INDEPENDENCE GROUP NL SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2017

THE MINING AND EXPLORATION PROCESS EXPLORATION PROJECT DEVELOPMENT ACTIVE CLOSURE OPERATIONS PASSIVE CLOSURE 1 MINING INVOLVES 5 DISTINCT PHASES EXPLORATION IGO is passionate about discovery through innovative exploration both in near-mine areas and on regional belt-scale opportunities. 2 3 5 4 PROJECT DEVELOPMENT OPERATIONS PASSIVE CLOSURE ACTIVE CLOSURE Project development involves the definition of economically mineable resources, either as the product of our exploration efforts or through the purchase of prospective ground from other parties. It also involves a number of key steps including undertaking feasibility studies and obtaining environmental approvals. Operations involve the extraction of ore from the mine and its beneficiation to produce our saleable products: concentrates that contain gold, nickel, zinc, copper, and cobalt. Operations involve ongoing exploration and resource definition, and ongoing mine design and processing optimisation. Following the completion of closure earthworks, demolition work and revegetation, mine sites are subject to ongoing environmental monitoring to assess their progress against the agreed closure criteria. Typically this includes monitoring of water quality, revegetation, successional processes, and rates of erosion. Where practical, rehabilitation works commence during operations and occur progressively until the end of a mine’s economic life. Mine closure planning is completed in consultation with our stakeholders and results in the development of a ‘basis of design’ and ‘mine closure criteria’. Earthworks are completed to reshape the landforms created by our mining activity to ensure they are both safe, stable and suitable for the intended post-closure land use. 1 2 3 5 4 IGO SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2017— 25

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