5	Mineral properties and development costs

in thousands of dollars

	November 30, 2016 $		Acquisition costs $		November 30, 2017 $
Alaska, USA
Ambler (a)		26,586		1		26,587
Bornite (b)		4,000		-		4,000
		30,586		-		30,587

in thousands of dollars

	November 30, 2015 $		Acquisition costs $		November 30, 2016 $
Alaska, USA
Ambler (a)		26,586		-		26,586
Bornite (b)		4,000		-		4,000
		30,586				30,586

(a)

Ambler

On January 11, 2010, NovaGold Resources Inc. (“NovaGold”), through Alaska Gold Company (“AGC”), at the time a wholly-owned subsidiary, purchased 100% of the Ambler lands in Northwest Alaska, which contains the copper-zinc-lead-gold-silver Arctic Project and other mineralized targets within the volcanogenic massive sulfide belt, through a series of cash and share payments. Total fair value of the consideration was $26.6 million. The vendor retained a 1% net smelter return royalty that can be purchased at any time for a one-time payment of $10.0 million.

The Ambler lands were acquired on October 17, 2011 by Trilogy Metals US through a purchase and sale agreement with AGC. On October 24, 2011, NovaGold transferred its ownership of Trilogy Metals US to the Company, then a wholly owned subsidiary of NovaGold, which was subsequently spun-out to NovaGold shareholders and publicly listed on April 30, 2012 (“NovaGold Arrangement”).

Minor staking of $1 added to the Ambler land holdings during the year ended November 30, 2017.

(b)

Bornite

On October 19, 2011, Trilogy Metals US acquired the exclusive right to explore and the non-exclusive right to access and enter on the Bornite lands, and lands deeded to NANA Regional Corporation, Inc. (“NANA”) through the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act, located adjacent to the Ambler lands in Northwest Alaska. As consideration, Trilogy Metals US paid $4 million to acquire the right to explore and develop the combined Upper Kobuk Mineral Projects through an Exploration Agreement and Option to Lease with NANA. Upon a decision to proceed with construction of a mine on the lands, NANA maintains the right to purchase between a 16%-25% ownership interest in the mine or retain a 15% net proceeds royalty which is payable after Trilogy Metals US has recovered certain historical costs, including capital and cost of capital. Should NANA elect to purchase an ownership interest, consideration will be payable equal to all historical costs incurred on the properties at the elected percentage purchased less $40 million, not to be less than zero. The parties would form a joint venture and be responsible for all future costs, including capital costs of the mine based on their pro-rata share.

NANA would also be granted a net smelter return royalty of between 1% and 2.5% upon the execution of a mining lease or a surface use agreement, the amount of which is determined by the classification of land from which production originates.

(c)	Option Agreement

On April 10, 2017, Trilogy and Trilogy Metals US entered into an Option Agreement to Form a Joint Venture with South32 Group Operations Pty Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of South32 Limited, (“South32”) on the UKMP (“Option Agreement”). Trilogy Metals US has granted South32 the right to form a 50/50 joint venture to hold all of Trilogy Metals US’ Alaskan assets. Upon exercise of the option, Trilogy Metals US will transfer its Alaskan assets, including the UKMP, and South32 will contribute a minimum of $150 million to a newly formed limited liability company (“JV LLC”), plus any amounts Trilogy Metals US spends at the Arctic Project over the next three years to a maximum of $5 million per year (the “Subscription Price”), less an amount of the initial funding contributed by South32.

To maintain the option in good standing, South32 is required to fund a minimum of $10 million per year for up to a three year period, which funds will be used to execute a mutually agreed upon program at the UKMP. The funds provided by South32 may only be expended based on the approved program. Provided that all the exploration data and information has been made available to South32 by no later than December 31 of each year, South32 must decide by the end of January of the following year whether: (i) to fund a further tranche of a minimum of $10 million, or (ii) to withdraw and not provide any further annual funding. If the election to fund a further tranche is not made in January, South32 has until the end of March to exercise the option to form the JV LLC and make the subscription payment.

The Company received $10.0 million for the first payment following the approval of the year 1 program and budget in April 2017. These funds were expended on the year 1 program at the Bornite Project during the year. In October 2017, the Company received $0.4 million as a first instalment towards the year 2 program and budget to begin preparatory work. The Company is responsible for the disbursement of these funds in accordance with the approved program and budget and accordingly has not classified the funds as restricted cash.

As the initial option payments are credited against the future subscription price upon exercise, the Company has accounted for the payment received as deferred consideration for the purchase of the UKMP interest. At such time as the option is exercised, the initial payments received to that date will be recognized as part of the consideration received for the Company’s contribution of the UKMP into JV LLC. If South 32 withdraws from the Option Agreement, the consideration will be recognized in the statement of loss at that time.

The option to form the JV LLC is recognized as a financial instrument at inception of the arrangement with an initial fair value of $nil. This option is required to be re-measured at fair value at each reporting date with any changes in fair value recorded in loss for the period. The Company determined that the fair value of the option is still at $nil as at November 30, 2017.

(d)	Mineral properties expense

The following table summarizes mineral properties expense for the years ended November 30, 2017, 2016 and 2015 and includes expenditures funded by South32, as applicable.

In thousands of dollars

	2017		2016		2015
		$		$		$
Alaska, USA
Community		318		299		126
Drilling		5,074		712		698
Engineering		1,840		699		441
Environmental		299		314		88
Geochemistry and geophysics		357		82		70
Land and permitting		795		426		421
Other income		(25)		(34)		(209)
Project support		3,836		1,254		1,411
Wages and benefits		2,606		1,285		1,122
Mineral property expense		15,100		5,037		4,167

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. Cumulative mineral properties expense in Alaska from the initial earn-in agreement on the property in 2004 to November 30, 2017 is $78.1 million and cumulative acquisition costs are $30.6 million totaling $108.7 million spent to date.