6)Mineral properties and development costs


	in thousands of dollars
		Acquisition costs	Assets
		reimbursable	derecognized	February 29,
	November 30, 2019	from Ambler	note 4(a)	2020
	$	Metals LLC	$	$
Alaska, USA
Ambler (a)	26,631	(44)	(26,587)	—
Bornite (b)	4,000	—	(4,000)	—
	30,631	(44)	(30,587)	—


	in thousands of dollars
	November 30, 2018	Acquisition costs	November 30, 2019
	$	$	$
Alaska, USA
Ambler (a)	26,587	44	26,631
Bornite (b)	4,000	—	4,000
	30,587	44	30,631

(a)

Mineral properties expense

The following table summarizes mineral properties expense for the noted periods.


		In thousands of dollars
	Three months ended	Three months ended
	February 29, 2020	February 28, 2019
	$	$
Alaska, USA
Community	137	118
Drilling	—	0
Engineering	723	357
Environmental	99	165
Geochemistry and geophysics	12	165
Land and permitting	134	120
Project support	249	226
Other income	—	(1)
Wages and benefits	191	385
	1,545	1535

Mineral property expenses consist of direct drilling, personnel, community, resource reporting and other exploration expenses as outlined above, as well as indirect project support expenses such as fixed wing charters, helicopter support, fuel, and other camp operation costs. Expenses during the first quarter ended February 29, 2020 consisted mainly of engineering studies in preparation of the Arctic feasibility study and care and maintenance of the camp during the winter season. Cumulative mineral properties expense in Alaska from the initial earn-in agreement on the property in 2004 to February 29, 2020 is $115.3 million and cumulative acquisition costs were $30.6 million. Cumulative spend to date totaled $145.9 million through to February 29, 2020. On February 11, 2020, upon the formation of the joint venture with South 32, the acquisition costs of $30.6 million were derecognized upon the contribution of the mineral properties to Ambler Metals.

(b)Derecognition

As part of the formation of the joint venture with South32 on February 11, 2020, Trilogy contributed all of its assets associated with the UKMP, including the Arctic and Bornite projects. As a result, $0.62 million of machinery and equipment as well as $30.6 million of mineral properties related to the UKMP were derecognized in Trilogy on February 11, 2020.