geoquímica e petrologia dos ultramafitos e mafitos da Serra de
Jacobina/Bahia: Komatiítos, basaltos de alto Mg e toleítos numa bacia oceânica
intracontinental, in: II Simpósio sobre o Cráton do São Francisco, Salvador, SBG, SGM,
Anais, p. 109-111.

Tunks, A.J., Selley, D., Rogers, J.R., and Brabham, G., 2004, Vein mineralization at the Damang
Gold Mine, Ghana: Controls on mineralization: Jour. Struct. Geol., v. 26, p. 1257-1273.

The Virtual Explorer Website, Geological Research for the Exploration Industry, 2002,
Witwatersrand Gold Fields, South Africa page.
http://www.virtualexplorer.com.au/VEexploration/VEorebodies/Witwatersrand/

181



Updated Resource & Reserve Estimate, Jacobina Dec 2005

The Weather Underground Website, Seasonal Average Weather Data
http://www.wunderground.com

Winter, H. de la Rey, 1987, A cratonic foreland basin model for the Witwatersrand basin
development in a continental back-arc plate tectonic setting: S. Afr. Jour. Geol., v. 90, p.
409-427.

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Updated Resource & Reserve Estimate, Jacobina Dec 2005

  22.0 CERTIFICATE

CERTIFICATE – WILLIAM PEARSON

I, William Norman Pearson of Thornhill, Ontario, Canada, do hereby certify that:

I hold the position of Vice President, Exploration with Desert Sun Mining Corporation and am
responsible for directing all exploration work on the Jacobina and Bahia Gold Belt property. My
principal responsibilities are to provide leadership and guidance to the geological team in Brazil,
to maximize the results of exploration while maintaining good cost control. I also regularly
liaise with geological personnel at the mine and review results of exploration and development.
Additional responsibilities include preparation of reports for compliance, preparation of
presentation and marketing materials and presentations to investors.

My current office address is Suite 810 – 65 Queen Street West, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5H
2M5

1.  (a)  I have the following degrees and qualifications: 
    *  Bachelor of Science in Honours Geology, 1974, University of British Columbia 
    *  Masters of Science in Economic Geology, 1977, Queen’s University, Kingston, 
      Ontario 
    *  Doctor of Philosophy in Economic Geology, 1980, Queen’s University, Kingston, 
      Ontario 
  (b) I hold the following registrations and memberships: 
    *  Member of Association of Professional Geoscientists of Ontario (P.Geo.), in good 
      standing 
    *  Member of Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of British 
      Columbia (P.Geo.), in good standing 
    *  I have been practising as a professional geologist since 1974 
    *  By reason of experience and education, I fulfill the requirements of a qualified person 
      as set out in National Instrument 43-101 (“NI 43-101”). 
2.  I have visited the Jacobina Mine site in person on a number of occasions. My most recent visit 
  was in December, 2005. 
3.  I have prepared the report titled “AN UPDATED MINERAL RESOURCE AND 
  MINERAL RESERVE ESTIMATE AND RESULTS OF 2005 EXPLORATION 

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Updated Resource & Reserve Estimate, Jacobina Dec 2005

  PROGRAM FOR THE JACOBINA AND BAHIA GOLD BELT PROPERTY, BAHIA
STATE, BRAZIL

4.      I have read NI 43-101 and Form 43-101F1. This technical report updating the mineral reserve and resource estimates has been prepared in compliance with NI 43-101 and Form 43-101F1. It may be used by Desert Sun Mining in support of offerings of securities in Canada.
 
5.      As of the date of this Certificate, I am not aware of any material fact or change with respect to the subject matter of the Report which is not reflected therein, and which the omission to disclose would make the Report misleading.
 
6.      By virtue of my employment with a Desert Sun Mining, I am not independent of Desert Sun Mining. I also beneficially own, directly or indirectly, securities in Desert Sun Mining.
 

Dated this 20th day of January, 2006.

  (signed)

William Norman Pearson, Ph.D., P.Geo.

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Updated Resource & Reserve Estimate, Jacobina Dec 2005

CERTIFICATE – PETER TAGLIAMONTE

I, Peter Wilson Tagliamonte of North Bay, Ontario, Canada, do hereby certify that:

I hold the position of Vice President and Chief Operating Officer with Desert Sun Mining Corporation
and am responsible for the Jacobina Mineração e Comércio, a subsidiary of Desert Sun Mining (“Desert
Sun”). I have been the Vice President Operations and responsible for the Jacobina Mine for two years.
My current principal responsibilities are the operation and expansion of the Jacobina Mine and include
providing leadership, guidance, and co-operation to department managers to ensure the production goals
are achieved at optimum efficiency and minimum cost consistent with safe operating procedures,
applicable laws, and sound business practices in a fashion consistent with the values and principals of the
Company. I am responsible for all aspects of the Mine operations, including mining, geology, milling,
maintenance, and engineering and reviewing the annual development, ore reserves, and mine business
plans

My current office address is Fazenda Itapucuru s/n , Jacobina , BA CEP 44.700 -000

1.  (a)  I have the following degrees and qualifications: 
    * Masters of Business Administration (M.B.A.) , 1993, University of Western Ontario 
    *  Bachelor of Engineering, 1987, Laurentian University 
    I hold the following registrations and memberships: 
  (b) *  Member of Professional Engineers of Ontario, in good standing 
    *  Canadian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, in good standing 
    *  I have been practising as a professional mining engineer since 1989 
    *  By reason of experience and education, I fulfill the requirements of a qualified person 
      as set out in National Instrument 43-101 (“NI 43-101”). 
2.  I am on site at the Jacobina Mine regularly. My most recent visit was in December, 2005. 
3.  I have prepared the report titled “AN UPDATED MINERAL RESOURCE AND 
  MINERAL RESERVE ESTIMATE AND RESULTS OF 2004 EXPLORATION 
  PROGRAM FOR THE JACOBINA AND BAHIA GOLD BELT PROPERTY, BAHIA 
  STATE, BRAZIL 
4.  I have read NI 43-101 and Form 43-101F1. This technical report updating the mineral reserve 
  and resource estimates has been prepared in compliance with NI 43-101 and Form 43-101F1. It 
  may be used by Desert Sun Mining in support of offerings of securities in Canada. 

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Updated Resource & Reserve Estimate, Jacobina Dec 2005

5.      As of the date of this Certificate, I am not aware of any material fact or change with respect to the subject matter of the Report which is not reflected therein, and which the omission to disclose would make the Report misleading.
 
6.      By virtue of my employment with a Desert Sun Mining , I am not independent of Desert Sun Mining. I also beneficially own, directly or indirectly, securities in Desert Sun Mining.
 

Dated this 20th day of January, 2006.

(signed)

Peter Wilson Tagliamonte M.B.A., P.Eng

186



Updated Resource & Reserve Estimate, Jacobina Dec 2005

APPENDIX I TITLE OPINION, LIST OF CLAIMS AND MAPS

SHOWING LOCATION AND EXTENT OF CLAIMS

187



  January 18, 2006.

  TO
DESERT SUN MINING CORP.
Attn.: Mr. Bill Pearson

  Title to the Jacobina Mine and Concessions

  We have been acting as corporate local counsel to Jacobina Mineração e Comércio
Ltda. (“Jacobina”) in the Federative Republic of Brazil and have been asked to render this
opinion with respect to matters of Brazilian law only in connection with mining rights
presently held by Jacobina in respect the Jacobina mine and concessions.

Our firm has been rendering legal assistance to Canadian mining companies and we
have advised Jacobina since 1996. We have also been involved in other transactions
related to mining companies, rendering legal services to clients located inside and outside
the Federative Republic of Brazil.

Desert Sun Mining Corp. (“Desert Sun”) itself and through its subsidiary DSM
Participações Ltda. is the beneficial owner of (100%) of the capital stock of Jacobina.

In connection with the opinions hereinafter expressed, we have considered such
questions of law and examined such public and corporate records, certificates and other
documents and concluded such other examinations and obtained and relied on such
information from officers of Jacobina as we have considered necessary for the purposes of
the opinions hereinbelow stated. In such examinations, we have assumed the genuineness
of all signatures and the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals and the
conformity to authentic original documents of all documents submitted to us as certified,
conformed, photostatic or facsimile copies.

Based on the foregoing, we are of the opinion that:

1. Jacobina is a limited liability company duly organized and existing under the laws
of the Federative Republic of Brazil and has requisite corporate power and authority to
own, lease or operate its property and assets and to carry on its business as presently
conducted. Jacobina is duly licensed or otherwise qualified as a company to conduct such



  business in the Federative Republic of Brazil where the failure to be so licensed or
otherwise qualified would have a material adverse effect on it.

2. All of the issued and outstanding quotas in the capital stock of Jacobina has been
duly and validly issued and is outstanding as fully-paid and non-assessable.

3. Jacobina is being authorized by Departamento Nacional da Produção Mineral
(“DNPM”) of the Federative Republic of Brazil to operate as a mining company and is
duly registered with the Registry of Commerce of the State of Bahia (“Junta Comercial do
Estado da Bahia”) of the Federative Republic of Brazil, under no. 292.019.036.73 dated
10.11.97.

4. The mining rights related to Jacobina were granted according to the Brazilian
Mining Code and, if applicable, by authorizations issued by the Ministry of Mines and
Energy of the Federative Republic of Brazil. As per Brazilian mineral legislation and
depending on the nature of the areas involved, these rights may take the form of (i)
applications for prospecting, (ii) exploration permits or (iii) mining concessions.
Applications for prospecting must be filed with DNPM in order to have granted to the
interested party the right of preference in the exploration of the areas previously specified.

5. Pursuant to the laws of the Federative Republic of Brazil, mining companies may
request to the DNPM the issuance of an exploration permit covering areas they intend to
explore. The request must be supported by an exploration plan and comply with certain
other requirements. Brazilian citizens are also eligible to hold exploration permits.
Provided the area of interest is not already covered by a pre-existing application or
exploration permit and that all requirements are met, DNPM shall then grant the permit on
a first-come, first-served basis. Requests are sequentially numbered and dated upon filing
at the DNPM to ensure fair treatment between the parties involved. Companies are given a
period of sixty (60) days after filing the request in order to supply additional information
that may be required.

6. Permits are granted for three (3) years, renewable upon request, and subject to an
annual charge. Exploration is required to commence within sixty (60) days of the issuance
of the permit and must not be interrupted for more than three (3) consecutive months – or
one hundred and twenty (120) non-consecutive days – at the risk of cancellation of the
permit.

7. Any changes in the exploration plan, including interruption of work, are required to
be communicated to the DNPM. Upon conclusion of the exploration a final report must
also be filed stating geological findings and an assessment of the economic feasibility of
the areas. The DNPM has the right to inspect the area to confirm the report before
accepting it. New permits shall not be issued to any company, which is in default of the
requirements regarding such report.

8. Only companies may obtain mining concessions, having, therefore, one (1) year as
from DNPM’s approval of their exploration report to request the mining concession for the
intended area. Said request must include a mining plan, an economic feasibility analysis
and shall demonstrate that funds are available to carry out the plan. The mining company
has sixty (60) days after filing its application to answer DNPM’s eventual request for
additional information.



  9. After the publishing of the concession in the Official Gazette the mining company
has ninety (90) days to request the possession of the mineral lode or deposit to be mined
and six (6) months to start the preparatory work foreseen in the mining plan. Such period
may be extended in cases of force majeure. Once mining has started, it should not be
interrupted for any period longer than six (6) consecutive months, under the penalty of
having the concession revoked. The mining company is also required to file with DNPM
annual, detailed statistical reports on mine’s performance.

10. A mining concession gives the mining company the right to extract and process the
minerals contained in the corresponding deposit, in accordance with the plan approved by
DNPM, and also to commercialize the mine production. Because mineral resources are
considered by the Constitution of Federative Republic of Brazil (the “Constitution”) to be
governmental property, the mining concession does not grant upon the mining company
ownership of the mineral deposit. However, the mining company has ownership of the
mine production as provided for by the Constitution (article 176), and the mining
concession enables its holder to exploit the mine until is exhausted, with no fixed term,
provided that the normal requirements laid down in the applicable mining laws are
fulfilled.

11. To the best of our knowledge and according to the information we were
provided by Jacobina´s officers, the mining rights as regards applications for
prospecting, exploration permits and mining concessions granted by the authorities
are currently in good standing and correspond to the descriptions and documents
contained in Schedule “A” hereto.

12. Jacobina has full power and authority and has obtained all governmental and
statutory approvals necessary to construct, operate and maintain their projects in good
standing, as they are presently operated.

13. Jacobina complies with all legal and regulatory requirements to continue to carry
on its activities as mining company, and corporate acts, up to the date hereof, and to the
extent required by law, have been registered with and approved by DNPM, in accordance
with article 79 et seq. of the Brazilian Mining Code.

14. There are no provisions under Brazilian law and pertinent regulations that may
prevent mining companies from selling their respective mining production.

We are lawyers qualified to carry on the practice of law in the Federative Republic
of Brazil and we express no opinion as to any laws or any matters governed by any laws,
other than the laws of the Federative Republic of Brazil applicable therein in effect as of
the date hereof.

  Yours very truly,

______________________________________
Maria Raquel Sartori de Toledo Aguiar

















Updated Resource & Reserve Estimate, Jacobina Dec 2005

APPENDIX II INDUCED POLARIZATION SUMMARY REPORT FOR
PINDOBAÇU

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Updated Resource & Reserve Estimate, Jacobina Dec 2005

Summary Report on ground Induced polarization at

pindobacu and canavieiras

CLIENT: DESERT SUN MINING

PROJECT: SERRA DO PINDOBACU

DATE: APRIL - OCTOBER, 2005

OBJECTIVES
Review IP data and cross correlate with drillhole geological section
Interpret geophysical responses in terms of rock units
Recommend target anomalies

WORK DONE
Geological Solutions has reviewed the data from the Fugro ground IP survey at Pindobacu from
the plan maps and dipole-dipole sections of chargeability, resistivity, cole-cole chargeability,
metal factor, tau and inversion models for the section data. The data in the target were examined
on the profiles to establish correlation between responses and to estimate conductivity, depth and
association.

GEOLOGIC TARGET
Gold in the Pindobacu garimpo is hosted in quartz veins and quartzites adjacent to the Pindobacu
fault. The mineralization includes elevated disseminated pyrite content. The recent drilling
interprets shallow angle thrust faults with

INTERPRETATION
The IP identified parallel trends of moderate chargeability extending north and south of the
Pindobacu garimpo. High chargeability/low resistivity anomalies not associated with the gold
bearing conglomerates are seen in the ultramafic intrusives and dyke, the metapelites, iron
formation and in the Mundo Novo greenstone.

CONCLUSIONS
From examination of the Fugro data, The signature target zone is in the moderate range of
chargeability and resistivity. This chargeability can be carefully isolated from the stronger
surrounding responses. The resistivity is usefully in lithologic mapping to determine the
stratigraphy. A thrust fault is interpreted running north-south along the Pindobacu trend seen in
the resistivity data. There is an apparent folding of the mineralized unit to the west of the primary
tend. Cross-cutting features have displaced large blocks of the Rio do Ouro formation to the west
up to 200 meters. Near the northern end of the survey the block appears to be rotated as well.

189



Updated Resource & Reserve Estimate, Jacobina Dec 2005

  RECOMMENDATIONS
Create a GEMCOM model of the IP chargeability results by removing the signal responses from
the ultramafics, metapelites, iron formation and Mundo Novo




Updated Resource & Reserve Estimate, Jacobina Dec 2005




Updated Resource & Reserve Estimate, Jacobina Dec 2005




Updated Resource & Reserve Estimate, Jacobina Dec 2005


  PROJECT: CANAVIEIRAS

  DATE: NOVEMBER, 2005

  OBJECTIVES
Process Induced Polarization survey data
Create pseudosections and images for interpretation
Interpret results
Create 3D models of IP and Resistivity with interpretation for analysts presentation
Provide anomaly target positions for further work

WORK DONE
Import raw data files and generate IP database. Edit topographic files and import into IP
database. Produce pseudosections, plan maps 3D stacked sections, and 3d projection plan maps.

GEOLOGIC TARGET
Disseminated sulphides in quartz pebble conglomerate and siliceous quartzite stratigraphy.
Moderate sulphide content as finely disseminated pyrite in the conglomerate reefs is associated
with gold mineralization. Silicification indicates hydrothermal alteration, mafic and ultramafic
dykes cut across the stratigraphy. Cross cutting and offsetting faults are present.

193



Updated Resource & Reserve Estimate, Jacobina Dec 2005

INTERPRETATION
The major anomaly is a coincident chargeability and resistivity anomaly along the crest of the
topographic high. The zone appears to be plunging and broadening to the east of the survey
block. The low resistivity zone on the east side of the survey area is a broad near surface
response. Anomalies are variable and not always coincident with resistivity anomalies.

CONCLUSIONS
A large and obvious chargeability anomaly is coincident with known zone of mineralization and
the old mine workings. There is a large chargeability anomaly probably due to minor
disseminated sulphides where the resistivity response is coincident with the chargeability. This
zone is broadening and plunging to the east. On the north side several narrow and near vertical
anomalies should be investigated as possible mineralized conglomerate reefs. An anomaly on the
eastern slope is a good target due to the chargeability strength, and coincident resistivity
anomalies, dips to the west into the slope at about 60o. Anomalies on the north-east corner of the
survey area are inconclusive due to lack of data in this area. However, the interpretation suggests
this is a lithologic target. Resistivity trends suggest a north-east south-west are seen along
interpreted fault structures and at geological contacts where alteration is pervasive. Best
responses are coincident, resistivity/chargeability anomalies indicating mineralization.

RECOMMENDATIONS
Thorough examination of pseudosections and inversions prior to drill targeting. Use the
geophysical data in conjunction to the known and interpreted geology. Gemcom modeling is
valuable for integrating the interpretation.

CURRENT AND FUTURE ACTIVITIES
Use the Gemcom model to predict zones of increased hydrothermal alteration and determine
structural conduit relationships, if any. Reinterpret the airborne geophysical data to determine
centers for alteration and for structural controls on mineralization.

REFERENCES:

INCLUDED IN REPORT:

3D Resistivity map
3D Chargeability map
Stacked Pseudosection plan map

194



Updated Resource & Reserve Estimate, Jacobina Dec 2005


195



Updated Resource & Reserve Estimate, Jacobina Dec 2005


  PROJECT: PINDOBACU/CANAVIEIRAS

  DATE: DECEMBER 2005

  OBJECTIVES
Maximize the value of drilling by remotely detecting continuity of mineralization
Provide evidence for geological model for resource prediction
Create a 3D model with depth information to support the geological model
Predict structural complexity
Identify off-hole targets up to 100 meters from the borehole

PROPOSED WORK
Borehole IP

The induced polarization (I.P.) effect is seen primarily with metallic sulfides, graphite, and clays.
For this reason, I.P. surveys have been used extensively in mineral exploration. As with electrical

196



Updated Resource & Reserve Estimate, Jacobina Dec 2005

resistivity surveys, vertical or horizontal profiles can be generated using I.P. I.P. can also be used
in borehole logging.
Constraints: Good contact with the ground is required. I.P. is affected by changes in surface
relief and lateral changes in resistivity. The electrode array length is about 10 times greater than
investigation depth.
Method: Induced polarization is the capacitance effect, or chargeability, exhibited by electrically
conductive materials.
Measurement of I.P. is done by pulsing an electric current into the earth at one or two second
intervals through metal electrodes. Disseminated conductive minerals in the ground will
discharge the stored electrical energy during the pause cycle. The decay rate of the discharge is
measured by the I.P. receiver. The decay voltage will be zero if there are no polarizable materials
present.
Generally, both I.P. and resistivity measurements are taken simultaneously during the survey.
Survey depth is determined by electrode spacing. The final report products are similar to those of
resistivity surveys.

IP Inversion
IP and resistivity pseudosections can be difficult to interpret directly for complex geometries.
Inversion techniques can provide objective earth models and resolve complex anomalies.

INTERPRETATION
Measuring the resistivity and chargeability in the borehole will allow the resolution of narrow
closely spaced pyrite bearing beds as we see in the conglomerates at Canavieiras and identify
off-hole targets that can be seen up to 100 m from the hole. Continuity of IP anomalies between
the boreholes will afford a ‘comfort level’ with the prediction of the continuity of gold bearing
zones between holes without the necessity of tightly spaced drillholes. This will useful for
preliminary resource estimates at Pindobacu. The borehole array can be arranged to target
specific units at target depths to provide orientation information for future drill targeting. The
results can be modeled and inverted to create a 3D block that can be ‘sliced’ at any level or
section to give 3rd dimension to the geological model and identify structural offsets and/or
discontinuity of zones.

CONCLUSIONS
Previous attempts to create effective borehole IP systems have been unreliable. The current
version offered by JVX has overcome all of the shortfalls of previous systems through a
combination of flexible current electrode arrays and high-level data processing and sophisticated
inversion software.

RECOMMENDATIONS
Conduct a borehole IP survey in January and February 2006 at Pindobacu and Canavieiras.
Borehole IP can be run effectively throughout the rainy season when surface IP cannot be used.

CURRENT AND FUTURE ACTIVITIES

197



Updated Resource & Reserve Estimate, Jacobina Dec 2005

Solicit a borehole IP quote with DSM providing logistical support. Source local supply of
necessary support equipment in Brazil

  John Buckle, P.Geo.
GEOLOGICAL SOLUTIONS

198


Updated Resource & Reserve Estimate, Jacobina Dec 2005

APPENDIX III YEAR END 2005 OPINION LETTER, MICON

INTERNATIONAL

  199



Updated Resource & Reserve Estimate, Jacobina Dec 2005

December 30, 2005

Dr. William N. Pearson
Vice President Exploration
Desert Sun Mining Corp.
65 Queen Street West,
Suite 810
Toronto, Ontario,
M5H 2M5

  Re: Review of the Updated, Year-End 2005 Mineral Resource Estimate
for the Jacobina Mine (All Mines and Advanced Exploration Projects)

Bill:

At the request of Desert Sun Mining Corp. (DSM) Micon International Limited (Micon) has
reviewed a newly updated, in-house mineral resource estimate for the Jacobina mine and
surrounding advanced exploration and development properties (see attached Tables 1 and 2).
This estimate was prepared after completion of several new diamond drilling and/or underground
development programs. New drilling, and/or changes to the previously estimated mineral
resources, occurred principally at the João Belo, Morro do Vento, Morro do Vento Extension and
Canavieiras deposits.

Micon has been engaged in an ongoing assignment for DSM to review the mineral resources at
Jacobina and to advise and comment on them. As part of the review process Micon conducted
another site visit to the Jacobina mine in Brazil during the period from December 5 to December
9, 2005. This was Micon’s fourth visit to Jacobina for DSM and the fifth visit overall (a
previous visit for William Resources was made in 1998). During the visit the resource
estimation processes, as well as the new drill results and their interpretation, were examined. An
underground visit to inspect recent development drifting at the João Belo mine was also made.
Additionally, the locations of recent exploration drill programs in the “northern exploration
areas”, around the town of Pindobaçu, were also visited.

Earlier in 2005 Micon reviewed a new resource estimate for the Morro do Vento deposit and
contributed to a pre-feasibility study completed in August, 2005. Micon has been reviewing the
mineral resources at Jacobina for DSM since September, 2002.

Micon has reviewed provided documentation describing and documenting the methods used for
resource estimation at Jacobina as well as talking with the personnel involved. The
documentation included a previous DSM memo, dated October 28, 2004, which outlined the
methodology employed for the estimate at João Belo. Other documents provided included
drilling cross sections, resource longitudinal sections, and Microsoft Excel spreadsheets showing
the calculations made and the supporting quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC) program
results from the period of time during which the most recent drilling took place. Previously

1



Updated Resource & Reserve Estimate, Jacobina Dec 2005

Micon has reviewed other QA/QC data which included a newly implemented program of DSM-
inserted analytical reference standards to check the laboratory for accuracy as well as the usual
external check assays.

This opinion letter should be read in conjunction with previous recent Technical Reports
prepared by Micon, Devpro (The Morro do Vento Prefeasibility study) and DSM, the tables
attached herein as well as the DSM press release dated December 20, 2005 announcing the year
end resource estimates for the Jacobina mine.

Micon has examined the data provided and performed the following reviews and checks:

  • Confirmed that methods similar to those employed in the past were used for the resource estimation (generally a longitudinal polygonal method, except for Canavieras where a cross sectional polygonal method was used).
  • Performed spot checks with a planimeter and/or scale to confirm the accuracy of the areas determined for the resource polygons.
  • Compared tonnes and grade of the new estimate to previously reviewed estimates at Jacobina.
  • Reviewed QA/QC data.
  • Examined the supporting calculation spreadsheets and spot checked the formulae employed therein.
  • Examined a preliminary reconciliation of mine production to reserves for the first 8 months of operation at the João Belo mine (March, 2005 to October, 2005).
  • Visited the new mine laboratory, operated under contract by SGS Lakefield Geosol, and reviewed QA/QC methods.

The review of the data described above has found that methods similar to those which were used
in the previous resource estimates, and examined by Micon in its most recent NI 43-101
technical reports, were employed to estimate the 2004 updated resources. Commencing with the
2004 estimate, and contrary to past manual practices, the locations of diamond drill hole pierce
points and their true widths are now calculated using Gemcom. All drill hole logging
information is now captured electronically using the “Logger” program. The longitudinal
sections are prepared, and polygon areas calculated as before, using AutoCAD. Micon has
previously opined that these changes are likely only to increase the accuracy of the resource
estimate. No material errors were found in the checks of any calculations made or in the final
resource tabulation spreadsheet.

2



Updated Resource & Reserve Estimate, Jacobina Dec 2005

The review of the QA/QC data for the João Belo drilling program showed the results to be
generally acceptable, with similar limitations to those discussed in recent Micon technical
reports. No material problems were seen with the final data used in the estimate. The QA/QC
program can be seen to be functioning effectively as per its design.

The new mineral resource estimate at Jacobina represents the upgrading of a moderate amount of
indicated and inferred resources to the measured and indicated (M + I) categories, respectively,
principally at João Belo, as a result of mine development, and at Morro do Vento, as a result of
the drilling and prefeasibility study. João Belo has also seen a very large increase in inferred
resources due to a deep drilling program and successful development drifting on the north end of
the deposit and which has resulted in a structural reinterpretation. Significant new indicated and
inferred resources have also been discovered at Canavieras as a result of this year’s drilling
program.

Several observations can be made:

  • The general tonnage ranges presented are consistent with the gains and write downs as viewed on the longitudinal sections.
  • The overall grade of the new M + I resource is similar, but slightly higher than the 2004 estimate (2.57 g/t vs. 2.53 g/t). The grade of the new inferred resource estimate is also up slightly (from 2.61 g/t to 2.80 g/t).
  • The contained metal in the M + I mineral resources is now over 2.3 million ounces (Moz). The contained metal in the inferred resource is an additional 3 Moz.
  • The mineral reserve model for 2005 production to October predicted a plant head grade of 1.97 g/t versus an actual of 2.01 g/t, a difference of only 2% and a positive reconciliation.

It is Micon’s opinion that the mineral resource estimate presented is a reasonable one and its
classification is consistent with practices previously applied at Jacobina and approved of by
Micon. It is also consistent with the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum’s
(CIM), CIM Standards on Mineral Resources and Reserves, Definitions and Guidelines prepared
by the CIM Standing Committee on Reserve Definitions, adopted by CIM Council August 20,
2000 and modified on December 11, 2005. However, it has the same limitations on accuracy of
local estimation of individual polygon grades as described in previous Micon reports. DSM is
working on addressing this limitation with geostatistical studies and computerization of resource
estimates.

Sincerely

MICON INTERNATIONAL LIMITED

3



Updated Resource & Reserve Estimate, Jacobina Dec 2005

B. Terrence Hennessey, P.Geo.
Vice President

4



Updated Resource & Reserve Estimate, Jacobina Dec 2005

  Table 1       
  Summary of Mineral Resources     
  (Updated by DSM as of December 19, 2005 * )     

 
Category  Mine  Tonnes  Grade  Contained Gold 
      (g/t Au)  (ounces) 

Measured  João Belo  3,100,000  2.35  234,000 

  Morro do Vento - Basal/Main  210,000  5.77  39,000 

  Morro do Vento Ext. - Basal/Main  40,000  5.34  7,000 

  Canavieiras  60,000  6.73  13,000 

  Serra do Córrego  10,000  7.50  2,000 

  Subtotal  3,400,000  2.68  295,000 

Indicated  João Belo  10,570,000  2.29  780,000 

  Morro do Vento-Intermediate  5,800,000  2.18  407,000 

  Morro do Vento - Basal/Main  1,010,000  4.83  157,000 

  Morro do Vento Ext - Basal/Main  3,530,000  2.87  325,000 

  Canavieiras  1,930,000  3.45  214,000 

  Serra do Córrego  910,000  2.39  70,000 

  Joao Belo Sul  770,000  2.55  63,000 

  Subtotal  24,500,000  2.56  2,016,000 

Total  João Belo  13,670,000  2.31  1,015,000 

Measured Plus Indicated  Morro do Vento-Intermediate  5,800,000  2.18  407,000 

  Morro do Vento - Basal/Main  1,220,000  4.99  195,000 

  Morro do Vento Ext - Basal/Main  3,560,000  2.89  332,000 

  Canavieiras  1,990,000  3.54  227,000 

  Serra do Córrego  920,000  2.44  72,000 

  Joao Belo Sul  770,000  2.55  63,000 

  Total  27,900,000  2.57  2,311,000 

Inferred **  João Belo  14,430,000  2.66  1,235,000 

  Morro do Vento-Intermediate  2,460,000  2.42  191,000 

  Morro do Vento - Basal/Main  1,920,000  3.78  233,000 

  Canavieiras  6,900,000  3.29  730,000 

  Serra do Córrego  1,350,000  3.51  152,000 

  Joao Belo Sul  3,890,000  1.67  209,000 

  Other Areas  2,680,000  3.23  279,000 

  Total  33,600,000  2.80  3,029,000 

* - Totals have been rounded       
** - There are no inferred resources at Morro do Vento Ext. - Basal/Main as the target has been completely 
drilled off         

5








  SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused
this Form 6-K to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

Desert Sun Mining Corp.

(Registrant)

Dated: March 5, 2006                                                   Signed:/s/ Tony Wonnacott

                                                                                            Tony Wonnacott, Corporate Secretary