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MINERAL PROPERTIES
12 Months Ended
May 31, 2016
Mineral Industries Disclosures [Abstract]  
Mineral Industries Disclosures [Text Block]
6.
MINERAL PROPERTIES
 
The Company had the following activity related to capitalized acquisition costs:
 
 
 
Chisna
 
North Bullfrog
 
LMS
 
Total
 
 
 
(note 6a))
 
(note 6d))
 
(note 6c))
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Balance, May 31, 2014
 
$
550,255
 
$
3,168,810
 
$
326,050
 
$
4,045,115
 
Acquisition costs
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash payments (note 6d)(ii)(1)
 
 
-
 
 
32,508
 
 
-
 
 
32,508
 
Shares issued (note 6d)(ii)(1)
 
 
-
 
 
64,600
 
 
-
 
 
64,600
 
Asset retirement obligations
 
 
-
 
 
132,579
 
 
-
 
 
132,579
 
Currency translation adjustments
 
 
80,950
 
 
462,915
 
 
47,967
 
 
591,832
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Balance, May 31, 2015
 
 
631,205
 
 
3,861,412
 
 
374,017
 
 
4,866,634
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Acquisition costs
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash payments (note 6d)(ii)(1)
 
 
-
 
 
32,594
 
 
-
 
 
32,594
 
Shares issued (note 6d)(ii)(1)
 
 
-
 
 
11,250
 
 
-
 
 
11,250
 
Asset retirement obligations
 
 
-
 
 
153,825
 
 
-
 
 
153,825
 
Currency translation adjustments
 
 
46,490
 
 
202,599
 
 
27,546
 
 
276,635
 
Reclassified to asset held-for-sale
 
 
-
 
 
-
 
 
(401,563)
 
 
(401,563)
 
Write-off of capitalized acquisition costs
 
 
(677,695)
 
 
-
 
 
 
 
 
(677,695)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Balance, May 31, 2016
 
$
-
 
$
4,261,680
 
$
-
 
$
4,261,680
 
 
The following table presents costs incurred for exploration and evaluation activities for the year ended May 31, 2016:
 
 
 
West Pogo
 
Chisna
 
North
 Bullfrog
 
LMS
 
Total
 
 
 
(note 6b))
 
(note 6a))
 
(note 6d))
 
(note 6c))
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Exploration costs:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Assay
 
$
-
 
$
-
 
$
757,432
 
$
-
 
$
757,432
 
Drilling
 
 
-
 
 
-
 
 
929,841
 
 
-
 
 
929,841
 
Equipment rental
 
 
-
 
 
-
 
 
51,347
 
 
-
 
 
51,347
 
Field costs
 
 
181
 
 
247
 
 
134,382
 
 
561
 
 
135,371
 
Geological/ Geophysical
 
 
-
 
 
6,210
 
 
328,740
 
 
1,904
 
 
336,854
 
Land maintenance & tenure
 
 
-
 
 
13,534
 
 
373,795
 
 
32,900
 
 
420,229
 
Permits
 
 
-
 
 
-
 
 
632
 
 
-
 
 
632
 
Studies
 
 
-
 
 
-
 
 
322,972
 
 
-
 
 
322,972
 
Transportation
 
 
-
 
 
-
 
 
-
 
 
1,999
 
 
1,999
 
Travel
 
 
-
 
 
913
 
 
66,858
 
 
-
 
 
67,771
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
181
 
 
20,904
 
 
2,965,999
 
 
37,364
 
 
3,024,448
 
Cost recovery
 
 
(23,802)
 
 
(39,463)
 
 
-
 
 
(104,838)
 
 
(168,103)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total expenditures (recovery) for the year
 
$
(23,621)
 
$
(18,559)
 
$
2,965,999
 
$
(67,474)
 
$
2,856,345
 
 
The following table presents costs incurred for exploration and evaluation activities for the year ended May 31, 2015:
 
 
 
West Pogo
 
Chisna
 
North 
Bullfrog
 
LMS
 
Total
 
 
 
(note 6b))
 
(note 6a))
 
(note 6d))
 
(note 6c))
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Exploration costs:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Aircraft services
 
$
-
 
$
11,202
 
$
-
 
$
-
 
$
11,202
 
Assay
 
 
-
 
 
12,926
 
 
935,239
 
 
-
 
 
948,165
 
Drilling
 
 
-
 
 
-
 
 
1,577,253
 
 
-
 
 
1,577,253
 
Equipment rental
 
 
-
 
 
1,466
 
 
232,808
 
 
-
 
 
234,274
 
Field costs
 
 
2,027
 
 
9,218
 
 
317,575
 
 
337
 
 
329,157
 
Geological/ Geophysical
 
 
4,201
 
 
1,984
 
 
1,009,824
 
 
29,599
 
 
1,045,608
 
Land maintenance & tenure
 
 
11,023
 
 
77,972
 
 
263,754
 
 
27,331
 
 
380,080
 
Permits
 
 
-
 
 
-
 
 
1,700
 
 
-
 
 
1,700
 
Studies
 
 
-
 
 
-
 
 
920,301
 
 
-
 
 
920,301
 
Transportation
 
 
-
 
 
-
 
 
-
 
 
1,130
 
 
1,130
 
Travel
 
 
-
 
 
5,133
 
 
185,494
 
 
1,423
 
 
192,050
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total expenditures for the year
 
$
17,251
 
$
119,901
 
$
5,443,948
 
$
59,820
 
$
5,640,920
 
 
a)
Chisna Property, Alaska
 
The Chisna property is located in the eastern Alaska Range, Alaska, and is comprised of unpatented mineral claims owned 100% by the Company.
 
On November 2, 2009, ITH and Talon Gold entered into an agreement (as amended) with Ocean Park Ventures Corp. (“OPV”). Pursuant to the agreement, an Alaskan subsidiary of OPV and Raven Gold formed a joint venture for the purpose of exploring and developing the Chisna property.
 
On November 7, 2012, OPV withdrew from the joint venture and thereby returned 100% of the Chisna property to the Company.
 
On March 24, 2010, Raven Gold entered into a Mineral Exploration Agreement with Option to Lease with Ahtna Incorporated (“Ahtna”), an Alaska Native Regional Corporation, concerning approximately 26,516 hectares of fee simple lands in the Athell Area of Alaska surrounding or adjacent to some of the blocks of mineral claims owned by Raven Gold.
 
During the year ended May 31, 2015, the Company gave notification and terminated the Ahtna lease.
 
During the period ended February 29, 2016, the Company wrote off the Chisna property as the Company, at the time, had reduced the Chisna property to 36 core claims.
 
On April 5, 2016, Raven Gold completed a transaction with Millrock Resources Inc. (“Millrock”) on the Chisna property. The ownership of the property was sold for USD 25,000 and a retained net smelter return (“NSR”) royalty of 1% on precious metals and 1% on base metals.
 
b)
West Pogo Property, Alaska
 
The West Pogo property is located approximately 50 kilometres north of Delta Junction, Alaska, and consists of unpatented mineral claims owned 100% by the Company.
 
During the year ended May 31, 2014, the Company wrote off the West Pogo property, as there had been a delay in exploration work on the property for an extended period of time.
 
On July 29, 2015, Raven Gold completed a transaction with Millrock on the West Pogo and Goodpaster database projects in Alaska. The ownership position was sold for $25,728 (USD 20,000) and the Goodpaster database project was sold for $136,058 (USD 100,000) and reflected as cost recovery for the West Pogo and LMS project. For the West Pogo project, the Company retained NSR royalties of 3% on precious metals and 1% on base metals with 1% of the precious metal royalty buy down for USD 2 million and a further 1% for an additional USD 5 million. For the Goodpaster database, the Company retained NSR royalty of 1% on all new claims acquired within the defined Area of Interest which totals some 1,500 square kilometres covering the largest gold producing District in Alaska. One half of the royalty can be purchased for USD 2 million.
 
c)
LMS Property, Alaska
 
The LMS property consists of unpatented mineral claims owned 100% by the Company. During the year ended May 31, 2016, the Company sold the LMS property for a consideration of $473,585 (USD 350,000) and was granted a retained NSR royalty of 3% on precious metals and 1% on base metals with a 1% on buy down of the precious metal royalty for USD$4,000,000.
 
d)
North Bullfrog Project, Nevada
  
The Company’s North Bullfrog project consists of certain leased patented lode mining claims and federal unpatented mining claims owned 100% by the Company.
 
(i)
Interests acquired from Redstar Gold Corp.
 
On October 9, 2009, a US subsidiary of ITH at the time (Corvus Nevada) completed the acquisition of all of the interests of Redstar Gold Corp. (“Redstar”) and Redstar Gold U.S.A. Inc. (“Redstar US”) in the North Bullfrog project, which consisted of the following leases:
 
(1)
Pursuant to a mining lease and option to purchase agreement made effective October 27, 2008 between Redstar and an arm’s length limited liability company, Redstar has leased (and has the option to purchase) 12 patented mining claims referred to as the “Connection” property. The ten-year, renewable mining lease requires advance minimum royalty payments (recoupable from production royalties, but not applicable to the purchase price if the option to purchase is exercised) of USD 10,800 (paid) on signing and annual payments for the first three anniversaries of USD 10,800 (paid) and USD 16,200 for every year thereafter (paid to October 27, 2015). Redstar has an option to purchase the property (subject to the NSR royalty below) for USD 1,000,000 at any time during the life of the lease. Production is subject to a 4% NSR royalty, which may be purchased by the lessee for USD 1,250,000 per 1% (USD 5,000,000 for the entire royalty).
 
(2)
Pursuant to a mining lease made and entered into as of May 8, 2006 between Redstar and two arm’s length individuals, Redstar has leased 3 patented mining claims which form part of the North Bullfrog project holdings. The lease is for an initial term of 10 years, and for so long thereafter as mining activities continue on the claims or contiguous claims held by the lessee. The lessee is required to pay advance minimum royalty payments (recoupable from production royalties) of USD 4,000 on execution, USD 3,500 on each of May 8, 2007, 2008 and 2009 (paid), USD 4,500 on May 8, 2010 and each anniversary thereafter, adjusted for inflation (paid to May 8, 2016). The lessor is entitled to receive a 2% NSR royalty on all production, which may be purchased by the lessee for USD 1,000,000 per 1% (USD 2,000,000 for the entire royalty).
 
(3)
Pursuant to a mining lease made and entered into as of May 8, 2006 between Redstar and an arm’s length private Nevada corporation, Redstar has leased 2 patented mining claims which form part of the North Bullfrog project holdings. The lease is for an initial term of 10 years, and for so long thereafter as mining activities continue on the claims or contiguous claims held by the lessee. The lessee is required to pay advance minimum royalty payments (recoupable from production royalties) of USD 2,000 on execution, USD 2,000 on each of May 8, 2007, 2008 and 2009 (paid), USD 3,000 on May 8, 2010 and each anniversary thereafter, adjusted for inflation (paid to May 8, 2016). The lessor is entitled to receive a 3% NSR royalty on all production, which may be purchased by the lessee for USD 850,000 per 1% (USD 2,550,000 for the entire royalty). On May 29, 2014, the parties signed a First Amendment Agreement whereby the Lease is amended to provide that in addition to the Advance Minimum Royalty payments payable in respect of the Original Claims, the lessee will now pay to the lessor Advance Minimum Royalty payments in respect of the Yellow Rose Claims of USD 2,400 on execution, USD 2,400 on each of May 29, 2015, 2016 and 2017 (paid to May 29, 2016), USD 3,600 on May 29, 2018 and each anniversary thereafter. The Lessor is entitled to receive a 3% NSR royalty on all production from the Yellow Rose claims, which may be purchased by the lessee for USD 770,000 per 1% (USD 2,310,000 for the entire royalty).
 
(4)
Pursuant to a mining lease made and entered into as of May 16, 2006 between Redstar and an arm’s length individual, Redstar has leased 12 patented mineral claims which form part of the North Bullfrog project holdings. The lease is for an initial term of 10 years, and for so long thereafter as mining activities continue on the claims or contiguous claims held by the lessee. The lessee is required to pay advance minimum royalty payments (recoupable from production royalties) of USD 20,500 on execution and USD 20,000 on each anniversary thereafter (paid to May 16, 2016). The lessor is entitled to receive a 4% NSR royalty on all production, which may be purchased by the lessee for USD 1,000,000 per 1% (USD 4,000,000 for the entire royalty).
 
(5)
Pursuant to a mining lease made and entered into as of May 22, 2006 between Redstar and two arm’s length individuals, Redstar has leased 3 patented mineral claims which form part of the North Bullfrog project holdings. The lease is for an initial term of 10 years, and for so long thereafter as mining activities continue on the claims or contiguous claims held by the lessee. The lessee is required to pay advance minimum royalty payments (recoupable from production royalties) of USD 8,000 on execution, USD 4,800 on each of May 22, 2007, 2008 and 2009 (paid), USD 7,200 on May 22, 2010 and each anniversary thereafter, adjusted for inflation (paid to May 22, 2016). The lessor is entitled to receive a 2% NSR royalty on all production, which may be purchased by the lessee for USD 1,000,000 per 1% (USD 2,000,000 for the entire royalty).  
 
(6)
Pursuant to a mining lease made and entered into as of June 16, 2006 between Redstar and an arm’s length individual, Redstar has leased one patented mineral claims which form part of the North Bullfrog project holdings. The lease is for an initial term of 10 years, and for so long thereafter as mining activities continue on the claims or contiguous claims held by the lessee. The lessee is required to pay advance minimum royalty payments (recoupable from production royalties) of USD 2,000 on execution, USD 2,000 on each of June 16, 2007, 2008 and 2009 (paid), USD 3,000 on June 16, 2010 and each anniversary thereafter, adjusted for inflation (paid to June 16, 2016). The lessor is entitled to receive a 2% NSR royalty on all production, which may be purchased by the lessee for USD 1,000,000 per 1% (USD 2,000,000 for the entire royalty).
 
As a consequence of the acquisition of Redstar and Redstar US’s interest in the foregoing leases, Corvus Nevada is now the lessee under all of such leases.
 
(ii)
Interests acquired directly by Corvus Nevada
 
(1)
Pursuant to a mining lease and option to purchase agreement made effective December 1, 2007 between Corvus Nevada and a group of arm’s length limited partnerships, Corvus Nevada has leased (and has the option to purchase) patented mining claims referred to as the “Mayflower” claims which form part of the North Bullfrog project. The terms of the lease/option are as follows:
 
¤
Terms: Initial term of five years, commencing December 1, 2007, with the option to extend the lease for an additional five years. The lease will continue for as long thereafter as the property is in commercial production or, alternatively, for an additional three years if Corvus Nevada makes advance minimum royalty payments of USD  100,000 per year (which are recoupable against actual production royalties).
¤
Lease Payments: USD 5,000 (paid) and 25,000 common shares of ITH (delivered) following regulatory acceptance of the transaction; and an additional USD 5,000 and 20,000 common shares on each of the first through fourth lease anniversaries (paid and issued). Pursuant to an agreement with the lessors, in lieu of the 20,000 ITH shares due December 1, 2010, Corvus Nevada paid USD 108,750 on November 10, 2010 and delivered 46,250 common shares of the Company on December 2, 2010. If Corvus Nevada elects to extend the lease for a second five-year term, it will pay USD 10,000 and deliver 50,000 common shares of ITH upon election being made, and an additional 50,000 common shares of ITH on each of the fifth through ninth anniversaries (USD 10,000 paid on October 31, 2012 and 50,000 common shares of ITH delivered on October 25, 2012 paid with cash of $126,924; and USD 10,000 paid on November 13, 2013 and 50,000 common shares of ITH delivered on November 25, 2013 paid with cash of $35,871; and USD 10,000 paid on November 17, 2014 and 50,000 common shares of ITH delivered on November 7, 2014 paid with cash of $21,200; and USD 10,000 paid on November 23, 2015 and 50,000 common shares of ITH, purchased for $19,237 in the market by the Company, were delivered on November 5, 2015).
¤
Anti-Dilution: Pursuant to an amended agreement agreed to by the lessors in March 2015, the Company shall deliver a total of 85,000 common shares (issued) of the Company for the years 2011 to 2014 (2011: 10,000 common shares; 2012 to 2014: 25,000 common shares each year). All future payments will be satisfied by the delivery of an additional ½ common shares of the Company for each of the ITH shares due per the original agreement (issued 25,000 shares of the Company on November 18, 2015).
¤
Work Commitments: USD 100,000 per year for the first three years (incurred), USD  200,000 per year for the years 4 – 6 (incurred) and USD 300,000 for the years 7 – 10. Excess expenditures in any year may be carried forward. If Corvus Nevada does not incur the required expenditures in year one, the deficiency is required to be paid to the lessors.
¤
Retained Royalty: Corvus Nevada will pay the lessors a NSR royalty of 2% if the average gold price is USD 400 per ounce or less, 3% if the average gold price is between USD  401 and USD 500 per ounce and 4% if the average gold price is greater than USD  500 per ounce.
 
(2)
Pursuant to a mining lease and option to purchase made effective March 1, 2011 between Corvus Nevada and an arm’s length individual, Corvus Nevada has leased, and has the option to purchase, 2 patented mineral claims which form part of the North Bullfrog project holdings. The lease is for an initial term of 10 years, subject to extension for an additional 10 years (provided advance minimum royalties are timely paid), and for so long thereafter as mining activities continue on the claims. The lessee is required to pay advance minimum royalty payments (recoupable from production royalties, but not applicable to the purchase price if the option to purchase is exercised) of USD 20,000 on execution (paid), USD 25,000 on each of March 1, 2012 (paid), 2013 (paid) and 2014 (paid), USD 30,000 on March 1, 2015 and each anniversary thereafter (paid to March 1, 2016), adjusted for inflation. The lessor is entitled to receive a 2% NSR royalty on all production. The lessee may purchase the royalty for USD 1,000,000 per 1%. If the lessee purchases the entire royalty (USD 2,000,000) the lessee will also acquire all interest of the lessor in the subject property.
 
(3)
Pursuant to a purchase agreement made effective March 28, 2013, Corvus Nevada agreed to purchase the surface rights of five patented mining claims owned by two arm’s length individuals for USD 160,000 paid on closing (March 28, 2013). The terms include payment by Corvus Nevada of a fee of USD 0.02 per ton of overburden to be stored on the property, subject to payment for a minimum of 12 million short tons. The minimum tonnage fee (USD 240,000) bears interest at 4.77% per annum from closing and is evidenced by a promissory note due on the sooner of the commencing of use of the property for waste materials storage or December 31, 2015 (balance paid December 17, 2015 (note 7)). As a result, the Company recorded $406,240 (USD 400,000) in acquisition costs with $157,408 paid in cash and the remaining $248,832 (USD 240,000) in promissory note payable (note 7) during the year ended May 31, 2013.
 
(4)
In December 2013, SoN completed the purchase of a parcel of land approximately 30 km north of the North Bullfrog project which carries with it 1,600 acre feet of irrigation water rights. The cost of the land and associated water rights was cash payment of $1,100,118 (USD 1,034,626).
 
(5)
On March 30, 2015, Lunar Landing, LLC signed a lease agreement with Corvus Nevada to lease private property containing the three patented Sunflower claims to Corvus Nevada, which are adjacent to the Yellow Rose claims leased in 2014. The term of the lease is 3 years with provision to extend the lease for an additional 7 years, and an advance minimum royalty payment of USD 5,000 per year with USD 5,000 paid upon signing (paid to March 2016). The lease includes a 4% NSR royalty on production, with an option to purchase the royalty for USD 500,000 per 1% or USD 2,000,000 for the entire 4% royalty. The lease also includes the option to purchase the property for USD 300,000.
 
Acquisitions
 
The acquisition of title to mineral properties is a detailed and time-consuming process. The Company has taken steps, in accordance with industry norms, to verify title to mineral properties in which it has an interest. Although the Company has taken every reasonable precaution to ensure that legal title to its properties is properly recorded in the name of the Company (or, in the case of an option, in the name of the relevant optionor), there can be no assurance that such title will ultimately be secured.
 
Environmental Expenditures
 
The operations of the Company may in the future be affected from time to time in varying degrees by changes in environmental regulations, including those for future removal and site restoration costs. Both the likelihood of new regulations and their overall effect upon the Company vary greatly and are not predictable. The Company’s policy is to meet or, if possible, surpass standards set by relevant legislation by application of technically proven and economically feasible measures.
 
Environmental expenditures that relate to ongoing environmental and reclamation programs are charged against earnings as incurred or capitalized and amortized depending on their future economic benefits. Estimated future removal and site restoration costs, when the ultimate liability is reasonably determinable, are charged against earnings over the estimated remaining life of the related business operation, net of expected recoveries.
 
The Company has estimated the fair value of the liability for asset retirement that arose as a result of exploration activities to be $293,578 (USD 224,000) (May 31, 2015 - $132,579 (USD 107,000)). The fair value of the liability was determined to be equal to the estimated remediation costs. Due to the early stages of the project, and that extractive activities have not yet begun, the Company is unable to predict with any precision the timing of the cash flow related to the reclamation activities.