MINERAL PROPERTY OPTION AGREEMENT
THIS AGREEMENT dated for reference December 1, 2002.
BETWEEN:
RAVEN RESOURCES INC., a body corporate, duly incorporated
in the Province of Ontario and having its head office at 00
Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx, X0X 0X0;
("RAVEN")
OF THE FIRST PART
AND:
TAMARACK VENTURES INC., a body corporate, duly incorporated
under the laws of the State of Nevada and having its
head office at 00 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxxx,Xxxxxxx,X0X 0X0;
("TAMARACK")
OF THE SECOND PART
W H E R E A S:
A. RAVEN is the registered and beneficial owner of two mineral
property claim groups located in the Xxxxx Xxxx area, Sault Ste. Xxxxx Mining
Division, Ontario, which claim groups are more particularly described in
Schedule "A" attached hereto which forms a material part hereof (collectively,
the "Claims");
B. RAVEN has agreed to grant to TAMARACK the sole and exclusive
right, privilege and option to explore the Claims together with the sole and
exclusive right, privilege and option to purchase the Claims upon the terms
and conditions hereinafter set forth;
NOW THEREFORE THIS AGREEMENT WITNESSETH that in consideration
of the mutual covenants and provisos herein contained, THE PARTIES HERETO AGREE
AS FOLLOWS:
1. OPTIONOR'S REPRESENTATIONS
1.1 RAVEN represents and warrants to TAMARACK that:
(a) RAVEN is the registered and beneficial owner of the Claims
and holds the right to explore and develop the Claims;
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(b) RAVEN holds the Claims free and clear of all liens,
charges and claims of others, and the RAVEN has a free and
unimpeded right of access to the Claims and have use of the
Claims surface for the herein purposes;
(c) The Claims have been duly and validly located and
recorded in a good and miner-like manner pursuant to the laws
of the Province of Ontario and are in good standing in Ontario
as of the date of this Agreement;
(d) There are no adverse claims or challenges against or to
RAVEN's ownership of or title to any of the Claims nor to the
knowledge of RAVEN is there any basis therefor, and there are
no outstanding agreements or options to acquire or purchase
the Claims or any portion thereof;
(e) RAVEN has the full right, authority and capacity to
enter into this Agreement without first obtaining the consent
of any other person or body corporate and the consummation of
the transaction herein contemplated will not conflict with or
result in any breach of any covenants or agreements contained
in, or constitute a default under, or result in the creation
of any encumbrance under the provisions of any indenture,
agreement or other instrument whatsoever to which RAVEN is a
party or by which it is bound or to which it is subject; and
(f) No proceedings are pending for, and RAVEN is unaware of
any basis for, the institution of any proceedings which could
lead to the placing of RAVEN in bankruptcy, or in any position
similar to bankruptcy.
1.2 The representations and warranties of RAVEN set out in
paragraph 1.1 above form a part of this Agreement and are conditions upon which
TAMARACK has relied in entering into this Agreement and shall survive the
acquisition of any interest in the Claims by TAMARACK.
1.3 RAVEN will jointly indemnify TAMARACK from all loss, damage,
costs, actions and suits arising out of or in connection with any breach of any
representation, warranty, covenant, agreement or condition made by RAVEN and
contained in this Agreement.
1.4 RAVEN acknowledges and agrees that TAMARACK has entered into
this Agreement relying on the warranties and representations and other terms and
conditions of this Agreement and that no information which is now known or which
may hereafter become known to TAMARACK shall limit or extinguish the right to
indemnity hereunder, and, in addition to any other remedies it may pursue,
TAMARACK may deduct the amount of any such loss or damage from any amounts
payable by it to RAVEN hereunder.
2. TAMARACK'S REPRESENTATIONS
TAMARACK warrants and represents to RAVEN that it is a body
corporate, duly incorporated under the laws of the State of Nevada with full
power and absolute capacity to enter into this Agreement and that the terms of
this Agreement have been authorized by all necessary corporate acts and deeds in
order to give effect to the terms hereof.
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3. GRANT OF OPTION
RAVEN hereby gives and grants to TAMARACK the sole and
exclusive right and option to acquire a l00% undivided right, title and interest
in and to the Claims (the "Option"), subject to a 2% net smelter returns royalty
and a 2% gross overriding royalty on diamond production on the Claims as
described respectively in Schedules B and C attached to this Agreement, by
performing the acts and deeds and paying the sums provided for in paragraph 4.
4. CONSIDERATION FOR THE GRANT OF OPTION
4.1 In order to keep the Option granted to TAMARACK in respect
of the Claims in good standing and in force and effect, TAMARACK shall be
obligated to:
Share Issuance
--------------
(a) Issue to RAVEN 250,000 shares of common stock in the
capital stock of TAMARACK (the "Shares") at a deemed price of
$0.001 per share within 90 days following the execution of
this agreement.
Cash Payment
------------
(b) Pay to RAVEN a total of $35,000 as follows:
(i) $2,500 upon execution of this Agreement; (ii) an
additional $12,500 by December 1, 2004; and (iii) an
additional $20,000 by December 1, 2005.
Expenditure Commitments
-----------------------
(c) Incur, or cause to be incurred, exploration and
development work on the Claims totalling at least $50,000 by
December 1, 2005, which work shall be conducted by TAMARACK
under the direction of a qualified geologist or project
engineer, as follows:
(i) $2,500.00 in expenditures on the Claims by June 1,2003
TAMARACK's completion of these expenditures is
mandatory;
(ii) No less than a further $2,500 of expenditures to be
incurred on the Claims by December 1, 2003;
(iii) No less than a further $20,000 of expenditures
to be incurred on the Claims by December 1, 2004; and
(iv) No less than a further $25,000 of expenditures
to be incurred on the Claims by December 1, 2005.
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Advance Royalty Payments
------------------------
(d) Pay to RAVEN advance net smelter returns royalty
payments on the Claims as follows, subject to a maximum of
$10,000 per year:
Claim Block 1: $5,000.00 per year
Claim Block 2: $5,000.00 per year
Advance net smelter return royalty payments shall be due on
the December 1 each year commencing December 1, 2005, and
continuing on December 1 of each calendar year thereafter
until this Agreement is terminated. All such advance net
smelter returns royalty payments that Tamarack makes to the
Optionor shall be fully credited toward any monies due under
the provisions of paragraph 10.3.
Assessment Work
---------------
(e) Pay, or cause to be paid, to RAVEN, or on RAVEN's
behalf, as TAMARACK may determine, all Claims payments and
assessment work required to keep the Claims and this Option in
good standing during the term of this Agreement.
4.2 TAMARACK shall distribute all consideration due under paragraph
4.1 directly to RAVEN.
5. RIGHT TO ABANDON PROPERTY INTERESTS
5.1 Should TAMARACK, in its sole discretion, determine that any
part of the Claims no longer warrants further exploration and development, then
TAMARACK may abandon such interest or interests without affecting its rights or
obligations under this Agreement, so long as TAMARACK provides RAVEN with 60
days notice of its intention to do so. Upon receipt of such notice, RAVEN may
request TAMARACK to retransfer the title to such interest or interests to them,
and TAMARACK hereby agrees to do so, and upon expiry of the 60 days, or upon the
earlier transfer thereof, such interests shall cease to be part of the Claims
for the purposes of this Agreement.
5.2 Any part of the Claims that TAMARACK returns to RAVEN in
accordance with paragraph 5.1 shall have a minimum of one year of assessment
work credited against it at the time of return.
6. TERMINATION OF OPTION
6.1 Subject to paragraph 7.2, the Option shall terminate if
TAMARACK fails to make the required share issuances, cash payments, advance
royalty payments or, fails to complete the required assessment work and in
accordance with paragraph 4.1 herein within the time periods specified therein.
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6.2 If TAMARACK shall be in default of any requirement set forth
in paragraph 4.1 herein, RAVEN shall give written notice to TAMARACK specifying
the default and TAMARACK shall not lose any rights granted under this Agreement,
unless within 60 days after the giving of notice of default by RAVEN, TAMARACK
has failed to take reasonable steps to cure the default by the appropriate
performance.
6.3 If the Option is terminated in accordance with paragraphs 7.1 and 7.2
herein, TAMARACK shall have no interest in or to the Claims, and all share
issuances, expenditures and payments made by TAMARACK to or on behalf of RAVEN
under this Agreement shall be non-refundable by RAVEN to TAMARACK for which
TAMARACK shall have no recourse. Within 60 days of such termination, TAMARACK
shall transfer the Claims back to RAVEN, failing which, RAVEN shall have the
right to act as attorney for TAMARACK for the purpose of such transfer.
7. ACQUISITION OF INTERESTS IN THE PROPERTY
At such time as TAMARACK has made the required share issuance,
cash payment and exploration expenditures in accordance with paragraph 4.1
herein, within the time periods specified therein, then the Option shall be
deemed to have been exercised by TAMARACK, and TAMARACK shall have thereby,
without any further act, acquired an undivided 100% interest in and to the
Claims.
8. RIGHT OF ENTRY
For so long as the Option continues in full force and effect,
TAMARACK, its employees, agents, permitted assigns and independent contractors
shall have the sole and exclusive right and option to:
(a) enter upon the Claims;
(b) have exclusive and quiet possession of the Claims;
(c) incur expenditures;
(d) bring upon and erect upon the Claims such mining facilities as
TAMARACK may consider advisable; and
(e) remove from the Claims and sell or otherwise dispose of mineral
products.
9. NET SMELTER RETURNS ROYALTY
9.1 On the date TAMARACK commences commercial production on the
Claims, RAVEN shall be entitled to receive and TAMARACK shall pay to the RAVEN
2% of net smelter returns. "Commercial production" shall not include milling of
ores for the purpose of testing or milling by a pilot plant or milling during an
initial tune-up period of a plant.
9.2 TAMARACK shall be under no obligation whatsoever to place
the Claims into commercial production and in the event they are placed into
commercial production, TAMARACK shall have the right, at any time, to curtail or
suspend such production as it, in its absolute discretion, may determine.
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10. OPERATOR
10.1 After the execution of this Agreement, TAMARACK, or at
TAMARACK's option, its respective associate or nominee or such other unrelated
entity as it may determine, will act as the operator of the Claims under this
Agreement. TAMARACK, if operator, may resign as the operator at any time by
giving 60 calendar days prior written notice to RAVEN, and within such 60 day
period, TAMARACK may appoint another party who covenants to act as the operator
of the Claims upon such terms as TAMARACK sees fit.
10.2 Notwithstanding paragraph 10.1, RAVEN may be requested to
conduct and supervise all of TAMARACK's exploration and development work on the
Claims and to be compensated at competitive industry rates.
11. POWER AND AUTHORITY OF THE OPERATOR
11.1 After the execution of this Agreement, the Operator shall
have full right, power and authority to do everything necessary or desirable in
connection with the exploration and development of the Claims and to determine
the manner of operation of the Claims as a mine.
11.2 Where possible, the Operator shall insure that all field
work is conducted, and that all assay and work program results are verified, by
a third party independent from TAMARACK.
12. REGISTRATION OF PROPERTY INTERESTS
Upon the request of TAMARACK, RAVEN shall assist TAMARACK to
record this Agreement with the appropriate mining recorder and, when required,
RAVEN shall further provide TAMARACK with such recordable documents as TAMARACK
and its counsel shall require to record its due interest in respect of the
Claims.
13. FURTHER ASSURANCES
The parties hereto agree to do or cause to be done all acts or
things necessary to implement and carry into effect the provisions and intent of
this Agreement.
14. FORCE MAJEURE
If TAMARACK is prevented from or delayed in complying with any
provisions of this Agreement by reasons of strikes, labour disputes, lockouts,
labour shortages, power shortages, fires, wars, acts of God, governmental
regulations restricting normal operations or any other reason or reasons beyond
the control of TAMARACK, the time limited for the performance of the various
provisions of this Agreement as set out above shall be extended by a period of
time equal in length to the period of such prevention and delay, and TAMARACK,
insofar as is possible, shall promptly give written notice to RAVEN of the
particulars of the reasons for any prevention or delay under this section, and
shall take all reasonable steps to remove the cause of such prevention or delay
and shall give written notice to RAVEN as soon as such cause ceases to exist.
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15. CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION
No information furnished by TAMARACK to RAVEN hereunder in
respect of the activities carried out on the Claims by TAMARACK, or related to
the sale of mineral products derived from the Claims, shall be published by
RAVEN without the prior written consent of TAMARACK, but such consent in respect
of the reporting of factual data shall not be unreasonably withheld. RAVEN shall
be entitled to copies of all exploration work and development data that TAMARACK
may acquire in conducting work on the Claims, in written and electronic format,
to be provided as the data is generated
16. ENTIRE AGREEMENT
This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement to date
between the parties hereto and supersedes every previous agreement,
communication, expectation, negotiation, representation or understanding,
whether oral or written, express or implied, statutory or otherwise, between the
parties hereto with respect to the subject matter of this Agreement.
17. NOTICE
17.1 Any notice required to be given under this Agreement shall
be deemed to be well and sufficiently given if delivered, or if mailed by
registered mail, in the case of RAVEN addressed to them as follows:
Raven Resources Inc.
00 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxx, X.X. Xxx 000
Xxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx
X0X 0X0
Attention: Xxxxxxx Xxxxx, President
and in the case of TAMARACK addressed as follows:
Tamarack Ventures Inc.
00 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx. P.O. Box 1185
Manitouwadge, Ontario
P0T 2C0
Attention: Xxxxxx Reukl, President
and any notice given as aforesaid shall be deemed to have been given, if
delivered, when delivered, or if mailed by registered mail, on the fourth
business day after the date of mailing thereof.
17.2 Either party hereto may from time to time by notice in
writing change its address for the purpose of this section.
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18. OPTION ONLY
Until the Option is exercised, this is an option only and
except as specifically provided otherwise, nothing herein contained shall be
construed as obligating TAMARACK to do any acts or make any payments hereunder
and any acts or payments made hereunder shall not be construed as obligating
TAMARACK to do any further acts or make any further payments.
19. RELATIONSHIP OF PARTIES
Nothing contained in this Agreement shall, except to the
extent specifically authorized hereunder, be deemed to constitute either party
hereto a partner, agent or legal representative of the other party.
20. TIME OF ESSENCE
Time shall be of the essence of this Agreement.
21. TITLES
The titles to the respective sections hereof shall not be
deemed a part of this Agreement but shall be regarded as having been used for
convenience only.
22. CURRENCY
All funds referred to under the terms of this Agreement shall
be funds designated in the lawful currency of the United Stares of America.
23. SEVERABILITY
In the event that any of the paragraphs contained in this
Agreement, or any portion of thereof, is unenforceable or is declared invalid
for any reason whatsoever, such unenforceability or invalidity shall not affect
the enforceability or validity of the remaining terms or portions thereof
contained in this Agreement and such unenforceable or invalid paragraph, or
portion thereof, shall be severable from the remainder of the Agreement.
24. APPLICABLE LAW
The situs of the Agreement is Manitouwadge, Ontario, and for
all purposes this Agreement will be governed exclusively by and construed and
enforced in accordance with the laws prevailing in the Province of Ontario.
25. ENUREMENT
This Agreement shall enure to the benefit of and be binding
upon the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF this Agreement has been executed as of the
day and year first above written.
RAVEN RESOURCES INC. TAMARACK VENTURES INC.
PER: /s/ Xxxxxxx Xxxxx PER: /s/ Rob Reukl
------------------------ ------------------------
Xxxxxxx Xxxxx, President Xxxxxx Reukl, President
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SCHEDULE "A"
TO THAT CERTAIN AGREEMENT MADE AS OF DECEMBER 1, 2002
BETWEEN RAVEN RESOURCES INC. AND TAMARACK VENTURES INC.
The Xxxxx Xxxx claims blocks 1 and 2 consist of a total of thirty two mining
claim units located in the Sault Ste. Xxxxx Mining Division, Ontario, Canada
with the following record numbers and area:
Block No. Claim No. Acreage
1 SSM 1242615 640
2 SSM 1242616 640
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SCHEDULE B
TO THAT CERTAIN AGREEMENT MADE AS OF DECEMBER 1, 2002
BETWEEN RAVEN RESOURCES INC. AND TAMARACK VENTURES INC.
DEFINITION OF GROSS OVERRIDING ROYALTY ("XXXX")
(All capitalized terms used herein shall have the definitions contained in the
Agreement, unless otherwise specified.)
Pursuant to the Agreement to which this Appendix is attached,
the Optionors are entitled to a royalty (the "XXXX") equal to 2% of the Average
Appraised Value (as hereinafter defined) of all gem and industrial diamonds
recovered, sorted and graded from the Claims (the "Diamonds"), free and clear of
all costs of development and operations.
"Average Appraised Value" means the average of the valuations
in Canadian dollars of the Diamonds determined by two independent graders, one
appointed by TAMARACK and one appointed by the RAVEN. Such independent graders
shall be duly qualified and accredited, and shall sort, grade and value the
Diamonds in accordance with industry standards, having regard to, but without
limiting the generality of the foregoing, the commercial demand for the
Diamonds. Each independent valuator shall value each particular classification
of the Diamonds in accordance with the industry pricebooks, standards and
formulas. The parties acknowledge that the intention is that the XXXX is to be
paid to the RAVEN on this basis, regardless of the price or proceeds actually
received by TAMARACK for or in connection with the Diamonds or the manner in
which a sale of the Diamonds to a third party is made, and without deduction.
TAMARACK will calculate and pay the XXXX to the Optionors
within 30 days of the end of each calendar quarter, based on all Diamonds from
the Property which were graded in such calendar quarter.
RAVEN shall not be entitled to participate in the profits or
be obligated to share in any losses generated by the Purchaser's actual
marketing or sales practices.
RAVEN shall also at their election have the right to take
their XXXX in kind.
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SCHEDULE C
TO THAT CERTAIN AGREEMENT MADE AS OF DECEMBER 1, 2002
BETWEEN RAVEN RESOURCES INC. AND TAMARACK VENTURES INC.
"NET SMELTER RETURNS"
1. In the Agreement, "Net Smelter Returns" means the net amount
of money received by TAMARACK for its own account from the sale of ore, or ore
concentrates or any other products from the Claims to a smelter or other ore
buyer after deduction of smelter and /or refining charges, ore treatment
charges, penalties and any and all charges made by the purchaser of ore or
concentrates, less any and all transportation costs which may be incurred in
connection with the transportation of ore or concentrates.
2. Payment of Net Smelter Returns by TAMARACK to the RAVEN
shall be made quarterly within 45 days after the end of each fiscal quarter of
TAMARACK and shall be accompanied by unaudited financial statements pertaining
to the operations carried out by TAMARACK on the Claims. Within 120 days after
the end of each fiscal year of TAMARACK in which Net Smelter Returns are payable
to RAVEN, the records relating to the calculation of Net Smelter Returns for
such year shall be audited and any resulting adjustments in the payment of Net
Smelter Returns payable to RAVEN shall be made forthwith. A copy of the said
audit shall be delivered to RAVEN within 30 days of the end of such 120-day
period.
3. Each annual audit shall be final and not subject to
adjustment unless RAVEN delivers to TAMARACK written exceptions in reasonable
detail within one month after RAVEN receives the report. RAVEN, or its
representative duly authorized in writing, at its expense, shall have the right
to audit the books and records of TAMARACK related to Net Smelter Returns to
determine the accuracy of the report, but shall not have access to any other
books and records of TAMARACK. The audit shall be conducted by a chartered or
certified public accountant of recognized standing. TAMARACK shall have the
right to condition access to its books and records on execution of a written
agreement by the auditor that all information will be held in confidence and
used solely for purposes of audit and resolution of any disputes related to the
report. A copy of RAVEN's report shall be delivered to TAMARACK and the amount
which should have been paid according to RAVEN's report shall be paid forthwith.
In the event that the said discrepancy is to the detriment of RAVEN and exceeds
5% of the amount actually paid by TAMARACK, then TAMARACK shall pay the entire
cost of the audit.
4. In the event smelting or refining are carried out in
facilities owned or controlled, in whole or in part, by TAMARACK, charges, costs
and penalties with respect to such operations, excluding transportation, shall
mean reasonable charges, costs and penalties for such operations but not in
excess of the amounts that TAMARACK would have incurred if such operations were
carried out at facilities not owned or controlled by TAMARACK then offering
comparable custom services.
5. RAVEN shall, at their election, have the right to take their
Net Smelter Return as it may pertain to precious metals defined as gold and
platinum group elements in kind.
