Resources

Standard Operating Procedure

Ore Acquisition, VAT Leaching, Gold Recovery & Commercialization

Checklists

AP-SOP-001Version 1.0Draft for review and approval

Document owner: Operations Management
Approval authority: Company Management

Illustrated overview: gold-bearing material, laboratory evaluation, VAT processing and gold product accounting — AcquireEvaluateProcessRecover & sell

14 sections · 12 operational stages

01Purpose

Evidence-led decisions, traceability and accountability.

This Standard Operating Procedure establishes the standard method Aurik Prime follows to identify, evaluate, acquire and process gold-bearing materials through VAT leaching, recover and account for gold, and commercialize the recovered product.

It establishes consistent requirements for operational execution, safety, quality, financial control, traceability, recordkeeping and management oversight.

The objectives are to:

Make informed purchasing decisions using appropriate evidence.
Ensure material and gold remain traceable throughout the business cycle.
Operate VAT-leaching activities under approved technical and safety procedures.
Measure and reconcile material, gold inventory and financial performance.
Protect personnel, assets, the environment and company information.
Use technology to improve operational visibility, consistency and decision-making.
Establish clear responsibility and accountability for every critical activity.

02Scope

Every material lot, project, VAT, batch and gold transaction.

This SOP applies to Aurik Prime's employees, contractors and authorized representatives involved in:

Material identification and supplier verification.
Ore sampling, laboratory testing and technical evaluation.
Purchase evaluation, authorization and receipt.
Project setup, ore preparation and VAT loading.
VAT-leaching operations and monitoring.
Downstream gold recovery and inventory management.
Cost control, gold sales and financial reconciliation.
Safety, equipment maintenance and environmental compliance.
Operational reporting, digital records and batch closure.

It applies to each material lot, purchase, project, VAT, processing batch and gold transaction managed by Aurik Prime.

03Operating principles

Evidence, safety, controlled decisions and continuous improvement.

Aurik Prime shall operate according to the following principles.

3.1 Evidence before commitment

Material purchases and technical decisions must be supported by appropriate evidence. Visual inspection, supplier claims or unverified assays must not be treated as conclusive proof of gold content or process suitability.

3.2 Traceability throughout the process

Every material lot, sample, purchase, project, VAT, batch and recovered product must have a unique identifier or a documented allocation method.

Records must link related activities from the original material source through processing, recovery, storage and sale.

3.3 Safety before production

No production target, commercial commitment or schedule overrides an applicable safety requirement, environmental obligation or authorized stop-work instruction.

3.4 Controlled technical decisions

VAT-leaching procedures, operating limits, sampling methods, chemical handling and recovery methods must be established or approved by appropriately qualified personnel.

3.5 Financial accountability

Purchases, costs, inventory, recovered gold and sales must be recorded and reconciled. Estimates must remain distinguishable from actual measurements and completed transactions.

3.6 Continuous improvement

Operational records, completed checklists, incidents, variances and batch reviews must be used to improve purchasing decisions, processing performance and profitability.

04Roles and responsibilities

Who prepares, reviews, authorizes and reconciles each activity.

4.1 Company Management

Management shall:

Approve this SOP and material revisions.
Establish financial approval limits and delegated authority.
Approve significant purchases and commercial commitments within its authority.
Ensure appropriate personnel, equipment and resources are available.
Review financial performance, operational risks and compliance.

4.2 Operations Manager

The Operations Manager shall:

Coordinate the end-to-end operating process.
Ensure required checklists are completed and reviewed.
Confirm that operational stages have the necessary approvals.
Assign responsibilities and monitor outstanding actions.
Ensure significant deviations are escalated.
Coordinate project and batch closure.

4.3 Procurement or Commercial Officer

The responsible officer shall:

Identify suppliers and material sources.
Verify supplier and transaction documentation.
Coordinate material evaluation and purchase proposals.
Prepare purchase economics and supporting evidence.
Ensure purchases are approved before commitment.

4.4 Technical Authority

The designated qualified geologist, metallurgist or other competent technical specialist shall:

Review assay evidence and material suitability.
Approve or oversee required metallurgical testing.
Establish or approve applicable processing procedures and operating limits.
Review significant process deviations and technical results.
Assess recovery calculations and technical reconciliation.
Authorize technical decisions within delegated authority.

4.5 Plant Manager and Operators

The Plant Manager shall ensure that plant operations are properly supervised, equipment is fit for service and operating procedures are followed.

Operators shall:

Perform assigned tasks according to approved instructions.
Record required readings and activities accurately.
Complete assigned checklists and shift records.
Report hazards, abnormal conditions, equipment defects and discrepancies promptly.
Stop work or escalate conditions as required by the applicable procedure.

4.6 Sampling and Laboratory Personnel

Authorized sampling personnel shall follow approved sampling and custody procedures. Laboratory personnel or appointed laboratories shall provide results using appropriate analytical methods and documentation.

Results must be linked to the correct sample and material lot.

4.7 Finance Officer

Finance shall:

Record purchases, expenditure, commitments, liabilities and payments.
Maintain project and batch cost records.
Reconcile financial transactions and gold sales.
Review budgets, variances and operating results.
Support final financial closeout.

4.8 Inventory Custodian

The designated custodian shall maintain records of material and recovered gold inventory, storage locations, transfers and custody changes.

Physical inventory and recorded balances must be reconciled at the prescribed frequency.

4.9 Safety and Environmental Responsibility

The designated competent person shall oversee relevant inspections, risk controls, incident reporting, environmental monitoring and compliance records.

Where responsibilities are combined in a small team, appropriate independent review must still be maintained for critical approvals and transactions.

05End-to-end operating procedure

Twelve stages, each with a checklist and a release condition.

Stage 1: Identify and screen material

Aurik Prime shall identify potentially valuable gold-bearing material and establish the supplier, source, material type and preliminary quantity.

The responsible officer shall document the available provenance information, inspect the material and identify potential risks.

Required checklist: 01. Material Identification & Supplier Verification.

Release condition: The material is sufficiently identified to justify sampling and further assessment. Material with unresolved provenance or material compliance concerns shall be held or rejected.

Stage 2: Sample and test

Material shall be sampled using an appropriate documented method. Samples shall be identified, labelled and tracked, with chain-of-custody records maintained where required.

Gold assay and other relevant analyses shall be performed by a competent laboratory using suitable methods. Results must be checked against sample identifiers, units and material records.

Additional testing shall be requested when results are inconsistent, insufficient or unsuitable for the decision being made.

Required checklist: 02. Ore Sampling & Laboratory Testing.

Release condition: Sufficient reliable evidence is available to support the technical and commercial assessment, or the material remains on hold pending further testing.

Stage 3: Assess technical suitability and purchase economics

The technical authority shall review the material's grade, variability, relevant mineralogical characteristics and suitability for the proposed VAT-leaching process.

The commercial assessment shall include the purchase price, acquisition costs, expected recovery assumptions, processing costs, downstream recovery costs and estimated value of the resulting product.

Material uncertainties and downside scenarios must be documented. Forecast recovery and profitability must not be represented as guaranteed outcomes.

Required checklist: 03. Ore Suitability & Purchase Approval.

Release condition: Technical review and financial authorization are complete. Purchases must not be committed beyond delegated authority.

Stage 4: Purchase, receive and register material

Approved material shall be purchased under documented terms. Upon delivery, the receiving officer shall verify the supplier, transaction documents, material identity and quantity.

Weights shall be recorded using appropriate weighing equipment. Differences between expected and received quantities must be investigated.

Accepted material shall be assigned a unique lot identifier and recorded in the inventory register. Disputed or unidentified material shall be segregated or quarantined pending resolution.

Required checklist: 04. Material Receipt, Weighing & Inventory.

Release condition: Material receipt is documented, inventory is updated and material discrepancies are resolved or formally controlled.

Stage 5: Establish the project and verify readiness

Each processing project shall have a project record and appropriate batch and VAT identifiers.

The responsible manager shall verify that the material, technical plan, personnel, equipment, laboratory arrangements, downstream recovery arrangements, reagents, safety controls and waste-management arrangements are ready.

The applicable approved operating procedure and operating limits must be available to the responsible personnel.

Required checklist: 05. Project Setup & VAT Readiness.

Release condition: Required technical, operational, financial and safety approvals have been obtained.

Stage 6: Prepare and load ore

The correct approved material shall be selected and prepared according to the authorized process plan.

Material quantities entering preparation, leaving preparation and entering the VAT shall be recorded where applicable. Samples, rejects, spillage and other material movements must be accounted for.

The operator shall verify the receiving VAT and confirm the actual quantity loaded.

Required checklist: 06. Ore Preparation & VAT Loading.

Release condition: The loaded material is linked to the correct batch, quantity records are complete and the authorized supervisor approves the next stage.

Stage 7: Conduct and monitor VAT leaching

VAT leaching shall be performed only under the approved technical procedure and applicable safety and environmental controls.

Operators shall record the required readings, observations, reagent movements, sampling events, equipment status, downtime and deviations at the specified frequency.

Measurements must include their timestamps and units. Readings outside authorized limits, equipment failures, incidents or other abnormal conditions shall be escalated promptly.

Only appropriately authorized personnel may approve changes to process conditions or determine corrective technical actions.

Required checklist: 07. VAT Leaching Operations & Monitoring.

Release condition: The process continues, pauses or advances only according to the approved procedure and authorized technical decisions.

Detailed VAT logs

Stage 8: Recover and reconcile gold

Material and gold-bearing streams shall be transferred to downstream recovery under documented procedures.

The responsible personnel shall record quantities transferred, recovery activities, product weights, intermediate inventories, relevant assay results and remaining material streams.

Recovered product, gold-bearing solution, intermediate inventory and estimated contained gold must be recorded as distinct quantities.

Technical personnel shall review available evidence and investigate material discrepancies.

Required checklist: 08. Gold Recovery & Reconciliation.

Release condition: Recovery records and product identification are complete, and the status of reconciliation is documented.

Stage 9: Track costs and profitability

All material acquisition, preparation, processing, recovery, maintenance, labour, transport, laboratory, security, environmental and other relevant costs shall be recorded against the appropriate project or batch.

Supporting documents must be attached or referenced.

Actual expenditure must be distinguished from estimates, commitments and unpaid liabilities. Revenue received must be distinguished from forecast revenue and the estimated value of unsold gold.

Finance shall review the budget, actual costs, variances and operating result.

Required checklist: 09. Cost Tracking & Profitability.

Release condition: The financial record is sufficiently complete for the required reporting stage, with outstanding amounts clearly identified.

Stage 10: Secure, sell and account for gold

Recovered gold shall be assigned an inventory identifier and stored under the approved security and custody procedure.

Every transfer, refining event, sale and settlement shall be documented. Product weight, assay or purity evidence, buyer details, agreed pricing basis, authorization and payment status must be recorded as applicable.

Sales and inventory movements must be reconciled. Discrepancies or suspected unauthorized movements shall be escalated immediately.

Required checklist: 10. Gold Inventory, Security & Sales.

Release condition: The product's status and custody are documented, the transaction is authorized, and settlement is recorded or explicitly remains outstanding.

Stage 11: Maintain safety, equipment and environmental compliance

Required safety inspections, equipment inspections, preventive maintenance, personnel competency records, environmental monitoring and regulatory obligations shall be maintained throughout operations.

Defects, incidents and non-compliance findings shall be documented, assigned to responsible persons and tracked through corrective action.

Critical safety defects or conditions requiring a stop-work response shall be addressed before the affected activity resumes.

Required checklist: 11. Safety, Maintenance & Environmental Compliance.

Release condition: Required controls are in place, critical findings are addressed and outstanding actions remain visible until formally resolved.

Stage 12: Close the batch and review performance

The Project Manager shall coordinate the final technical, inventory and financial review.

The review shall verify material movements, available assay evidence, recovered gold, intermediate inventory, costs, sales, outstanding liabilities and unresolved discrepancies.

Actual performance shall be compared with the original purchase assumptions and budget. Significant differences must be explained, and corrective actions assigned where necessary.

A batch shall not be recorded as fully closed while mandatory approvals or critical unresolved issues remain outstanding.

Required checklist: 12. Batch Closure & Performance Review.

Release condition: Closure is approved, or the batch remains open or conditionally closed under documented controls.

06Checklist management

Required evidence, corrective actions and independent review.

Aurik Prime shall maintain a controlled library of 12 core operational checklists.

Each checklist shall:

Use the standard Aurik Prime checklist layout.
Display site, location, project, date and responsible person.
Present each check with Yes, No and an input field.
Identify the applicable project, batch, material lot, VAT or transaction.
Capture supporting evidence and references where required.
Record observations, failures, corrective actions and approvals.
Have a unique checklist ID and controlled version.
Be retained as a completed operational record.

6.1 Checklist responses

Yes: The requirement has been met and any required evidence is available.

No: The requirement has not been met, or a condition requires investigation or action. The responsible person shall document the issue and follow the applicable escalation procedure.

Input: A field for a measurement, reference, quantity, explanation or other required information. Required inputs must be completed where applicable.

A Yes response does not replace a mandatory attachment, measurement or approval.

6.2 Checklist approval

The person completing a checklist shall identify themselves and submit it for the required review.

Critical failures shall prevent the relevant stage from being approved until the issue is resolved or a formally authorized disposition is recorded.

A checklist shall not be marked complete merely because all visible questions have been answered.

6.3 One-page requirement

Each core checklist shall fit on a single A4 page. Detailed, repetitive or time-series records shall be stored in linked operational logs rather than overcrowding the checklist.

07Safety, environmental and technical control

Approved site procedures always govern the work.

All activities shall comply with applicable legal requirements, site permits, approved technical procedures and relevant manufacturer instructions.

Aurik Prime shall ensure that:

Personnel are competent and authorized for their assigned work.
Required personal protective equipment and emergency arrangements are available.
Hazardous materials are handled and stored under approved procedures.
Environmental containment, waste management and monitoring requirements are followed.
Equipment is inspected, maintained and cleared for use.
Incidents, near misses, spills and abnormal conditions are reported and investigated.
Stop-work instructions are respected.
Process changes are approved by the designated technical authority.

Where cyanide is used, cyanide-specific handling, monitoring, training, emergency response and environmental controls must be included in the approved site procedures.

This SOP does not establish universal chemical concentrations, pH limits, leaching durations, recovery targets or other operating setpoints. Those values must be approved for the actual plant, process and ore characteristics by qualified personnel.

08Data, records and technology

Traceable records and human-authorized critical decisions.

Aurik Prime shall maintain a controlled record of all material, operational, technical and commercial activities.

8.1 Identification and traceability

Records shall use consistent identifiers for:

Suppliers and material sources.
Material lots and samples.
Purchases and receipts.
Projects, VATs and batches.
Process logs and laboratory reports.
Recovered gold and inventory movements.
Costs, invoices, sales and payments.
Checklists, incidents and corrective actions.

8.2 Data integrity

Records shall identify the person responsible, relevant date and time, units, source and approval status where applicable.

Measured values, laboratory-confirmed results, estimates, forecasts and manually entered information must remain distinguishable.

Corrections to finalized records must be traceable, with the reason, person and required approval recorded. Historical records must not be silently overwritten.

8.3 Digital system responsibilities

The digital system may:

Enforce required fields and checklist completion rules.
Flag missing data, overdue actions and inconsistent values.
Calculate approved metrics from recorded data.
Generate reports from saved records.
Provide AI-assisted summaries and recommendations with references to supporting records.

The digital system must not independently authorize purchases, change technical operating limits, dose chemicals, override safety controls or authorize gold transfers and financial payments.

Critical technical, safety and commercial decisions remain with appropriately authorized personnel.

8.4 Records retention and access

Access shall be assigned according to job responsibilities. Sensitive supplier, assay, financial and gold inventory records shall be protected.

Records shall be backed up and retained for periods established by applicable legal requirements and company policy. Restoration and retrieval arrangements shall be tested periodically.

09Deviations, incidents and corrective actions

Make safe, escalate, investigate and verify closure.

Any failure to follow an approved procedure, missing critical evidence, unexpected result, inventory discrepancy, safety incident or environmental concern shall be documented.

The responsible person shall:

Make the affected activity safe and stop it where required.
Notify the appropriate supervisor or technical authority.
Record the event, relevant evidence and immediate action.
Assess the cause and potential operational, financial or compliance impact.
Assign corrective action, an owner and a due date.
Obtain the necessary approval before resuming a restricted activity.
Verify that the corrective action has been completed and is effective.
Retain the closure record.

Serious incidents, suspected theft, significant gold discrepancies and potential regulatory breaches shall be escalated promptly under the relevant emergency or compliance procedure.

10Financial and inventory reconciliation

Separate estimated gold, recovered product, sales and cash.

Aurik Prime shall maintain separate records for material quantities, estimated contained gold, actual recovered product, intermediate inventory, gold sold and cash received.

Where technically appropriate, contained gold may be estimated using material mass and representative grade. Recovery calculations shall use comparable and sufficiently reliable numerator and denominator values.

Differences between expected and observed quantities shall be investigated and documented. Estimated contained gold shall not be presented as actual recovered gold.

Gold inventory shall be reconciled against physical holdings and documented transfers. Financial records shall distinguish actual expenditure, unpaid liabilities, estimated costs, realized revenue and unsold inventory.

All material adjustments shall require documented justification and the appropriate authorization.

11Reporting and management review

Performance, exceptions, outstanding risks and lessons learned.

The Operations Manager shall ensure that management receives reports appropriate to the scale and activity of the business.

Reports should cover:

Material acquired and awaiting processing.
Project, VAT and batch status.
Outstanding laboratory results and technical decisions.
Processing performance, downtime and operational exceptions.
Gold recovered, held, transferred and sold.
Material and gold reconciliation differences.
Actual costs, budget variances and financial performance.
Safety, maintenance and environmental findings.
Outstanding checklist items and corrective actions.
Completed batch reviews and lessons learned.

Management shall review significant exceptions, performance trends, financial results and unresolved risks. Decisions and follow-up actions shall be documented.

12Document control and review

Approved revisions, controlled versions and personnel training.

The Document Owner shall maintain the current approved version of this SOP and the associated checklist library.

Changes shall be reviewed and approved by the designated authority before becoming effective.

The SOP shall be reviewed periodically and whenever a material change occurs in the business process, equipment, technology, regulatory obligations or risk profile.

Superseded versions shall be withdrawn from active use while required historical versions remain available for audit and reference.

Personnel affected by material changes shall be informed and trained where necessary.

13Associated checklists

All twelve operational forms, linked to their applicable stage.

The following checklists form part of the operational implementation of this SOP:

Material Identification & Supplier Verification.
Ore Sampling & Laboratory Testing.
Ore Suitability & Purchase Approval.
Material Receipt, Weighing & Inventory.
Project Setup & VAT Readiness.
Ore Preparation & VAT Loading.
VAT Leaching Operations & Monitoring.
Gold Recovery & Reconciliation.
Cost Tracking & Profitability.
Gold Inventory, Security & Sales.
Safety, Maintenance & Environmental Compliance.
Batch Closure & Performance Review.

Each checklist shall be completed at the applicable stage and linked to the relevant project, batch, material lot or transaction.

Open checklist library

14Approval

Not effective until the required reviews and approvals are complete.

This SOP becomes effective only after review and approval by Aurik Prime management and the relevant qualified technical, safety and compliance personnel.

Prepared by: Not recorded
Reviewed by: Not recorded
Approved by: Not recorded
Effective date: Not recorded
Next review date: Not recorded
Signature: Not recorded

Intelligent Mining. Maximum Value.