Baffinland Forms Exploration Joint Venture With Nunavut Tunngavik Inc.

Baffinland Iron Mines Corporation announced that it has signed a joint venture agreement with the Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. (“NTI”) for the exploration and development of minerals within approximately 16,695 hectares of Inuit Owned Lands parcel PI-17. The Exploration Area surrounds but excludes Baffinland’s existing Mining Leases, ML 2484 and 2485, which are wholly-owned by Baffinland.

Under the terms of the JV Agreement, Baffinland has the right to earn 100% interest in the Exploration Area if it enters into a production lease and prepares a Definitive Feasibility Study. Up to that point, Baffinland would design and fund all exploration work programs. Upon the completion of a Definitive Feasibility Study and entering into a production lease, the NTI has the option of forming a joint venture and hold a 28% participating interest in the production lease area. If the NTI decides not to participate, it would be reduced to a 13% net profits interest royalty. In addition, the NTI maintains a 12% net profits interest royalty (“NTI Basic Royalty”) that assumes a minimum 25% net profits interest from production. The NTI Basic Royalty is payable whether the NTI participates or is reduced to a net profits interest royalty, which is not subject to any minimum net profit.

In addition, Baffinland is required to make annual fee payments to the NTI that start at $1.00 per hectare and would increase to $4.00 per hectare after 16 years. Annual work payments similarly start at $4.00 per hectare and increase to $40.00 per hectare after 16 years. Baffinland may, at its future discretion, reduce the size of the Exploration Area.

“We are pleased to expand our land position and explore the potential of this exciting iron ore district. Baffinland has focused its work on the known deposits that outcrop on its existing leases and has always realized the incredible promise for greatly increasing the direct-shipping iron ore resource potential beyond that currently explored.” stated Michael Zurowski, Baffinland’s Executive Vice President.

“There is more than 60 kilometres of a highly prospective rich iron formation that we have proven to host high grade direct-shipping iron ore and the joint venture that immediately surrounds Baffinland’s Deposits No. 1, No. 2 and No. 3 is an excellent next step in realizing this truly world class iron ore district. In addition, we look forward to exploring Deposit No. 4 on Baffinland’s wholly-owned Mining Lease ML 2483, located 27 kilometres northwest of Deposit No 1. The exploration potential of our existing leases and the land covered by our Joint venture with the NTI underscores our belief in the multi-generational production potential of our Mary River Project.” stated Gordon McCreary, President and CEO of Baffinland.

Baffinland is a Canadian publicly-traded junior mining company that is focused on its wholly-owned Mary River iron ore deposits located on Baffin Island, Nunavut Territory, Canada.

Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. (NTI) is the incorporated organization that represents Inuit under the Nunavut Lands Claim Agreement. NTI’s mission is to foster Inuit economic, social and cultural well-being through the implementation of the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement. NTI is responsible for the management of all Inuit-Owned Lands in Nunavut and acts as the advocate of Inuit interests in Nunavut.