Nuvo Pharmaceuticals Inc NRIFF

RE: Refractory Ore Recovery Rate

[Barruch]

Heha Also the recovery grades were dicussed in the Preliminary Economic Assessment released March 15 2002. Here it is: Gold Metallurgy and Processing Summary Comprehensive metallurgical test work including bench-scale grinding, flotation, pressure oxidation, bio-oxidation and carbon-in-leach (CIL) cyanidation recovery has been completed by several independent labs and reviewed by AMEC. Results from metallurgical test work and mineralogical examination demonstrate that 95%-98% of the gold is contained in the finer grained arsenopyrite mineralization at Donlin Creek. Gold recoveries in excess of 90%-95% are achievable by using a grind size of P80 60 micron followed by conventional sulfide flotation concentration, pressure oxidation of the concentrate and CIL cyanidation for gold recovery. Potential remains to further improve the overall gold recoveries through process optimization, which will be the focus of additional future metallurgical work. Barruch