EXHIBIT 10.1


                                OPTION AGREEMENT
                                ----------------


THIS AGREEMENT made as of the 28th day of September, 2001


BETWEEN:
                           Whitegold Natural Resource Corp.,
                           --------------------------------
                           of Suite 612, 475 Howe Street, Vancouver,
                           British Columbia, V6C 2B3

                           (the "Optionor")
                                                               OF THE FIRST PART

AND:

                           Big Cat Mining Corporation,
                           --------------------------
                           of 7928 Rowland Road, Edmonton, Alberta, T6A 3W1

                           (the "Optionee")
                                                              OF THE SECOND PART

WHEREAS:

A.   The Optionor is the owner of certain mineral claims located in the Liard
     Mining Division of British Columbia (the "Property").

B.   The Optionor has agreed to grant an exclusive option to the Optionee to
     acquire an interest in and to the Property, subject to the Royalty, on the
     terms and conditions hereinafter set forth;

NOW THEREFORE THIS AGREEMENT WITNESSES that in consideration of the sum of
$20.00 now paid by the Optionee to the Optionor (the receipt of which is hereby
acknowledged), the parties agree as follows:

DEFINITIONS

1. For the purposes of this Agreement, the following words and phrases shall
have the following meanings, namely:

     (a)  Commencement of Commercial Production" means:

          (i)  if a Mill is located on the Property, the last day of a period of
               40 consecutive days in which, for not less than 30 days, the Mill
               processed ore from the Property at 60 percent of its rated
               concentrating capacity; or

          (ii) if no Mill is located on the Property, the last day of a period
               of 30 consecutive days during which ore has been shipped from the
               Property on a reasonably regular basis for the purpose of earning
               revenues,

               but no period of time during which ore or concentrate is shipped
               from the Property for testing purposes, and no period of time
               during which milling operations are undertaken as initial
               tune-up, shall be taken into account in determining the date of
               Commencement of Commercial Production;

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                                        2

     (b)  "Exploration Expenditures" means the sum of:

          (i)  all costs of acquisition and maintenance of the Property, all
               exploration and development expenditures and all other costs and
               expenses of whatsoever kind or nature including those of a
               capital nature, incurred or chargeable by the Optionee with
               respect to the exploration and development of the Property and
               the placing of the Property into commercial production, and

          (ii) as compensation for general overhead expenses which the Optionee
               will incur, an amount equal to 10% of all amounts included in
               subparagraph (i) in each year except costs of fixed assets and
               costs and expenditures paid by the Optionee under any contract
               involving payments by it in excess of $100,000 in the year, and
               5% of all other amounts included in subparagraph (i) in each
               year;

     (c)  "Option" means the option to acquire a 50% undivided interest in and
          to the Property as provided in this Agreement;

     (d)  "Option Period" means the period during the term of this Agreement
          from the date hereof to and including the date of exercise or
          termination of the Option;

     (e)  "Property" means the mineral claims described in Schedule "A" and all
          mining leases and other mining interests derived from any such claims.
          Any reference to any mineral claim comprised in the Property includes
          any mineral leases or other interests into which such mineral claim
          may have been converted;

     (f)  "Property Rights" means all licenses, permits, easements,
          rights-of-way, certificates and other approvals obtained by either of
          the parties either before or after the date of this Agreement and
          necessary for the exploration and development of the Property, or for
          the purpose of placing the Property into production or continuing
          production;

     (g)  "Royalty" means the amount of royalty from time to time payable to the
          Optionor hereunder and as defined in Schedule "B" attached hereto.

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE OPTIONOR
----------------------------------------------

2.   (a)  The Optionor represents and warrants to the Optionee that:

          (i)  it is legally entitled to hold the Property and the Property
               Rights and will remain so entitled until all interest of the
               Optionor in the Property (other than the Royalty, if any) has
               been duly transferred to the Optionee as contemplated hereby;

          (ii) it is and at the time of each transfer to the Optionee of mineral
               claims comprised in the Property he will be, the recorded holder
               and beneficial owner of all of the mineral claims comprising the
               Property free and clear of all liens, charges and claims of
               others, except as noted on Schedule "A", and no taxes or rentals
               are due;

          (iii) the mineral claims comprised in the Property have been duly and
               validly located and recorded pursuant to the laws of the
               jurisdiction in which the Property is situate and, except as
               specified in Schedule "A" and accepted by the Optionee, are in
               good standing with respect to all filings, fees, taxes,
               assessments, work commitments or other conditions on the date
               hereof and until the dates set opposite the respective names in
               Schedule "A";

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                                        3

          (iv) there is no adverse claim or challenge against or to the
               ownership of or title to any of the mineral claims comprising the
               Property, nor to the knowledge of the Optionor is there any basis
               therefore, and there are no outstanding agreements or options to
               acquire or purchase the Property or any portion thereof, and no
               person other than the Optionor, pursuant to the provisions
               hereof, has any royalty or other interest whatsoever in
               production from any of the mineral claims comprising the Property
               other than as set out in Schedule "A";

          (v)  no proceedings are pending for, and the Optionor is unaware of
               any basis for the institution of any proceedings leading to the
               placing of the Optionor in bankruptcy or subject to any other
               laws governing the affairs of insolvent persons.

     (b)  The representations and warranties contained in this section are
          provided for the exclusive benefit of the Optionee and a breach of any
          one or more thereof may be waived by the Optionee in whole or in part
          at any time without prejudice to its rights in respect of any other
          breach of the same or any other representation or warranty, and the
          representations and warranties contained in this section shall survive
          the execution hereof.

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE OPTIONEE
----------------------------------------------

3.   (a)  The Optionee represents and warrants to the Optionor that:

          (i)  it has been duly incorporated and validly exists as a corporation
               in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of
               incorporation;

          (ii) it is lawfully authorized to hold mineral claims and real
               property under the laws of the jurisdiction in which the Property
               is situate;

          (iii) it has duly obtained all corporate authorizations for the
               execution of this Agreement and for the performance of this
               Agreement by it 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 the Articles or the constating documents of the
               Optionee or any shareholders' or directors' resolution,
               indenture, agreement or other instrument whatsoever to which the
               Optionee is a party or by which it is bound or to which it or the
               Property may be subject; and

          (iv) no proceedings are pending for and the Optionee is unaware of any
               basis for the institution of any proceedings leading to, the
               dissolution or winding up of the Optionee or the placing of the
               Optionee in bankruptcy or subject to any other laws governing the
               affairs of insolvent corporations.

     (b)  The representations and warranties contained in this section are
          provided for the exclusive benefit of the Optionor and a breach of any
          one or more thereof may be waived by the Optionor in whole or in part
          at any time without prejudice to its rights in respect of any other
          breach of the same or any other representation or warranty and the
          representations and warranties contained in this section shall survive
          the execution hereof.

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                                        4

GRANT AND EXERCISE OF OPTION
----------------------------

4.   (a)  The Optionor hereby grants to the Optionee the sole and exclusive
          right and option to acquire a 50% undivided interest in and to the
          Property free and clear of all charges, encumbrances and claims,
          except for those set out in Schedule "A".

     (b)  The Option shall be fully exercised by the Optionee incurring
          Exploration Expenditures of $3,500,000 on the Property as follows:

               (A)  $50,000 on or before March 1, 2003;

               (B)  a further $100,000 on or before December 31, 2003;

               (C)  a further $350,000 on or before December 31, 2004.

               (D)  a further $1,000,000 on or before December 31, 2005; and

               (E)  a further $2,000,000 on or before December 31, 2006.

          In the event that the Optionee spends, in any of the above periods,
          less than the specified sum, it may pay the Optionor the difference
          between the amount it actually spent and the specified sum before the
          expiry of that period in full satisfaction of the expenditures
          specified. In the event that the Optionee spends, in any period, more
          than the specified sum, the excess shall be carried forward and
          applied to the expenditures to be made in succeeding periods.

     (c)  If and when the Option has been exercised, a 50% undivided right,
          title and interest in and to the Property shall vest in the Optionee
          free and clear of all charges, encumbrances and claims, except for the
          obligations of the Optionee to pay the Optionor the Royalty, if any,
          and to give the Optionor a right of first refusal on any mineral claim
          comprising a part of the Property which the Optionee wishes to
          abandon.

     (d)  In the event that the Optionee does not fully exercise the Option by
          fulfilling the terms set out in subparagraph (b) by the 10th
          anniversary of this Agreement the Option and this Agreement shall
          terminate.

RIGHT OF ENTRY
--------------

5. Throughout the Option Period, the directors and officers of the Optionee and
its servants, agents and independent contractors, shall have the sole and
exclusive right in respect of the Property to:

     (a)  enter thereon;

     (b)  have exclusive and quiet possession thereof;

     (c)  do such prospecting, exploration, development and other mining work as
          the Optionee in its sole discretion may determine advisable;

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                                        5

     (d)  bring upon and erect upon the Property such buildings, plant,
          machinery and equipment as the Optionee may deem advisable; and

     (e)  remove and dispose of reasonable quantities of ores, minerals and
          metals for the purposes of obtaining assays or making other tests.

TRANSFER OF PROPERTY
--------------------

6.   (a)  Concurrently with the execution of this Agreement, the Optionor shall
          deliver to the Optionee duly executed transfers of the appropriate
          interest in the Property which shall be acquired by the Optionee upon
          exercise of the Option.

     (b)  The Optionee shall be entitled to record all transfers contemplated at
          its own cost with the appropriate government office to effect legal
          transfer of such interest in the Property into the name of the
          Optionee, provided that the Optionee shall hold such interest in the
          Property subject to the terms of this Agreement, it being understood
          that the transfer of such legal title to the Optionee prior to the
          exercise of the Option is for administrative convenience only.

OBLIGATIONS OF THE OPTIONEE DURING OPTION PERIOD
------------------------------------------------

7.   During the Option Period, the Optionee shall:

     (a)  maintain in good standing those mineral claims comprised in the
          Property by the doing and filing of assessment work or the making of
          payments in lieu thereof, by the payment of taxes and rentals, and the
          performance of all other actions which may be necessary in that regard
          and in order to keep such mineral claims free and clear of all liens
          and other charges arising from the Optionee's activities thereon
          except those at the time contested in good faith by the Optionee;

     (b)  permit the directors, officers, employees and designated consultants
          of the Optionor, at their own risk and expense, access to the Property
          at all reasonable times, and the Optionor agrees to indemnify the
          Optionee against and to save it harmless from all costs, claims,
          liabilities and expenses that the Optionee may incur or suffer as a
          result of any injury (including injury causing death) to any director,
          officer, employee or designated consultant of the Optionor while on
          the Property;

     (c)  permit the Optionor, at its own expense, reasonable access to the
          results of the work done on the Property during the last completed
          calendar year;

     (d)  do all work on the Property in a good and workmanlike fashion and in
          accordance with all applicable laws, regulations, orders and
          ordinances of any governmental authority;

     (e)  indemnify and save the Optionor harmless in respect of any and all
          costs, claims, liabilities and expenses arising out of the Optionee's
          activities on the Property, but the Optionee shall incur no obligation
          hereunder in respect of claims arising or damages suffered after
          termination of the Option if upon termination of the Option any
          workings on or improvements to the Property made by the Optionee are
          left in a safe condition.

TERMINATION OF OPTION
---------------------

8.   (a)  The Optionee may terminate the Option by notice to the Optionor.

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                                        6

     (b)  If the Option is terminated by the Optionee or the Optionor, the
          Optionee shall:

          (i)  leave in good standing for a period of at least 24 months from
               the termination of the Option Period those mineral claims
               comprised in the Property;

          (ii) deliver to the Optionor a Bill of Sale or other proper form of
               transfer documents, in recordable form whereby the right, title
               and interest in and to the Property has been transferred to the
               Optionor or its nominee or nominees, free and clear of all liens
               or charges arising from the Optionee's activities on the
               Property; and

          (iii) deliver at no cost to the Optionor within 90 days of such
               termination, copies of all reports, maps, assay results and other
               relevant technical data compiled by, prepared at the direction
               of, or in the possession of the Optionee with respect to the
               Property and not theretofore furnished to the Optionor.

     (c)  Notwithstanding the termination of the Option, the Optionee shall have
          the right, within a period of 180 days following the end of the Option
          Period, to remove from the Property all buildings, plant, equipment,
          machinery, tools, appliances and supplies which have been brought upon
          the Property by or on behalf of the Optionee, and any such property
          not removed within such 180 day period shall thereafter become the
          property of the Optionor.

ROYALTY
-------

9.   (a)  Upon the Commencement of Commercial Production, the Optionee shall pay
          to the Optionor the Royalty, being equal to 3% of net Smelter Returns
          on the terms and conditions as set out in this section and in Schedule
          "B".

     (b)  Instalments of the Royalty payable under paragraph (a) shall be paid
          by the Optionee as follows:

          (i)  within 45 days after the end of each of the Optionee's first
               three fiscal quarters in each fiscal year and within 60 days of
               the end of the Optionee's last fiscal quarter in each fiscal
               year, the Optionee shall pay to the Optionor an amount equal to
               25% of the estimated Royalty, if any, for the fiscal year,
               adjusted if necessary after the first quarter of any fiscal year
               to reflect any change during the fiscal year in estimated
               Royalty; and

          (ii) within 120 days after the end of the Optionee's fiscal year, the
               balance, if any, of Royalty payable in respect of the fiscal year
               last completed.

     (c)  After Commencement of Commercial Production, the Optionee shall,
          within 45 days after the end of each fiscal quarter, furnish to the
          Optionor quarterly unaudited statements respecting operations on the
          Property, together with a statement showing the calculation of Royalty
          for the fiscal quarter last completed.

     (d)  Forthwith after the end of each fiscal year, commencing with the year
          in which Commencement of Commercial Production occurs, the accounts of
          the Optionee relating to operations on the Property shall be audited
          by the auditors of the Optionee, at its expense, and the statement of
          operations, which shall include the statement of calculation of
          Royalty for the year last completed. The Optionor shall have 45 days
          after receipt of such statements to question the accuracy thereof in
          writing and, failing such objection, the statements shall be deemed to
          be correct and unimpeachable thereafter.

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                                        7

     (e)  If the audited financial statements furnished pursuant to paragraph
          (d) disclose any overpayment of Royalty by the Optionee during the
          fiscal year, the amount of the overpayment shall be debited against
          future instalments of Royalty payable hereunder.

     (f)  If the audited financial statements furnished pursuant to paragraph
          (d) disclose any underpayment of Royalty by the Optionee during the
          year, the amount thereof shall be paid to the Optionor forthwith after
          determination thereof.

     (g)  The Optionor agrees to maintain for each mining operation on the
          Property, up-to-date and complete records relating to the production
          and sale of minerals, ore, bullion and other product from the
          Property, including accounts, records, statements and returns relating
          to treatment and smelting arrangements of such product, and the
          Optionor or its agents shall have the right at all reasonable times,
          including for a period of 12 months following the expiration or
          termination of this Agreement, to inspect such records, statements and
          returns and make copies at its own expense for the purpose of
          verifying the amount of Royalty payments to be made by the Optionee to
          the Optionor pursuant hereto. The Optionor shall have the right at its
          own expense to have such accounts audited by independent auditors once
          each fiscal year.

     (h)  Upon the Optionor receiving a total of $1,000,000 from payments of
          Royalty, the Royalty shall terminate. The Optionee shall always have
          the right to prepay such amount before it is actually due.

POWER TO CHARGE PROPERTY
------------------------

10. At any time after the Optionee has exercised the Option, the Optionee may
grant mortgages, charges or liens (each of which is herein called a "mortgage")
of and upon the Property or any portion thereof, any mill or other fixed assets
located thereon and any or all of the tangible personal property located on or
used in connection with the Property to secure financing of development of the
Property, provided that, unless otherwise agreed to by the Optionor, it shall be
a term of each mortgage that the mortgagee or any person acquiring title to the
Property upon enforcement of the mortgage shall hold the same subject to the
rights of the Optionor hereunder as if the mortgagee or any such person had
executed this Agreement.

TRANSFERS

11.  (a)  The Optionee may at any time either during the Option Period or
          thereafter, sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of all or any portion
          of its interest in and to the Property and this Agreement provided
          that any purchaser, grantee or transferee of any such interest shall
          have first delivered to the Optionor its agreement related to this
          Agreement and to the Property, containing:

          (i)  a covenant by such transferee to perform all the obligations of
               the Optionee to be performed under this Agreement in respect of
               the interest to be acquired by it from the Optionee to the same
               extent as if this Agreement had been originally executed by such
               transferee; and

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                                        8

          (ii) a provision subjecting any further sale, transfer or other
               disposition of such interest in the Property and this Agreement
               or any portion thereof to the restrictions contained in this
               paragraph (a).

     (b)  No assignment by the Optionee of any interest less than its entire
          interest in this Agreement and in the Property shall, as between the
          Optionee and the Optionor, discharge it from any of its obligations
          hereunder, but upon the transfer by the Optionee of the entire
          interest at the time held by it in this Agreement, whether to one or
          more transferees and whether in one or in a number of successive
          transfers, the Optionee shall be deemed to be discharged from all
          obligations hereunder save and except for the payment of the Royalty
          or other fulfillment of contractual commitments accrued due prior to
          the date on which the Optionee shall have no further interest in this
          Agreement.

     (c)  If the Optionor should receive a bona fide offer from an independent
          third party (the "Proposed Purchaser") dealing at arm's length with
          the Optionor to purchase all or a part of its interest in the
          Property, which offer the Optionor desires to accept, or if the
          Optionor intends to sell all or a part of its interest in the
          Property:

          (i)  The Optionor shall first offer (the "Offer") such interest in
               writing to the Optionee upon terms no less favourable than those
               offered by the Proposed Purchaser or intended to be offered by
               the Optionor, as the case may be.

          (ii) The Offer shall specify the price, terms and conditions of such
               sale, the name of the Proposed Purchaser and shall, in the case
               of an intended offer by the Optionor, disclose the person or
               persons to whom the Optionor intends to offer its interest and,
               if the offer received by the Optionor from the Proposed Purchaser
               provides for any consideration payable to the Optionor otherwise
               than in cash, the Offer shall include the Optionor's good faith
               estimate of the cash equivalent of the non-cash consideration.

          (iii) If within a period of 60 days of the receipt of the Offer the
               Optionee notifies the Optionor in writing that it will accept the
               Offer, the Optionor shall be bound to sell such interest to the
               Optionee on the terms and conditions of the Offer. If the Offer
               so accepted by the Optionee contains the Optionor's good faith
               estimate of the cash equivalent of the non cash consideration as
               aforesaid, and if the Optionee disagrees with the Optionor's best
               estimate, the Optionee shall so notify the Optionor at the time
               of acceptance and the Optionee shall, in such notice, specify
               what it considers, in good faith, the fair cash equivalent to be
               and the resulting total purchase price. If the Optionee so
               notifies the Optionor, the acceptance by the Optionee shall be
               effective and binding upon the Optionor and the Optionee, and the
               cash equivalent of any such non-cash consideration shall be
               determined by binding arbitration and shall be payable by the
               Optionee, subject to prepayment as hereinafter provided, within
               60 days following its determination by arbitration. The Optionee
               shall in such case pay to the Optionor, against receipt of an
               absolute transfer of clear and unencumbered title to the interest
               of the Optionor being sold, the total purchase price which is
               specified in its notice to the Optionor and such amount shall be
               credited to the amount determined following arbitration of the
               cash equivalent of any non-cash consideration.

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                                        9

          (iv) If the Optionee fails to notify the Optionor before the
               expiration of the time limited therefore that it will purchase
               the interest offered, the Optionor may sell and transfer such
               interest to the Proposed Purchaser at the price and on the terms
               and conditions specified in the Offer for a period of 60 days,
               but the terms of this paragraph shall again apply to such
               interest if the sale to the Proposed Purchaser is not completed
               within such 60 days.

          (v)  Any sale hereunder shall be conditional upon the Proposed
               Purchaser delivering a written undertaking to the Optionee, in
               form and substance satisfactory to its counsel, to be bound by
               the terms and conditions of this Agreement.

SURRENDER AND ACQUISITION OF PROPERTY
INTEREST PRIOR TO TERMINATION OF AGREEMENT
------------------------------------------

12. The Optionee may at any time elect to abandon any one or more of the mineral
claims comprised in the Property by giving notice to the Optionor of such
intention. For a period of 30 days after giving such notice, the Optionor may
elect to have any or all of the mineral claims in respect of which such notice
has been given transferred to it by delivery of a request therefore to the
Optionee, whereupon the Optionee shall deliver to the Optionor a Bill of Sale or
other appropriate transfer documents in registrable form transferring such
mineral claims to the Optionor. Any claims so transferred shall be in good
standing under the laws of the jurisdiction in which they are situate for at
least 24 months from the date of transfer. If the Optionor fails to make request
for the transfer of any mineral claims as aforesaid within such 30 day period,
the Optionee may then abandon such mineral claims without further notice to the
Optionor. Upon any such transfer or abandonment, the mineral claims so
transferred or abandoned shall for all purposes of this Agreement cease to form
part of the Property.

FORCE MAJEURE
-------------

13.  (a)  If the Optionee is at any time either during the Option Period or
          thereafter prevent or delayed in complying with any provisions of this
          Agreement by reason of strikes, lock-outs, labour shortages, power
          shortages, fuel shortages, fires, wars, acts of God, governmental
          regulations restricting normal operations, shipping delays or any
          other reason or reasons, other than lack of funds, beyond the control
          of the Optionee, the time limited for the performance by the Optionee
          of its obligations hereunder shall be extended by a period of time
          equal in length to the period of each such prevention or delay, but
          nothing herein shall discharge the Optionee from its obligations
          hereunder to maintain the Property in good standing;



     (b)  The Optionee shall give prompt notice to the Optionor of each event of
          force majeure under paragraph (a) and upon cessation of such event
          shall furnish to the Optionor with notice t that effect together with
          particulars of the number of days by which the Obligations of the
          Optionee hereunder have been extended by virtue of such event of force
          majeure and all preceding events of force majeure.

     (c)  After the Commencement of Commercial Production, the Optionee shall
          work, mine and operate the Property during such time or times as the
          Optionee in its sole judgment considers such operations to be
          profitable. The Optionee may suspend or curtail operations, both
          before and after Commencement of Commercial Production, during periods
          when the products derived from the Property cannot be profitable sold
          at prevailing prices or if an unreasonable inventory thereof, in the
          Optionee's sole judgment, has accumulated or would otherwise
          accumulate.

CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION
------------------------

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                                       10

14.  No information furnished by the Optionee to the Optionor hereunder in
     respect of the activities carried out on the Property by the Optionee, or
     related to the sale of minerals, ore, bullion or other product derived from
     the Property, shall be published by the Optionor without the prior written
     consent of the Optionee, but such consent in respect of the reporting of
     factual data shall not be unreasonably withheld, and shall not be withheld
     in respect of information required to be publicly disclosed pursuant to
     applicable securities or corporation laws.

ARBITRATION
-----------

15.  (a)  The parties agree that all questions or matters in dispute with
          respect to the accounting of monies hereunder or in any respect to any
          other dispute which the parties agree shall be settled by arbitration,
          shall be submitted to arbitration pursuant to the terms hereof.



     (b)  It shall be a condition precedent to the right of any party to submit
          any matter to arbitration pursuant to the provisions hereof, that any
          party intending to refer any matter to arbitration shall have given
          not less than 10 days' prior notice of its intention to do so to the
          other party, together with particulars of the mater in dispute. On the
          expiration of such 10 days, the party who gave such notice may proceed
          to refer the dispute to arbitration as provided in paragraph (c).

     (c)  The party desiring arbitration shall appoint one arbitrator and shall
          notify the other party of such appointment and the other party shall,
          within 15 days after receiving such notice, either consent to the
          appointment of such arbitrator which shall then carry out the
          arbitration or appoint an arbitrator and the two arbitrators so named,
          before proceeding to act, shall within 30 days of the appointment of
          the last appointed arbitrator, unanimously agree on the appointment of
          a third arbitrator to act with them and be chairman of the arbitration
          herein provided for.

     If the other party shall fail to appoint an arbitrator within 15 days after
     receiving notice of the appointment of the first arbitrator, the first
     arbitrator shall be the only arbitrator, and if the two arbitrators
     appointed by the parties shall be unable to agree on the appointment of the
     chairman, the chairman shall be appointed under the provisions of the
     Commercial arbitration Act of British Columbia. Except as specifically
     otherwise provided in this section, the arbitration herein provided for
     shall be conducted in accordance with such Act. The chairman, or in the
     case where only one arbitrator is appointed, the single arbitrator, shall
     fix a time and place in Vancouver, British Columbia, for the purpose of
     hearing the evidence and representations of the parties, and he shall
     preside over the arbitration and determine all questions of procedure not
     provided for under such Act or this section. After hearing any evidence and
     representations that the parties may submit, the single arbitrator, or the
     arbitrators, as the case may be, shall make an award and reduce the same to
     writing and delivery one copy thereof to each of the parties. The expense
     of the arbitration shall be paid as specified in the award.

     (d)  The parties agree that the award of a majority of the arbitrators or
          in the case of a single arbitrator, of such arbitrator, shall be final
          and binding upon each of them.

DEFAULT AND TERMINATION
-----------------------

16.  (a)  If at any time during the Option Period the Optionee fails to perform
          any obligation required to be performed by it hereunder or is in
          breach of a warranty given by it hereunder, which failure or breach
          materially interferes with the implementation of this Agreement, the
          Optionor may terminate this Agreement, but only if:

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                                       11

          (i)  it shall have first given to the Optionee a notice of default
               containing particulars of the obligation which the Optionee has
               not performed or the warranty breached; and

          (ii) the Optionee has not, within 45 days following delivery of such
               notice of default, cured such default or commenced proceedings to
               cure such default by appropriate payment or performance, the
               Optionee hereby agreeing that should it so commence to cure any
               default it will prosecute the same to completion without undue
               delay.

               Should the Optionee fail to comply with the provision of
               subparagraph (ii), the Optionor may thereafter terminate this
               Agreement.

     (b)  The Optionee may permanently discontinue mining operations on the
          Property at any time after the Commencement of Commercial Production
          when in its opinion no further mining operations can be economically
          carried out thereon. At such time, the Optionee shall dispose of all
          mining plant and equipment used on the Property, effect all
          reclamation work as required by law and otherwise dispose of the
          Property as it thinks fit. Any purchaser of the Property after
          termination of mining operations on the Property shall take the
          Property free and clear of all claims by the Optionor. The accounts of
          the Optionee relating to its mining operations on the Property shall
          be audited by the auditors of the Optionee as soon as practicable
          after the sale or disposition of all mining plant, equipment and the
          Property and completion of reclamation. Final settlement of any
          Royalty payable to the Optionor shall be effected without delay after
          receipt of the final audited statements. After receipt of such final
          audited statements and payment of Royalty, if any, this Agreement and
          the mutual obligations of the Optionee and the Optionor hereunder
          shall terminate.

NOTICES

17.  (a)  Each notice, demand or other communication required or permitted to be
          given under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be sent by
          prepaid registered mail deposited in a Post Office in Canada addressed
          to the party entitled to receive the same, or delivered, telexed,
          telegraphed or telecopied to such party at the address for such party
          specified above. The date of receipt of such notice, demand or other
          communication shall be the date of delivery thereof if delivered,
          telexed, telegraphed or telecopied, or, if given by registered mail as
          aforesaid, shall be deemed conclusively to be the third business day
          after the same shall have been so mailed except in the case of
          interruption of postal services for any reason whatever, in which case
          the date of receipt shall be the date on which the notice, demand or
          other communication is actually received by the addressee.

     (b)  Either party may at any time and from time to time notify the other
          party in writing of a change or address and the new address to which
          notice shall be given to it thereafter until further change.


GENERAL
-------

18.  (a) This Agreement shall supersede and replace any other agreement or
     arrangement, whether oral or written, heretofore existing between the
     parties in respect of the subject matter of this Agreement.

<PAGE>

                                       12

     (b)  No consent or waiver expressed or implied by either party in respect
          of any breach or default by the other in the performance by such other
          of its obligations hereunder shall be deemed or construed to be a
          consent to or a waiver of any other breach of default.

     (c)  The parties shall promptly execute or cause to be executed all
          documents, deeds, conveyances and other instruments of further
          assurance and do such further and other acts which may be reasonably
          necessary or advisable to carry out fully the intent of this Agreement
          or to record wherever appropriate the respective interest from time to
          time of the parties in the Property.

     (d)  This Agreement shall enure to the benefit of and be binding upon the
          parties and their respective successors and permitted assigns.

     (e)  This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with
          the laws of British Columbia and shall be subject to the approval of
          all securities regulatory authorities having jurisdiction.

     (f)  Time shall be of the essence in this Agreement.

     (g)  Wherever the neuter and singular is used in this Agreement it shall be
          deemed to include the plural, masculine and feminine, as the case may
          be.


IN WITNESS WHEREOF the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the day
and year first above written.


The CORPORATE SEAL of                                         )
Whitegold Resource Corp.                                      )
was hereunto affixed in the                                   )
presence of:                                                  )        c/s
                                                              )
/s/Allen Achilles                                             )
-----------------
Allen Achilles                                                )


The CORPORATE SEAL of                                         )
Big Cat Mining Corporation                                    )
was hereunto affixed in the                                   )
presence of:                                                  )        c/s
                                                              )
/s/Phil Mudge                                                 )
-------------
Phil Mudge                                                    )


<PAGE>




                                  SCHEDULE "A"
                  To Option Agreement dated September 28, 2001

Claim Name                Record Number         Year of Expiry

ISK1                      227242                March 5, 2002
ISK2                      227244                March 5, 2002
ISK3                      227243                March 5, 2002
ISK4                      227245                March 5, 2002
BRYS1                     669164M               August 16, 2002
BRYS2                     669165M               August 16, 2002
BRYS3                     669200M               August 16, 2002
BRYL1                     669160M               August 15, 2002
BRYL2                     669161M               August 15, 2002
BRYL3                     669162M               August 15, 2002
BRYL4                     669163M               August 16, 2002
GRIZZLY                   228114                August 10, 2002
ISK5                      227213                March 3, 2003
ISK6                      227224                March 3, 2002

Liard Mining Division


<PAGE>




                                  SCHEDULE "B"
                  To Option Agreement dated September 28, 2001

                               NET SMELTER RETURNS
                               -------------------

1. For the purposes of this Agreement "Net Smelter Returns" shall mean the
actual proceeds received from any mint, smelter or other purchaser for the sale
of bullion, concentrates or ores produced from the Property and sold, after
deducting from such proceeds the following charges to the extent that they are
not deducted by the purchaser in computing payment:

     (a)  in the case of the sale of bullion, refining charges only;

     (b)  in the case of the sale of concentrates, smelting and refining
          charges, penalties and the cost of transportation of such concentrates
          from the Property to any smelter or other purchaser; and

     (c)  in the case of ores shipped to a purchaser, refining charges for
          bullion and charges for smelting, refining and the cost of
          transportation from the mill to any smelter or other purchaser for
          concentrates.

2. The Optionee shall have the right to commingle with ore from the Property,
ore produced from other properties owned or controlled by the Optionee, provided
the Optionee shall adopt and employ reasonable practices and procedures for
weighing, sampling and assaying in order to determine the amounts of products
derived from, or attributable to, ore mined and produced from the Property. The
Optionee shall maintain accurate records of the results of such sampling,
weighing and assaying with respect to any ore mined and produced from the
Property. The Optionor or its authorized agent shall be permitted the right to
examine at all reasonable times such records pertaining to commingling of ores
or to the calculations of Net Smelter Returns.

3. Commencing on the fifth anniversary of this Agreement and every year
thereafter until Commencement of Commercial Production from the Property, the
Optionee shall pay the Optionor an advance on Net Smelter Returns of $100,000.
Any advances on Net Smelter Returns paid under this paragraph shall be
accumulated and be deductible from any Net Smelter Returns to the Optionor to
the extent such Net Smelter Returns payments exceed $100,000 for any calendar
year.

4. If, after Commencement of Commercial Production from the Property, Net
Smelter Returns payable to the Optionor for any calendar year are less than
$100,000, the Optionee shall pay to the Optionor on or before June 1 of the
following year the difference between the $100,000 and the amount of Net Smelter
Returns payable for the said calendar year.