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The Company is still exploring for further business opportunities while at the same time working towards an organized closure. In 2008 mine exploration activities will continue to focus on extending the mine life which is currently limited. Successful exploration and definition drilling in the American Eagle area adjacent to the Trojan and Deep Portland Pits has resulted in an extendion to the mine life at Wharf to at least 2010. Drilling will continue into 2008 to better define the extent of the preliminary resource modeling and to explore additional targets.
Mining at the Trojan pit is complete. Gold will continue to be produced from the heap leach pads throughout 2008 and into 2009. Even though new opportunities are being explored, closure has been progressive with reclamation activities taking place over the last several years. Post closure activities would continue for several years after closure in the form of reclamation maintenance and water treatment. Post closure land use varies from commercial and residential development to woodland grazing and wildlife habitat. The ongoing progressive reclamation practice is an important aspect of the successful mine site rehabilitation program of the Wharf and Golden Reward properties. As part of the ongoing program, 11 acres of undisturbed land were reclaimed in the Trojan pit area in 2006.
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