<PAGE>
 
                                                                    EXHIBIT 10.2

                                LOAN AGREEMENT,
                         dated as of October 31, 1995,

                                     among

                                AMAX GOLD INC.,
                                as the Borrower,

                          FAIRBANKS GOLD MINING, INC.,
                         GUANACO MINING COMPANY, INC.,
                           LASSEN GOLD MINING, INC.,
                            MELBA CREEK MINING, INC.
                                      and
                           NEVADA GOLD MINING, INC.,
                         as the Principal Subsidiaries,

                       MERRILL LYNCH CAPITAL CORPORATION,
                              ABN AMRO BANK N.V.,
                         N M ROTHSCHILD & SONS LIMITED
                                      and
                           THE TORONTO-DOMINION BANK,
                               as the Arrangers,

                            VARIOUS BANKS AND OTHER
                            FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS,
                                as the Lenders,

                       MERRILL LYNCH CAPITAL CORPORATION,
                            as the Syndication Agent
                                for the Lenders,

                           THE TORONTO-DOMINION BANK,
                    as the Documentation and Technical Agent
                            for the Lender Parties,

                          LASALLE NATIONAL TRUST, N.A.
                            as the Collateral Agent
                            for the Lender Parties,

                                      and

                         N M ROTHSCHILD & SONS LIMITED,
              as the Administrative Agent for the Lender Parties.
<PAGE>
 
                               TABLE OF CONTENTS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                            Page
                                                                            ----
<S>         <C>                                                             <C>
 
ARTICLE 1.  DEFINITIONS....................................................    4
  1.1.        Defined Terms................................................    4
  1.2.        Use of Defined Terms.........................................   43
  1.3.        Cross-References.............................................   43
  1.4.        Accounting and Financial Determinations......................   43
  1.5.        Change in Accounting Principles..............................   44
  1.6.        Dollar Equivalency Determinations............................   44
  1.7.        Gold Equivalency Determinations..............................   44
  1.8.        Project Determinations, etc..................................   45
  1.9.        General Provisions as to Certificates and Opinions, etc. ....   46
  1.10.       Gold Delivery................................................   47
  1.11.       Interpretation...............................................   47

ARTICLE 2.  COMMITMENTS; BORROWING AND CONVERSION PROCEDURES; NOTES........   48
  2.1.        Commitments..................................................   48
  2.2.        Reduction of Commitment Amounts..............................   49
  2.3.        Procedure for Making Loans...................................   50
  2.4.        Continuation and Conversion Elections........................   51
  2.5.        Funding......................................................   53
  2.6.        Notes........................................................   54

ARTICLE 3.  PRINCIPAL PAYMENTS; INTEREST; FEES.............................   54
  3.1.        Mandatory and Voluntary Repayments and Prepayments...........   54
  3.1.1.      Principal Payments...........................................   54
  3.1.2.      Application of Repayments and Prepayments, etc...............   57
  3.2.        Interest Payments............................................   58
  3.2.1.      Interest Rates...............................................   58
  3.2.2.      Post-Maturity Rate...........................................   58
  3.2.3.      Payment Dates................................................   59
  3.2.4.      Rate Determinations..........................................   59
  3.3.        Fees.........................................................   59
  3.3.1.      Commitment Fees..............................................   59
  3.3.2.      Arrangement and Underwriting Fees............................   59
  3.3.3.      Agents' Fees.................................................   60
  3.3.4.      Fee Payments to be made in Dollars...........................   60

ARTICLE 4.  INCREASED COSTS; TAXES; MARKET DISRUPTIONS; GENERAL  
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
 
<TABLE>
<S>         <C>                                                             <C>
 
              PAYMENT PROVISIONS...........................................   60
  4.1.        Gold or Dollars Unavailable..................................   60
  4.2.        Increased Costs, etc.........................................   61
  4.3.        Funding Losses...............................................   62
  4.4.        Increased Capital Costs......................................   62
  4.5.        Illegality...................................................   63
  4.6.        Taxes........................................................   64
  4.7.        Mitigation...................................................   65
  4.8.        Payments, Computations, etc..................................   66
  4.9.        Proration of Payments........................................   67
  4.10.       Miscellaneous Provisions for Payments in Gold................   67
  4.11.       Setoff.......................................................   68
  4.12.       Conversion upon Acceleration.................................   69
  4.13.       Application of Proceeds......................................   70

ARTICLE 5.  CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO MAKING LOANS...........................   71
  5.1.        Initial Loans................................................   71
  5.1.1.      Resolutions, etc.............................................   71
  5.1.2.      Borrower Security Agreement..................................   72
  5.1.3.      Pledge Agreements............................................   73
  5.1.4.      Collateral Agreements........................................   73
  5.1.5.      Principal Subsidiary Guaranties..............................   74
  5.1.6.      Project Documents; Approvals; Technical Due Diligence........   74
  5.1.7.      Hedging Agreements; Interest Rate Protection Agreements......   75
  5.1.8.      Insurance....................................................   75
  5.1.9.      Process Agent Acceptance.....................................   76
  5.1.10.     Opinions of Counsel..........................................   76
  5.1.11.     Independent Consultant's Certificate.........................   76
  5.1.12.     Capitalization of the Borrower; DOCLOC Facility Agreements...   76
  5.1.13.     Subordination Agreements.....................................   77
  5.1.14.     Notes........................................................   77
  5.1.15.     Environmental Indemnity Agreements...........................   77
  5.1.16.     Discharge of Existing Indebtedness...........................   78
  5.1.17.     Closing Fees, Expenses, etc..................................   78
  5.1.18.     Initial Compliance Certificate...............................   78
  5.2.        All Loans....................................................   78
  5.2.1.      Compliance with Warranties, No Default, etc..................   78
  5.2.2.      Borrowing Request............................................   78
  5.2.3.      Monthly Report...............................................   79
  5.2.4.      Satisfactory Legal Form......................................   79

ARTICLE 6.  REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES.................................   79
  6.1.        Organization, Power, Authority, etc..........................   79
</TABLE> 

                                     -ii-
<PAGE>
 
<TABLE>
<S>         <C>                                                             <C>
  6.2.        Due Authorization; Non-Contravention.........................   80
  6.3.        Validity, etc................................................   80
  6.4.        Financial Information........................................   81
  6.5.        Absence of Default...........................................   82
  6.6.        Litigation, etc..............................................   82
  6.7.        Materially Adverse Effect....................................   82
  6.8.        Taxes and Other Payments.....................................   82
  6.9.        Regulations G, T, U and X....................................   83
  6.10.       Government Regulation........................................   83
  6.11.       Mining Rights................................................   83
  6.12.       Ownership and Use of Properties; Liens.......................   83
  6.13.       Subsidiaries.................................................   84
  6.14.       Intellectual Property........................................   84
  6.15.       Technology...................................................   84
  6.16.       Approvals; Project Documents.................................   84
  6.17.       Information Memorandum.......................................   85
  6.18.       Pension and Welfare Plans....................................   86
  6.19.       Environmental Matters........................................   86
  6.20.       Pari Passu...................................................   86
  6.21.       Royalties, etc...............................................   86
  6.22.       Commodities Regulation.......................................   87
  6.23.       Operation of the Principal Mines other than the
                Fort Knox Mine.............................................   87

ARTICLE 7.  COVENANTS......................................................   87
  7.1.        Certain Affirmative Covenants................................   87
  7.1.1.      Financial Information, etc...................................   88
  7.1.2.      Compliance with Laws and Operative Documents.................   92
  7.1.3.      Approvals....................................................   92
  7.1.4.      Maintenance of Corporate Existence...........................   93
  7.1.5.      Foreign Qualification........................................   93
  7.1.6.      Payment of Taxes, etc........................................   93
  7.1.7.      Insurance....................................................   94
  7.1.8.      Books and Records............................................   96
  7.1.9.      Completion of the Fort Knox Mine; Operation of the Principal
                Mines; Further Opinions....................................   97
  7.1.10.     Hedging Agreements...........................................   98
  7.1.11.     Interest Rate Protection Agreements..........................   99
  7.1.12.     Proceeds.....................................................   99
  7.1.13.     Environmental Covenant.......................................  100
  7.1.14.     Maintenance of Mine Assets...................................  100
  7.1.15.     Capitalization of the Borrower; Availability of the
                1994 DOCLOC Facility.......................................  101
</TABLE> 

                                     -iii-
<PAGE>
 
<TABLE> 
<S>           <C>                                                           <C> 

  7.1.16.     Pari Passu...................................................  103
  7.1.17.     Accuracy of Information......................................  103
  7.1.18.     Plans........................................................  103
  7.2.        Certain Negative Covenants...................................  103
  7.2.1.      Business Activities; Place of Business; Organic Documents;
                Fiscal Year................................................  103
  7.2.2.      Indebtedness.................................................  104
  7.2.3.      Liens........................................................  105
  7.2.4.      Financial Condition of Borrower..............................  107
  7.2.5.      Capital Expenditures.........................................  108
  7.2.6.      Investments..................................................  109
  7.2.7.      Restricted Payments, etc.....................................  110
  7.2.8.      Take or Pay Contracts........................................  111
  7.2.9.      Consolidation, Merger, etc...................................  111
  7.2.10.     Asset Dispositions...........................................  111
  7.2.11.     Transactions with Affiliates.................................  112
  7.2.12.     Project Documents; 1994 DOCLOC Facility Agreement;
                DOCLOC Support Agreement...................................  113
  7.2.13.     Actions under Project
              Documents....................................................  113
  7.2.14.     Royalty Agreements...........................................  113
  7.2.15.     Sale-Leaseback Transactions..................................  113

ARTICLE 8.  EVENTS OF DEFAULT..............................................  113
  8.1.        Events of Default............................................  113
  8.1.1.      Non-Payment of Obligations...................................  113
  8.1.2.      Non-Performance of Certain Covenants.........................  114
  8.1.3.      Non-Performance of Other Obligations.........................  114
  8.1.4.      Breach of Representation or Warranty.........................  114
  8.1.5.      Default on other Indebtedness................................  114
  8.1.6.      Bankruptcy, Insolvency, etc..................................  115
  8.1.7.      Hedging Agreements; Interest Rate Protection Agreements......  116
  8.1.8.      Project Documents, etc.......................................  116
  8.1.9.      Default, etc by Construction Contractor......................  116
  8.1.10.     Impairment of Loan Documents.................................  117
  8.1.11.     Abandonment, Mining Rights...................................  117
  8.1.12.     Judgments....................................................  118
  8.1.13.     Plans........................................................  118
  8.1.14.     Change in Control............................................  118
  8.1.15.     Failure to Achieve Completion................................  118
  8.1.16.     Approvals....................................................  118
  8.1.17.     Materially Adverse Effect....................................  118
  8.1.18.     Cease to Carry on Business...................................  119
  8.1.19.     Unpatented Mining Claims.....................................  119

</TABLE> 

                                     -iv-
<PAGE>
 
<TABLE> 
<S>           <C>                                                           <C> 

  8.2.        Action if Bankruptcy.........................................  119
  8.3.        Action if Other Event of Default.............................  119

ARTICLE 9.  THE AGENTS.....................................................  120
  9.1.        Actions......................................................  120
  9.2.        Funding Reliance, etc........................................  121
  9.3.        Exculpation..................................................  121
  9.4.        Successor....................................................  122
  9.5.        Loans by Merrill, Lynch, ABN AMRO, LaSalle, Rothschilds and
                Toronto-Dominion...........................................  122
  9.6.        Rothschild as the Administrative Agent.......................  122
  9.7.        Credit Decisions.............................................  123
  9.8.        Copies, etc..................................................  123

ARTICLE 10.  MISCELLANEOUS.................................................  123
  10.1.       Waivers, Amendments, etc.....................................  123
  10.2.       Notices......................................................  125
  10.3.       Costs and Expenses...........................................  125
  10.4.       Indemnification..............................................  126
  10.5.       Survival.....................................................  127
  10.6.       Severability.................................................  127
  10.7.       Headings.....................................................  127
  10.8.       Counterparts, Effectiveness, etc.............................  127
  10.9.       Governing Law; Entire Agreement..............................  128
  10.10.      Successors and Assigns.......................................  128
  10.11.      Sale and Transfer of Loans; Participations in Loans..........  128
  10.11.1.    Assignments..................................................  128
  10.11.2.    Participations...............................................  129
  10.11.3.    New Notes....................................................  130
  10.12.      Confidentiality..............................................  130
  10.13.      Other Transactions...........................................  131
  10.14.      Forum Selection and Consent to Jurisdiction; Waiver of
                Immunity...................................................  131
  10.15.      Waiver of Jury Trial.........................................  132

</TABLE> 

                                      -v-
<PAGE>
 
SCHEDULE I    -   Disclosure Schedule                                          
EXHIBIT A-1   -   Borrower Security Agreement                                  
EXHIBIT A-2   -   Borrower Share Pledge Agreement
EXHIBIT B     -   Fairbanks Canada Share Pledge Agreement
EXHIBIT C-1   -   Fairbanks Gold/Melba Creek Collateral Agreement
EXHIBIT C-2   -   Lassen Gold Collateral Agreement
EXHIBIT D-1   -   Fairbanks Gold/Melba Creek Environmental Indemnity Agreement
EXHIBIT D-2   -   Lassen Gold Environmental Indemnity Agreement
EXHIBIT E-1   -   Fairbanks Gold/Melba Creek Guaranty 
EXHIBIT E-2   -   Guanaco Mining Guaranty                                      
EXHIBIT E-3   -   Lassen Gold Guaranty                                         
EXHIBIT E-4   -   Nevada Gold Guaranty                                         
EXHIBIT F-1   -   DOCLOC Support Agreement                                     
EXHIBIT F-2   -   Subordination Agreement (Borrower)
EXHIBIT F-3   -   Subordination Agreement (Principal Subsidiaries)
EXHIBIT G-1   -   Opinion of Deborah Friedman, Esq., General Counsel of the 
                    Obligors and Fairbanks Canada 
EXHIBIT G-2   -   Opinion of Bogle & Gates, special Alaska counsel to the Lender
                    Parties 
EXHIBIT G-3   -   Opinion of Mayer, Brown & Platt, special California counsel to
                    the Lender Parties
EXHIBIT G-4   -   Opinion of Mayer, Brown & Platt, special New York counsel to 
                    the Lender Parties
EXHIBIT G-5   -   Opinion (Closing) of Gresham, Varner, Nolan, Savage & Tilden,
                    special California counsel to the Borrower and Lassen Gold
EXHIBIT G-6   -   Opinion (Closing) of Guess & Rudd, special Alaska counsel to
                    the Borrower, Fairbanks Gold and Melba Creek
EXHIBIT G-7   -   Opinion (Post-Closing) of Gresham, Varner, Nolan, Savage &
                    Tilden, special California counsel to the Borrower and
                    Lassen Gold
EXHIBIT G-8   -   Opinion (Post-Closing) Guess & Rudd, special Alaska counsel 
                    to the Borrower, Fairbanks Gold and Melba Creek
EXHIBIT H-1   -   Tranche A Note                                            
EXHIBIT H-2   -   Tranche B Dollar Note                                     
EXHIBIT H-3   -   Tranche B Gold Note                                       
EXHIBIT I     -   Borrowing Request                                         
EXHIBIT J     -   Continuation/Conversion Notice
EXHIBIT K-1   -   Independent Consultant's Certificate 
EXHIBIT K-2   -   Insurance Consultant's Certificate 
EXHIBIT L     -   Monthly Report                                             
EXHIBIT M     -   Compliance Certificate                                        
 

                                     -vi-
<PAGE>
 
EXHIBIT N     -   Independent Consultant's Report
EXHIBIT O-1   -   Fort Knox Physical Completion Certificate
EXHIBIT O-2   -   Fort Knox Economic Completion Certificate 
EXHIBIT P     -   Lender Assignment Agreement                                  
EXHIBIT Q     -   Process Agent Acceptance                                    


                                     -vii-
<PAGE>
 
                                LOAN AGREEMENT


      THIS LOAN AGREEMENT, dated as of October 31, 1995 (this "Agreement"),
                                                               ---------   
among (1) AMAX GOLD INC., a Delaware corporation (the "Borrower"), (2) FAIRBANKS
                                                       --------                 
GOLD MINING, INC., a Delaware corporation ("Fairbanks Gold"), GUANACO MINING
                                            --------------                  
COMPANY, INC., a Delaware corporation ("Guanaco Mining"), LASSEN GOLD MINING,
                                        --------------                       
INC., a Delaware corporation ("Lassen Gold"), MELBA CREEK MINING, INC., an
                               -----------                                
Alaska corporation ("Melba Creek"), and NEVADA GOLD MINING, INC., a Delaware
                     -----------                                            
corporation ("Nevada Gold"; all of the foregoing entities, collectively, the
              -----------                                                   
"Principal Subsidiaries"), (3) MERRILL LYNCH CAPITAL CORPORATION, a Delaware
-----------------------                                                     
corporation ("Merrill Lynch"), ABN AMRO BANK N.V., a bank organized under the
              -------------                                                  
laws of The Netherlands ("ABN AMRO"), N M ROTHSCHILD & SONS LIMITED, a bank
                          --------                                         
organized under the laws of England ("Rothschild"), and THE TORONTO-DOMINION
                                      ----------                            
BANK, a bank organized under the federal laws of Canada ("Toronto-Dominion"; all
                                                          ----------------      
of the foregoing entities, collectively, the "Arrangers"), (4) THE BANKS AND
                                              ---------                     
OTHER FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS whose names appear on the signature pages hereto
under the heading "The Lenders" (collectively, the "Lenders"), (5) MERRILL
                                                    -------               
LYNCH, in its capacity as syndication agent for the Lenders (in such capacity,
the "Syndication Agent"), (6) TORONTO-DOMINION, in its capacity as documentation
     -----------------                                                          
and technical agent for the Lender Parties (in such capacity, the "Documentation
                                                                   -------------
and Technical Agent"), (7) LASALLE NATIONAL TRUST, N.A., a U.S. national banking
-------------------                                                             
association ("LaSalle"), in its capacity as collateral agent for the Lender
              -------                                                      
Parties (in such capacity, the "Collateral Agent"), and (8) ROTHSCHILD, in its
                                ----------------                              
capacity as administrative agent for the Lender Parties (in such capacity, the
                                                                              
"Administrative Agent").
---------------------   

                              W I T N E S S E T H:

      WHEREAS, Fairbanks Gold and Melba Creek own Mine Assets (terms used in
this Agreement having the meanings assigned to such terms in Section 1.1)
                                                             ----------- 
comprising the Fort Knox gold mining project (such Mine Assets from time to
time, collectively, the "Fort Knox Mine") located in the Fairbanks Recording
                         --------------                                     
District, 15 miles northeast of Fairbanks, Alaska and Fairbanks Gold proposes to
construct and develop the Fort Knox Mine in accordance with the Consolidated
Base Case (such construction and development, the "Fort Knox Project");
                                                   -----------------   

      WHEREAS, pursuant to the Construction Contract, the Construction
Contractor has undertaken with Fairbanks Gold to perform construction work for
the Fort Knox Project as more particularly described therein;

      WHEREAS, (a) Lassen Gold owns the Mine Assets comprising the Hayden Hill
gold mining project in Lassen County, California (such Mine Assets from time to
time, collectively, the "Hayden Hill Mine") and (b) Nevada Gold owns the Mine
                         ----------------                                    
Assets comprising the Sleeper gold mining project in Humboldt County, Nevada
(such Mine Assets from time to time, collectively, the "Sleeper Mine");
                                                        ------------
<PAGE>
 
      WHEREAS, (a)  Amax Gold Refugio, Inc., a Delaware corporation ("AGRI"),
                                                                      ----   
holds fifty percent (50%) of the ownership interest of Compania Minera
Maricunga, a contractual mining company organized and existing under the laws of
Chile ("CMM"), and CMM owns the Mine Assets comprising the Refugio gold mining
        ---                                                                   
project in Northern Chile (such Mine Assets from time to time, collectively the
"Refugio Mine"); and
 ------------       

          (b) Guanaco Mining holds ninety percent (90%) of the ownership
interest of Compania Minera Amax Guanaco, a contractual mining company organized
and existing under the laws of Chile ("CMAG"), and CMAG owns the Mine Assets
                                       ----                                 
comprising the Guanaco gold mining project in Northern Chile (such Mine Assets
from time to time, collectively the "Guanaco Mine");
                                     ------------   

      WHEREAS, the Hayden Hill Mine, the Sleeper Mine and the Guanaco Mine
(collectively, together with the Fort Knox Mine and the Refugio Mine, the
"Principal Mines") have been constructed and developed, and the Fort Knox Mine
----------------                                                              
and the Refugio Mine are in the process of being constructed and developed, and
each Principal Subsidiary (excluding, however, Melba Creek which is engaged
solely in the ownership of certain real estate and mining rights at the Fort
Knox Mine) is engaged solely in the business of the mining, production and sale
of gold and other metals and minerals at the Principal Mine in which it has a
direct (or, in the case of Guanaco Mining, indirect) interest;

      WHEREAS, the Borrower has requested that, subject to the terms and
conditions of the Agreement, the Lenders provide commitments to the Borrower to
advance Loans to the Borrower for the purposes of (a) refinancing Bridge Loan
Existing Indebtedness; (b) advancing funds to or for the account of Fairbanks
Gold to finance bona fide capital and operating expenses incurred in connection
                ---------                                                      
with the Fort Knox Project; (c) advancing funds to or for the account of Lassen
Gold to refinance Hayden Hill Existing Indebtedness and to Amax Precious Metals,
Inc., a Delaware corporation and a wholly-owned Subsidiary of the Borrower
                                                                          
("APMI"), to refinance its existing Indebtedness; (d) advancing funds to or for
------                                                                         
the account of AGI Chile Credit Corp., Inc., a Delaware corporation and a
wholly-owned direct Subsidiary of the Borrower ("AGI Chile"), to refinance
                                                 ---------                
Guanaco Existing Indebtedness; and (e) other corporate uses;

      WHEREAS, the Lenders are willing, on the terms and conditions hereinafter
set forth (including Article 5), to extend commitments to the Borrower to make
                     ---------                                                
Loans to the Borrower denominated in Dollars and maintain and continue such
Loans (in the case of the Tranche A Lenders) and to make Loans to the Borrower
denominated in Gold and/or Dollars and maintain, continue and convert such Loans
(in the case of the Tranche B Lenders);

      WHEREAS, the Borrower owns (a) all of the issued and outstanding share
capital of each of Fairbanks Gold, Guanaco Mining, Lassen Gold and Nevada Gold
and (b) all of the issued and outstanding share capital of Amax Gold (B.C.)
Ltd., a company organized under the laws of the Province of 

                                      -2-
<PAGE>

British Columbia ("Fairbanks Canada"), which in turn owns all of the issued and
                   ----------------
outstanding share capital of Melba Creek;

      WHEREAS, as security for the due and punctual payment and performance of
the Borrower's Obligations:

           (a) the Borrower is willing (i) to pledge to the Administrative Agent
      (for the rateable benefit of the Lender Parties) all of its interest in
      the issued and outstanding share capital of each of the Principal
      Subsidiaries (other than Melba Creek) as set forth in the Borrower Share
      Pledge Agreement and (ii) to assign to the Administrative Agent (for the
      rateable benefit of the Lender Parties) all of its interest in the Hedging
      Agreements and Interest Rate Protection Agreements, as set forth in the
      Borrower Security Agreement;

           (b) Fairbanks Canada is willing to pledge to the Administrative Agent
      (for the rateable benefit of the Lender Parties) all of its interest in
      the issued and outstanding share capital of Melba Creek, as set forth in
      the Fairbanks Canada Share Pledge Agreement; and

           (c) each of (i) Fairbanks Gold and Melba Creek is willing to grant to
      the Collateral Agent (for the rateable benefit of the Lender Parties) a
      Lien over its respective right, title and interest in and to those Mine
      Assets constituting the Fort Knox Mine and (ii) Lassen Gold is willing to
      grant to the Collateral Agent (for the rateable benefit of the Lender
      Parties), a Lien over its right, title and interest in and to those Mine
      Assets constituting the Hayden Hill Mine, in each case as set forth in the
      Collateral Agreements to which each of the foregoing Principal
      Subsidiaries is a party; and

      WHEREAS, in consideration of the Lenders agreeing to make the Loans, each
of the Principal Subsidiaries has agreed to guarantee unconditionally, on a
joint and several basis, the due and punctual payment and performance of the
Borrower's Obligations in favor of the Administrative Agent (for the rateable
benefit of the Lender Parties), as set forth in the relevant Principal
Subsidiary Guaranty;

      NOW, THEREFORE, for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and
adequacy whereof is hereby acknowledged by each party hereto, the parties hereto
hereby agree as follows:

                                      -3-
<PAGE>
 
                            ARTICLE 1.  DEFINITIONS
                            -----------------------

      SECTION 1.1.    Defined Terms.  The following terms (whether or not
underscored) when used in this Agreement, including its preamble and recitals,
shall have the following meanings:

      "ABN AMRO" is defined in the preamble.
       --------                    -------- 

      "Administrative Agent" is defined in the preamble.
       --------------------                    -------- 

      "Affiliate" of any Person means any other Person (excluding any trustee
       ---------                                                             
under, or any committee with responsibility for administering, any Plan) which,
directly or indirectly, controls, or is controlled by or under common control
with, such Person.  A Person shall be deemed to be "controlled by" any other
Person if such other Person possesses, directly or indirectly, power:

           (a) to vote five percent (5%) or more of the securities (on a fully
      diluted basis) having ordinary voting power for the election of directors
      or managing general partners of such Person; or

           (b) to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies
      of such Person, whether by contract or otherwise;

provided, however, that, in the case of the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the
--------  -------                                                            
Borrower (and except for purposes of the definition of Cash Equivalent
Investment and Section 7.2.11), neither (i) Cyprus Amax nor (ii) any Subsidiary
               --------------                                                  
of Cyprus Amax (which would not itself be a Subsidiary of the Borrower) shall be
deemed to be an Affiliate of any such Person.

      "Agents" means, collectively, the Administrative Agent, the Collateral
       ------                                                               
Agent, the Documentation and Technical Agent and the Syndication Agent.

      "Aggregate Percentage" means, relative to any Lender and at any time, (a)
       --------------------                                                    
if any Loans (calculated, in the case of Tranche B Gold Loans, at the Dollar
equivalent thereof at such time) of any type are outstanding at such time, the
ratio (expressed as a percentage) of (i) the Principal Amount of such Lender's
Loans of all types at such time to (ii) the Principal Amount of all the Lenders'
                                --                                              
Loans of all types at such time or (b) if no Loans are outstanding at such time,
the ratio (expressed as a percentage) of (i) such Lender's Commitment Amount at
such time to (ii) the Total Commitment Amount at such time.
          --                                               

      "Aggregate Tranche B Percentage" means, relative to any Tranche B Lender
       ------------------------------                                         
and at any time, (a) if any Tranche B Loans are outstanding at such time (and
calculated, in the case of Tranche B Gold Loans, at the Dollar equivalent
thereof at such time), the ratio (expressed as a percentage) of (i) the
Principal Amount of such Tranche B Lender's Tranche B Loans at such


                                      -4-
<PAGE>
 
time to (ii) the Principal Amount of all the Tranche B Lenders' Tranche B Loans
at such time or (b) if no Tranche B Loans are outstanding at such time, the
ratio (expressed as a percentage) of (i) such Tranche B Lender's Commitment
Amount (Tranche B Portion) at such time to (ii) the Tranche B Commitment Amount
at such time.
 
      "AGI Chile" is defined in the sixth recital.
       ---------                    ------------- 

      "AGI New Zealand Companies" means, collectively, Martha Holdings Limited,
       -------------------------                                               
Martha Mining Limited, Waihi Financing Limited, Waihi Mines Limited and Waihi
Resources Limited, each of which is a company organized under the laws of New
Zealand.

      "AGI Stock Issue Agreement" means the Agreement Regarding Stock Issuance,
       -------------------------                                               
dated September 29th, 1995, between the Borrower and Cyprus Amax and in the form
provided to the Administrative Agent in connection with the closing of the
transactions contemplated hereby.
 
      "Agreement" is defined in the preamble.
       ---------                    -------- 

      "AGRI" is defined in the fourth recital.
       ----                    -------------- 

      "APMI" is defined in the sixth recital.
       ----                    ------------- 

      "Applicable Law" means, with respect to any Person or matter, any
       --------------                                                  
supranational, national, federal, state, regional, tribal or local statute, law,
rule, treaty, convention, regulation, order, decree, directive, consent decree,
determination or other requirement (whether or not having the force of law but,
if not having the force of law, the compliance with which statute, etc. would be
prudent for a Person conducting a similar business) relating to such Person or
matter and, where applicable, any interpretation thereof by any Governmental
Agency having jurisdiction with respect thereto or charged with the
administration or interpretation thereof.

      "Applicable Margin" means:
       -----------------        

           (a) at any time prior to July 31, 1996, two and one-quarter percent
      (2.25%) per annum;
              --- ----- 

           (b) at any time on or after July 31, 1996 but prior to the Fort Knox
      Economic Completion Date, two percent (2.00%) per annum; or
                                                    --- -----    

           (c) at any time on or after the Fort Knox Economic Completion Date,
      one and three-quarters percent (1.75%) per annum.
                                             --- ----- 

                                      -5-
<PAGE>
 
      "Approval" means each and every approval, authorization, license, permit,
       --------                                                                
consent, filing and registration by or with any Governmental Agency or other
Person, whether or not referred to in Item 1 ("Approvals") of the Disclosure
                                      ------   ---------                    
Schedule.


      "Approved Subordinated Indebtedness" means, collectively, Approved
       ----------------------------------                               
Subordinated Indebtedness (Borrower) and Approved Subordinated Indebtedness
(Principal Subsidiaries).

      "Approved Subordinated Indebtedness (Borrower)" means any Indebtedness
       ---------------------------------------------                        
incurred by the Borrower in respect of (a) the 1994 DOCLOC Facility and which is
subject to the terms and conditions of the Subordination Agreement (Borrower) or
(b) any other obligation to Cyprus Amax or any other Person, which Indebtedness
shall not by its terms mature (in whole or in part) on a date occurring on or
prior to the Final Maturity Date and which shall be subject to terms and
conditions such that no payments (whether for principal or interest) may be made
with respect to such Indebtedness pending the full and final payment of the
Borrower's Obligations and subject to other terms and conditions satisfactory to
the Required Lenders.

      "Approved Subordinated Indebtedness (Principal Subsidiaries)" means any
       -----------------------------------------------------------           
intercompany Indebtedness incurred by the Principal Subsidiaries and which is
subject to the terms and conditions of the Subordination Agreement (Principal
Subsidiaries).

      "Arrangers" is defined in the preamble.
       ---------                    -------- 

      "Assignee Lender" is defined in Section 10.11.1.
       ---------------                --------------- 

      "Assignor Lender" is defined in Section 10.11.1.
       ---------------                --------------- 

      "Authorized Representative" means, relative to any Obligor, Fairbanks
       -------------------------                                           
Canada or the Independent Consultant, those of its officers whose signatures and
incumbency shall have been certified to the Administrative Agent pursuant to
Section 5.1.1.
------------- 

      "Available Commitment" means, in relation to any Lender at any time and
       --------------------                                                  
with respect to either Commitment, the excess, if any, of such Lender's
Commitment Amount at such time, less the Principal Amount of its Loans
                                ----                                  
outstanding at such time (and, in calculating the Principal Amount of any
Tranche B Gold Loan at any time, such calculation shall be made in Dollars by
using the Dollar equivalent of such Tranche B Gold Loan (computed at the Loan
Base Price with respect thereto) at such time).

      "Bankruptcy Code" is defined in Section 4.12.
       ---------------                             

      "Base Cases" means, collectively, the Consolidated Base Case and the Fort
       ----------                                                              
Knox Base Case.

                                      -6-
<PAGE>
 
      "Bema Gold Subordinated Note" means that certain promissory note, dated
       ---------------------------                                           
January 25, 1995, in the aggregate principal amount of $10,000,000 payable by
Bema Gold Corporation, a company organized under the laws of the Province of
British Columbia, to the order of the Borrower.

      "Borrower" is defined in the preamble.
       --------                    -------- 

      "Borrower Security Agreement" means that certain Security Agreement,
       ---------------------------                                        
between the Borrower and the Administrative Agent, substantially in the form of
Exhibit A-1 attached hereto.
-----------                 

      "Borrower Share Pledge Agreement" means that certain Pledge Agreement,
       -------------------------------                                      
between the Borrower and the Administrative Agent, substantially in the form of
Exhibit A-2 attached hereto.
-----------                 

      "Borrowing" means the Loans made or requested to be made all the Lenders
       ---------                                                              
on the same Business Day and pursuant to the same Borrowing Request in
accordance with Section 2.3.
                ----------- 

      "Borrowing Date" means any Business Day on which Loans shall have been
       --------------                                                       
made pursuant to Section 2.3.
                 ----------- 

      "Borrowing Request" means a loan request and certificate duly executed by
       -----------------                                                       
an Authorized Representative of the Borrower, substantially in the form of
Exhibit I attached hereto, together with any appended schedules or further
---------                                                                 
information referred to therein.

      "Bridge Loan Existing Indebtedness" means Indebtedness of the Borrower
       ---------------------------------                                    
outstanding under the letter agreement, dated as of September 18, 1995, between
Rothschild (as lender) and the Borrower.

      "Business Day" means:
       ------------        

           (a) any day which is not a Saturday, Sunday, legal holiday or any
      other day on which banks are authorized or required to be closed in
      London, England or New York, New York;

           (b) relative to the making, continuing, conversion, prepayment or
      repayment of any Dollar Loans or the calculation of the LIBO Rate, any day
      on which dealings in Dollars are carried on in the London interbank
      market; and/or (as may be relevant)

           (c) relative to the making, continuing, conversion, prepayment or
      repayment of any Tranche B Gold Loans, the calculation of the Gold Base
      Rate, the Gold Contango, the determination of the London Price or the
      determination of the Gold or Dollar equivalent of any amount based on the
      London Price, any day on which dealings in Gold are carried on between
      members of the LBMA in London.

                                      -7-
<PAGE>
 
      "Calculation Date" means each of the Fort Knox Physical Completion Date,
       ----------------                                                       
the Fort Knox Economic Completion Date and each Quarterly Payment Date (and, in
the case of any calculation of the Loan Life Ratio with respect to either the
Fort Knox Physical Completion Date or the Fort Knox Economic Completion Date to
be made prior to either such date, the Fort Knox Physical Completion Date or, as
the case may be, the Fort Knox Economic Completion Date for such purposes shall
be deemed to be the date on which either such date is then scheduled to occur as
set forth in the Consolidated Base Case).

      "Capital Contribution" means a contribution made (whether in cash or
       --------------------                                               
otherwise and whether directly or indirectly) by one Person to the ordinary
share capital or other equity of another Person (including, in the case of the
Fort Knox Project, any contribution by the Borrower to Fairbanks Gold in respect
of cost overruns thereat).

      "Capital Expenditures" means, for any period and with respect to any
       --------------------                                               
Person, the sum of:

           (a) the aggregate amount of all expenditures of such Person for fixed
      or capital assets (including expenditure incurred in connection with
      deferred development costs) made during such period which, in accordance
      with GAAP, would be classified as capital expenditures; and

           (b) the aggregate amount of all Capitalized Lease Liabilities
      incurred during such period.

      "Capitalized Lease Liabilities" means all monetary obligations of any
       -----------------------------                                       
Person under any leasing or similar arrangement which, in accordance with GAAP,
would be classified as capitalized leases, and, for purposes of this Agreement
and each other Loan Document, the amount of such obligations shall be the
capitalized amount thereof, determined in accordance with GAAP, and the stated
maturity thereof shall be the date of the last payment of rent or any other
amount due under such lease prior to the first date upon which such lease may be
terminated by the lessee without payment of a penalty.

      "Cash Equivalent Investment" means, at any time:
       --------------------------                     

           (a) any evidence of Indebtedness, maturing not more than five years
      after such time, issued or guaranteed by the national or federal
      government of Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom or the United States;


           (b) commercial paper, maturing not more than nine months from the
      date of issue, which is issued by either:

                (i) a corporation (other than an Obligor or any Affiliate
           thereof) organized under the laws of the United States or Canada or
           any Province of 

                                      -8-
<PAGE>
 
           Canada and rated not less than A-2 by Standard & Poor's or P-2 by 
           Moody's, or

                (ii) any Lender (or its holding company);

           (c) any certificate of deposit or banker's acceptance, maturing not
      more than one year after such time, which is issued by either:

                (i) a commercial banking institution that is a member of the
           Federal Reserve System and has a combined capital and surplus and
           undivided profits of not less than $500,000,000,

                (ii) a commercial banking institution organized under the laws
           of Australia, Canada, any country which is a member of the European
           Community, Japan, New Zealand, Norway or Switzerland and which has a
           combined capital and surplus and undivided profit of not less than
           the relevant local currency equivalent of $500,000,000, or

                (iii) any Lender; and

           (d) any repurchase agreement entered into with any Lender (or other
      commercial banking institution of the stature referred to in sub-clause
                                                                   ----------
      (c)(i) or (ii)) which:
      ------    -----       

                (i) is secured by a fully perfected Lien in any obligation of
           the type described in any of sub-clauses (a) through (c), and
                                        ---------------         ---     

                (ii) has a market value at the time such repurchase agreement is
           entered into of not less than 100% of the repurchase obligation of
           such Lender (or other commercial banking institution) thereunder.

      "Cash Flow Prepayment Date" is defined in clause (i) of Section 3.1.1.
       --------------------------               ----------    ------------- 

      "Cash Flow Ratio" means, for any period, an amount equal to the ratio,
       ---------------                                                      
expressed as a percentage, of:

           (a)  the sum of

                (i)  Future Net Cash Flow for such period, plus
                                                           ----

                (ii) cash balances projected to be standing to the credit of
           bank accounts maintained by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries
           measured at the end of such period;


                                      -9-
<PAGE>
 
      to
      --

           (b) Funded Debt Service for such period.

      "Cash Flow Schedule" means the schedule setting forth Future Net Cash Flow
       ------------------                                                       
of, and containing other financial and operational data relating to, the
Borrower and its Subsidiaries for the period commencing on January 1, 1996 and
ending on December 31, 2001, in the form set forth in the Consolidated Base
Case.

      "CERCLA" means the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and
       ------                                                                  
Liability Act of 1980 (42 U.S.C. (S)9601 et. seq.).

      "CERCLIS" means the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation
       -------                                                              
Liability Information System Lists issued pursuant to CERCLA.

      "Change in Control" means:
       -----------------        

           (a) the failure of Cyprus Amax to own directly (and to have sole
      power to vote and dispose of) at least 42% of each class of issued and
      outstanding securities having voting power for the election of directors
      of the Borrower, free and clear of all Liens; provided, however, that, if
                                                    --------  -------          
      solely as a result of a merger, consolidation or similar transaction
      involving the Borrower, Cyprus Amax shall fail to own such percentage as
      aforesaid, a Change in Control shall not arise as long as (i) immediately
      following such merger, consolidation or similar transaction, either (x) if
      the entity surviving any such transaction (a "Surviving Entity") has
                                                    ----------------      
      issued and outstanding long-term senior debt securities, such securities
      have a combined rating of not less than BBB- by Standard & Poor's and Baa2
      by Moody's (or the equivalent thereof), or (y) if the Surviving Entity
      shall not have issued and have outstanding any such long-term senior debt
      securities, the Required Lenders shall have determined that, if such
      Surviving Entity had so issued and had outstanding such long-term senior
      debt securities then it is reasonably likely that the same would have been
      awarded combined ratings by Standard & Poor's and Moody's at least
      equivalent to those referred to in sub-clause (i)(x), (ii) the Surviving
                                         -----------------                    
      Entity shall have assumed the Obligations of the Borrower under this
      Agreement and each other Operative Document to which it is a party
      pursuant to an Instrument satisfactory in form and substance to the
      Administrative Agent and its counsel, (iii) no Default shall then have
      occurred and be continuing and (iv) the Required Lenders shall have
      consented to such transaction, such consent (without prejudice to the
      discretion of the Required Lenders to make any determination of the nature
      referred to in sub-clause (i)(y)) not to be unreasonably withheld or 
                     -----------------
      delayed; or

           (b) the failure of the Borrower to own directly or, in the case of
      Melba Creek, indirectly (and to have sole power to vote and dispose of)
      100% of each class 

                                     -10-
<PAGE>
 
      of issued and outstanding securities having voting power for the election
      of directors of each Principal Subsidiary free and clear of all Liens
      (other than the Lien in favor of the Administrative Agent (for the
      rateable benefit of the Lender Parties) granted pursuant to either Pledge
      Agreement).

      "CMAG" is defined in the fourth recital.
       ----                    -------------- 

      "CMM" is defined in the fourth recital.
       ---                    -------------- 

      "Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.
       ----                                          

      "Collateral Agent" is defined in the preamble.
       ----------------                    -------- 

      "Collateral Agreements" means, collectively, the Fairbanks Gold/Melba
       ---------------------                                               
Creek Collateral Agreement and the Lassen Gold Collateral Agreement.

      "Commitment" means, relative to any Lender, such Lender's Tranche A
       ----------                                                        
Commitment and/or its Tranche B Commitment.

      "Commitment Amount" means (a) in relation to any Lender party hereto on
       -----------------                                                     
the Effective Date, the amount in Dollars set forth below the headings
"Commitment Amount-Tranche A" (with respect to any Lender, and subject to the
----------------------------                                                 
terms and conditions of this Agreement (including Section 2.2), its "Commitment
                                                  -----------        ----------
Amount (Tranche A Portion)") and/or, as may be relevant, "Commitment Amount-
--------------------------                                -----------------
Tranche B" (with respect to any Lender, and subject to the terms and conditions
---------                                                                      
of this Agreement (including Section 2.2), its "Commitment Amount (Tranche B
                             -----------        ----------------------------
Portion)"), opposite its name on the signature pages hereto and (b) in relation
--------                                                                       
to an Assignee Lender which becomes a Lender subsequent to the Effective Date,
the amount in Dollars of the Assignor Lender's then current Commitment Amount
(consisting of its Commitment Amount (Tranche A Portion) and/or, as may be
relevant, Commitment Amount (Tranche B Portion), as may be relevant) assumed by
the Assignee Lender from the Assignor Lender pursuant to the Lender Assignment
Agreement by which such Assignee Lender became a party to this Agreement, in
each case as such amount may be adjusted pursuant to any other Lender Assignment
Agreement to which such Lender or Assignee Lender, as the case may be, is a
party.

      "Commitment Amount (Tranche A Portion)" is defined in the definition of
       -------------------------------------                                 
"Commitment Amount".
------------------  

      "Commitment Amount (Tranche B Portion)" is defined in the definition of
       -------------------------------------                                 
"Commitment Amount".
------------------  

      "Commitment Letter" means the letter, dated August 15, 1995, from the
       -----------------                                                   
Underwriters to the Borrower.

                                     -11-
<PAGE>
 
      "Commitment Termination Date" means March 31, 1997 or, if earlier, the
       ---------------------------                                          
date on which any of the following events shall occur:

           (a) the Fort Knox Economic Completion Date;

           (b) the occurrence of any Insolvency Default; or

           (c) the termination of the Commitments pursuant to Section 8.2 or
                                                              -----------   
      8.3.
      --- 

      "Committed Hedging Agreements" means net forward sale, call options, spot
       ----------------------------                                            
deferred sales or other contracts providing for a binding commitment to sell
Gold.

      "Competitive Advance Facility Agreement" means that certain Amended and
       --------------------------------------                                
Restated Competitive Advance and Revolving Credit Facility Agreement, dated as
of August 25, 1995, among Cyprus Amax, as borrower, and the financial
institutions party thereto as in effect on the Effective Date.

      "Completion Certificates" means, collectively, the Fort Knox Physical
       -----------------------                                             
Completion Certificate and the Fort Knox Economic Completion Certificate.

      "Compliance Certificate" means a certificate duly executed by an
       ----------------------                                         
Authorized Representative of the Borrower, substantially in the form of Exhibit
                                                                        -------
M attached hereto.
-                 

      "Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA" means, for any period, the excess of:
       ----------------------------                                       

           (a) the sum of:

                (i) Consolidated Net Income for such period,

                (ii) Consolidated Cash Interest Expense deducted in determining
           such Consolidated Net Income,

                (iii)  income taxes paid (or for which provision shall have been
           made in accordance with GAAP) by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries
           during such period and deducted in determining such Consolidated Net
           Income,

                (iv) the aggregate amount of depreciation and amortization
           expenses incurred by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries during such
           period and deducted in determining such Consolidated Net Income,

                (v) the aggregate amount of payments of principal received by
           the Borrower during such period in respect of amounts outstanding
           (not in excess of $10,000,000) under the Bema Gold Subordinated Note,

                                     -12-
<PAGE>
 
           plus
           ----

                (vi) non-cash expenses of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries
           during such period,

      less
      ----

           (b) non-cash income of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries during such
      period,

in each case disregarding any of the foregoing items which may be derived from
the Borrower's or any of its Subsidiaries' interest in the Refugio Mine, and in
each case without duplication and calculated on a consolidated basis but
including, for the avoidance of doubt, all amounts received in cash during such
period by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries from any Person in respect of
its return on its investment in the Refugio Mine.

      "Consolidated Base Case" means the economic model prepared by the
       ----------------------                                          
Documentation and Technical Agent in consultation with the Independent
Consultant and the Borrower relating to the projected performance of the
Principal Mines and the financial position of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries,
and, to the extent of the Borrower's interest in CMM, as the same may be amended
from time to time pursuant to clause (b) of Section 1.8.  The Consolidated Base
                              ----------    -----------                        
Case shall, for the avoidance of doubt, incorporate the Fort Knox Base Case.

      "Consolidated Capital Costs" means, for any period, the aggregate of all
       --------------------------                                             
Capital Expenditures scheduled to be, or, as the case may be, actually paid in
accordance with the Cash Flow Schedule by the Borrower or any Subsidiary during
such period in respect of any Principal Mine (and, solely in respect of the
Refugio Mine, in respect of the Borrower's pro rata share (based on its direct
or indirect percentage ownership interest of the Refugio Mine) of any Capital
Expenditures of CMM in connection therewith).

      "Consolidated Cash Interest Expense" means, for any period, the total
       ----------------------------------                                  
interest expense (including interest capitalized as a Consolidated Capital Cost)
of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for such period, without double counting
and measured on a consolidated basis (converted, in the case of any such
interest expense paid in Gold, on the basis of the Dollar equivalent thereof as
at the date of payment of such interest expense) but excluding, for the
avoidance of doubt, any interest expense paid by or on behalf of CMM in
connection with any financing (excluding, however, any Indebtedness advanced by
any Affiliate of CMM) incurred in relation to the Refugio Mine.

      "Consolidated Costs" means, for any period, the aggregate of all
       ------------------                                             
Consolidated Capital Costs and the Consolidated Operating Costs for such period.

      "Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio" means for any Measurement
       ----------------------------------------                           
Period, the ratio, expressed as a percentage, of:


                                     -13-
<PAGE>
 
                (a)  the sum of:

                       (i) Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA for such Measurement
                Period,

                plus
                ----

                       (ii) the 1994 DOCLOC Facility Available Portion as at the
                last day of such Measurement Period;

      to
      --

                (b)  the sum of:

                       (i) Consolidated Cash Interest Expense for such
                Measurement Period,

                       (ii) the Principal Amount of all Loans repaid or prepaid
                during such Measurement Period (other than pursuant to clause
                                                                       ------
                (a) of Section 3.1.1 and calculated, in the case of any such
                ---    -------------                                        
                Principal Amount denominated in Gold, on the basis of the Dollar
                equivalent thereof as at the date of repayment or prepayment of
                such Principal Amount),

                       (iii)  Consolidated Capital Costs paid during such
                Measurement Period,

                       (iv) income taxes paid by the Borrower and its
                Subsidiaries during such Measurement Period,

                plus
                ----

                       (v) dividends on preferred equity share capital actually
                paid in cash or in kind (other than through the distribution of
                further shares of capital stock of the Borrower) by the Borrower
                during such Measurement Period,

in each case without duplication and calculated on a consolidated basis.

      "Consolidated Indebtedness/Capitalization Ratio" means, at any date, the
       ----------------------------------------------                         
ratio, expressed as a percentage, of:


                                     -14-
<PAGE>
 
           (a) Indebtedness of the Borrower (including Approved Subordinated
      Indebtedness (Borrower)) and its Subsidiaries outstanding at such date

to
--

           (b)  the sum of:

                (i) the shareholders' equity of the Borrower and its
           Subsidiaries at such date, plus
                                      ----

                (ii) Indebtedness of the Borrower (including Approved
           Subordinated Indebtedness (Borrower)) and its Subsidiaries
           outstanding at such date,

in each case without duplication and calculated on a consolidated basis.  In
calculating Indebtedness of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for the foregoing
purpose, there shall be included therein a portion of any Indebtedness incurred
in connection with the financing of the Refugio Mine (excluding, however, any
Indebtedness advanced by any Affiliate of CMM) equivalent to the Borrower's pro
rata share of such Indebtedness based on its direct or indirect percentage
ownership interest in the Refugio Mine.

      "Consolidated Net Income" means, for any period, the gross revenues of the
       -----------------------                                                  
Borrower and its Subsidiaries less the operating and non-operating expenses
                              ----                                         
(including taxes on net income) of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for such
period, but excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, all amounts with respect to
the operations of any Person for any period prior to the time it shall have
become a Subsidiary of the Borrower.

      "Consolidated Operating Costs" means, for any period, the aggregate of all
       ----------------------------                                             
payments scheduled to be, or, as the case may be, actually paid by the Borrower
or any Subsidiary to any Person (excluding, however, (i) any payment by the
Borrower or any Subsidiary to any Affiliate of any of the foregoing permitted to
be made pursuant to Section 7.2.7 and (ii) any Consolidated Capital Costs)
                    -------------                                         
during such period in accordance with the Cash Flow Schedule, in each such case
to the extent that such payments are scheduled to be paid in connection with the
operation of any Principal Mine (but, in the case of the Refugio Mine, limited
to the Borrower's pro rata share of such payments based on the Borrower's direct
or indirect percentage ownership interest in the Refugio Mine), including:

           (a) the cash costs scheduled to be, or, as the case may be, actually
      paid in accordance with the Cash Flow Schedule during such period in
      connection with the operation, maintenance and/or reclamation of any
      Principal Mine in order to mine, crush, leach, process, refine and deliver
      Mine Output for sale;

                                     -15-
<PAGE>
 
           (b) all profit, income, property and other taxes or levies imposed by
      any Governmental Agency, in each such case scheduled to be, or, as the
      case may be, actually paid during such period;

           (c) all payments scheduled to be, or as the case may be, actually
      paid under royalty agreements (including Instruments creating or
      transferring Mining Rights) during such period (excluding, however,
      payments by way of production royalties calculated and payable (whether in
      cash or in Gold) as a percentage of Gold produced and sold in connection
      with the operations of any Principal Mine);

           (d) Funded Debt Service and net payments in respect of Hedging
      Obligations entered into by the Borrower or any Subsidiary; and

           (e) the Borrower's pro rata share of the payment of any Indebtedness
      (excluding, however, any Indebtedness advanced by any Affiliate of CMM)
      incurred in connection with the development of the Refugio Mine based on
      its direct or indirect percentage ownership interest of CMM.

      "Consolidated Tangible Net Worth" means, at any date, the excess of:
       -------------------------------                                    

           (a) the net worth of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as at such
      date;

      less
      ----

           (b) the aggregate amount of any intangible assets of the Borrower and
      its Subsidiaries as at such date,

in each case without duplication and calculated on a consolidated basis.

      "Construction Contract" means the Agreement for the procurement and
       ---------------------                                             
construction of the Fort Knox Gold Project, made effective as of January 30,
1995, between Fairbanks Gold and the Construction Contractor initially referred
to in the definition of such term, and in the form provided to the
Administrative Agent in connection with the closing of the transactions
contemplated hereby.

      "Construction Contractor" means Morrison Knudsen - Fort Knox Project Ltd.,
       -----------------------                                                  
a limited liability company organized under the laws of Ohio, or such other
construction company of international repute reasonably satisfactory to all of
the Lenders as shall be selected by the Borrower.

      "Contingent Liability" means any agreement, undertaking or arrangement by
       --------------------                                                    
which any Person guarantees, endorses or otherwise becomes or is contingently
liable upon (by direct or indirect agreement, contingent or otherwise, to
provide funds for payment, to supply funds to, 

                                     -16-
<PAGE>
 
or otherwise to invest in, a debtor, or otherwise to assure a creditor against
loss) the indebtedness, obligation or any other liability of any other Person
(other than by endorsements of instruments in the course of collection), or
guarantees the payment of dividends or other distributions upon the shares of
any other Person. The amount of any Person's obligation under any Contingent
Liability shall (subject to any limitation set forth therein) be deemed to be
the outstanding principal amount (or maximum principal amount, if larger) of the
debt, obligation or other liability guaranteed thereby.

      "Continuation/Conversion Notice" means a notice of continuation or
       ------------------------------                                   
conversion and certificate duly executed by an Authorized Representative of the
Borrower, substantially in the form of Exhibit J attached hereto.
                                       ---------                 

      "Contractual Obligation" means, relative to any Person, any provision of
       ----------------------                                                 
any security issued by such Person or of any Instrument or undertaking to which
such Person is a party or by which it or any of its property is bound.

      "Controlled Group" means relative to any Obligor, all members of a
       ----------------                                                 
controlled group of corporations and all members of a controlled group of trades
or businesses (whether or not incorporated) under common control which, together
with such Obligor, are treated as a single employer under Section 414(b) or
Section 414(c) of the Code or section 4001 of ERISA.

      "Cyprus Amax" means Cyprus Amax Minerals Company, a Delaware corporation.
       -----------                                                             

      "Default" means any Event of Default or any condition or event which,
       -------                                                             
after notice, lapse of time, the making of any required determination or any
combination of the foregoing, would constitute an Event of Default.

      "Disclosure Schedule" means the Disclosure Schedule attached hereto as
       -------------------                                                  
Schedule I.
---------- 

      "Discount Rate" means, in connection with the determination of Present
       -------------                                                        
Value of Future Net Cash Flow at any date, the interest rate per annum
calculated as being the average of (a) the sum of (i) the average LIBO Rate for
an assumed Interest Period of six months as in effect during the six month
period ending on such date, plus (ii) the weighted (by time) average Applicable
Margin as in effect during such six month period, and (b) the sum of (i) the
average Gold Base Rate for an assumed Interest Period of six months as in effect
during such six month period, plus (ii) the weighted (by time) average
Applicable Margin as in effect during such six month period.

      "DOCLOC Facilities" means, collectively, the 1994 DOCLOC Facility and the
       -----------------                                                       
1995 DOCLOC Facility.

      "DOCLOC Facility Agreements" means collectively, the 1994 DOCLOC Facility
       --------------------------                                              
Agreement and the 1995 DOCLOC Facility Agreement.

                                     -17-
<PAGE>
 
      "DOCLOC Support Agreement" means that certain letter agreement among the
       ------------------------                                               
Borrower, Cyprus Amax and the Administrative Agent, substantially in the form of
Exhibit F-1 attached hereto.
-----------                 

      "Documentation and Technical Agent" is defined in the preamble.
      ----------------------------------                    -------- 

      "Dollar" and the sign "$" mean lawful money of the United States.
       ------                -                                         

      "Dollar Lending Office" means, (a) with respect to each Lender, the office
       ---------------------                                                    
of such Lender designated as such below its signature hereto or such other
office of such Lender as may be designated from time to time by notice from such
Lender to the Administrative Agent and the Borrower, and (b) with respect to the
Administrative Agent, the office of the Administrative Agent designated as such
below its signature hereto or such other office of the Administrative Agent as
may be designated from time to time by notice to the Borrower and each Lender.

      "Dollar Loan" means, relative to each Lender, each of such Lender's
       -----------                                                       
Tranche A Loans and/or its Tranche B Dollar Loans.

      "Effective Date" is defined in Section 10.8.
       --------------                ------------ 

      "Enforcement Event" shall mean either (a) the occurrence of any Insolvency
       -----------------                                                        
Default or (b) the acceleration of all or any portion of the outstanding
Principal Amount of the Loans and/or other Obligations pursuant to Section 8.2
                                                                   -----------
or 8.3 as a result of the occurrence of any Event of Default.
   ---                                                       

      "Environmental Indemnity Agreements" means, collectively, the Fairbanks
       ----------------------------------                                    
Gold/Melba Creek Environmental Indemnity Agreement and the Lassen Gold
Environmental Indemnity Agreement.

      "Environmental Law" means any Applicable Law relating to pollution or
       -----------------                                                   
protection of the environment, including laws relating to reclamation of land
and waterways and laws relating to emissions, discharges, releases or threatened
releases of pollutants, contaminants, chemicals, or industrial, toxic or
hazardous substances or wastes into the environment (including ambient air,
surface water, ground water, land surface or subsurface strata) or otherwise
relating to the manufacture, processing, distribution, use, treatment, storage,
disposal, transport or handling of pollutants, contaminants, chemicals, or
industrial, toxic or hazardous substances or wastes.

      "ERISA" means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974.
       -----                                                            

      "Event of Default" is defined in Section 8.1.
       ----------------                ----------- 

      "Facility" means the term loan facility of up to $250,000,000 granted by
       --------                                                               
the Lenders to the Borrower herein.

                                     -18-
<PAGE>
 
      "Fairbanks Canada" is defined in the eighth recital.
       ----------------                    -------------- 

      "Fairbanks Canada Share Pledge Agreement" means that certain Pledge
       ---------------------------------------                           
Agreement, between Fairbanks Canada and the Administrative Agent, substantially
in the form of Exhibit B attached hereto.
               ---------                 

      "Fairbanks Gold" is defined in the preamble.
       --------------                    -------- 

      "Fairbanks Gold/Melba Creek Collateral Agreement" means that certain Deed
       -----------------------------------------------                         
of Trust with Power of Sale, Assignment of Production, Security Agreement,
Financing Statement and Fixture Filing, from each of Fairbanks Gold and Melba
Creek in favor of Fairbanks Title Agency, Inc., as trustee, for the benefit of
the Collateral Agent, substantially in the form of Exhibit C-1 attached hereto.
                                                   -----------                 

      "Fairbanks Gold/Melba Creek Environmental Indemnity Agreement" means that
       ------------------------------------------------------------            
certain Hazardous Materials Undertaking and Unsecured Indemnity, from each of
Fairbanks Gold and Melba Creek in favor of the Collateral Agent, substantially
in the form of Exhibit D-1 attached hereto.
               -----------                 

      "Fairbanks Gold/Melba Creek Guaranty" means that certain Secured Guaranty
       -----------------------------------                                     
Agreement, from each of Fairbanks Gold and Melba Creek in favor of the
Administrative Agent, substantially in the form of Exhibit E-1 attached hereto.
                                                   -----------                 

      "Final Maturity Date" means December 31, 2001.
       -------------------                          

      "Fiscal Quarter" means any quarter of a Fiscal Year.
       --------------                                     

      "Fiscal Year" means any period of twelve consecutive calendar months
       -----------                                                        
ending on December 31, and references to a Fiscal Year with a number
corresponding to any calendar year (e.g., the "1995 Fiscal Year") refer to the
Fiscal Year ending on the December 31 occurring during such calendar year.

      "Fort Knox Base Case" means the economic model prepared by the
       -------------------                                          
Documentation and Technical Agent in consultation with the Independent
Consultant and the Borrower relating to the projected performance of the Fort
Knox Mine and included in the Consolidated Base Case, as the same may be amended
from time to time pursuant to clause (b) of Section 1.8.
                              ----------    ----------- 

      "Fort Knox Economic Completion" means the date following the Fort Knox
       -----------------------------                                        
Physical Completion Date on which certain production, economic, environmental
and/or legal criteria referred to in the Fort Knox Economic Completion
Certificate (or such other criteria proposed by the Borrower (including
demonstration that the Fort Knox Mine is capable of producing Gold at or in
excess of the levels referred to in the Base Cases at an average cost which is
lower than 

                                     -19-
<PAGE>
 
that referred to in the Base Cases) as shall be satisfactory to the Lenders in
their absolute discretion) shall have been achieved.

      "Fort Knox Economic Completion Certificate" means a certificate (together
       -----------------------------------------                               
with all attachments thereto) duly executed in one or more counterparts by an
Authorized Representative of each of the Borrower and the Independent
Consultant, substantially in the form of Exhibit O-2 attached hereto.
                                         -----------                 

      "Fort Knox Economic Completion Date" means the first Business Day
       ----------------------------------                              
immediately following the day on which (a) the Documentation and Technical Agent
shall have received counterparts of the Fort Knox Economic Completion
Certificate or (b) the criteria referred to in the parenthetical in the
definition of "Fort Knox Economic Completion" shall have occurred as set forth
               -----------------------------                                  
therein.

      "Fort Knox Lease Agreement" means that certain Mining Lease, dated as of
       -------------------------                                              
April 1, 1992, between Melba Creek, as Lessor, and Fairbanks Gold, as Lessee
which is evidenced of record by that certain Short Form of Mining Lease, dated
as of April 1, 1992, and recorded in the Fairbanks Recording District on
December 15, 1993 at Book 830, Page 93.

      "Fort Knox Mine" is defined in the first recital.
       --------------                    ------------- 

      "Fort Knox Operating Agreement" means that certain Operating Agreement,
       -----------------------------                                         
made effective as of May 3, 1995, between Morrison Knudsen Corporation, an Ohio
corporation, and Fairbanks Gold and in the form provided to the Administrative
Agent in connection with the closing of the transactions contemplated hereby.

      "Fort Knox Physical Completion" means the achievement of "Mechanical
       -----------------------------                                      
Completion" as contemplated by Section 9.2 and Exhibit D of the Construction
Contract and certain construction, production, economic, environmental and/or
legal criteria referred to in the Fort Knox Physical Completion Certificate.

      "Fort Knox Physical Completion Certificate" means a certificate duly
       -----------------------------------------                          
executed in one or more counterparts by an Authorized Representative of each of
the Borrower and the Independent Consultant, substantially in the form of
Exhibit O-1 attached hereto.
-----------                 

      "Fort Knox Physical Completion Date" means the first Business Day
       ----------------------------------                              
immediately following the day on which the Documentation and Technical Agent
shall have received counterparts of the Fort Knox Physical Completion
Certificate executed by each Person referred to in the definition thereof.

      "Fort Knox Project" is defined in the first recital.
       -----------------                    ------------- 

      "F.R.S. Board" means the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.
       ------------                                                             

                                     -20-
<PAGE>
 
      "Funded Debt Service" means, for any period, the amount in Dollars (which,
       -------------------                                                      
except as provided below, in the case of any Tranche B Gold Loan or any interest
or other amount accruing thereon, shall be the Dollar equivalent thereof
calculated at the relevant Loan Base Price with respect to such Tranche B Gold
Loan), which will be necessary in order to pay in full all principal of and
interest (after taking into account all Interest Rate Protection Agreements in
effect during such period which shall have been shown, to the satisfaction of
the Administrative Agent, to provide hedging in respect of any relevant interest
payments) and other amounts accruing in respect of all Loans which (in the case
of all such principal, interest or other amounts) are scheduled to become due
and payable during such period (or, in the case of any determination of Funded
Debt Service used in the computation of Consolidated Operating Costs for the
purposes of calculating Historical Net Cash Flow for any period, such amount
which was actually paid during such period and, to the extent any such Funded
Debt Service is made up of Tranche B Gold Loans, calculated on the basis of the
Dollar equivalent thereof as at the date of payment).

      "Funded Indebtedness" means, at any date, the sum of:
       -------------------                                 

           (a) the Principal Amount of all outstanding Dollar Loans at such
      date;

plus
----
           (b) the Dollar equivalent of the Principal Amount of all outstanding
      Tranche B Gold Loans at such date calculated at the relevant Loan Base
      Price with respect to each such Tranche B Gold Loan.

      "Funding Percentage" means, at any time, relative to the Loans of either
       ------------------                                                     
tranche of any Lender, the ratio (expressed as a percentage) of (a) in the case
of any Tranche A Loans requested to be made, (i) such Lender's Commitment Amount
(Tranche A Portion) at such time to (ii) the Tranche A Commitment Amount at such
                                 --                                             
time or, as the case may be, (b) in the case of any Tranche B Loans requested to
be made, (i) such Lender's Commitment Amount (Tranche B Portion) at such time to
(ii) the Tranche B Commitment Amount at such time.

      "Future Net Cash Flow" means, for any period, the excess of:
       --------------------                                       

           (a) the Dollar equivalent (calculated at the date of determination of
      Future Net Cash Flow (i) in the case of any such ounces of Gold which are
      covered by a Hedging Agreement in effect on the relevant date of
      calculation, at the price for delivery of Gold specified in such Hedging
      Agreement (or, if no price other than a floor price for delivery of Gold
      is specified in such Hedging Agreement, the minimum price for delivery of
      Gold referred to therein), (ii) in the case of any such ounces of Gold
      scheduled to be produced during a period when Hedged Consolidated Costs
      are then scheduled to be incurred (other than ounces of Gold which are
      covered by a Hedging Agreement of the nature referred to in 
      sub-clause (i)), at the price equal to the 
      --------------
      

                                     -21-
<PAGE>
 
      product of (x) the sum of 100% plus the three year Gold Contango at such
      date, multiplied by (y) $375 per ounce of Gold, and (iii) in the case of
      all other ounces of Gold, at $375 per ounce of Gold), of the excess of (x)
      the total estimated ounces of Gold from Production during such period as
      calculated from the Cash Flow Schedule, less (y) the aggregate payments of
                                              ----
      ounces of Gold payable during such period by way of production royalties
      calculated and payable as a percentage of Gold produced and sold in
      connection with the operations of any Principal Mine (limited, in the case
      of the Refugio Mine, to the Borrower's pro rata interest in such
      production royalty based on the Borrower's direct or indirect percentage
      ownership interest in the Refugio Mine);

      less
      ----

           (b) Consolidated Costs for such period (excluding, however, Funded
      Debt Service for such period).

      "GAAP" is defined in Section 1.4.
       ----                ----------- 

      "Gold" means gold bullion measured in fine ounces troy weight.
       ----                                                         

      "Gold Account" means an unallocated loco London account of the Borrower
       ------------                                                          
representing gold maintained  at the Gold Lending Office of the Administrative
Agent.

      "Gold Base Rate" means, with respect to any Tranche B Gold Loans
       --------------                                                 
outstanding for any Interest Period, the excess of:

           (a) the LIBO Rate for such Interest Period,

      less
      ----

           (b) the Gold Contango for a period equivalent to such Interest
      Period;

provided, however, that in the event the percentage calculated pursuant to
--------  -------                                                         
clause (b) for any Interest Period shall exceed the percentage calculated
----------                                                               
pursuant to clause (a) for such Interest Period then the "Gold Base Rate" for
            ----------                                    --------------     
such Interest Period shall be zero.

      "Gold Contango" means, for any period, the average (rounded upwards to the
       -------------                                                            
nearest four decimal places) of the London interbank forward bullion rates as
quoted by the market making members of the LBMA for such period as the same
appear under the heading "Loco London Gold Lending Rates" (vs. U.S.$)" on the
Reuters' Screen GOFO, GOFP or GOFQ Page (or such other page or service in
replacement thereof as may be utilized by banks generally from time to time for
the purposes of displaying quotes for loco London Gold lending rates) as at
11:00 a.m. (London time) on the day which is two Business Days immediately
preceding the first day of such period; provided, however, that for any period
                                        --------  -------                     
which is not a Quoted Interest 

                                     -22-
<PAGE>
 
Period, the Gold Contango for such period shall be the higher of (a) the mean of
the London interbank forward bullion rates quoted by the market making members
of the LBMA for a period equal to the Quoted Interest Period which is next
longest to such period as the same appear on the Reuters' Screen GOFO, GOFP or
GOFQ Page (or such other page or service) as aforesaid, and (b) the average of
such quoted rates for a period equal to the Quoted Interest Period which is next
shortest to such period as the same may appear on the Reuters' Screen GOFO, GOFP
or GOFQ Page (or such other page or service) as aforesaid (or, if such period is
for a period of less than one month, the rate certified by the Administrative
Agent from time to time as being its rate for lending overnight funds in Gold).

      "Gold Lending Office" means (a) with respect to each Tranche B Lender, an
       -------------------                                                     
office maintained by or on behalf of such Tranche B Lender designated as such
below its signature hereto or such other office maintained by or on behalf of
such Tranche B Lender in London, England as may be designated from time to time
by notice from such Tranche B Lender to the Administrative Agent and the
Borrower, and (b) with respect to the Administrative Agent, the office of the
Administrative Agent designated as such below its signature hereto or such other
office of the Administrative Agent as may be designated from time to time by
notice to the Borrower.

      "Gold Obligation" is defined in Section 4.12.
       ---------------                ------------ 

      "Governmental Agency" means any supranational, national, federal, state,
       -------------------                                                    
regional, tribal or local government or governmental department or other entity
charged with the administration, interpretation or enforcement of any Applicable
Law.
 
      "Group" is defined in Section 9.6.
       -----                ----------- 

      "Group Insurance Policy" is defined in clause (a)(i) of Section 5.1.8.
       ----------------------                -------------    ------------- 

      "Guanaco Existing Indebtedness" means Indebtedness of AGI Chile
       -----------------------------                                 
outstanding under the $36,000,000 Term Loan Agreement, dated as of March 15,
1994, between AGI Chile, as the borrower, Rothschild and Citibank, N.A., as
lenders, and Rothschild, as agent.

      "Guanaco Mine" is defined in the fourth recital.
       ------------                    -------------- 

      "Guanaco Mining" is defined in the preamble.
       --------------                    -------- 

      "Guanaco Mining Guaranty" means that certain Guaranty Agreement, from
       -----------------------                                             
Guanaco Mining in favor of the Administrative Agent, substantially in the form
of Exhibit E-2 attached hereto.
   -----------                 

      "Guaranty" means, without duplication, any agreement, undertaking or
       --------                                                           
arrangement by which any Person guarantees, endorses or otherwise becomes or is
contingently liable upon (by 

                                     -23-
<PAGE>
 
direct or indirect agreement, contingent or otherwise, to provide funds for
payment, to supply funds to, or otherwise to invest in, a debtor, or otherwise
to assure a creditor against loss, to furnish funds for the maintenance of net
worth, working capital or earnings of any Person or to purchase any products,
properties or services of any Person primarily to enable such Person to pay any
obligation or to assure any creditor against any loss) the debt, obligation, or
other liability of any other Person (other than by endorsements of instruments
in the course of collection), or guarantees the payment of dividends or other
distributions upon the shares of any other Person; provided, however, that the
                                                   --------  -------
term "Guaranty" shall not include endorsements for collection or deposit by such
      --------                   
Person in either case in the ordinary course of business of such Person. The
amount of such Person's obligation under any Guaranty shall (subject to any
limitation set forth therein) be deemed to be the outstanding principal amount
(or maximum outstanding principal amount, if larger) of the debt, obligation, or
other liability guaranteed thereby or, if such principal amount is not stated
therein, or determinable pursuant to the provisions thereof, the maximum
liability reasonably anticipated in respect thereof as determined in good faith
by the Person obligated thereunder to the reasonable satisfaction of the
Administrative Agent.

      "Hayden Hill Existing Indebtedness" means Indebtedness of Lassen Gold
       ---------------------------------                                   
outstanding under the Bullion Loan Agreement, dated as of March 26, 1991,
between Lassen Gold and the Borrower, as borrowers, the banks party thereto, and
The Chase Manhattan Bank, N.A., as agent.

      "Hayden Hill Mine" is defined in the third recital.
       ----------------                    ------------- 

      "Hazardous Material" means any substance defined as or included in the
       ------------------                                                   
definition of "hazardous substances", "hazardous wastes", "hazardous materials",
or "toxic substances" under any applicable Environmental Law, and shall include
each of the following:

           (a) those substances included within the definitions of "hazardous
      substances", "hazardous materials", "toxic substances", or "solid waste"
      in CERCLA, the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act and the Hazardous
      Materials Transportation Act, 49 U.S.C. (S)1801 et. seq.;
                                                      --  ---  

           (b) those substances listed in the United States Department of
      Transportation Table (49 CFR 172.101) or by the United States
      Environmental Protection Agency as hazardous substances (40 CFR Part 302);

           (c) any material, waste or substance which is designated as a
      "hazardous substance" pursuant to Section 311 of the Clean Water Act, 33
      U.S.C. (S) 1251 et seq. (33 U.S.C. (S) 1321) or listed pursuant to Section
                      -- ---                                                    
      307 of the Clean Water Act (33 U.S.C. 1317);

                                     -24-
<PAGE>
 
           (d) solely in connection with the Hayden Hill Mine, those substances
      defined as "hazardous waste", "extremely hazardous waste" or "restricted
      hazardous waste" in Sections 25115, 25117, 25122.7 and 25140 of the
      California Health and Safety Code, or as "hazardous substances" in
      Sections 25316 and 25281 of the California Health and Safety Code; and

           (e) solely in connection with the Fort Knox Mine, any substance
      defined as a "hazardous waste" in AS 46.03.900(9) or 18 ACC 62.010 and
      62.020 or as a "hazardous substance" in AS 46.03.826(5).

      "Hedged Consolidated Costs" is defined in Section 7.1.10.
       -------------------------                -------------- 

      "Hedging Agreements" is defined in Section 7.1.10.
       ------------------                -------------- 

      "Hedging Counterparties" is defined in Section 7.1.10.
       ----------------------                -------------- 

      "Hedging Obligations" means, with respect to any Person, all liabilities
       -------------------                                                    
of such Person under commodity swap agreements, interest rate swap agreements,
interest rate cap agreements and interest rate collar agreements, and all other
agreements, options or arrangements designed to protect such Person against
fluctuations in interest rates, currency exchange rates or precious metals
prices (including any Hedging Agreements and Interest Rate Protection
Agreements).

      "Historical Net Cash Flow" means, for any period, the excess, if any, of:
       ------------------------                                                

           (a) the excess, if any of (i) the actual gross revenues realized by
      the Borrower and each Subsidiary (including the net Dollar proceeds of the
      sale of ounces of Gold from Production actually received by the Borrower
      and each Subsidiary) during such period, less (ii) the Dollar equivalent
                                               ----                           
      (calculated at the date of payment of any relevant production royalty) of
      the aggregate payments of ounces of Gold actually paid during such period
      by way of production royalties calculated and payable (whether in cash or
      Gold) as a percentage of Gold produced at any Principal Mine (but, in the
      case of the Refugio Mine, limited to the Borrower's pro rata interest
      therein based on its direct or indirect percentage ownership interest in
      the Refugio Mine) and sold in connection with the operation thereof;

      less
      ----

           (b) the Consolidated Costs actually paid during such period (and, in
      determining Consolidated Costs for such period any Consolidated  Operating
      Costs of the nature referred to in clause (d) of the definition of such
                                         ----------                          
      term which are actually paid in Gold shall be the Dollar equivalent
      thereof calculated at the date of payment thereof).

                                     -25-
<PAGE>
 
      "Impermissible Qualification" means, relative to the opinion or report of
       ---------------------------                                             
any independent certified public accountant or any independent chartered
accountant as to any financial statement of the Borrower, any qualification or
exception to such opinion or report:

           (a) which is of a "going concern" or similar nature;

           (b) which relates to any limited scope of examination of matters
      relevant to such financial statement which has resulted from any action of
      the Borrower the result of which is, directly or indirectly, to prevent
      such accountant from making such examination as such accountant deems
      appropriate; or

           (c) which relates to the treatment or classification of any item in
      such financial statement and which, as a condition to its removal, would
      require an adjustment to such item the effect of which would be to cause
      the Borrower to be in default of any of its obligations under Section
                                                                    -------
      7.2.4.
      ----- 

      "Indebtedness" of any Person means, without duplication:
       ------------                                           

           (a) all obligations of such Person for borrowed money or precious
      metals (including (i) in the case of such obligations, all notes payable
      and drafts accepted representing extensions of credit, (ii) in the case of
      any such Person which is an Obligor, such Obligor's payment Obligations,
      and (iii) in the case of such precious metals, Gold) and all obligations
      evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or other similar Instruments on
      which interest charges are customarily paid;

           (b) all obligations, contingent or otherwise, relative to the face
      amount of all letters of credit, whether or not drawn, and banker's
      acceptances and similar instruments, in each such case issued for the
      account of such Person;

           (c) all obligations of such Person as lessee under leases which have
      been or should be, in accordance with GAAP, recorded as Capitalized Lease
      Liabilities (and, for the avoidance of doubt, any obligation of such
      Person as a lessee under a lease which is an operating lease shall not
      constitute Indebtedness);

           (d) net payment liabilities of such Person under all Hedging
      Obligations;

           (e) whether or not included as liabilities in accordance with GAAP,
      all obligations of such Person to pay the deferred purchase price of
      property or services (excluding, in the case of the Borrower, the payment
      of any deferred purchase price in the maximum amount of $25,000,000 to
      Cyprus Amax in respect of its acquisition of a fifty percent interest in
      the Kubaka Project from Cyprus Amax through the issue of common stock of
      the Borrower), and indebtedness (excluding prepaid interest thereon)
      secured by a Lien on property owned or being purchased by such Person
      (including 

                                     -26-
<PAGE>
 
      indebtedness arising under conditional sales or other title retention
      agreements), whether or not such indebtedness shall have been assumed by
      such Person or is limited in recourse; and

           (f) all Contingent Liabilities of such Person in respect of any of
      the foregoing;

provided, however, that, for the determination of Indebtedness of the Borrower
--------  -------                                                             
and its Subsidiaries for any purpose of this Agreement or any other Loan
Document, any obligation for borrowed money of any Subsidiary of the Borrower
incurred to finance the acquisition and/or the development of the Kubaka Project
in circumstances where such Subsidiary has been formed for the sole purpose, and
continues to have the sole purpose, of such acquisition and/or development and
in respect of which no other Person is under any similar obligation and the
recourse of the holder of such obligation is, in the opinion of the Lenders,
limited to such Subsidiary and the assets owned by it which constitute the
Kubaka Project, shall be excluded.

      "Indemnified Liabilities" is defined in Section 10.4.
       -----------------------                ------------ 

      "Indemnified Parties" is defined in Section 10.4.
       -------------------                ------------ 

      "Independent Consultant" means Anderson & Schwab, Inc. or such other
       ----------------------                                             
independent mining consultant as may be retained by the Documentation and
Technical Agent acting with the approval of the Required Lenders (and, so long
as no Default shall have occurred and be continuing, with the prior written
consent of the Borrower, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or
delayed).

      "Independent Consultant's Certificate" means a certificate duly executed
       ------------------------------------                                   
by an Authorized Representative of the Independent Consultant, substantially in
the form of Exhibit K-1 attached hereto.
            -----------                 

      "Independent Consultant's Report" means a report duly executed by an
       -------------------------------                                    
Authorized Representative of the Independent Consultant, substantially in the
form of Exhibit N attached hereto, and containing such other matters in
        ---------                                                      
connection with any Obligor's compliance with each Operative Document to which
it is a party and the performance of the Principal Mines as either the
Administrative Agent or the Documentation and Technical Agent may reasonably
request, and relating to each consecutive quarterly period ending on March 31,
June 30, September 30 and December 31 of each calendar year for the period
between the Effective Date and the Fort Knox Economic Completion Date and for
each calendar year thereafter, or for such other periods as the Documentation
and Technical Agent may reasonably request.

      "Information Memorandum" means the confidential Information Memorandum
       ----------------------                                               
relating to the transactions contemplated hereby, dated July 1995, prepared by
the Syndication Agent.

                                     -27-
<PAGE>
 
      "Initial Borrowing Date" means the first Business Day on which Loans shall
       ----------------------                                                   
have been made pursuant to Section 2.3.
                           ----------- 

      "Insolvency Default" means any condition or event which, after lapse of
       ------------------                                                    
time, would become an Event of Default described in Section 8.1.6.
                                                    ------------- 

      "Instrument" means any contract, agreement, indenture, mortgage, document
       ----------                                                              
or writing (whether by formal agreement, letter or otherwise) under which any
obligation is evidenced, assumed or undertaken, or any Lien (or right or
interest therein) is granted or perfected or purported to be granted or
perfected.

      "Insurance Consultant" means Aon Natural Resources Worldwide, a division
       --------------------                                                   
of Aon Corporation, or such other insurance adviser of international repute as
shall be satisfactory to the Required Lenders.

      "Insurance Consultant's Certificate" means a certificate duly executed by
       ----------------------------------                                      
an authorized signatory of the Insurance Consultant, substantially in the form
of Exhibit K-2 attached hereto.
   -----------                 

      "Interest Period" means, relative to any Loan of any type:
       ---------------                                          

           (a) initially, the period from the date such Loan is made (or, as the
      case may be, converted from a different type of Loan) to the day which
      numerically corresponds to the date one, two, three or six months
      thereafter (or such other date as agreed between all the Tranche A Lenders
      or, as the case may be, all the Tranche B Lenders and the Borrower and,
      subject, without prejudice to the provisions of Section 4.1, in the case
                                                      -----------             
      of each such period with respect to any Tranche B Gold Loan, to the
      availability of funds for such period to each Tranche B Lender) as the
      Borrower may irrevocably select in any Borrowing Request delivered
      pursuant to Section 2.3 or, in the case of any Tranche B Loan of one type
                  -----------                                                  
      which is to be converted from the other type of Tranche B Loan, the
      relevant Continuation/Conversion Notice in respect of such conversion
      delivered pursuant to Section 2.4; and
                            -----------     

           (b) thereafter, each period from the last day of the immediately
      preceding Interest Period applicable to such Loan to the day which
      numerically corresponds to such date one, two, three or six months
      thereafter (or such other date as agreed between all the Tranche A Lenders
      or, as the case may be, all the Tranche B Lenders and the Borrower and
      subject as provided in clause (a)) as the Borrower may irrevocably select
                             ----------                                        
      in the relevant Continuation/Conversion Notice in respect of such
      continuation delivered pursuant to Section 2.4;
                                         ----------- 

                                     -28-
<PAGE>
 
      provided, however, that:
      --------  -------       

           (c) absent the timely selection of an Interest Period for a then
      current Loan, the Borrower shall be deemed to have selected that the Loan
      be continued as a Loan of the same type for an Interest Period of one
      month's or such other duration as may be required in order to comply with
      the other provisions of this Agreement;

           (d) if such Interest Period for any Loan would otherwise end on a day
      which is not a Business Day, such Interest Period shall end on the next
      following Business Day, unless such Business Day occurs in the next
      following calendar month, in which case such Interest Period shall end on
      the immediately preceding Business Day;

           (e) the Borrower shall not be permitted to select, and there shall
      not be in effect, any Interest Period for any Loan that would end later
      than the Final Maturity Date;

           (f) no more than two Interest Periods shall be in effect at any one
      time with respect to any type of Loans; and

           (g) the Administrative Agent shall be able to select Interest Periods
      satisfactory to it pursuant to the terms and conditions of Section 3.2.2
                                                                 -------------
      or after any Enforcement Event.

      "Interest Rate Protection Agreement" is defined in Section 7.1.11.
       ----------------------------------                -------------- 

      "Interest Rate Protection Counterparty" is defined in Section 7.1.11.
       -------------------------------------                -------------- 

      "Investment" means, relative to any Person:
       ----------                                

           (a) any loan or advance made by such Person to any other Person
      (excluding commission, travel and similar advances to officers and
      employees made in the ordinary course of business);

           (b) any Guaranty made or issued by such Person; and

           (c) any ownership or similar interest held by such Person in any
      other Person.

The amount of any Investment shall be the original principal or capital amount
thereof less all returns of principal or equity thereon (and without adjustment
by reason of the financial condition of such other Person) and shall, if made by
the transfer or exchange of property other than cash, be deemed to have been
made in an original principal or capital amount equal to the fair market value
of such property.

                                     -29-
<PAGE>
 
      "Kubaka Project" means the Kubaka gold mine project in Magadan, Siberia.
       --------------                                                         

      "LaSalle" is defined in the preamble.
       -------                    -------- 

      "Lassen Gold" is defined in the preamble.
       -----------                    -------- 

      "Lassen Gold Collateral Agreement" means that certain Deed of Trust with
       --------------------------------                                       
Power of Sale, Assignment of Production, Security Agreement, Financing Statement
and Fixture Filing, from Lassen Gold in favor of Chicago Title Insurance
Company, as trustee, for the benefit of the Collateral Agent, substantially in
the form of Exhibit C-2 attached hereto.
            -----------                 

      "Lassen Gold Environmental Indemnity Agreement" means that certain
       ---------------------------------------------                    
Hazardous Materials Undertaking and Unsecured Indemnity, from Lassen Gold in
favor of the Collateral Agent, substantially in the form of Exhibit D-2 attached
                                                            -----------         
hereto.

      "Lassen Gold Guaranty" means that certain Secured Guaranty Agreement, from
       --------------------                                                     
Lassen Gold in favor of the Administrative Agent, substantially in the form of
Exhibit E-3 attached hereto.
-----------                 

      "LBMA" means The London Bullion Market Association.
       ----                                              

      "Lender Assignment Agreement" means an Assignment Agreement, duly executed
       ---------------------------                                              
by an Assignor Lender and an Assignee Lender (and acknowledged by the
Administrative Agent), substantially in the form of Exhibit P attached hereto.
                                                    ---------                 

      "Lender Parties" means, collectively, the Agents, the Arrangers and the
       --------------                                                        
Lenders.

      "Lenders" is defined in the preamble and for the avoidance of doubt,
       -------                    --------                                
includes (a) Tranche A Lenders and (b) Tranche B Lenders.  For the avoidance of
doubt, and unless the context requires otherwise, reference to any Lender means
such Lender in its capacity as a Tranche A Lender or a Tranche B Lender, as the
case may be.

      "LIBO Rate" means, relative to any Interest Period for any Dollar Loans
       ---------                                                             
(or, for the purposes of clause (a) of the definition of "Gold Base Rate", for
                         ----------                       --------------      
the Dollar equivalent of any Tranche B Gold Loans), the rate of interest equal
to the average (rounded upwards to the nearest four decimal places) of the
quotes for "LIBOR", as such quotes appear on the Reuters' Screen LIBO Page (or
such other page or service in replacement thereof as may be utilized by banks
generally from time to time for the purpose of displaying quotes for London
Interbank Offered Rates) as at 11:00 a.m. (London time) for the number of months
(or different period) comprising such Interest Period, calculated at the date
which is two Business Days prior to the first day of such Interest Period;
provided, however, that in the event that fewer than two such quotes appear on
--------  -------                                                             
such screen, page or service at such time, the Administrative Agent will request
the principal London office of each Arranger (or, in the case of Merrill Lynch,
the London office 

                                     -30-
<PAGE>
 
of Merrill Lynch International Bank Limited) to provide the Administrative Agent
with its quotation for offers of Dollar deposits to leading banks in the London
interbank market for such period and in an amount comparable to the principal
amount of such Arranger's (acting in its capacity as a Lender) Dollar Loan (or,
in the case of any determination of the LIBO Rate made for purposes of the
definition of "Gold Base Rate", the Dollar equivalent of such Tranche B Lender's
               --------------                                
Tranche B Gold Loan), and the "LIBO Rate" shall equal the average of such 
                               ---------                 
quoted rates.

      "Lien" means any security interest, mortgage, pledge, hypothecation,
       ----                                                               
assignment, encumbrance, lien (statutory or otherwise), charge against or
interest in property to secure payment of a debt or performance of an obligation
or other priority or preferential arrangement of any kind or nature whatsoever.

      "Loan" means, as the context may require, a Tranche A Loan, a Tranche B
       ----                                                                  
Dollar Loan or a Tranche B Gold Loan.

      "Loan Base Price" means, in the case of any Tranche B Gold Loans made
       ---------------                                                     
pursuant to Section 2.3 or converted from Tranche B Dollar Loans pursuant to any
            -----------                                                         
Continuation/Conversion Notice or otherwise, the London Price as in effect two
Business Days prior to the Borrowing Date or date of conversion for such Tranche
B Gold Loans.

      "Loan Document" means any of this Agreement, the Notes, the Principal
       -------------                                                       
Subsidiary Guaranties, the Security Documents, the Environmental Indemnity
Agreements, the Subordination Agreements, the DOCLOC Support Agreement and each
other Instrument executed by any Obligor or any Affiliate of any thereof
evidencing any obligation (monetary or otherwise) in connection with and
pursuant to this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby and
delivered to, and representing obligations incurred to, any Lender Party
(including, at any time when any Commitment is outstanding or any Principal
Amount of any Loan or any interest accrued thereon is then outstanding to any
Lender Party, any Hedging Agreement or any Interest Rate Protection Agreement in
effect at such time in accordance with Section 7.1.10 or 7.1.11, as the case may
                                       --------------    ------                 
be, and which, in each case, is provided by any Lender which remains a Lender at
such time).

      "Loan Life Ratio" means, at any date, the ratio, expressed as a
       ---------------                                               
percentage, of:

           (a) the Present Value of Future Net Cash Flow for the period
      commencing on such date and ending on December 31, 2001

      to
      --

           (b)  the excess, if any, of:

                (i)    Funded Indebtedness at such date,

                                     -31-
<PAGE>
 
           less
           ----

                (ii)   the 1994 DOCLOC Facility Available Portion at such date.

      "London Gold Fixing" means a gold price fixing meeting among the five
       ------------------                                                  
members from time to time of the London gold market.

      "London Price" means, on any day, the fixing price per fine ounce troy (in
       ------------                                                             
Dollars) for Gold as announced at the afternoon London Gold Fixing for such day;
provided, however, that if the afternoon London Gold Fixing shall not have
--------  -------                                                         
occurred for such day, the "London Price" for such day shall be the fixing price
                            ------------                                        
per fine ounce troy (in Dollars) for gold as announced at the morning London
Gold Fixing for such day or if the morning London Gold Fixing shall not have
occurred for such day, the "London Price" for such day shall be the publicly
                            ------------
quoted price per fine ounce troy (in Dollars) for Gold on such other accessible
international gold market (allowing for physical delivery of such Gold) as may
be reasonably selected by the Administrative Agent; and, provided, further,
                                                         --------  -------
however, that in the event the Administrative Agent shall have been unable to
-------
select any other such international gold market, then the "London Price" for
                                                           ------------
such day shall mean such price as the Administrative Agent shall reasonably
determine. In the event that such day is not a Business Day, then the "London
                                                                       ------
Price" shall be the London Price on the most recently preceding Business Day.
-----

      "Material Asset" means, on any date, any individual asset (including
       --------------                                                     
groups of individual assets forming an individual operating unit) of the
Borrower, any Subsidiary of the Borrower or CMM having a net book value in
excess of 5% of the tangible assets of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries,
measured on a consolidated basis as at such date.

      "Materially Adverse Effect" means an effect, resulting from any occurrence
       -------------------------                                                
of whatever nature (including any adverse determination in any labor
controversy, litigation, arbitration or governmental investigation or
proceeding), which is materially adverse, or is or would be reasonably likely to
be materially adverse, to:

           (a) the business, assets, revenues, financial condition or operations
      of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, measured on a consolidated basis;

           (b) the effectiveness (including the validity, priority or
      perfection) of any Lien granted by any Obligor pursuant to any Security
      Document (other than any such Lien which the Required Lenders determine
      encumbers only non-material collateral in the context of the value of the
      collateral security granted as a whole in respect of the Borrower's
      Obligations);

           (c) the ability of the Obligors, taken as a whole, to make any
      payment or perform any other material obligation required under any
      Operative Document; or

                                     -32-
<PAGE>
 
           (d) the ability of Fairbanks Gold to consummate the Fort Knox Project
      and/or operate, manage and maintain the Fort Knox Mine substantially in
      accordance with the Fort Knox Base Case.

      "Maturity" means, relative to any Loan, any date on which such Loan is
       --------                                                             
stated to be due and payable, in whole or in part, whether by required
repayment, prepayment, declaration or otherwise.

      "Measurement Period" means any period of four consecutive Fiscal Quarters
       ------------------                                                      
ending on a date on which the Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio is
required to be calculated pursuant to clause (c) of Section 7.2.4.
                                      ----------    ------------- 

      "Melba Creek" is defined in the preamble.
       -----------                    -------- 

      "Merrill Lynch" is defined in the preamble.
       -------------                    -------- 

      "Mine Assets" means, with respect to any Principal Mine,  all properties,
       -----------                                                             
assets or other rights, whether real or personal, tangible or intangible, now
owned or leased or hereafter acquired by or for the benefit of the Principal
Subsidiary or CMM with an interest in such assets, which assets are used or
intended for use in or forming part of such Principal Mine (and, for the
avoidance of doubt, shall include (a) the deposits of gold and any other metals
and minerals at the site forming part of such Principal Mine and (b) all
associated beneficiation facilities, together with all plant sites, waste dumps,
ore dumps, crushing circuits, heap leach pads, abandoned heaps, water and power
supply systems and ancillary and infrastructure facilities located at such
Principal Mine which are used in connection with the operation thereof).

      "Mine Output" means all products from any Principal Mine including dore
       -----------                                                           
and Gold.

      "Mines Operational Period" means the period commencing on the Effective
       ------------------------                                              
Date and continuing until the earlier of:

           (a)  December 31, 2001; and

           (b) the date on which the Proven and Probable Reserves (determined on
      or prior to the Effective Date) have been (or are expected to be)
      extracted, milled, refined and sold, in each case in accordance with the
      Consolidated Base Case.

      "Mining Rights" means all interests in the surface of the lands, the
       -------------                                                      
minerals in (or that may be extracted from) the lands, the royalty agreements,
patented and unpatented mining claims, water rights, mining concessions, fee
interests, mineral leases, mining licenses, profits-a-prendre, joint ventures
and other leases, rights-of-way, enurements, licenses and other rights, claims
and interests (however arising) used by or necessary to any Principal
Subsidiary, CMM or any other Person to operate any Principal Mine.

                                     -33-
<PAGE>
 
      "Moody's" means Moody's Investor Services, Inc.
       -------                                       

      "Monthly Report" means a report duly executed by an Authorized
       --------------                                               
Representative of each of the Borrower and the Independent Consultant,
substantially in the form of Exhibit L attached hereto, relating to the status
                             ---------                                        
of the consummation of the Fort Knox Project for each consecutive calendar month
(or shorter period in the case of the first certificate delivered pursuant to
clause (e) of Section 7.1.1) occurring after the Effective Date and prior to the
----------    -------------                                        
Fort Knox Economic Completion Date.

      "Net Disposition Proceeds" means, with respect to the disposition by the
       ------------------------                                               
Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries or CMM of any Material Asset permitted to be
made pursuant to clause (d) of Section 7.2.10, the excess, if any, of
                 ----------    --------------                        

           (a) the sum of the gross cash proceeds received by such Person (or,
      in the case of CMM, the Borrower's pro rata interest in such gross cash
      proceeds (to the extent that such proceeds are not restricted from being
      distributed by CMM pursuant to the terms of any financing (excluding,
      however, any Indebtedness advanced by an Affiliate of CMM) incurred in
      relation to the Refugio Mine or any shareholders or similar agreement
      relating to CMM) based on its direct or indirect percentage ownership
      interest in the Refugio Mine) from such disposition

      less
      ----

           (b) the sum of (i) all fees and expenses (including customary
      brokerage commissions, appraisal fees, surveying charges, legal and
      investment banking fees and other similar commissions, charges or fees)
      incurred in connection with such disposition (other than any such fees or
      expenses payable to Cyprus Amax or any of its Subsidiaries except as
      permitted to be paid pursuant to Section 7.2.11), (ii) all taxes and
                                       --------------                     
      similar levies (including filing, recording or registration fees,
      recording taxes, transfer taxes, income and/or franchise taxes) paid or
      payable in connection with such disposition, plus (iii) to the extent not
      deducted from the gross cash proceeds referred to in clause (a), any
                                                           ----------     
      Indebtedness otherwise permitted to be incurred pursuant to this Agreement
      and secured by a Lien in respect of such Material Asset otherwise
      permitted to be created pursuant to this Agreement and repaid in
      connection with such disposition.

      "Net Issuance Proceeds" means, with respect to the issuance by the
       ---------------------                                            
Borrower of any of its equity share capital or Approved Subordinated
Indebtedness (Borrower) (whether pursuant to clause (b) of Section 7.1.15 or
                                             ----------    --------------   
otherwise), the excess, if any, of

           (a) the sum of the gross cash proceeds received by the Borrower from
      such issuance

      less
      ----

                                     -34-
<PAGE>
 
           (b) all fees and expenses (including customary brokerage commissions,
      legal and investment banking fees and other similar commissions, charges
      or fees) incurred in connection with such issuance (other than any such
      fees or expenses payable to Cyprus Amax or any of its Subsidiaries except
      as permitted to be paid pursuant to Section 7.2.11).
                                          --------------  

      "Nevada Gold" is defined in the preamble.
       -----------                    -------- 

      "Nevada Gold Guaranty" means that certain Guaranty Agreement from Nevada
       --------------------                                                   
Gold in favor of the Administrative Agent, substantially in the form of Exhibit
                                                                        -------
E-4 attached hereto.
---                 

      "1995 DOCLOC Facility" means the revolving loan facility made available by
       --------------------                                                     
Cyprus Amax to the Borrower pursuant to the 1995 DOCLOC Facility Agreement.

      "1995 DOCLOC Facility Agreement" means the Revolving Credit Agreement,
       ------------------------------                                       
dated as of March 10, 1995, between the Borrower and Cyprus Amax in the form
provided to the Administrative Agent in connection with the closing of the
transactions contemplated hereby.

      "1994 DOCLOC Facility" means the revolving loan facility made available by
       --------------------                                                     
Cyprus Amax to the Borrower pursuant to the 1994 DOCLOC Facility Agreement.

      "1994 DOCLOC Facility Agreement" means the Revolving Credit Agreement,
       ------------------------------                                       
dated as of April 15, 1994, between the Borrower and Cyprus Amax in the form
provided to the Administrative Agent in connection with the closing of the
transactions contemplated hereby.

      "1994 DOCLOC Facility Allocated Portion" means, at any time, the principal
       --------------------------------------                                   
amount of that portion of the undrawn 1994 DOCLOC Facility which has, at such
time, been allocated (in a manner satisfactory to the Required Lenders) to the
support of the Borrower's financial obligations.  For the avoidance of doubt,
the 1994 DOCLOC Facility Allocated Portion includes the 1994 DOCLOC Facility
Fort Knox Portion.

      "1994 DOCLOC Facility Available Portion" means at any time, the excess, if
       --------------------------------------                                   
any, of (a) the principal amount of the undrawn 1994 DOCLOC Facility at such
time, less (b) the 1994 DOCLOC Facility Allocated Portion (excluding, however,
      ----                                                                    
the 1994 DOCLOC Facility Fort Knox Portion) at such time.

      "1994 DOCLOC Facility Fort Knox Portion" means, at any time, the principal
       --------------------------------------                                   
amount of that portion of the undrawn 1994 DOCLOC Facility which has, at such
time, been allocated (in a manner satisfactory to the Required Lenders) to the
support of the Borrower's payment Obligations, the achievement of Fort Knox
Physical Completion and the achievement of Fort Knox Economic Completion.

                                     -35-
<PAGE>
 
      "1994 DOCLOC Facility Release Date" means the date on which the
       ---------------------------------                             
restrictions on the purposes for which the 1994 DOCLOC Facility might be
utilized (other than those restrictions contained in the 1994 DOCLOC Facility
Agreement) as in effect on the Initial Borrowing Date (which restrictions shall
have been disclosed to the Administrative Agent pursuant to clause (b) of
                                                            ----------    
Section 5.1.12) shall be rescinded or released.
--------------                                 

      "Non-Material Approvals" is defined in clause (a)(ii) of Section 6.16.
       ----------------------                --------------    ------------ 

      "Notes" means, collectively, the Tranche A Notes, the Tranche B Dollar
       -----                                                                
Notes and the Tranche B Gold Notes.

      "Obligations" means, with respect to any Obligor, all obligations of such
       -----------                                                             
Obligor with respect to the repayment or performance of all obligations
(monetary or otherwise) of such Obligor arising under or in connection with this
Agreement, the Notes and each other Loan Document.

      "Obligors" means, collectively, the Borrower and the Principal
       --------                                                     
Subsidiaries.

      "Operative Documents" means, collectively, the Loan Documents, the Project
       -------------------                                                      
Documents and the DOCLOC Facility Agreements.

      "Organic Document" means, with respect to (a) any Obligor, its certificate
       ----------------                                                         
of incorporation and its by-laws; (b) Fairbanks Canada, its memorandum and
articles of association; and (c) any Obligor or Fairbanks Canada, all
shareholder agreements, voting trusts and similar arrangements applicable to any
of its authorized shares of capital stock or other equity interests.

      "ounce of Gold" means a fine ounce troy weight of gold in a form readily
       -------------                                                          
tradeable with members of the LBMA from time to time.

      "Outstanding Percentage" means, relative to any type of Loans and at any
       ----------------------                                                 
time, the ratio (expressed as a percentage) of (a) the Dollar equivalent of the
Principal Amount of such Loans of such type at such time to (b) the Dollar
equivalent of the Principal Amount of all types of Loans at such time.

      "Participant" is defined in Section 10.11.2.
       -----------                --------------- 

      "PBGC" means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation and any entity
       ----                                                               
succeeding to any or all of its functions under ERISA.

      "Pension Plan" means a "pension plan", as such term is defined in section
       ------------                                                            
3(2) of ERISA, which is subject to Title IV of ERISA (other than a multiemployer
plan as defined in section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA), and to which any Obligor or any
corporation, trade or business that is, along with such Obligor, a member of a
Controlled Group, may have liability, including 

                                     -36-
<PAGE>
 
any liability by reason of having been a substantial employer within the meaning
of section 4063 of ERISA at any time during the preceding five years, or by
reason of being deemed to be a contributing sponsor under section 4069 of ERISA.

      "Person" means any natural person, corporation, partnership, firm,
       ------                                                           
association, trust, government, governmental agency or any other entity, whether
acting in an individual, fiduciary or other capacity.

      "Plan" means any Pension Plan or Welfare Plan.
       ----                                         

      "Pledge Agreements" means, collectively, the Borrower Share Pledge
       -----------------                                                
Agreement and the Fairbanks Canada Share Pledge Agreement.

      "Present Value of Future Net Cash Flow" means, at any date and for any
       -------------------------------------                                
period (a "Calculation Period"), the aggregate of discounted Future Net Cash
           ------------------                                               
Flow for such Calculation Period calculated as set forth herein.  Each
Calculation Period shall be divided into consecutive periods (each, a "Discount
                                                                       --------
Period") of three months (or, in the case of the last such period, the period
------                                                                       
commencing on the last day of the penultimate such period and ending on the last
day of the Calculation Period), and shall be discounted, with respect to any
Future Net Cash Flow scheduled to accrue during any Discount Period, at the
Discount Rate at such date to the first day of such Calculation Period from the
day which represents the mid-point of such Discount Period.

      "Principal Amount" means, (a) with respect to any Tranche B Gold Loan
       ----------------                                                    
outstanding (or to be outstanding) at any date, the aggregate principal amount
(calculated in ounces of Gold) of such Tranche B Gold Loan at such date and (b)
with respect to any Dollar Loan outstanding (or to be outstanding) at any date,
the aggregate principal amount (calculated in Dollars) of such Dollar Loan at
such date.

      "Principal Mines" is defined in the fifth recital.
       ---------------                    ------------- 

      "Principal Subsidiaries" is defined in the preamble.
       ----------------------                    -------- 

      "Principal Subsidiary Guaranties" means, collectively, the Fairbanks
       -------------------------------                                    
Gold/Melba Creek Guaranty, the Guanaco Mining Guaranty, the Lassen Gold Guaranty
and the Nevada Gold Guaranty.

      "Process Agent" is defined in Section 10.14.
       -------------                ------------- 

      "Process Agent Acceptance" means a letter from the Process Agent to the
       ------------------------                                              
Administrative Agent, substantially in the form of Exhibit Q attached hereto.
                                                   ---------                 

                                     -37-
<PAGE>
 
      "Production" means, for any period, the number of ounces of Gold contained
       ----------                                                               
in dore which have been produced, or (in the case of any period or portion
thereof to occur in the future) which are scheduled in the Cash Flow Schedule to
be produced, at the Principal Mines during such period (which shall, in the case
of the Refugio Mine, be limited to the Borrower's pro rata interest therein
based on its direct or indirect percentage ownership interest of the Refugio
Mine).

      "Production (Hedging Adjusted)" means, for any period, the excess of (a)
       -----------------------------                                          
Production for such period less (b) Funded Debt Service, if any, for such period
                           ----                                                 
in respect of Funded Indebtedness denominated in Gold.

      "Project Documents" means, collectively, (a) the Construction Contract,
       -----------------                                                     
the Fort Knox Lease Agreement and the Fort Knox Operating Agreement and (b) all
Hedging Agreements and Interest Rate Protection Agreements not constituting Loan
Documents.

      "Project Party" means any Obligor, CMM, the Construction Contractor and
       -------------                                                         
any Affiliate, agent, advisor, consultant, officer, director or other associate
of any such Person retained, employed or consulted by such Person in connection
with the consummation of the Fort Knox Project or the operation of any Principal
Mine.

      "Proven and Probable Reserves" means, at any date, reserves of Gold at
       ----------------------------                                         
each Principal Mine (limited, in the case of the Refugio Mine, to the Borrower's
pro rata interest therein based on its direct or indirect percentage ownership
interest of the Refugio Mine) as determined and calculated in accordance with
standards established from time to time by the SEC and as set forth in the most
recent annual report on Form 10-K or quarterly report on Form 10-Q filed by the
Borrower with the SEC.

      "Quarterly Payment Date" means each March 31, June 30, September 30 and
       ----------------------                                                
December 31, commencing with September 30, 1997.

      "Quoted Interest Period" means any Interest Period having a duration of
       ----------------------                                                
one, two, three or six months.

      "Refugio Mine" is defined in the fourth recital.
       ------------                    -------------- 

      "Regulatory Change" means the occurrence after the Effective Date of any
       -----------------                                                      
change in or abrogation of, or introduction, adoption, effectiveness,
interpretation, reinterpretation or phase-in of any:

           (a) statute, law, rule or regulation applicable to any Lender Party
      or

           (b) guideline, interpretation, directive, consent decree,
      administrative order, request or determination (whether or not having the
      force of law) applicable to such 

                                     -38-
<PAGE>
 
      Lender Party of any Governmental Agency charged with the interpretation or
      administration of any statute, law, rule or regulation referred to in
      clause (a) or of any fiscal, monetary or other authority having
      ---------- 
      jurisdiction over such Lender Party.

      "Release" means a "release", as such term is defined in CERCLA.
       -------                                                       

      "Required Completion Expenditures" means those bona fide Consolidated
       --------------------------------              ---- ----             
Capital Costs which the Documentation and Technical Agent (acting in
consultation with the Independent Consultant) determines are required to achieve
Fort Knox Economic Completion.

      "Required Lenders" means, at any time, Lenders having, in the aggregate,
       ----------------                                                       
an Aggregate Percentage of more than sixty-six and two-thirds (66 2/3).

      "Required Maintenance Expenditures" means those bona fide Consolidated
       ---------------------------------              ---- ----             
Capital Costs which the Documentation and Technical Agent (acting in
consultation with the Independent Consultant) determines are required to
operate, manage and maintain any Principal Mine (excluding, however, the Refugio
Mine) in normal working condition.

      "Required Tranche B Lenders" means, at any time, Tranche B Lenders having,
       --------------------------                                               
in the aggregate, an Aggregate Tranche B Percentage of more than sixty-six and
two-thirds (66 2/3).

      "Requirement of Law" means, as to any Person, its Organic Documents and
       ------------------                                                    
any Applicable Law or Contractual Obligation binding on or applying to such
Person.

      "Resource Conservation and Recovery Act" means the Resource Conservation
       --------------------------------------                                 
and Recovery Act, 42 U.S.C. Section 690, et seq.
                                         -- --- 

      "Rothschild" is defined in the preamble.
       ----------                    -------- 

      "SEC" means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.
       ---                                                             

      "Security Documents" means, collectively, the Pledge Agreements, the
       ------------------                                                 
Borrower Security Agreement and the Collateral Agreements.

      "Sleeper Mine" is defined in the third recital.
       ------------                    ------------- 

      "Standard & Poor's" means Standard & Poor's Rating Services, a division of
       -----------------                                                        
The McGraw Hill Companies, Inc.

      "Subordination Agreement (Borrower)" means that certain Subordination
       ----------------------------------                                  
Agreement, among the Administrative Agent, the Borrower and Cyprus Amax,
substantially in the form of Exhibit F-2 attached hereto.
                             -----------                 

                                     -39-
<PAGE>
 
      "Subordination Agreement (Principal Subsidiaries)" means that certain
       ------------------------------------------------                    
Subordination Agreement, among the Administrative Agent, the Borrower and the
Principal Subsidiaries, substantially in the form of Exhibit F-3 attached
                                                     -----------         
hereto.

      "Subordination Agreements" means, collectively, the Subordination
       ------------------------                                        
Agreement (Borrower) and the Subordination Agreement (Principal Subsidiaries).

      "Subsidiary" means, with respect to any Person, any corporation at least a
       ----------                                                               
majority or more of the outstanding shares of capital stock of which having
ordinary voting power to elect a majority of the board of directors or other
governing body of such corporation (irrespective of whether at the time capital
stock of any other class or classes of such corporation shall or might have
voting power upon the occurrence of any contingency) is at the time owned by
such Person, by such Person and one or more other Subsidiaries of such Person,
or by one or more other Subsidiaries of such Person; provided, however, that no
                                                     --------  -------         
AGI New Zealand Company shall be considered a Subsidiary of the Borrower if all
of the liabilities of such AGI New Zealand Company shall be subject to
indemnification arrangements (which shall be satisfactory to the Administrative
Agent) in favor of the Borrower and any of its Subsidiaries (excluding, however,
any AGI New Zealand Company) which might otherwise incur any liability in
connection with any such AGI New Zealand Company.  Except where the context
otherwise requires, references to any Subsidiary shall be to a Subsidiary of the
Borrower.

      "Syndication Agent" is defined in the preamble.
       -----------------                    -------- 

      "Tax Credit" is defined in clause (b) of Section 4.7.
       ----------                ----------    ----------- 

      "Tax Payment" is defined in clause (b) of Section 4.7.
       -----------                ----------    ----------- 

      "Taxes" is defined in clause (a) of Section 4.6.
       -----                ----------    ----------- 

      "Technical Review" means the due diligence review relating to the Fort
       ----------------                                                     
Knox Mine, dated May 19, 1995, and the due diligence review relating to the
Hayden Hill Mine, the Guanaco Mine and the Sleeper Mine, dated July 12, 1995, in
each case prepared by the Independent Consultant.

      "Toronto-Dominion" is defined in the preamble.
       ----------------                    -------- 

      "Total Commitment Amount" means, subject to the terms and conditions of
       -----------------------                                               
this Agreement (including Section 2.2), $250,000,000.
                          -----------                

      "tranche" means either the Tranche A Loans or the Tranche B Loans, as the
       -------                                                                 
case may be.

                                     -40-
<PAGE>
 
      "Tranche A Commitment" means, relative to any Tranche A Lender, such
       --------------------                                               
Tranche A Lender's obligation to make its Tranche A Loans and maintain and
continue such Tranche A Loans, pursuant to the terms and subject to the
conditions of this Agreement.

      "Tranche A Commitment Amount" means, subject to the terms and conditions
       ---------------------------                                            
of this Agreement (including Section 2.2), $125,000,000.
                             -----------                

      "Tranche A Lender" means (a) in relation to any Lender party hereto on the
       ----------------                                                         
Effective Date, a Lender indicated as having a Commitment Amount (Tranche A
Portion) on the signature pages hereto or (b) in relation to any Assignee Lender
which becomes a Lender subsequent to the Effective Date, a Lender indicated as
assuming a Commitment Amount (Tranche A Portion) and/or being the transferee of
any outstanding Tranche A Loans in the Lender Assignment Agreement pursuant to
which such Assignee Lender became a party hereto.

      "Tranche A Loan" is defined in clause (a)(i) of Section 2.1.
       --------------                -------------    ----------- 

      "Tranche A Note" means a promissory note from the Borrower in favor of any
       --------------                                                           
Tranche A Lender, evidencing the Obligations of the Borrower to such Tranche A
Lender, substantially in the form of Exhibit H-1 attached hereto.
                                     -----------                 

      "Tranche B Commitment" means, relative to any Tranche B Lender, such
       --------------------                                               
Tranche B Lender's obligation to make its Tranche B Loans denominated in Dollars
and/or Gold and maintain, continue and/or convert such Tranche B Loans in either
Dollars or Gold, pursuant to the terms and subject to the conditions of this
Agreement.

      "Tranche B Commitment Amount" means, subject to the terms and conditions
       ---------------------------                                            
of this Agreement (including Section 2.2), $125,000,000.
                             -----------                

      "Tranche B Dollar Loan" is defined in clause (a)(ii)(y) of Section 2.1.
       ---------------------                -----------------    ----------- 

      "Tranche B Dollar Note" means a promissory note from the Borrower in favor
       ---------------------                                                    
of any Tranche B Lender, evidencing the Obligations denominated in Dollars of
the Borrower to such Tranche B Lender, substantially in the form of Exhibit H-2
                                                                    -----------
attached hereto.

      "Tranche B Gold Loan" is defined in clause (a)(ii)(y) of Section 2.1.
       -------------------                -----------------    ----------- 

      "Tranche B Gold Note" means a promissory note from the Borrower in favor
       -------------------                                                    
of any Tranche B Lender, evidencing the Obligations denominated in Gold of the
Borrower to such Tranche B Lender, substantially in the form of Exhibit H-3
                                                                -----------
attached hereto.

      "Tranche B Lender" means (a) in relation to any Lender party hereto on the
       ----------------                                                         
Effective Date, a Lender indicated as having a Commitment Amount (Tranche B
Portion) on the signature pages hereto or (b) in relation to any Assignee Lender
which becomes a Lender subsequent to 

                                     -41-
<PAGE>
 
the Effective Date, a Lender indicated as assuming a Commitment Amount (Tranche
B Portion) and/or being the transferee of any outstanding Tranche B Loans in the
Lender Assignment Agreement pursuant to which such Assignee Lender became a
party hereto.

      "Tranche B Loan" is defined in clause (a)(ii)(x) of Section 2.1.
       --------------                -----------------    ----------- 

      "type" means any of the Tranche A Loans, the Tranche B Dollar Loans or the
       ----                                                                     
Tranche B Gold Loans, as the case may be.

      "Underwriters" means, collectively, Merrill Lynch, ABN AMRO, Rothschild
       ------------                                                          
and Toronto-Dominion.

      "United States" or "U.S." means the United States of America, its 50
       -------------      ----                                            
States and the District of Columbia.

      "Welfare Plan" means a "welfare plan" as such term is defined in section
       ------------                                                           
3(1) of ERISA.

      SECTION 1.2.     Use of Defined Terms.  Unless otherwise defined or the
context specifically requires otherwise, terms for which meanings are provided
in this Agreement shall have such meanings when used in the Disclosure Schedule,
each other Loan Document and each notice and other communication delivered from
time to time in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document.

      SECTION 1.3.     Cross-References.  Unless otherwise specified, references
in this Agreement and in each other Loan Document to any Article or Section are
references to such Article or Section of this Agreement or such other Loan
Document, as the case may be, and unless otherwise specified, references in any
Article, Section or definition to any clause or sub-clause are references to
such clause or sub-clause such Article, Section or definition.

      SECTION 1.4.     Accounting and Financial Determinations.  Unless
otherwise specified, all accounting terms used herein or in any other Loan
Document shall be interpreted, all accounting determinations and computations
hereunder or thereunder (including under Section 7.2.4) shall be made, and all
                                         -------------                        
financial statements required to be delivered hereunder or thereunder shall be
prepared in accordance with, generally accepted accounting principles in the
United States ("GAAP"), in each case, applied (subject to the provisions of
                ----                                                       
Section 1.5) on a basis consistent with the preparation of the relevant
-----------                                                            
financial statements referred to in clause (a) of Section 6.4 (including with
                                    ----------    -----------                
respect to the credit of revenues generated in respect of silver by-products
produced at any facility owned by the Borrower or any Subsidiary against
Consolidated Operating Costs incurred by the Borrower or such Subsidiary, as the
case may be); provided, however, that, to the extent consistent with GAAP as
              --------  -------
then in effect, the Borrower may amend the manner in which it accounts for
inventory from "Last In First Out" principles to a method based on the average
cost of production of such inventory.

                                     -42-
<PAGE>
 
      SECTION 1.5.     Change in Accounting Principles.  If, after the Effective
Date, there shall (without prejudice to Section 1.4 and clause (c) of Section
                                        -----------     ----------    -------
7.2.1) be any change to the Borrower's Fiscal Year, or in the application of the
-----                                                                           
accounting principles used in the preparation of the financial statements
referred to in clause (a) of Section 6.4 as a result of the promulgation of
               ----------    -----------                                   
rules, regulations, pronouncements or opinions by the SEC or the U.S. Financial
Accounting Standards Board, or any agency with a similar function, which changes
result in a change in the method of calculation of, or have an adverse impact
on, financial covenants, standards or terms applicable to the Borrower, as the
case may be, or any Subsidiary found in this Agreement or any other Loan
Document, the parties hereto agree promptly to enter into negotiations in order
to amend such financial covenants, standards or terms so as to reflect equitably
such changes with the desired result that the evaluations of the Borrower's, as
the case may be, or such Subsidiary's financial condition shall be approximately
the same after such changes as if such changes had not been made; provided,
                                                                  -------- 
however, that until the Lenders have given their consent to such amendments
-------                                                                    
(which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld), the Borrower's or, as the
case may be, such Subsidiary's financial condition shall continue to be
evaluated on the same principles as those used in the preparation of the
financial statements referred to in clause (a) of Section 6.4.
                                    ----------    ----------- 

      SECTION 1.6.     Dollar Equivalency Determinations.  Except as otherwise
set forth in this Agreement or any other Loan Document, all calculations or
determinations to be made from time to time under this Agreement or any other
Loan Document in connection with the Dollar equivalent of any amount denominated
in Gold (whether in respect of Tranche B Gold Loans made or to be made to the
Borrower or prepaid or repaid to the Tranche B Lenders or otherwise) shall be
calculated by multiplying:

           (a) the number of ounces of such Gold;

by
--

           (b) the London Price on the date which is two Business Days prior to
      the date on which such calculation is to be made.

      SECTION 1.7.     Gold Equivalency Determinations.  Except as otherwise set
forth in this Agreement or any other Loan Document, all calculations or
determinations to be made from time to time under this Agreement or any other
Loan Document in connection with the Gold equivalent of any amount denominated
in Dollars shall be calculated by dividing:

           (a)  such Dollar denominated sum;

by
--

           (b) the London Price on the date which is two Business Days prior to
      the date on which such calculation is to be made.

                                     -43-
<PAGE>
 
      SECTION 1.8.     Project Determinations, etc.

                (a)  (i)  All determinations and calculations of a technical or
           economic nature to be made under this Agreement or any other Loan
           Document (including the determination or calculation, as the case may
           be, of Cash Flow Ratio, Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA, Consolidated
           Capital Costs, Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio, Consolidated
           Indebtedness/Capitalization Ratio, Consolidated Net Income,
           Consolidated Operating Costs, Discount Rate, Fort Knox Economic
           Completion, Fort Knox Physical Completion, Funded Debt Service,
           Funded Indebtedness, Future Net Cash Flow, Historical Net Cash Flow,
           Loan Life Ratio, Mine Output, Present Value of Future Net Cash Flow,
           Production, Required Completion Expenditures and Required Maintenance
           Expenditures) shall be:

                       (x) in the case of any such projected determination or
                calculation, made in accordance with the relevant Base Case as
                in effect from time to time; and

                       (y) determined to the reasonable satisfaction of the
                Required Lenders;

           provided, however, that during any period (A) referred to in clause
           --------  -------                                            ------
           (b)(i) prior to the deemed effectiveness of the modification of
           ------                                                         
           either Base Case, all determinations and calculations referred to in
           this sub-clause shall be determined in accordance with the relevant
                ----------                                                    
           Base Case as in effect prior to the date of such deemed effectiveness
           of the modification or (B) referred to in clause (b)(ii) prior to the
                                                     --------------             
           approval of any relevant modification or supplement to the relevant
           Base Case by all the Lenders, all determinations and calculations
           referred to in this sub-clause shall be determined to the reasonable
                               ----------                                      
           satisfaction of the Required Lenders.

                (ii) All determinations and calculations to be made in
           accordance with the Cash Flow Schedule by reference to a specified
           period shall, in the event such period does not appear in the Cash
           Flow Schedule, be determined or calculated on a pro rata basis for
                                                           --- ----
           such specified period from the actual periods referred to in the Cash
           Flow Schedule.

                (b) (i) The Borrower shall give prompt notice to the Lenders of
           any change in any fact, event or circumstance which renders either
           Base Case as then currently in effect materially inaccurate
           (including any change in the type of Loans outstanding or projected
           to be outstanding hereunder) and shall work in consultation with the
           Independent Consultant in determining what modifications might be
           necessary to be made to the relevant Base Case.  The 

                                     -44-
<PAGE>
 
            Borrower shall deliver to the Lenders details as to any such
           proposed modification no later than fifteen (15) Business Days after
           the occurrence of any such change, etc., and shall deliver to each
           Lender a copy of each relevant Base Case as would be modified
           following the effectiveness of such proposed modification. Unless the
           circumstances described in sub-clause (ii) apply, the relevant Base
                                      ---------------
           Case shall be deemed amended by such modification with immediate
           effect from the receipt of the notice of modification described in
           the previous sentence.

                (ii) In the event that the Required Lenders determine that any
           proposed modification to either Base Case is not responsive to the
           relevant change in fact, event or circumstance or would, or would
           reasonably be likely to, affect adversely any of (x) the Borrower's
           ability to comply with its obligations under Section 7.2.4, (y) the
                                                        -------------         
           target dates for achievement of Fort Knox Physical Completion or Fort
           Knox Economic Completion (as then set forth in the Base Cases) or (z)
           the availability of funds to consummate the Fort Knox Project or the
           availability of funds to operate the Principal Mines in accordance
           with the Base Cases as then currently in effect, no such modification
           or supplement shall be effective unless and until approved by all the
           Lenders.

                (iii)  As a condition precedent to the effectiveness of any
           modification to the Base Cases, the Borrower will deliver to the
           Documentation and Technical Agent (with sufficient copies for each
           Lender) a Compliance Certificate calculated as of the effective date
           of such modification indicating no Default would, or would be likely
           to, occur at any time as a result of such modification, together with
           such information concerning the calculations and assumptions used by
           the Borrower in delivering such Compliance Certificate as the
           Documentation and Technical Agent shall have requested.

      SECTION 1.9.     General Provisions as to Certificates and Opinions, etc.
Whenever the delivery of a certificate is a condition precedent to the taking of
any action by any Lender Party hereunder, the truth and accuracy of the facts
and the diligent and good faith determination of the opinions stated in such
certificate shall in each case be conditions precedent to the right of any
Obligor to have such action taken, and any certificate executed by any Obligor
shall be deemed to represent and warrant that the facts stated in such
certificate are true and accurate.

      SECTION 1.10.    Gold Delivery.  Without prejudice to the provisions of
                                                                             
clause (a) of Section 4.8, any physical delivery of Gold hereunder shall be
----------    -----------                                                  
delivered loco London as more particularly set forth in this Agreement and in a
form conforming in all respects with the requirements for good delivery and the
specification for a good delivery bar of gold as specified by the LBMA from time
to time.

                                     -45-
<PAGE>
 
      SECTION 1.11.    Interpretation.  Unless a clear contrary intention
appears, this Agreement and each other Loan Document shall be construed and
interpreted in accordance with the provisions set forth below:

           (a) the singular number includes the plural number and vice versa;
                                                                  ---------- 

           (b) reference to any Person includes such Person's successors,
      executors, administrators, substitutes and assigns but, if applicable,
      only if such successors, executors, administrators, substitutes and
      assigns are permitted by this Agreement or such other Loan Document, and
      reference to a Person in a particular capacity excludes such Person in any
      other capacity or individually;

           (c) reference to any gender includes any other gender;

           (d) reference to any agreement (including this Agreement and the
      Schedules and Exhibits hereto and any other Loan Document), document or
      Instrument means such agreement, document or Instrument as amended,
      supplemented, novated, refinanced, replaced, waived, restated or modified,
      and in effect from time to time in accordance with the terms thereof and,
      if applicable, the terms hereof;

           (e) reference to any promissory note includes any promissory note
      which is an extension or renewal thereof or a substitute or replacement
      therefor;

           (f) reference to any Applicable Law means such Applicable Law as
      amended, modified, codified or reenacted, in whole or in part, and in
      effect from time to time, including rules and regulations promulgated
      thereunder;

           (g) "hereunder", "hereof", "hereto", "herein" and words of similar
      import shall be deemed references to this Agreement or such other Loan
      Document, as the case may be, as a whole and not to any particular
      Article, Section, clause or other provision hereof or thereof;

           (h) "including" (and with correlative meaning "include") means
      including without limiting the generality of any description preceding
      such term;

           (i) relative to the determination of any period of time, "from" means
      "from (and including)" and "to" means "to (but excluding)";

           (j) reference to a "company" or "corporation" shall be construed as a
      reference to the analogous form of business entity used in any relevant
      jurisdiction; and

           (k) when an expression is defined, another part of speech or
      grammatical form of that expression has a corresponding meaning.


                                     -46-
<PAGE>
 
               ARTICLE 2.  COMMITMENTS; BORROWING AND CONVERSION
               -------------------------------------------------
                               PROCEDURES; NOTES
                               -----------------

      SECTION 2.1.     Commitments.

           (a) Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement (including
                                                                               
      Article 5):
      ---------  

                (i) each Tranche A Lender severally and for itself alone agrees
           that it will, from time to time, make loans (with respect to each
           Tranche A Lender, each such loan individually a "Tranche A Loan") to
                                                            --------------     
           the Borrower as set forth in this Article.  Each Tranche A Loan shall
           be advanced and denominated in Dollars; and

                (ii) each Tranche B Lender severally and for itself alone agrees
           that it will, from time to time (x) make loans (with respect to each
           Tranche B Lender, each such loan individually a "Tranche B Loan") to
                                                            --------------     
           the Borrower as set forth in this Article and (y) convert one type of
           Tranche B Loan (or a portion thereof) into another type of Tranche B
           Loan, as set forth in Section 2.4.  Each Tranche B Loan may be
                                 -----------                             
           advanced and denominated in, and/or converted into, Dollars (with
           respect to each Tranche B Lender, each such loan individually a
                                                                          
           "Tranche B Dollar Loan") or advanced and denominated in, and/or
           ----------------------                                         
           converted into, Gold (with respect to each Tranche B Lender, each
           such loan individually a "Tranche B Gold Loan").
                                     -------------------   

           (b) Subject to clause (c) and the other terms and conditions of this
                          ----------                                           
      Agreement, on any Business Day occurring during the period from the
      Effective Date to the Commitment Termination Date, each Tranche A Lender
      will make a Tranche A Loan and each Tranche B Lender will make a Tranche B
      Loan (which shall, on the date of making thereof, be either a Tranche B
      Dollar Loan or a Tranche B Gold Loan but not both) to the Borrower on such
      Business Day. As set forth in Section 2.3, (a) each Loan made by each
                                    ----------- 
      Lender pursuant to any Borrowing Request shall be made in a Principal
      Amount equal to such Lender's Funding Percentage of the aggregate
      Principal Amount of the relevant tranche of Loans requested by the
      Borrower to be made on the Borrowing Date specified in such Borrowing
      Request, and (b) the Dollar equivalent of the Principal Amounts of the
      Tranche A Loans and Tranche B Loans to be made pursuant to each Borrowing
      Request shall be in equal amounts.

           (c) No Lender shall be permitted or required to make any Loan if,
      after giving effect thereto, the aggregate original Principal Amount of
      all Loans (calculated, in the case of any then outstanding Gold Loan, in
      Dollars using the Loan Base Price applicable to each such Gold Loan):

                                     -47-
<PAGE>
 
                (i) of all Lenders made since the Effective Date would exceed
           the Total Commitment Amount;

                (ii) of all Tranche A Lenders made since the Effective Date
           would exceed the Tranche A Commitment Amount;

                (iii)  of all Tranche B Lenders made since the Effective Date
           would exceed the Tranche B Commitment Amount;

                (iv) of such Tranche A Lender made since the Effective Date
           would exceed such Lender's Commitment Amount (Tranche A Portion);

                (v) of such Tranche B Lender made since the Effective Date would
           exceed such Lender's Commitment Amount (Tranche B Portion); or

                (vi) of such Lender to be made on any Borrowing Date would
           exceed such Lender's Available Commitment as at such Borrowing Date.

      SECTION 2.2.     Reduction of Commitment Amounts.

           (a) The Borrower may, from time to time on any Business Day prior to
      the Commitment Termination Date on which there are Available Commitments
      remaining, voluntarily reduce the Total Commitment Amount as then in
      effect, in whole or in part; provided, however, that the Borrower shall
                                   --------  -------                         
      give the Administrative Agent not less than three nor more than five
      Business Days' prior written notice (counting the date on which such
      notice is given) of any such reduction which notice, once given, shall be
      irrevocable.  Any partial reduction of the Total Commitment Amount shall
      be in a minimum amount of $5,000,000 and an integral multiple of
      $1,000,000 and shall be applied equally between the Tranche A Commitment
      Amount and the Tranche B Commitment Amount and also rateably among the
      Lenders' Commitment Amounts (Tranche A Portion) and/or their Commitment
      Amounts (Tranche B Portion). No voluntary reduction as aforesaid may be
      made if, as a result thereof, the then outstanding Total Commitment Amount
      would be less than the Principal Amount of all the outstanding Loans on
      the date of such proposed reduction (after giving effect to any prepayment
      or repayment of outstanding Loans to be, or required to be, made on such
      date pursuant to this Agreement (and, for purposes of calculating such
      Principal Amount, any then outstanding Gold Loan shall be calculated in
      Dollars using the Loan Base Price applicable to each such Gold Loan)).

           (b) On any Business Day prior to the Commitment Termination Date on
      which repayments or prepayments of the Loans are made or required to be
      made pursuant to Section 3.1.1 (other than clause (e) or (j) thereof) and
                       -------------             ----------    ---             
      on which there are Available Commitments remaining, the Total Commitment
      Amount shall, automatically 

                                     -48-
<PAGE>
 
      and without any action by any Person, be reduced by the lesser of (i) an
      amount equal to the Principal Amount of the Loans repaid or prepaid
      pursuant to Section 3.1.1 (other than clause (e) or (j) thereof) or (ii)
                        
      the aggregate Available Commitments as at such Business Day. To the extent
      the Total Commitment Amount is not reduced to zero pursuant to the
      foregoing sentence, any reduction of the Total Commitment Amount shall be
      applied equally between the Tranche A Commitment Amount and the Tranche B
      Commitment Amount and also rateably among the Lenders' Commitment Amounts
      (Tranche A Portion) and/or their Commitment Amounts (Tranche B Portion).

           (c) On the Commitment Termination Date, the Total Commitment Amount
      (if not previously reduced to zero) shall, automatically and without any
      action by any Person, be reduced to zero.

      SECTION 2.3.     Procedure for Making Loans.  By delivering a Borrowing
Request to the Administrative Agent on or before 10:00 a.m. (London time) the
Borrower may request, on any Business Day occurring prior to the Commitment
Termination Date, on not less than three nor more than five Business Days'
notice (counting the date on which such notice is given), that Loans be made by
all Lenders on the Business Day set forth in such Borrowing Request in an
aggregate minimum amount of $5,000,000 and an integral multiple of $1,000,000.
All Loans to be made pursuant to the same Borrowing Request shall be made
equally between tranches of Loans.  Any Tranche B Gold Loans requested to be
made in such Borrowing Request shall be made in the Gold equivalent of the
Principal Amount of all Loans requested pursuant to such Borrowing Request
allocable to the Tranche B Loans.  No more than one Borrowing Request may be
delivered during any one calendar month; provided, however, that, in connection
                                         --------  -------                     
with the initial Borrowing, two Borrowing Requests may be delivered on the same
date.  Upon receipt of each Borrowing Request, the Administrative Agent shall
promptly notify each Lender of the contents thereof and of such Lender's Funding
Percentage of each tranche of the requested Borrowing, and such Borrowing
Request shall not thereafter be revocable by the Borrower.

      Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement (including the first
paragraph of this Section and Article 5), the Loans requested to be made in any
                              ---------                                        
Borrowing Request shall be made on the Business Day specified therein.  On such
Business Day and subject to such terms and conditions, each Lender shall, on or
before (a) 11:00 a.m. (New York City time), in the case of Dollar Loans, credit
such Dollar account of the Administrative Agent at its Dollar Lending Office as
the Administrative Agent may notify to the Lenders from time to time with an
amount of Dollars or (b) 11:00 a.m. (London time), in the case of Tranche B Gold
Loans, credit such unallocated loco London gold account of the Administrative
Agent at its Gold Lending Office as the Administrative Agent may notify to the
Tranche B Lenders from time to time with those ounces of Gold, in each case,
equal to such Lender's Funding Percentage of each tranche of the Loans requested
to be made pursuant to such Borrowing Request.  To the extent funds are received
by the Administrative Agent from the Lenders in respect of the Borrowing
requested by such Borrowing Request, the Administrative Agent shall make such
funds available to the Borrower by crediting the Principal Amount of such Loans
to such Dollar account in New York City as the Borrower may designate in writing
to the Administrative Agent (in the case of Dollar Loans) or to the Gold Account
(in the case of Tranche B Gold Loans); provided, however, that in the case of
                                       --------  -------                     
the initial Loans the Administrative Agent shall make such 

                                     -49-
<PAGE>
 
funds available to the Borrower net of any payments which the Borrower shall
instruct the Administrative Agent to pay directly to the relevant creditors in
connection with Section 5.1.16. No Lender's obligation to make its Loans from
                --------------
time to time as aforesaid shall be affected by any other Lender's failure to
make any other Loan.

      SECTION 2.4.     Continuation and Conversion Elections.  By delivering a
Continuation/Conversion Notice to the Administrative Agent on or before 10:00
a.m. (London time) on a Business Day, the Borrower may from time to time
irrevocably elect, on not less than three nor more than five Business Days'
notice (counting the date on which such notice is given) prior to the expiration
of any Interest Period with respect to any then outstanding Loans of any type
(or during an Interest Period in the case of any prepayment of Tranche B Gold
Loans required pursuant to clause (e) or (j) (as a consequence of any conversion
                           ----------    ---                                    
pursuant to clause (e)(x)) of Section 3.1.1 or as a result of any repayment
            -------------     -------------                                
pursuant to Section 4.1 or 4.5, subject, in each such case, to Section 4.3),
            -----------    ---                                 -----------  
that, solely in the case of Tranche B Loans, all or a portion of such Tranche B
Loans be, upon the expiration of such Interest Period (or during such Interest
Period, as aforesaid), converted into Tranche B Loans of another type, or, in
the case of any Loans, upon the expiration of such Interest Period, continued as
Loans of such type for the Interest Period or Interest Periods specified in such
Continuation/Conversion Notice; provided, however, that, at any one time, only
                                --------  -------                             
two Interest Periods with respect to each type of Loans may be in effect; and
provided, further, however, that immediately following any conversion of either
--------  -------  -------                                                     
type of Tranche B Loans such that both types of Tranche B Loans would then be
outstanding, the aggregate Principal Amount of Tranche B Loans of either type
shall not be less than the lesser of (x) one-eighth of the aggregate Principal
Amount of all Tranche B Loans then outstanding (and for the purposes of the
foregoing all calculations shall be made in Dollars utilizing the Dollar
equivalent of any then outstanding Tranche B Gold Loans as at the date of the
proposed conversion) or (y) 10,000 ounces of Gold or $5,000,000, as the case may
be; and provided, further, however, that no Tranche B Loan of either type may be
        --------  -------  -------
converted into the other type of Tranche B Loan:

           (a) at any time when any Default has occurred and is continuing or
      would occur as a consequence of such conversion;

           (b) unless, simultaneously with the effective date of such
      Continuation/Conversion Notice: (i) the Borrower shall have made any
      repayment or prepayment of Loans then required to be made pursuant to this
      Agreement and (ii) the Borrower shall have delivered to the Administrative
      Agent a Compliance Certificate calculated as of such date, together with
      such information concerning the calculations and assumptions used by the
      Borrower in delivering such Compliance Certificate as the Administrative
      Agent shall have requested; and

                                     -50-
<PAGE>
 
           (c) without prejudice to the provisions of clause (a) and without
                                                      ----------            
      limiting the Borrower's obligations pursuant to Section 7.1.11 to
                                                      --------------   
      implement Interest Rate Protection Agreements with respect to the Tranche
      A Loans, unless, simultaneously with the delivery of the relevant
      Continuation/Conversion Notice, the Administrative Agent shall have
      received from the Borrower, in the case of any conversion into Tranche B
      Dollar Loans: (i) to the extent requested by the Administrative Agent,
      copies of documentation relating to Hedging Agreements and Interest Rate
      Protection Agreements, if any, required to be implemented pursuant to
      Sections 7.1.10 and 7.1.11, respectively, after giving effect to such
      ---------------     ------                                           
      conversion and (ii) a certificate of the Borrower as to the effectiveness
      of such Hedging Agreements or Interest Rate Protection Agreements, as the
      case may be.

      In the absence of delivery of a Continuation/Conversion Notice with
respect to any Loans at least three Business Days before the last day of the
then current Interest Period with respect thereto, such Loans shall, on such
last day, automatically be deemed to be continued as Loans of the same type
having (subject to Section 3.2.2) an Interest Period determined pursuant to the
                   -------------                                               
provisions of clause (c) of the definition of such term unless a conversion of
              ----------                                                      
any Tranche B Loans may be required pursuant to clause (e) of Section 3.1.1 or
                                                ----------    -------------   
Section 4.12.
------------ 

      Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Borrower may not request that more than
one conversion of Tranche B Loans from one type to another type thereof be
effected during any 12 month period.

      In connection with any conversion pursuant to this Section (and subject to
the payment mechanics contained in Sections 2.3 and 4.8 and other relevant
                                   ------------     ---                   
provisions of this Agreement), the Borrower shall make a repayment of the
relevant type and Principal Amounts of Tranche B Loans to be converted and the
Tranche B Lenders shall make Loans of the relevant type and Principal Amounts of
Tranche B Loans which are to be outstanding immediately following such
conversion.  For the purposes of computing the Principal Amount of the Loans
outstanding after any conversion pursuant to this Section:

           (d) the Principal Amount of any Tranche B Dollar Loans converted from
      Tranche B Gold Loans shall be (i) if the then applicable London Price is
      in excess of the Loan Base Price with respect to such Tranche B Gold Loan,
      in the excess, if any, of (x) the Dollar equivalent of such Tranche B Gold
      Loans less (y) the sum of the Principal Amounts of (A) any repayment
            ----                                                          
      required to be, and actually, made on the date of conversion pursuant to
                                                                              
      clause (j) of Section 3.1.1 plus (B) any other prepayments or repayments
      ----------    ------------- ----                                        
      with respect to such Loans required to be, and actually, made on such
      date, or (ii) in each other case, in the excess, if any, of (x) the Dollar
      equivalent (calculated at the Loan Base Price with respect to such Tranche
      B Gold Loans, of such Tranche B Gold Loans) less (y) the sum of the
      Principal Amounts of any prepayments or repayments with respect to such
      Loans required to be, and actually, made on such date; and

                                     -51-
<PAGE>
 
           (e) the Principal Amount of any Tranche B Gold Loans converted from
      Tranche B Dollar Loans shall be in the excess, if any, of (i) the Gold
      equivalent of such Tranche B Dollar Loans less (ii) the sum of the
                                                ----                    
      Principal Amounts of any prepayments or repayments with respect to such
      Loans required to be, and actually, made on such date.

      SECTION 2.5.     Funding.  Each Lender may, if it so elects, fulfil its
obligation to make or maintain any portion of the Principal Amount of any of its
Loans by causing an offshore branch, Affiliate or international banking facility
of such Lender to make such Loan; provided, however, that in such event any Loan
                                  --------  -------                             
shall be deemed to have been made by such Lender, and the obligation of the
Borrower to repay such Loan, and pay interest thereon, shall nevertheless be to
such Lender and shall be deemed to be held by it, to the extent of such Loan,
for the account of such offshore branch, Affiliate or international banking
facility; and provided, further, however, that without prejudice to the
              --------  -------  -------                               
obligation of the Borrower to pay any amount of the nature referred to in this
proviso arising as a consequence of any event occurring after any election by
-------                                                                      
such Lender pursuant to this Section, the Borrower shall be under no obligation
to pay any amount to such Lender pursuant to Section 4.1, 4.2, 4.4, 4.5 or 4.6
                                             -----------  ---  ---  ---    ---
which arises at the time of such election solely as a consequence of such
election.

      SECTION 2.6.     Notes.  Each Lender's Tranche A Loans or, as the case may
be, Tranche B Loans shall be evidenced by a Tranche A Note in a Principal Amount
equal to such Lender's Commitment Amount (Tranche A Portion) and/or, as may be
relevant, a Tranche B Dollar Note and a Tranche B Gold Note.  The Borrower
hereby irrevocably authorizes each Lender to make (or cause to be made)
appropriate notations on the grid attached to such Lender's Notes (or on any
continuation of such grid), which notations, if made, shall evidence, inter
                                                                      -----
alia, the date of, the Principal Amount of, and the interest rate and Interest
----                                                                          
Period applicable to the types of, Loans evidenced thereby.  Such notations
shall be prima facie evidence of the Principal Amount of Obligations to such
         ----- -----                                                        
Lender then owing and unpaid; provided, however, that the failure of any Lender
                              --------  -------                                
to make any such notations (or any error with respect thereto) shall not limit
or otherwise affect any Obligations of the Borrower or any other Obligor.


                 ARTICLE 3.  PRINCIPAL PAYMENTS; INTEREST; FEES
                 ----------------------------------------------

      SECTION 3.1.     Mandatory and Voluntary Repayments and Prepayments.  The
Borrower shall repay or prepay the Principal Amount of the Loans as set forth in
this Section.

      SECTION 3.1.1.   Principal Payments.  The Borrower shall make payment in
full of the unpaid Principal Amount of all Loans on the Final Maturity Date.
Prior thereto, the Borrower:

                                     -52-
<PAGE>
 
           (a) may, from time to time on any Business Day which is the last day
      of any Interest Period or (subject to Section 4.3) on any other Business
                                            -----------                       
      Day, make a voluntary prepayment, in whole or in part, of the then
      outstanding Principal Amount of all Loans; provided, however, that:
                                                 --------  -------       

                (i) the Borrower shall give the Administrative Agent not less
           than three nor more than five Business Days' prior written notice
           (counting the date on which such notice is given) of any such
           voluntary prepayment, which notice, once given, shall be irrevocable;
           and

                (ii) all such partial voluntary prepayments shall be in an
           aggregate Principal Amount which is a minimum of $5,000,000 and an
           integral multiple of $1,000,000.

           (b) shall, within five Business Days following the occurrence of a
      Change in Control (of the type described in clause (a) of the definition
                                                  ----------                  
      thereof), make a mandatory prepayment of the Principal Amount of all Loans
      outstanding on such date.

           (c) shall, on each Quarterly Payment Date prior to the Final Maturity
      Date, make a mandatory repayment of the Tranche A Loans outstanding on
      such date in a Principal Amount equal to the quotient of (i) the aggregate
      Principal Amount of the Tranche A Loans outstanding on such date (before
      giving effect to all other prepayments or repayments required to be made
      on such date and without giving effect to any prepayment of the Tranche A
      Loans as a result of any prepayment made pursuant to clause (f)(i) (in a
                                                           -------------      
      Principal Amount of not in excess of $12,500,000) or pursuant to clause
                                                                       ------
      (h) and/or (i) (in an aggregate Principal Amount of not in excess of an
      ---        ---                                                         
      aggregate of $12,500,000), in each case on or prior to September 30, 1997)
                                                                                
      divided by (ii) the aggregate number of Quarterly Payment Dates scheduled
      ------- --                                                               
      to occur during the period commencing on such date and ending on (and
      including) the Final Maturity Date.

           (d) shall, on each Quarterly Payment Date prior to the Final Maturity
      Date, make a mandatory repayment of each type of Tranche B Loans
      outstanding on such date in a Principal Amount equal to the quotient of
      (i) the aggregate Principal Amount of each such type of Tranche B Loans
      outstanding on such date (before giving effect to all other prepayments or
      repayments required to be made on such date and without giving effect to
      any prepayment of either such type of Tranche B Loan as a result of any
      prepayment made pursuant to clause (f)(i) (in a Principal Amount of not in
                                  -------------                                 
      excess of $12,500,000) or pursuant to clause (h) and/or (i) (in an
                                            ----------        ---       
      aggregate Principal Amount of not in excess of an aggregate of
      $12,500,000), in each case on or prior to September 30, 1997) divided by
                                                                    ------- --
      (ii) the aggregate number of Quarterly Payment Dates scheduled to occur
      during the period commencing on such date and ending on (and including)
      the Final Maturity Date.

                                     -53-
<PAGE>
 
           (e) shall, within three Business Days after any Business Day on which
      any Tranche B Gold Loan is outstanding and on which:

                (i)  the Dollar equivalent (calculated as at such earlier
           Business Day) of the Principal Amount of such Tranche B Gold Loan
           outstanding on such earlier Business Day

      exceeds
      -------

                (ii) one hundred and fifty per cent (150%) of the Dollar
           equivalent (calculated at the relevant Loan Base Price with respect
           to such Tranche B Gold Loan) of the Principal Amount of such Tranche
           B Gold Loan,

      at the Borrower's discretion, take either of the following actions: (x)
      make a mandatory prepayment of such Tranche B Gold Loan pursuant to clause
                                                                          ------
      (j) and, simultaneously therewith, convert, subject to Section 4.3, and
      ---                                                    -----------     
      pursuant to Section 2.4, such Tranche B Gold Loan into a Tranche B Dollar
                  -----------              
      Loan or (y) arrange for the provision of collateral (other than collateral
      already subject to (or required to be subject to) any Security Document)
      in a form and on terms acceptable to the Required Lenders with a value at
      least equal to the Dollar equivalent of such excess. Such collateral shall
      be held by the Administrative Agent for the rateable benefit of the
      Tranche B Lenders and shall be released by the Administrative Agent to the
      Borrower at the end of the first consecutive period of ten (10) Business
      Days following the provision thereof during which, on each Business Day
      occurring during such period, the event described in this clause which
      resulted in the provision of such collateral no longer exists. In the
      absence of any election by the Borrower as aforesaid, the Borrower shall
      be deemed to have elected to make the mandatory prepayment and conversion
      referred to in sub-clause (x) on the date which is three Business Days 
                     -------------- 
      after the occurrence of the event described in this clause.

           (f) shall (without prejudice to clause (g)), within five Business
                                           ----------                       
      Days following the receipt of Net Issuance Proceeds resulting from any
      issuance of Approved Subordinated Indebtedness (Borrower) (excluding,
      however, any Approved Subordinated Indebtedness (Borrower) issued
      (following the giving of any required consent or waiver pursuant to the
      Loan Documents) for the sole purpose of refinancing any then outstanding
      Approved Subordinated Indebtedness (Borrower)) or of its equity share
      capital to any Person, make a mandatory prepayment of all Loans
      outstanding on such date in a Principal Amount of (i) 100% of the first
      $25,000,000 of the aggregate Net Issuance Proceeds from all such
      issuances, (ii) 25% of all such remaining Net Issuance Proceeds (in the
      case of any such issue of equity share capital), and (iii) 100% of all
      such remaining Net Issuance Proceeds (in the case of any such issue of
      Approved Subordinated Indebtedness (Borrower)).

                                     -54-
<PAGE>
 
           (g) shall (without prejudice to the provisions of the DOCLOC Support
      Agreement), within five Business Days following the receipt by the
      Borrower of any cash proceeds (i) resulting from any exercise of the
      Lender's Purchase Option (as defined in the 1994 DOCLOC Facility
      Agreement), or (ii) remaining after the application against any amounts
      outstanding under the 1994 DOCLOC Facility Agreement of the proceeds of
      any other issuance of any equity share capital by the Borrower to Cyprus
      Amax pursuant to the 1994 DOCLOC Facility Agreement, make a mandatory
      prepayment of all Loans outstanding on such date in a Principal Amount
      equal to such cash proceeds.

           (h) shall, within five Business Days following the receipt of Net
      Disposition Proceeds resulting from a disposition of any Material Asset as
      permitted pursuant to clause (d) of Section 7.2.10, make a mandatory
                            ----------    --------------                  
      prepayment of all Loans outstanding on such date in a Principal Amount
      equal to such Net Disposition Proceeds.

           (i) shall, within thirty (30) Business Days after the end of each
      Fiscal Quarter commencing with the Fiscal Quarter ending June 30, 1997
      (each such date, a "Cash Flow Prepayment Date"), make a mandatory
                          -------------------------                    
      prepayment of all Loans outstanding on such Cash Flow Prepayment Date in a
      Principal Amount equal to 50% of Historical Net Cash Flow for the Fiscal
      Quarter ending immediately prior to such Cash Flow Prepayment Date.

           (j) shall, on each effective date of (and simultaneously with, and as
      a condition to) a conversion of Tranche B Gold Loans into Tranche B Dollar
      Loans pursuant to Section 2.4, 4.1 or 4.5 or clause (e)(x), make a
                        -----------  ---    ---    -------------        
      mandatory prepayment of the Tranche B Dollar Loans outstanding (or to be
      outstanding) on such date in a Principal Amount equal to the product of
      (i) the excess, if any, of (x) the London Price in effect two Business
      Days prior to such date, less (y) the Loan Base Price with respect to such
                               ----                                             
      Tranche B Gold Loans, multiplied by (ii) the Principal Amount of the
                            ---------- --                                 
      Tranche B Gold Loans converted.

           (k) shall, within five Business Days of the receipt of proceeds of
      any insurance policy which are required by the terms of clauses (c)(i) and
                                                              --------------    
      (iv) of Section 7.1.7 to be applied against the Loans, make a mandatory
      ----    -------------                                                  
      prepayment of the Loans outstanding on such date in a Principal Amount
      equal to the amount of such proceeds.

      SECTION 3.1.2.   Application of Repayments and Prepayments, etc.

           (a) Amounts repaid or prepaid pursuant to Section 3.1.1 may not be
                                                     -------------           
      re-borrowed.  Each repayment or prepayment of any Loans made pursuant to
      Section 3.1.1 shall be without premium or payment of any other additional
      -------------                                                            
      amount, except as may be required pursuant to Section 4.3.  Any repayment
                                                    -----------                
      or prepayment of the 

                                     -55-
<PAGE>
 
      Principal Amount of any Loans shall include accrued interest on the date
      of repayment or prepayment on the Principal Amount being repaid or
      prepaid.

           (b)  (i)  Subject to the next sentence, any repayment or prepayment
      of any Loans shall be applied to the scheduled instalments of the Loans
      pro rata across the remaining maturities thereof.  The foregoing shall not
      --------                                                                  
      apply to (x) any such repayment made pursuant to clause (b) of Section
                                                       ----------    -------
      3.1.1 (which shall be in the Principal Amount of all Loans then
      -----                                                          
      outstanding), (y) any Principal Amount of Loans prepaid pursuant to clause
                                                                          ------
      (f)(i) of Section 3.1.1 and the first $25,000,000 in aggregate of any
      ------    -------------                                              
      Principal Amounts of Loans prepaid pursuant to clauses (h) and (i) of
                                                     -----------     ---   
      Section 3.1.1 on or prior to September 30, 1997 (which shall, if
      -------------                                                   
      applicable, be applied pursuant to clauses (c)(i) and (d)(i) of Section
                                         --------------     ------    -------
      3.1.1), and (z) the excess, if any, of (A) the first $25,000,000 of any
      -----                                                                  
      Principal Amounts of Loans prepaid pursuant to clauses (h) and (i) of
                                                     -----------     ---   
      Section 3.1.1 after September 30, 1997, less (B) any Principal Amounts of
      -------------                           ----                             
      Loans prepaid pursuant to such clauses on or prior to September 30, 1997
      (which excess shall be applied pro rata to the remaining scheduled
                                     --- ----
      instalments of the Loans in the inverse order of maturities thereof).

                (ii) Any repayment or prepayment of the Principal Amount of
      Loans pursuant to Section 3.1.1 (excluding, however, clauses (c), (d), (e)
                        -------------                      -----------  ---  ---
      or (j) thereof) shall be applied among Tranche A Loans and Tranche B Loans
         ---                                                                    
      then outstanding in accordance with the Outstanding Percentages of such
      types.  For the avoidance of doubt, unless any other provision of this
      Agreement requires otherwise, Tranche B Gold Loans and Dollar Loans
      required to be repaid or prepaid pursuant to Section 3.1.1 shall be paid
                                                   -------------              
      or prepaid in Gold (with the number of ounces of Gold required to be
      repaid or prepaid calculated by reference to the relevant Loan Base Price)
      and Dollars, respectively.

      SECTION 3.2.     Interest Payments.  The Borrower shall make payments of
interest in accordance with this Section.

      SECTION 3.2.1.   Interest Rates.  The Borrower shall pay interest on the
Principal Amount of the Loans outstanding from time to time prior to and at the
Maturity thereof at a rate per annum equal to (a) in the case of each Tranche B
                           --- -----                                           
Gold Loan, the sum of the Gold Base Rate for Tranche B Gold Loans as in effect
from time to time plus the Applicable Margin as in effect from time to time, and
                  ----                                                          
(b) in the case of each Dollar Loan, the sum of the LIBO Rate for Dollar Loans
as in effect from time to time plus the Applicable Margin as in effect from time
                               ----                                             
to time.

      SECTION 3.2.2.   Post-Maturity Rate.  After the Maturity of all or any
portion of the Principal Amount of the Loans or after any other Obligation shall
have become due and not been paid, the Borrower shall pay interest (after as
well as before judgment) on:

                                     -56-
<PAGE>
 
           (a) the Principal Amount of each Tranche B Gold Loan so matured or on
      any such other Obligation due and payable in Gold, at a rate per annum
                                                                   --- -----
      equal to the sum of (i) the Gold Base Rate for such Interest Periods (not
      exceeding three months) as the Administrative Agent may (acting in
      consultation with the Required Lenders) from time to time select, (ii) the
      Applicable Margin as in effect from time to time plus (iii) two percent
                                                       ----                  
      (2%); and

           (b) the Principal Amount of each Dollar Loan so matured or on any
      such other Obligations due and payable in Dollars, at a rate per annum
                                                                   --- -----
      equal to the sum of (i) the LIBO Rate for such Interest Periods (not
      exceeding three months) as the Administrative Agent may (acting in
      consultation with the Required Lenders) from time to time select, (ii) the
      Applicable Margin as in effect from time to time plus (iii) two percent
                                                       ----                  
      (2%).

      SECTION 3.2.3.   Payment Dates.  Interest accrued on each Loan shall be
payable, without duplication, on:

           (a) the last day of each Interest Period with respect to such Loan
      (and, in addition to such day, if such Interest Period shall exceed three
      months, on each date which is the last day of each successive three month
      period occurring during such Interest Period commencing with the first
      three month period commencing on the first day of such Interest Period);

           (b)  the Maturity of such Loan; and

           (c) with respect to any portion of any Loan repaid or prepaid
      pursuant to Section 3.1.1, 4.1, 4.2 or 4.5, the date of such repayment or
                  -------------  ---  ---    ---                               
      prepayment, as the case may be.

Interest accrued on each Loan after the Maturity thereof and interest on other
overdue amounts shall be payable upon demand.  The amount of interest accruing
on any Loans shall be calculated during each Interest Period applicable thereto
by the Administrative Agent on the daily outstanding Principal Amount of such
Loans.

      SECTION 3.2.4.   Rate Determinations.  All determinations by the
Administrative Agent of the rate of interest applicable to any Loan shall be
conclusive absent manifest error.

      SECTION 3.3.     Fees.  The Borrower confirms and agrees that it will pay
the fees set forth in this Section.  All fees once paid shall be non-refundable.

      SECTION 3.3.1.   Commitment Fees.  The Borrower agrees to pay to the
Administrative Agent for the account of each Lender, for the period (including
any portion thereof when its Commitment is suspended by reason of any Obligor's
inability to satisfy any

                                     -57-
<PAGE>
 
condition of Article 5) commencing on the Effective Date and continuing
             ----------
through the Commitment Termination Date, a commitment fee at the rate of one-
half of one percent (0.50%) per annum on the daily average of such Lender's
                            --- -----                        
Available Commitment. The commitment fees described in this Section shall be
payable in arrears on each March 31, June 30, September 30 and December 31
(commencing with the first such date to follow the Effective Date) and on the
Commitment Termination Date.

      SECTION 3.3.2.   Arrangement and Underwriting Fees.  The Borrower agrees
to pay to each Lender for its own account, fees in accordance with the terms of
the Commitment Letter (in the case of the Arrangers) and (in the case of each
other Lender) as previously advised by the Syndication Agent to each such
Lender.

      SECTION 3.3.3.   Agents' Fees.  The Borrower agrees to pay to each of the
Administrative Agent, the Documentation and Technical Agent and the Collateral
Agent, for its own account, fees in accordance with the terms of the letters,
each dated October 25, 1995, from each such Agent to the Borrower.

      SECTION 3.3.4.   Fee Payments to be made in Dollars.  All fees payable
under this Section shall be payable in Dollars.


   ARTICLE 4.  INCREASED COSTS; TAXES; MARKET DISRUPTIONS; GENERAL   PAYMENT
   ----------------------------------------------------------------  -------
                                   PROVISIONS
                                   ----------

      SECTION 4.1.     Gold or Dollars Unavailable.

           (a) If, prior to the date on which the Administrative Agent shall
      make any determination of the Gold Base Rate or, as the case may be, the
      LIBO Rate for any Interest Period, the Administrative Agent shall have
      determined or shall have been notified (for any reason whatsoever) that:

                (i) in the case of any Gold Loans to be outstanding during such
           Interest Period, any Tranche B Lender is, due to circumstances
           outside its control (including the unavailability of Gold, or the
           inability of the Tranche B Lenders to determine the Gold Base Rate),
           unable to conduct transactions in any accessible international gold
           market and, as a direct result thereof, to make or maintain, in whole
           or in part, its Tranche B Gold Loans hereunder; or

                (ii) in the case of any Dollar Loans to be outstanding during
           such Interest Period, either (x) Dollar certificates of deposit or
           Dollar deposits, as the case may be, in the relevant amount and for
           the relevant Interest Period are not available to the Lenders in the
           London interbank market, or (y) by reason of circumstances affecting
           the Lenders in the London interbank market, adequate 

                                     -58-
<PAGE>
 
           means do not exist for ascertaining the interest rate applicable
           hereunder to such Dollar Loan,

      then the Administrative Agent shall promptly give telephonic notice of
      such determination confirmed in writing to the Borrower (which
      determination shall, in the absence of manifest error, be conclusive and
      binding on the Borrower).

           (b) As soon as practicable following the giving of the notice
      described in clause (a), the Administrative Agent, the affected Lenders
                   ----------                                                
      and the Borrower shall negotiate for a period not exceeding 30 days with a
      view to agreeing an alternative basis (including an alternative to the
      Gold Base Rate) for making or maintaining the Loans affected by the
      circumstances described in clause (a). During such time period interest
                                 ----------                   
      shall accrue on the Principal Amount of each affected Lender's affected
      Loans at the rate applicable to such Loans immediately prior to the giving
      of such notice. If no such alternative basis is agreed within such time
      period, each affected Lender's affected Loans shall bear interest at a
      rate per annum equal to the sum of (i) the cost to such Lender of funding
           --- -----                                 
      such type of Loans (as determined by such Lender which determination
      shall, in the absence of manifest error, be conclusive and binding on the
      Borrower) plus (ii) the Applicable Margin as in effect from time to time.
                ----
                                        
           (c) As an alternative to clause (b), the Borrower may at any time
                                    ----------                              
      elect that the Principal Amount of and interest on all of the Lenders'
      then outstanding Loans which are affected by the circumstances described
      in clause (a) be immediately converted (in the manner set forth in Section
         ----------                                                      -------
      2.4) into another type of Loans, or if such type of Loans is unavailable
      ---                                                                     
      hereunder, be immediately repaid in full (subject, however, to Section
                                                                     -------
      4.3).

      SECTION 4.2.     Increased Costs, etc.

           (a) The Borrower agrees to reimburse each Lender for any increase
      (other than as specifically covered in any other Section of this Article)
      in the cost to such Lender of making, converting, continuing or
      maintaining (or of its obligation to make, convert, continue or maintain)
      any Loans, and for any reduction (other than as specifically covered in
      any other Section of this Article) in the amount of any sum receivable by
      such Lender hereunder in respect of making, converting, continuing or
      maintaining any portion of any such Loans in either case, from time to
      time by reason of any Regulatory Change (including with respect to
      Regulation D of the F.R.S. Board).  In the event any Lender shall incur or
      suffer any such increase or reduction such Lender shall promptly notify
      the Administrative Agent and the Borrower thereof stating in reasonable
      detail the reasons therefor and the additional amount required fully to
      compensate such Lender for such increased cost or reduced amount.  Such
      notice shall, in the absence of manifest error, be conclusive and binding
      on the Borrower.

                                     -59-
<PAGE>
 
           (b) As soon as practicable following the giving of any notice
      described in clause (a), the affected Lender, the Administrative Agent and
                   ----------                                                   
      the Borrower shall negotiate for a period not exceeding 30 days with a
      view to avoiding or minimizing the circumstances described in clause (a).
                                                                    ----------  
      If no steps mutually agreeable to the affected Lender, the Administrative
      Agent and the Borrower are decided within such 30 day period, the Borrower
      may elect either to prepay the Principal Amount of and interest accrued on
      such affected Lender's then outstanding Loans (subject, however, to
      Section 4.3) or pay, within five days after the expiry of such 30 day
      -----------                                                          
      period, any additional amount required fully to compensate such affected
      Lender for the increased cost or reduced amount described in clause (a).
                                                                   ---------- 

      SECTION 4.3.  Funding Losses.  In the event any Lender shall incur any
loss or expense (including any loss or expense incurred by reason of the
liquidation or reemployment of Gold or Dollar deposits or other funds or
precious metals acquired by such Lender to make, continue, maintain or convert
any portion of the Principal Amount of either type of Loan) as a result of:

           (a) any payment, prepayment or conversion of the Principal Amount of
      either type of Loan on a date other than the scheduled last day of the
      Interest Period applicable thereto, whether pursuant to Section 3.1.1 or
                                                              -------------   
      otherwise; or

           (b) any action of the Borrower resulting in any Loans not being made,
      maintained, continued or converted in accordance with the Borrowing
      Request or the Continuation/Conversion Notice, as the case may be, given
      therefor,

then, upon the written request of such Lender to the Borrower (with a copy
thereof to the Administrative Agent), the Borrower shall pay to the
Administrative Agent for the account of such Lender such amount as will (in the
reasonable determination of such Lender) reimburse such Lender for such loss or
expense.  A statement as to any such loss or expense (including calculations
thereof in reasonable detail) shall be submitted by such Lender to the
Administrative Agent and the Borrower and shall, in the absence of manifest
error, be conclusive and binding on the Borrower.

      SECTION 4.4.     Increased Capital Costs.

           (a) If any Regulatory Change affects or would affect the amount of
      capital required or expected to be maintained by any Lender or any Person
      controlling such Lender, and such Lender determines (in its reasonable
      discretion) that the rate of return on its or such controlling Person's
      capital is reduced to a level below that which such Lender or such
      controlling Person could have achieved but for the occurrence of any such
      Regulatory Change, then, in any such case upon notice from time to time by
      such Lender to the Borrower, the Borrower shall, at its option, either (i)
      within five days of receipt of such notice, pay directly to such Lender
      additional amounts sufficient to 

                                     -60-
<PAGE>
 
      compensate such Lender or such controlling Person for such reduction in
      rate of return or (ii) prepay the Principal Amount of and interest accrued
      on such affected Lender's then outstanding Loans (subject, however, to
      Section 4.3). A statement of such Lender as to any such additional amount
      -----------
      or amounts (including calculations thereof in reasonable detail) shall, in
      the absence of manifest error, be conclusive and binding on the Borrower.
      In determining such amount, such Lender may use any method of averaging
      and attribution that it (in its reasonable discretion) shall deem
      applicable.

           (b) Notwithstanding clause (a), the Borrower shall not be obligated
                               ----------                                     
      to pay any amount to any Lender in respect of any such reduction in the
      rate of return or increased cost which arises as a consequence of any
      Applicable Law implementing (i) the proposals for international
      convergence of capital measurement and capital standards published by the
      Basle Committee on Banking Regulations and Supervisory Practices in July
      1988 and/or (ii) (x) the Council of the European Communities Directive of
      17 April 1989, on the own funds of credit institutions (89/299/EEC), (y)
      the Council of the European Communities Directive of 18 December 1989, on
      a solvency ratio for credit institutions (89/647/EEC) and (z) the Council
      of the European Communities Directive of 15 March 1993 on the capital
      adequacy of investment firms and credit institutions (93/6/EEC), as each
      of the foregoing items in this sub-paragraph may be amended from time to
      time, to the extent that the impact of any such Applicable Law can
      reasonably be calculated at the Effective Date. In addition, no Lender may
      make any claim for compensation in respect of any such reduction in return
      or increased cost to the extent that such claim relates to a period
      occurring prior to the date which is six months prior to the notification
      by such Lender of the event leading to such reduction in the rate of
      return or increased cost; provided, however, that nothing in this sentence
                                -------- -------
      shall restrict the ability of such Lender to make any further claim for
      compensation in respect of any event notified to the Borrower at any time
      on or after such date of notification.

      SECTION 4.5.     Illegality.

           (a) If, as the result of any Regulatory Change, any Lender shall
      determine (which determination, in the absence of manifest error, shall be
      conclusive and binding on the Borrower) that it is unlawful for such
      Lender to make any type of Loan, the obligations of such Lender to make
      any portion of the Principal Amount of such type of Loan shall, upon such
      determination (and telephonic notice thereof confirmed in writing to the
      Administrative Agent and the Borrower), forthwith be suspended until such
      Lender shall become aware that the circumstances causing such suspension
      no longer exist and shall forthwith notify the Administrative Agent and
      the Borrower to such effect, at which time the obligation of such Lender
      to make such type of Loan shall be reinstated.

                                     -61-
<PAGE>
 
           (b) If, as the result of any Regulatory Change, any Lender shall
      determine (which determination, in the absence of manifest error, shall be
      conclusive and binding on the Borrower) that it is unlawful for such
      Lender to continue or, in the case of Tranche B Loans, convert either type
      of Loan, then, upon notice by such Lender to the Administrative Agent and
      the Borrower, such Lender shall consult with the Borrower and the
      Administrative Agent for a period of up to 30 days from the date of such
      notice, with a view to agreeing upon a mutually acceptable alternative
      arrangement which will avoid or minimize such illegality.  If no steps
      mutually agreeable to the affected Lender, the Administrative Agent and
      the Borrower are decided within such 30 day period, the Borrower shall, at
      its option, to the extent not prohibited from doing so by the relevant
      illegality or unlawfulness, either (i) continue or convert (using the
      principles set forth in Section 2.4) such Lender's then outstanding Loans
                              -----------                    
      which are affected by the circumstances described in
      clause (a) or (ii) prepay, within five days after the expiry of such 30
      ----------
      day period (unless required to do so prior thereto) the Principal Amount
      of and interest accrued on such affected Lender's then outstanding Loans
      (subject, however, to Section 4.3).
                            -----------  

      SECTION 4.6.     Taxes.

           (a) All payments by the Borrower or any other Obligor of principal
      of, and interest on, the Loans and all other amounts payable pursuant to
      this Agreement, the Notes or any other Loan Document to any Lender Party
      shall be made free and clear of, and without deduction for any, present or
      future income, excise, stamp or other taxes, fees, duties, withholdings or
      other charges of any nature whatsoever imposed by any taxing authority, in
      each case other than franchise taxes and taxes imposed on or measured by
      the recipient's net income or receipts (such non-excluded items referred
      to as "Taxes").  In the event that any withholding or deduction from any
             -----                                                            
      payment to be made by any Obligor hereunder or under any other Loan
      Document is required in respect of any Taxes pursuant to any Applicable
      Law, then such Obligor will:

                (i) pay directly to the relevant authority the full amount to be
           so withheld or deducted;

                (ii) promptly forward to the Administrative Agent an official
           receipt or other documentation satisfactory to the Administrative
           Agent evidencing such payment to such authority; and

                (iii)  pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of the
           Person or Persons entitled thereto such additional amount or amounts
           as is or are necessary to ensure that the net amount actually
           received by such Person will be equal to the full amount such Person
           would have received had no such withholding or deduction been
           required.

                                     -62-
<PAGE>
 
      Moreover, if any Taxes are directly asserted against any Lender Party with
      respect to any payment received by such Lender Party hereunder or under
      any other Loan Document, such Lender Party may pay such Taxes and the
      relevant Obligor will promptly pay such additional amounts (including any
      penalties, interest or expenses) as is or are necessary in order that the
      net amount received by such Person after the payment of such Taxes
      (including any Taxes on such additional amount) shall equal the amount
      such Person would have received had such Taxes not been asserted.

           (b) If any Obligor fails to pay any Taxes when due to the appropriate
      taxing authority or fails to remit to the Administrative Agent, for its
      own account and/or, as the case may be, the account of the relevant Lender
      Parties, the required receipts or other required documentary evidence,
      such Obligor shall indemnify the Administrative Agent or the relevant
      Lender Parties, as the case may be, for any incremental Taxes, interest or
      penalties that may become payable by any such Person as a result of any
      such failure.  For purposes of this Section, a distribution hereunder or
      under any other Loan Document by the Administrative Agent or any Lender
      Party to or for the account of any Lender Party shall be deemed a payment
      by the relevant Obligor.

           (c) The Lender Parties agree to cooperate with each Obligor in
      completing and delivering or filing tax-related forms which would reduce
      or eliminate any amount of the nature referred to in clause (a) required
                                                           ----------         
      to be deducted or withheld on account of payment made by such Obligor
      under this Agreement or any other Loan Document; provided, however, that
                                                       --------  -------      
      no Lender Party shall be under any obligation to execute and deliver any
      such form if, in the opinion of such Lender Party, completion of any such
      form could result in an adverse consequence with respect to the business
      or tax position of such Lender Party.

      SECTION 4.7.     Mitigation.

           (a) In the event that any Obligor makes payment of any amount
      pursuant to Section 4.4 or 4.6 or that any Lender Party seeks payment of
                  -----------    ---                                          
      an amount pursuant to Section 4.4 or 4.6 or because of circumstances
                            -----------    ---                            
      resulting in the 30 day negotiation period described in clause (b) of
                                                              ----------   
      Section 4.1, 4.2 or 4.5, such affected Lender Party agrees that it will
      -----------  ---    ---                                                
      take such reasonable steps as may reasonably be open to it to mitigate the
      effects of the circumstances described in the foregoing Sections or as the
      case may be, clauses (such steps to include the transfer of such Lender's
      Dollar Lending Office and/or Gold Lending Office to another jurisdiction
      and the application for a Tax Credit); provided, however, that no Lender
                                             --------  -------                
      Party shall be obligated to (i) take any such steps if, in its opinion,
      such steps would require it to achieve less than its expected return under
      this Agreement or would have an adverse effect upon its assets or
      financial condition or (ii) achieve any particular result or incur any
      liability to any Obligor by virtue of any such steps resulting in less
      than complete mitigation of the relevant circumstances.

                                     -63-
<PAGE>
 
           (b) If, pursuant to clause (a), any Lender Party effectively obtains
                               ----------                                      
      a refund of tax or credit (a "Tax Credit") against a payment made by any
                                    ----------                                
      Obligor pursuant to Section 4.6 (a "Tax Payment"), and such Lender Party
                          -----------     -----------                         
      is able to identify such Tax Credit as being attributable to such Tax
      Payment, then such Lender Party, after actual receipt of such Tax Credit,
      shall reimburse such Obligor for such amount as such Lender Party shall
      reasonably determine to be the proportion of such Tax Credit as
      shall be reasonably attributable to such Tax Payment; provided, however,
                                                            --------  ------- 
      that no Lender Party shall be required to make any such reimbursement
      which would cause it to lose the benefit of such Tax Credit or would
      otherwise adversely affect any matter relating to such Lender Party in
      connection with the assessment or payment of any Taxes.  Each Lender Party
      shall have absolute discretion as to the extent, order and manner in which
      it applies for any Tax Credit.  No Lender Party shall be obliged to
      disclose information regarding its tax affairs or computations to any
      Obligor.

      SECTION 4.8.     Payments, Computations, etc.  All payments by any Obligor
pursuant to this Agreement, the Notes or (except as otherwise set forth therein)
any other Loan Document, whether in respect of Principal Amount, interest or
otherwise, shall (except with respect to any repayment or prepayment of the
Principal Amount of any Tranche B Gold Loan or the payment of any interest
accrued thereon (each of which shall be payable in Gold) or except as otherwise
expressly provided in this Agreement or any other Loan Document) be paid in
Dollars.  All such payments shall be made by such Obligor:

           (a) if in Gold, to the Administrative Agent for the account of each
      Lender Party entitled thereto, by delivery of Gold to an unallocated loco
      London gold account of the Administrative Agent at the Administrative
      Agent's Gold Lending Office, which account shall be designated from time
      to time by notice to the Borrower from the Administrative Agent; and

           (b) if in Dollars, to the Administrative Agent for the account of
      each Lender Party entitled thereto, by delivery of Dollars in immediately
      available funds to an account of the Administrative Agent in New York City
      at the Administrative Agent's Dollar Lending Office, which account shall
      be designated from time to time by notice to the Borrower from the
      Administrative Agent,

in either such case for the account of each Lender Party entitled thereto (and,
if such payment shall be of less than the amount of the relevant payment
Obligation then due and owing, for the pro rata benefit of each Lender Party
                                       --- ----                             
entitled to share in such payment in accordance with its respective portion of
the aggregate unpaid amount of similar payment Obligations).  All such payments
shall be made, without setoff, deduction or counterclaim, not later than (i)
11:00 a.m. (London time) on the date when due if such payment is denominated in
Gold, and (ii) 11:00 a.m. (New York City time) on the date when due if such
payment is denominated in Dollars.  Any payments received hereunder after the
time and date specified in this Section shall be deemed to have been received by
the Administrative Agent on the next following Business Day.  

                                     -64-
<PAGE>
 
The Administrative Agent shall promptly remit to each Lender its share
(calculated as aforesaid), if any, of such payments, in kind. If in Gold, such
remittance shall be to an unallocated loco London gold account designated by
such Lender to the Administrative Agent by notice from time to time and
maintained at such Lender's Gold Lending Office, and, if in Dollars, such
remittance shall be to an account designated by such Lender to the
Administrative Agent by notice from time to time and maintained at such Lender's
Dollar Lending Office. All interest and fees shall be computed on the basis of
the actual number of days (including the first day but excluding the last day)
occurring during the period for which such interest or fee is payable over a
year comprised of 360 days. The Administrative Agent shall, promptly after the
first day of each Interest Period with respect to each type of Loan, notify each
Lender of the interest rate applicable to such type of Loan during such Interest
Period. Subject to clauses (d) and (e) of the definition of "Interest Period",
                   -----------     ---                       ---------------
whenever any payment to be made shall otherwise be due on a day which is not a
Business Day, such payment shall be made on the next succeeding Business Day and
such extension of time shall be included in computing interest, if any, in
connection with such payment.

      SECTION 4.9.     Proration of Payments.  If any Lender Party shall obtain
any payment or other recovery (whether voluntary, involuntary, by application of
setoff, or otherwise) on account of the Principal Amount of or interest on any
Loan or of any other payment Obligation of any Obligor in excess of its pro rata
                                                                        --- ----
share of payments then or therewith obtained by all Lender Parties entitled
thereto upon the Principal Amount of and interest on all Loans or the relevant
such payment Obligation, such Lender Party shall purchase from the other Lender
Parties such participations in Loans (or other obligations) held by them as
shall be necessary to cause such purchasing Lender Party to share the excess
payment or other recovery rateably with each of them; provided, however, that if
                                                      --------  -------         
all or any portion of the excess payment or other recovery is thereafter
recovered from such purchasing holder, the purchase shall be rescinded and the
purchase price restored to the extent of such recovery, but without interest;
and provided, further, however, that, for the avoidance of doubt, nothing in
    --------  -------  -------                                              
this Section shall apply to any payments recovered (or deemed to be recovered
pursuant to any netting or similar provision contained in any Instrument of the
nature referred to in this proviso) by any Lender pursuant to any Hedging
Agreement or Interest Rate Protection Agreement to which such Lender is a party.
Each Obligor agrees that any Lender Party so purchasing a participation from
another Lender pursuant to this Section may, to the fullest extent permitted by
Applicable Law, exercise all its rights of payment (including pursuant to
                                                                         
Section 4.11) with respect to such participation as fully as if such Lender
------------                                                               
Party were the direct creditor of such Obligor in the amount of such
participation.  If under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar
law, any Lender Party receives a secured claim in lieu of a setoff to which this
Section applies, such Lender Party shall, to the extent practicable, exercise
its rights in respect of such secured claim in a manner consistent with the
rights of the Lender Parties entitled under this Section to share in the benefit
of any recovery on such secured claim.

      SECTION 4.10.    Miscellaneous Provisions for Payments in Gold.  Without
duplication of any costs or expenses otherwise charged (directly or indirectly)
to any Obligor, 

                                     -65-
<PAGE>
 
all costs and charges to be reasonably incurred by the Administrative Agent or
any Tranche B Lender in connection with the physical delivery of Gold as a
result of the making, continuation, conversion, payment, prepayment or repayment
of any Tranche B Gold Loan (including costs and expenses (including United
Kingdom Value Added Tax) in respect of collection, shipment, cartage,
warehousing, packaging, refining, converting, insurance or otherwise), shall be
paid in Dollars directly by the Borrower or, if actually incurred by the
Administrative Agent or any Tranche B Lender, shall be reimbursed in Dollars by
the Borrower within three Business Days after demand by the Administrative Agent
(for its own account or for the account of such Lender, as the case may be). Any
demand for payment of any amount by the Administrative Agent hereunder shall be
accompanied with supporting documentation in reasonable detail.

      Without affecting any other obligation of any Person hereunder or under
any other Loan Document (including the obligation of each Obligor to make
payments to any unallocated loco London gold account at the Gold Lending Office
of the Administrative Agent pursuant to clause (a) of Section 4.8), if any
                                        ----------    -----------         
Obligor shall have physically delivered or arranged for the physical delivery to
the Administrative Agent of a number of ounces of Gold that is at least 99% of,
and no greater than 101% of, the number of ounces of Gold to be paid, repaid or
prepaid hereunder (whether in respect of the Principal Amount of any Tranche B
Gold Loan or any interest thereon or any other Obligation denominated in Gold),
then such payment, repayment or prepayment shall be deemed to have been made on
the date of such delivery; provided, however, that any Gold delivered as
                           --------  -------                            
aforesaid after 11:00 a.m. (London time) on any Business Day shall be deemed to
have been delivered on the immediately succeeding Business Day; and provided,
                                                                    -------- 
further, however, that, in connection with any physical delivery of Gold as
-------  -------                                                           
aforesaid, if any Obligor shall plan to deliver physically or arrange for the
physical delivery of a number of ounces of Gold to be paid, repaid or prepaid
hereunder, the Borrower shall give notice to the Administrative Agent not less
than five Business Days before such payment is due (and if, and to the extent
that, such payment, etc. shall be in respect of Obligations owing to any Lender,
the Administrative Agent shall promptly thereafter notify such Lender thereof)
of the number of ounces of Gold intended to be delivered or arranged to be
physically delivered, and any difference between the number of ounces of Gold
actually physically delivered and the number of ounces of Gold due to be paid,
repaid or prepaid hereunder shall be settled by a compensation payment by the
relevant Obligor to the Person (or Persons) entitled to such payment, repayment
or prepayment or, as the case may be, by such Person (or Persons) to the
relevant Obligor, in each such case equal to the Dollar equivalent (calculated
on the second Business Day after notice of such delivery) of the amount of such
difference and notified to the Borrower and the relevant Lender (or Lenders) no
later than the second Business Day preceding such delivery.  The Administrative
Agent qua Administrative Agent shall have no duty or obligation with respect to
      ---                                                                      
any part of such compensation payment, except for losses, costs or expenses
incurred as a result of its gross negligence or wilful misconduct.

      SECTION 4.11.    Setoff.  In addition to and not in limitation of any
rights of any Lender Party under Applicable Law (but subject to any express
agreement of any individual Lender Party with any Obligor to the contrary) each
Lender Party (or any branch thereof) shall, 

                                     -66-
<PAGE>
 
upon the occurrence of any Enforcement Event, have the right to appropriate and
apply to the payment of the Obligations owing to it (whether or not then due),
any and all balances, credits, deposits, accounts or moneys of any Obligor then
or thereafter maintained with such Lender Party, as the case may be, in whatever
currency or precious metals (including Gold); provided, however, that any such
                                              --------  -------
appropriation and application shall be subject to the provisions of Section 4.9.
                                                                    -----------
The relevant Lender Party shall give notice to the relevant Obligor of any
action taken pursuant to this Section but failure to give such notice shall not
affect the validity of any such action.

      SECTION 4.12.    Conversion upon Acceleration.  Upon the occurrence of any
Enforcement Event, any Tranche B Lender may, at its option and notwithstanding
clause (a) of Section 2.4, convert any Tranche B Gold Loan then outstanding into
----------    -----------                                                       
a Tranche B Dollar Loan.  For the purpose of computing the Principal Amount of
any Tranche B Loan outstanding after any conversion pursuant to the foregoing
sentence, any such Tranche B Gold Loan shall be converted into a Tranche B
Dollar Loan having a Principal Amount equal to the Dollar equivalent (calculated
at the date of conversion) of the Principal Amount of such Tranche B Gold Loan.
In addition, and upon any such Enforcement Event, any Tranche B Lender may, at
its option, elect that interest on the Principal Amount of any Tranche B Gold
Loan converted as aforesaid which would otherwise be payable in Gold shall
instead be payable in Dollars.  In addition, if upon any such Enforcement Event,
or for purposes of obtaining a judgment in any court for any purpose hereunder
(including a proceeding under Chapter 11 of 11 U.S.C. (S)(S)101-1330 (the
"Bankruptcy Code")), it becomes necessary to determine the Dollar equivalent of
----------------                                                               
any payment obligation hereunder (whether with respect to a Principal Amount or
interest) which is payable in Gold (a "Gold Obligation"), such determination
                                       ---------------                      
shall be made at the time (or from time to time) and to the extent payment (in
whole or in part) has actually been made by the relevant Obligor or a judgment
has been rendered.  If the amount of Gold that could be purchased at the time
and with the proceeds of any such payment or judgment is not sufficient to
satisfy in full the relevant Gold Obligation, the Borrower hereby indemnifies
and holds harmless each Tranche B Lender:

           (a)  with respect to such deficiency; and

           (b) from all costs and expenses incurred in the event that, as a
      result of any default by any Obligor hereunder or under any other Loan
      Document, such Tranche B Lender, at its own expense, must, at any time or
      from time to time purchase Gold in an open exchange market to satisfy its
      obligations to any funding source which has provided Gold to such Tranche
      B Lender to make, in whole or in part, any Tranche B Gold Loan.

      Such indemnity obligations of the Borrower:

           (c)  shall be payable in Dollars;

                                     -67-
<PAGE>
 
           (d) shall be determined in accordance with (and at the times provided
      pursuant to) this Section; and

           (e) shall be enforceable, insofar as clause (a) is concerned, as a
                                                ----------                   
      separate or additional cause of action, and such enforceability shall not
      be affected by any prior judgment being obtained for any other sums due
      under this Agreement or any other Loan Document.

      SECTION 4.13.    Application of Proceeds.  If at any time any amount
received by the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent is less than the
amount then due and payable pursuant to this Agreement or any other Loan
Document (including any proceeds received by the Administrative Agent or the
Collateral Agent in respect of any sale of, collection from, or other
realization upon, all or any part of any collateral security which is the
subject of any Security Document) such amount may, in the discretion of the
Administrative Agent (acting with the consent of the Required Lenders), be held
by the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent as additional collateral
security under the relevant Security Document for, or then or at any time
thereafter be applied (after payment of any amounts payable pursuant to Sections
                                                                        --------
10.3 and 10.4 and similar provisions contained in the other Loan Documents) in
----     ----                                                                 
whole or in part by the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent against,
all or any part of the Obligations in the following order:

           (a) first, to amounts outstanding to the Lender Parties (or any of
               -----                                                         
      them) under any Loan Document (excluding, however, any Hedging Agreement
      and any Interest Rate Protection Agreement) in respect of any amount other
      than interest on, or the Principal Amount of, any Loan;

           (b) second, to amounts outstanding to the Lender Parties (or any of
               ------                                                         
      them) under any Loan Document (excluding, however, any Hedging Agreement
      and any Interest Rate Protection Agreement) in respect of interest accrued
      on any Loan; and

           (c) third, pro rata to (a) amounts outstanding to the Lender Parties
               -----  --------                                                 
      (or any of them) under any Loan Document in respect of the Principal
      Amount of any Loan, and (b) as long as any Principal Amount of any Loan or
      any interest accruing thereon is then outstanding to the Lender Parties,
      to net payment obligations of the Borrower to the Lender Parties (or any
      of them) under any Loan Document which is a Hedging Agreement  or an
      Interest Rate Protection Agreement.

      Any surplus of such cash or cash proceeds held by the Administrative Agent
or the Collateral Agent and remaining after payment in full of all the
Obligations, and the termination of all Commitments (if not then already
terminated), shall be paid over to the Borrower or to whomsoever may be lawfully
entitled to receive such surplus.

                                     -68-
<PAGE>
 
               ARTICLE 5.  CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO MAKING LOANS
               ------------------------------------------------

      SECTION 5.1.     Initial Loans.  The obligations of the Lenders to make
the initial Loans shall be subject to the prior or concurrent satisfaction of
each of the conditions precedent set forth in this Section.  Unless specifically
stated to the contrary, each document, certificate and other Instrument
delivered pursuant to this Article shall be dated on, or a date as close as
practicable prior to, and shall be in full force and effect on, the Initial
Borrowing Date.

      SECTION 5.1.1.   Resolutions, etc.  The Administrative Agent shall have
received:

           (a) from each Obligor and Fairbanks Canada a certificate of its
      Secretary or similar officer as to:

                (i) resolutions of its Board of Directors or similar body then
           in full force and effect authorizing the execution, delivery and
           performance of this Agreement and/or each other Operative Document or
           other document executed or to be executed by it in connection with
           the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby,

                (ii) the incumbency and signatures of those of its officers
           authorized to act with respect to this Agreement and/or each other
           Operative Document or other document executed or to be executed by
           it, and

                (iii)  its Organic Documents as then in effect,

      upon which certificate each Lender Party may conclusively rely until it
      shall have received a further certificate of the Secretary or similar
      officer of the relevant Obligor or, as the case may be, Fairbanks Canada,
      cancelling or amending such prior certificate (provided, however, that any
                                                     --------  -------          
      such further certificate may not retroactively cancel or amend any matters
      contained in any certificate previously delivered hereunder);

           (b) such other documents (certified if requested) as the
      Administrative Agent may reasonably request from any Obligor or Fairbanks
      Canada with respect to any Organic Document, Contractual Obligation,
      Operative Document or Approval binding on or affecting such Obligor or
      Fairbanks Canada; and

           (c) from the Independent Consultant, a certificate of its Secretary
      or similar officer as to the incumbency and signature of those of its
      officers authorized to act with respect to each Completion Certificate,
      the Independent Consultant's Certificate, each Independent Consultant's
      Report and each other Loan Document or other document to be executed or
      certified by it and each other matter contemplated hereby, upon which
      certificate each Lender Party may conclusively rely until it shall have
      received a further 

                                     -69-
<PAGE>
 
      certificate of the Secretary or similar officer of the Independent
      Consultant cancelling or amending such prior certificate.

      SECTION 5.1.2.   Borrower Security Agreement.  The Administrative Agent
shall have received counterparts of the Borrower Security Agreement, duly
executed by an Authorized Representative of the Borrower, together with:

           (a) acknowledgement copies of properly filed Uniform Commercial Code
      financing statements (Form UCC-1) or such other evidence of filing as may
      be acceptable to the Administrative Agent, naming the Borrower as debtor
      and the Administrative Agent as secured party, or other similar
      instruments or documents, filed under the Uniform Commercial Code of all
      jurisdictions as may be necessary or, in the opinion of counsel to the
      Administrative Agent, advisable or desirable to perfect the security
      interest of the Administrative Agent purported to be granted pursuant to
      the Borrower Security Agreement;

           (b) executed copies of proper Uniform Commercial Code termination
      statements (Form UCC-3), if any, necessary to release all Liens and other
      rights of any Person:

                (i) in any collateral purported to be covered by the Borrower
           Security Agreement previously granted by any Person; and

                (ii) securing any of the Indebtedness identified in Item 2
                                                                    ------
           ("Indebtedness to be Paid") of the Disclosure Schedule,
           -------------------------                              

      together with such other termination statements or similar documents as
      the Administrative Agent may reasonably request from the Borrower;

           (c) copies of each Counterparty Notice (as defined in and required by
      Borrower Security Agreement), duly executed by an Authorized
      Representative of the Borrower and by an authorized signatory of any other
      Person required to execute such Counterparty Notice; and

           (d) evidence that all other filings, instruments, registrations,
      recordings and other actions necessary or in the opinion of counsel to the
      Administrative Agent, advisable or desirable, in order to create in favor
      of the Administrative Agent (for the rateable benefit of the Lender
      Parties) a valid and perfected first-priority Lien over all of the
      collateral purported to be covered by the Borrower Security Agreement have
      been taken and are effective.

                                     -70-
<PAGE>
 
      SECTION 5.1.3.   Pledge Agreements.  The Administrative Agent shall have
received counterparts of each Pledge Agreement, duly executed by an Authorized
Representative of the Borrower or, as the case may be, Fairbanks Canada,
together with:

           (a) all share certificates evidencing the shares of the capital stock
      of the Principal Subsidiaries pledged pursuant to each relevant Pledge
      Agreement, together with stock powers and all other transfer instruments
      in respect thereof executed in blank; and

           (b) evidence that all filings, instruments, registrations, recording
      and other action necessary or, in the opinion of counsel to the
      Administrative Agent, advisable or desirable in order to create in favor
      of the Administrative Agent (for the rateable benefit of the Lender
      Parties) a valid and perfected first-priority Lien over all of the
      collateral purported to be covered by each relevant Pledge Agreement have
      been taken and are effective.

      SECTION 5.1.4.   Collateral Agreements.  The Administrative Agent shall
have received counterparts of each Collateral Agreement, duly executed by the
Collateral Agent and an Authorized Representative of the relevant Obligor party
thereto, together with:

           (a) acknowledgement copies of properly filed Uniform Commercial Code
      financing statements (Form UCC-1) or such other evidence of filing as may
      be acceptable to the Administrative Agent, naming Fairbanks Gold, Melba
      Creek or Lassen Gold, as the case may be, as debtor, and the Collateral
      Agent as the secured party, or other similar instruments or documents,
      filed under the Uniform Commercial Code of all jurisdictions as may be
      necessary or, in the opinion of counsel to the Administrative Agent,
      advisable or desirable to perfect the security interest of the Collateral
      Agent purported to be granted pursuant to each Collateral Agreement;

           (b) executed copies of proper Uniform Commercial Code termination
      statements (Form UCC-3), if any, necessary to release all Liens (except
      any Liens permitted to be incurred pursuant to Section 7.2.3) and other
                                                     -------------           
      rights of any Person:

                (i) in any collateral purported to be covered by either
           Collateral Agreement previously granted by any Person; and

                (ii) securing any of the Indebtedness identified in Item 2
                                                                    ------
           ("Indebtedness to be Paid") of the Disclosure Schedule,
             -----------------------                              

      together with such other termination statements or similar documents as
      the Administrative Agent may reasonably request from the relevant
      Principal Subsidiary;

                                     -71-
<PAGE>
 
           (c) copies of each Counterparty Notice (as defined in and required by
      the Fairbanks Gold/Melba Creek Collateral Agreement), duly executed by an
      Authorized Representative of each such Principal Subsidiary party to such
      Counterparty Notice and by an authorized signatory of any other Person
      required to execute such Counterparty Notice;

           (d) mortgagee's title insurance policies in favor of the Collateral
      Agent in amounts and in form and substance and issued by insurers, and/or
      mortgagees' security title opinions addressed to the Collateral Agent in
      each case reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, with
      respect to the property purported to be covered by each Collateral
      Agreement, insuring or opining, as the case may be, that title to such
      property is marketable (except as to any unpatented mining claims located
      on the public domain of the United States or the lands owned by the State
      of Alaska) and that the interests created by the Collateral Agreements
      constitute valid, perfected first priority Liens thereon free and clear of
      all defects and encumbrances other than as permitted to be incurred
      pursuant to Section 7.2.3 or as approved by the Administrative Agent (or
                  -------------                                               
      counsel to the Administrative Agent), and such policies shall also include
      a revolving credit endorsement and such other endorsements as the
      Administrative Agent shall request and shall be accompanied by evidence of
      the payment in full of all premiums thereof; and

           (e) evidence that all other filings, instruments, registrations,
      recordings and other actions necessary or in the opinion of counsel to the
      Administrative Agent, advisable or desirable, in order to create in favor
      of the Collateral Agent (for the rateable benefit of the Lender Parties) a
      valid and perfected first-priority Lien (except with respect to the
      priority of any Lien referred to in clauses (b) and (l) of Section 7.2.3)
                                          -----------     ---    ------------- 
      over all of the collateral purported to be covered by each such Collateral
      Agreement have been taken and are effective.

      SECTION 5.1.5.   Principal Subsidiary Guaranties.  The Administrative
Agent shall have received counterparts of each of the Principal Subsidiary
Guaranties, duly executed by an Authorized Representative of each relevant
Principal Subsidiary party thereto.

      SECTION 5.1.6.   Project Documents; Approvals; Technical Due Diligence.
The following conditions shall have been met:

           (a) all Project Documents referred to in clause (a) of the definition
                                                    ----------                  
      of such term shall have been executed and delivered by the parties thereto
      and shall be in full force and effect, and a copy thereof (certified by an
      Authorized Representative of each relevant Obligor party thereto) shall
      have been delivered to the Administrative Agent;

           (b) the Administrative Agent shall have received a certificate of an
      Authorized Representative of Fairbanks Gold, Melba Creek, Lassen Gold or
      the 

                                     -72-
<PAGE>
 
      Borrower, to the effect that (i) all Approvals of the nature referred to
      in the first sentence of clause (a) of Section 6.16 have been obtained
                               ----------    ------------
      (including, for the avoidance of doubt, all such Approvals which are
      listed on Part A of Item 1 ("Current Material Approvals") of the
                ------    ------   --------------------------
      Disclosure Schedule and each such Approval is in full force and effect as
      of the Initial Borrowing Date and (ii) a true, correct and complete copy
      of each such Approval is attached to such certificate; and

           (c) the Administrative Agent shall have received copies, certified by
      an Authorized Representative of the Independent Consultant, of the
      Technical Review, together with evidence of the Borrower's approval of
      each Base Case.

      SECTION 5.1.7.   Hedging Agreements; Interest Rate Protection Agreements.
The Administrative Agent shall have received such evidence as it shall require
in connection with the implementation and effectiveness on the Initial Borrowing
Date of Hedging Agreements and Interest Rate Protection Agreements which are
required by Sections 7.1.10 and 7.1.11, respectively, to be in effect on the
            ---------------     ------                                      
Initial Borrowing Date.

      SECTION 5.1.8.   Insurance.  The Administrative Agent shall have received:

           (a) evidence satisfactory to the Administrative Agent with respect to
      the effectiveness of each policy of insurance required to be implemented
      pursuant to Section 7.1.7 and maintained (i) in the case of the Fort Knox
                  -------------                                                
      Mine, by (x) Fairbanks Gold or (y) Cyprus Amax or the Borrower under any
      umbrella group policy maintained by Cyprus Amax or the Borrower,
      respectively (each such policy, a "Group Insurance Policy") and (ii) in
                                         ----------------------              
      the case of the Hayden Hill Mine, by way of coverage under Group Insurance
      Policies;

           (b) written evidence that the Collateral Agent shall (subject, in the
      case of the Fort Knox Mine, to any right which the State of Alaska may
      have under any applicable Approval) have been named as the first loss
      payee pursuant to a 438BFU endorsement (or such other endorsement as may
      be satisfactory to the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion)
      under all policies of property insurance (excluding, however, any Group
      Insurance Policy) relating to the Fort Knox Mine and the Hayden Hill Mine
      (whether taken out by any Obligor, the Construction Contractor or any
      other Person), and as an additional insured under all policies of
      liability insurance (excluding, however, any Group Insurance Policy)
      relating to the Fort Knox Mine and the Hayden Hill Mine (whether taken out
      by any Obligor or any other Person) in each case as required by the
      Collateral Agreements; and

           (c) counterparts of the Insurance Consultant's Certificate.

      SECTION 5.1.9.  Process Agent Acceptance.  The Administrative Agent shall
have received a counterpart of the Process Agent Acceptance, duly executed by
the Process 

                                     -73-
<PAGE>
 
Agent, together with evidence of the appointment of the Process Agent by each
Obligor, Fairbanks Canada and Cyprus Amax.

      SECTION 5.1.10.  Opinions of Counsel.  The Administrative Agent shall have
received opinions addressed to the Lender Parties from:

           (a) Deborah Friedman, Esq., General Counsel of the Obligors and
      Fairbanks Canada, substantially in the form of Exhibit G-1 attached
                                                     -----------         
      hereto;

           (b) Bogle & Gates, special Alaska counsel to the Lender Parties,
      substantially in the form of Exhibit G-2 attached hereto;
                                   -----------                 

           (c) Mayer, Brown & Platt, special California counsel to the Lender
      Parties, substantially in the form of Exhibit G-3 attached hereto;
                                            -----------                 

           (d) Mayer, Brown & Platt, special New York counsel to the Lender
      Parties, substantially in the form of Exhibit G-4 attached hereto;
                                            -----------                 

           (e) Gresham, Varner, Savage, Nolan & Tilden, special California
      counsel to the Borrower and Lassen Gold, substantially in the form of
                                                                           
      Exhibit G-5 attached hereto;
      -----------                 

           (f) Guess & Rudd, special Alaska counsel to the Borrower, Fairbanks
      Gold and Melba Creek, substantially in the form of Exhibit G-6 attached
                                                         -----------         
      hereto; and

           (g) Gresham, Varner, Savage, Nolan & Tilden, special California
      counsel to the Borrower and Lassen Gold, and Guess & Rudd, special Alaska
      counsel to the Borrower, Fairbanks Gold and Melba Creek, with respect to
      title matters at the Hayden Hill Mine and the Fort Knox Mine,
      respectively,  in each case in form and substance satisfactory to the
      Administrative Agent.

      The Obligors hereby instruct the counsels referred to in clauses (a), (e),
                                                               -----------  --- 
(f) and (g) to deliver the opinions referred to in such clauses to the
---     ---                                                           
Administrative Agent and the other Lender Parties.

      SECTION 5.1.11.  Independent Consultant's Certificate.  The Lenders shall
have received counterparts of the Independent Consultant's Certificate.

      SECTION 5.1.12.  Capitalization of the Borrower; DOCLOC Facility
Agreements.  The Administrative Agent shall have received:

           (a) a copy of each DOCLOC Facility Agreement, duly executed by Cyprus
      Amax and the Borrower and certified by an Authorized Representative of the
      Borrower;

                                     -74-
<PAGE>
 
           (b) a written description, satisfactory in form and substance to the
      Administrative Agent and its counsel, of the restrictions (other than
      those contained in the 1994 DOCLOC Facility Agreement) on the utilization
      of the 1994 DOCLOC Facility as in effect as at the Initial Borrowing Date;

           (c) counterparts of the DOCLOC Support Agreement, duly executed by an
      Authorized Representative of the Borrower, a senior financial officer of
      Cyprus Amax and the Administrative Agent;

           (d) evidence that (i) the Borrower shall have drawn at least
      $80,000,000 available under the 1995 DOCLOC Facility and expended the same
      for purposes of the payment of bona fide Consolidated Capital Costs
                                     ---------                           
      incurred in connection with the Fort Knox Project, as reflected in the
      Fort Knox Base Case and (ii) Cyprus Amax shall have subscribed for common
      shares in the Borrower for a subscription or issuance price sufficient to
      discharge the amount of the drawdown of the 1995 DOCLOC Facility described
      in sub-clause (i) in the manner contemplated by the 1995 DOCLOC Facility
      Agreement; and

           (e) evidence that Cyprus Amax and the Borrower shall have extended
      the date until which funds are available to be drawn under the 1994 DOCLOC
      Facility Agreement to a date no earlier than the Final Maturity Date.

      SECTION 5.1.13.  Subordination Agreements.  The Administrative Agent shall
have received:

           (a) counterparts of the Subordination Agreement (Borrower), duly
      executed by a senior financial officer of Cyprus Amax and by an Authorized
      Representative of the Borrower; and

           (b) counterparts of the Subordination Agreement (Principal
      Subsidiaries), duly executed by an Authorized Representative of each
      Obligor.

      SECTION 5.1.14.  Notes.  The Administrative Agent shall have received for
the account of each Lender, each of such Lender's Notes, duly executed by an
Authorized Representative of the Borrower.

      SECTION 5.1.15.  Environmental Indemnity Agreements.  The Administrative
Agent shall have received counterparts of each Environmental Indemnity
Agreement, duly executed by the Collateral Agent and by an Authorized
Representative of each relevant Principal Subsidiary party thereto.

      SECTION 5.1.16.  Discharge of Existing Indebtedness.  The Administrative
Agent shall have received satisfactory evidence of the discharge in full
(including with the 

                                     -75-
<PAGE>
 
proceeds of the initial Loans) of the Bridge Loan Existing Indebtedness, the
Guanaco Existing Indebtedness and the Hayden Hill Existing Indebtedness.

      SECTION 5.1.17.  Closing Fees, Expenses, etc.  The Administrative Agent
shall have received (including, to the extent necessary, from the proceeds of
the initial Loans) for its own account, or for the account of the relevant
Lender Parties, as the case may be, all fees due and payable on or prior to the
Initial Borrowing Date and all fees and expenses payable pursuant to Section
                                                                     -------
10.3 to the extent then invoiced.
----                             

      SECTION 5.1.18.  Initial Compliance Certificate.  The Administrative Agent
shall have received a Compliance Certificate, calculated as of the Initial
Borrowing Date, together with such information concerning the calculations and
assumptions used by the Borrower in delivering such Compliance Certificate as
the Administrative Agent shall have requested.

      SECTION 5.2.     All Loans.  The obligations of the Lenders to make any
Loans (including the initial Loans) shall be subject to the prior or concurrent
satisfaction of the additional conditions precedent set forth in this Section.

      SECTION 5.2.1.   Compliance with Warranties, No Default, etc.  The
representations and warranties of the Obligors set forth in Article 6 and those
                                                            ---------          
of each Obligor set forth in each other Loan Document to which it is a party
shall be true and correct as of the date initially made, and both immediately
before and immediately after the making of the Loans (but, if any Default of the
nature of Section 8.1.5 shall have occurred with respect to any other
          -------------                                              
Indebtedness without giving effect to the application, directly or indirectly,
of the proceeds of such Loans to such other Indebtedness):

           (a) such representations and warranties shall be true and correct
      with the same effect as if then made (unless stated to relate solely to an
      earlier date, in which case such representations and warranties shall be
      true and correct as of such earlier date); and

           (b) no Default shall have then occurred and be continuing.

      SECTION 5.2.2.   Borrowing Request.  The Administrative Agent shall have
received a Borrowing Request for such Loans.  Each of the delivery of each
Borrowing Request and the acceptance by the Borrower of the proceeds of the
Loans requested thereby shall constitute a representation and warranty by the
Borrower on the relevant Borrowing Date (both immediately before and immediately
after giving effect to such Loans and the application of the proceeds thereof)
to the effect that the statements made in Section 5.2.1 are true and correct.
                                          -------------                      

      SECTION 5.2.3.   Monthly Report.  Each Monthly Report required to be
submitted on or prior to the Borrowing Date with respect to such Borrowing shall
have contained 

                                     -76-
<PAGE>
 
each of the certifications of the Borrower referred to in the third paragraph
thereof (without any reference to any circumstances qualifying the same) and
shall have received the affirmative certification of the Independent Consultant,
in each case in the form contemplated by the form thereof attached hereto as
Exhibit L (or, in the case of any such Monthly Report not so initially certified
---------                                            
by the Independent Consultant, the Independent Consultant shall, on or prior to
such Borrowing Date, have given its affirmative certification as aforesaid based
on revised or additional information supplied to it by the Borrower and/or
Fairbanks Gold).

      SECTION 5.2.4.   Satisfactory Legal Form.  All documents executed or
submitted pursuant hereto by or on behalf of any Person shall be satisfactory in
form and substance as to legal matters to the Lender Parties and to counsel to
the Administrative Agent and the Administrative Agent shall have received all
information, and such counterpart originals or such certified or other copies of
such Instruments related to the conditions precedent described in this Article,
as the Administrative Agent or its counsel or any other Lender Party may
reasonably request.


                   ARTICLE 6.  REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
                   ------------------------------------------

      In order to induce the Lender Parties to enter into this Agreement and, in
the case of the Lenders, to make, maintain, continue and/or convert Loans
hereunder, the Borrower, individually for itself and for the other Obligors and
with respect to matters hereinafter relating to it and each other Obligor, and
each other Obligor individually for itself and with respect to matters
hereinafter relating to it, represents and warrants unto each Lender Party as
set forth in this Article.  The representations and warranties set forth in this
Article (other than those set forth in the penultimate sentence of Section 6.6
                                                                   -----------
and in Section 6.13, which shall only be made upon the delivery of the initial
       ------------                                                           
Borrowing Request) shall be made upon the delivery of any Borrowing Request and
each Continuation/Conversion Notice requesting a conversion from one type of
Tranche B Loan to another.

      SECTION 6.1.     Organization, Power, Authority, etc.  Each Obligor (other
than Melba Creek) is a corporation validly organized and existing and in good
standing under the laws of the State of Delaware.  Melba Creek is a corporation
validly organized and existing and in good standing under the laws of the State
of Alaska.  Each Obligor is duly qualified to do business and is in good
standing (where such concept is applicable) as a foreign corporation in each
jurisdiction where the nature of its business makes such qualification necessary
and where the failure to so qualify would have a Materially Adverse Effect and
has full power and authority, and holds all requisite Approvals, to own and hold
under lease its property, to sue and be sued in its own name, and to conduct its
business substantially as currently conducted by it. Each Obligor has full power
and authority to enter into and perform its obligations under this Agreement and
the other Operative Documents executed or to be executed by it and, in the case
of the Borrower, to obtain Loans hereunder.

      SECTION 6.2.     Due Authorization; Non-Contravention.  The execution and
delivery by each Obligor of this Agreement and each other Operative Document
executed or to 

                                     -77-
<PAGE>
 
be executed by it and the performance by each Obligor of its obligations
hereunder and thereunder, and the receipt of the Loans hereunder by the
Borrower, have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on its
part, do not and will not require any Approval (other than those Approvals
referred to in Parts A and B of Item 1 ("Current Material Approvals" and
               -------     -    ------   --------------------------     
"Pending Material Approvals") of the Disclosure Schedule and Non-Material
---------------------------                                              
Approvals), do not and will not conflict with, result in any violation of, or
constitute any default under, any provision of any Requirement of Law or
Approval binding on it, and will not result in or require the creation or
imposition of any Lien on any of its properties pursuant to the provisions of
any Contractual Obligation (other than pursuant to this Agreement and each
Security Document to which such Obligor is a party).

      SECTION 6.3.     Validity, etc.

           (a) This Agreement constitutes, each Note and each other Operative
      Document executed or to be executed by any Obligor constitutes, or on the
      due execution and delivery thereof by each party thereto will constitute,
      the legal, valid and binding obligation of such Obligor enforceable in
      accordance with its terms, subject as to enforceability only, to
      Applicable Laws relating to bankruptcy and the enforceability of
      creditors' rights generally and by the fact that the availability of
      equitable remedies is discretionary.

           (b) To the best of the knowledge of the Borrower (after due inquiry),
      the DOCLOC Facility Agreements, the DOCLOC Support Agreement and the
      Subordination Agreement (Borrower) have been duly executed and delivered
      by Cyprus Amax.  Each DOCLOC Facility Agreement, the DOCLOC Support
      Agreement and the Subordination Agreement (Borrower) constitutes the
      legal, valid and binding obligations of Cyprus Amax enforceable against
      Cyprus Amax in accordance with its terms, subject as to enforceability
      only, to Applicable Laws relating to bankruptcy and the enforceability of
      creditors' rights generally and by the fact that the availability of
      equitable remedies is discretionary.

           (c) Upon taking of the various actions described in Sections 5.1.2,
                                                               -------------- 
      5.1.3 and 5.1.4, each Security Document will create in favor of the
      -----     -----                                                    
      Administrative Agent or, as the case may be, the Collateral Agent (for the
      rateable benefit of the Lender Parties), a valid and perfected first-
      priority Lien on all of the assets, properties, rights and revenues
      purported to be covered thereby as security for the relevant obligations
      expressed to be covered thereby, subject to no other Liens, except (i) for
      mandatory provisions of Applicable Law, (ii) as specifically permitted by
      this Agreement and such Security Document and (iii) for the specific
      exceptions set forth in the legal opinions delivered pursuant to clauses
                                                                       -------
      (b) through (g) of Section 5.1.10 and clause (e) of Section 7.1.9.
      ---         ---    --------------     ------ ---    -------------

                                     -78-
<PAGE>
 
      SECTION 6.4.     Financial Information.  All balance sheets, all
statements  of changes in financial position and all other financial information
of the nature referred to in this Section with respect to the Borrower,
Fairbanks Gold or Melba Creek which have been delivered by or on behalf of such
Obligor to the Administrative Agent for the purposes of or in connection with
this Agreement or any transaction contemplated hereby, including:

           (a) the consolidated balance sheet at December 31, 1994, and the
      related consolidated statements of operations, cash flows and
      shareholders' equity for the Fiscal Year then ended, of the Borrower and
      its Subsidiaries, certified by Price Waterhouse & Co.;

           (b) the consolidated balance sheet at June 30, 1995, and the related
      consolidated statements of operations and cash flows for the Fiscal
      Quarter then ended, of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, certified by the
      principal financial or accounting Authorized Representative of the
      Borrower; and

           (c) the consolidating balance sheet at December 31, 1994 and the
      related consolidating statements of operations, cash flows and
      shareholders' equity for the Fiscal Year then ended, of the Borrower and
      its Subsidiaries certified by the principal financial or accounting
      Authorized Representative of the Borrower,

have (in the case of the balance sheets and financial statements referred to in
clauses (a) and (b) and any other consolidated balance sheets or financial
-----------     ---                                                       
statements delivered pursuant to clause (a) or (b) of Section 7.1.1) been
                                 ----------    ---    -------------      
prepared in accordance with GAAP consistently applied throughout the periods
involved (except as disclosed therein) and (in the case of all such balance
sheets, statements and other financial information purporting to address the
overall financial position of any Person) do present fairly the financial
position of the Persons covered thereby as at the dates thereof and the results
of its operations for the periods then ended.  Neither the Borrower nor any of
its Subsidiaries has any material Contingent Liability (excluding, however, in
the case of the purchase by the Borrower of Cyprus Amax' interest in the Kubaka
Project, a deferred payment in the maximum amount of $25,000,000 determined by
reference to commercial production at the Kubaka Project and payable through the
issue of common stock of the Borrower) or liability for taxes, long-term leases
or unusual forward or long-term commitments which are not reflected in its
financial statements described in this Section or in the notes thereto.

      SECTION 6.5.  Absence of Default.  None of the Borrower or any Subsidiary
is in default in the payment of (or in the performance of any material
obligation applicable to) any Indebtedness and none of the Borrower, Fairbanks
Gold or Melba Creek is in default under its Organic Documents or, except where
such default would not have a Materially Adverse Effect, any Project Document,
any Contractual Obligation binding upon, or any Applicable Law relating to, its
business, operations or assets or the terms or conditions upon which any
Approval has been granted.

                                     -79-
<PAGE>
 
      SECTION 6.6.     Litigation, etc.  There is no pending or, to the
knowledge of any Obligor, threatened labor controversy, litigation, arbitration
or governmental investigation or proceeding (including any litigation described
in Item 3 ("Litigation") of the Disclosure Schedule) against such Obligor or CMM
   ------   ----------                                                          
or to which any of their respective businesses, operations, properties, assets
(including, in the case of any Principal Subsidiary or CMM, the Principal Mine
in which it has an interest) or revenues is subject as to which there is a
reasonable likelihood of an adverse outcome to such Obligor or CMM and which, if
adversely determined, might have a Materially Adverse Effect.  In the case of
any litigation described in Item 3 ("Litigation") of the Disclosure Schedule,
                            ------   ----------                              
there has been no development in such litigation which might have a Materially
Adverse Effect.  All material pending or threatened labor controversies,
litigation, arbitration and governmental investigations and proceedings against
any Obligor or CMM or to which any of their respective businesses, operations,
properties, assets (including, in the case of any Principal Subsidiary, the
Principal Mine in which it has an interest and in the case of CMM, the Refugio
Mine) or revenues is subject as of the Initial Borrowing Date are disclosed in
Item 3 ("Litigation") of the Disclosure Schedule.  The representations and
------   ----------                                                       
warranties contained in this Section shall be made without prejudice to the
representations and warranties contained in Section 6.19.
                                            ------------ 

      SECTION 6.7.     Materially Adverse Effect.  Since the date of the most
recent audited financial statements referred to in Section 6.4, there have been
                                                   -----------                 
no occurrences which, individually or in the aggregate, have a Materially
Adverse Effect.

      SECTION 6.8.     Taxes and Other Payments.  The Borrower has filed, or
caused to be filed, all tax returns and reports required by Applicable Law to be
filed by or on behalf of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries and has paid or
caused to be paid all taxes shown on such returns as required to be paid or on
any assessment received by it (or with respect to taxes for the period prior to
January 1, 1992, by Amax Inc.) to the extent that such taxes have become due,
except (a) taxes the validity of which are being contested in good faith by
appropriate proceedings and with respect to which the Borrower (or any of its
Subsidiaries) shall have set aside on its books such reserves as are required by
GAAP, (b) taxes relating to any period prior to January 1, 1992, with respect to
the payment of which the Borrower has been indemnified by Amax Inc. and (c)
taxes (including property taxes) relating to the Refugio Mine from any period
prior to November 18, 1992.

      SECTION 6.9.  Regulations G, T, U and X.  None of the Obligors is engaged
principally, or as one of its important activities, in the business of extending
credit for the purpose of purchasing or carrying margin stock, and  none of the
proceeds of any Loans will be used for a purpose which violates or would be
inconsistent with, F.R.S. Board Regulations G, T, U and X.  Terms for which
meanings are provided in F.R.S. Board Regulations G, T, U or X or any
regulations substituted therefor, as from time to time in effect, are used in
this Section with such meanings.

                                     -80-
<PAGE>
 
      SECTION 6.10.    Government Regulation.  None of the Obligors nor any
Subsidiary thereof is an "investment company" within the meaning of the
Investment Company Act of 1940, or a "holding company", or a "subsidiary
company" of a "holding company", or an "affiliate" of a "holding company" or of
a "subsidiary company" of a "holding company", in each case within the meaning
of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935.

      SECTION 6.11.    Mining Rights.  Each of Fairbanks Gold and Melba Creek
has acquired all Mining Rights and has obtained such other surface and other
rights as are necessary for access rights, water rights, plant sites, waste
dumps, ore dumps, abandoned heaps or ancillary facilities covering all
properties mined or proposed to be mined with respect to the Fort Knox Project
and which are required in connection with the consummation of the Fort Knox
Project and/or the operation of the Fort Knox Project as contemplated by the
Fort Knox Base Case.  All such Mining Rights and other rights are sufficient in
scope and substance for the consummation of the Fort Knox Project and/or the
operation of the Fort Knox Mine, as contemplated by the Fort Knox Base Case and
no part of the purchase price (other than any rental, royalty or similar
payments) payable by either of Fairbanks Gold or Melba Creek in connection with
its acquisition of such Mining Rights and other rights remains unpaid except as
set forth in Exhibit A to the Fairbanks Gold/Melba Creek Collateral Agreement.

      SECTION 6.12.    Ownership and Use of Properties; Liens.

           (a) Each of Fairbanks Gold, Melba Creek and Lassen Gold has good
      title to all of the Mine Assets it owns or purports to own, free and clear
      of all Liens or claims (including infringement claims with respect to
      patents, trademarks, copyrights and the like but subject to, in the case
      of any unpatented mining claims in the United States, the paramount title
      of the United States or the State of Alaska) except as permitted pursuant
      to Section 7.2.3.
         ------------- 

           (b) No Principal Subsidiary owns any material assets or properties
      other than those used in connection with, or incidental to the operation
      of, the Principal Mine in which such Principal Subsidiary maintains an
      interest.

                  (c)  (i)  Each of Fairbanks Gold and Melba Creek has complied
           in all material respects with all Contractual Obligations relating to
           any asset or property leased, operated, licensed or used (but not
           owned) by such Principal Subsidiary and all Instruments pursuant to
           which each Principal Subsidiary is entitled to lease, operate,
           licence or use such properties and assets are in full force and
           effect.

                       (ii) All of the interests of Fairbanks Gold, Melba Creek
           and Lassen Gold in any asset or property, leased, operated, licensed
           or used (but not owned) by such Principal Subsidiary are free and
           clear of all Liens 

                                     -81-
<PAGE>
 
           or claims (including infringement claims with respect to patents,
           trademarks, copyrights and the like) except as permitted pursuant to
           Section 7.2.3.
           ------------- 

           (d) The Borrower does not lease, operate, license, own or use any
      Mine Assets constituting any Principal Mine.

      SECTION 6.13.    Subsidiaries.  The Borrower has no Subsidiaries other
than the Principal Subsidiaries and those Subsidiaries which are identified in
Item 5 ("Subsidiaries") of the Disclosure Schedule.  No Principal Subsidiary has
------   ------------                                                           
any Subsidiaries other than those Subsidiaries which are identified in Item 5
                                                                       ------
("Subsidiaries") of the Disclosure Schedule.
--------------                              

      SECTION 6.14.    Intellectual Property.  Each of the Borrower and its
Subsidiaries owns and possesses all such patents, patent rights, trademarks,
trademark rights, trade names, trade name rights, service marks, service mark
rights and copyrights as the Borrower considers necessary for the conduct of the
businesses of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as now conducted without,
individually or in the aggregate, any infringement upon rights of other Persons
which might have a Materially Adverse Effect and there is no individual patent,
patent right, etc. the loss of which would have a Materially Adverse Effect,
except as may be disclosed in Item 6 ("Material Patents and Trademarks") of the
                              ------   -------------------------------         
Disclosure Schedule.

      SECTION 6.15.    Technology.  Each of Fairbanks Gold and Melba Creek owns
or has the right to use all technologies and processes required to consummate
the Fort Knox Project, as contemplated by the Fort Knox Base Case.  Except with
respect to the license agreement relating to cyanide destruction at the Fort
Knox Mine, there are no material license agreements granting either Fairbanks
Gold or Melba Creek or any other Person rights in any patented process or the
right to use technical or secret know-how that are required for the consummation
of the Fort Knox Project and/or the operation of the Fort Knox Mine.

      SECTION 6.16.    Approvals; Project Documents.

           (a) Each of Fairbanks Gold, Melba Creek, Lassen Gold, the Borrower or
      the Borrower on behalf and for the benefit of any of the foregoing
      Principal Subsidiaries has entered into all Instruments and obtained all
      Approvals (other than those required to be obtained in the ordinary course
      from such Person's Board of Directors or any similar body and (i) those
      identified in Part B of Item 1 ("Pending Material Approvals") of the
                    ------    ------   --------------------------
      Disclosure Schedule (which the Borrower and such Principal Subsidiaries
      believe will be obtained as and when required) and (ii) those of a non-
      material nature which the Borrower (or such Principal Subsidiary) expects
      will be obtained as and when necessary in the course of the consummation
      of the Fort Knox Project and/or the operation of the Fort Knox Mine or the
      Hayden Hill Mine (all such Approvals of a non-material nature,
      collectively, "Non-Material Approvals") in each case which are scheduled
                     ----------------------
      to be obtained after the date of making of the representation and warranty
      contained in this Section) required or advisable to consummate the Fort
      Knox Project and/or facilitate 

                                     -82-
<PAGE>
 
      the operation of the Fort Knox Mine or the Hayden Hill Mine, in each case
      in accordance with the Consolidated Base Case. All Approvals (other than
      those required to be obtained in the ordinary course from the relevant
      Obligor's Board of Directors or any similar body and Non-Material
      Approvals) necessary or advisable to obtain in connection with the
      consummation of the Fort Knox Project and/or the operation of the Fort
      Knox Mine or the Hayden Hill Mine in accordance with the Consolidated Base
      Case and the execution and delivery by any Obligor of, and the performance
      of obligations binding on such Obligor contained in, any Operative
      Document are listed on Parts A ("Current Material Approvals") and B
                                       --------------------------       -
      ("Pending Material Approvals") of Item 1 of the Disclosure Schedule.
        --------------------------      ------

           (b) Each of the Project Documents (i) is in full force and effect, is
      enforceable against each relevant Obligor (and, to the best of the
      knowledge and belief of such Obligor after due enquiry, by such Obligor
      against all other parties thereto) in accordance with its terms, subject,
      as to enforceability only, to Applicable Laws relating to bankruptcy and
      the enforceability of creditors' rights generally and by the fact that the
      availability of equitable remedies is discretionary and (ii) is in the
      form previously or concurrently delivered to the Administrative Agent
      pursuant to this Agreement and all material performance required
      thereunder of each party thereto has occurred (except performance required
      by the Project Documents to be performed at a later date), and no default
      or event or condition which with notice, lapse of time or both could
      constitute a default thereunder has occurred and is continuing.

      SECTION 6.17.    Information Memorandum.  As of the Initial Borrowing
Date, the statements contained in the Information Memorandum, based upon the
assumptions stated therein (which assumptions are or were, as the case may be,
reasonable in all the circumstances), are (or were, as the case may be) true and
correct in all material respects except to the extent set forth in the letter,
dated October 10, 1995, from the Independent Consultant to the Documentation and
Technical Agent.  As of the Initial Borrowing Date, the Information Memorandum
contained summary descriptions of the Fort Knox Project, the Mine Assets for
each Principal Mine and the operation of each Principal Mine as then proposed to
be conducted throughout the Mines Operational Period.  As of the Initial
Borrowing Date, the financial projections, estimates and other expressions of
view as to future circumstances contained in the Information Memorandum are (or
were, as the case may be) fair and reasonable and, to the best of the Borrower's
knowledge, have been arrived at (or, as the case may be, were arrived at) after
reasonable inquiry and have been (or, as the case may be, were) made in good
faith by the Persons responsible therefor.

      SECTION 6.18.    Pension and Welfare Plans.  During each period of twelve
consecutive months prior to the Effective Date and prior to the date of any
deemed making or repetition of the representation and warranty contained in this
Section, no steps have been taken to terminate any Pension Plan, and no
contribution failure has occurred with respect to any Pension Plan sufficient to
give rise to a Lien under section 302(f) of ERISA.  No condition 

                                     -83-
<PAGE>
 
exists or event or transaction has occurred with respect to any Pension Plan
which might result in the incurrence by any Obligor or any member of any
Controlled Group of any material liability, fine or penalty. Except as disclosed
in Item 7 ("Employee Benefit Plans") of the Disclosure Schedule, no Obligor nor
   ------   ----------------------
any member of any Controlled Group has any contingent liability with respect to
any post-retirement benefit under a Welfare Plan, other than liability for
continuation coverage described in Part 6 of Title I of ERISA.

      SECTION 6.19.    Environmental Matters.  Except as disclosed in the
Borrower's annual report on Form 10-K for the 1994 Fiscal Year or in Item 8
                                                                     ------
("Environmental Matters") of the Disclosure Schedule, (a) the Borrower and its
-----------------------                                                       
Subsidiaries and CMM have complied with all applicable Environmental Laws,
except where the failure to be in compliance therewith would not have a
Materially Adverse Effect, (b) the Borrower and its Subsidiaries and CMM do not
manage any Hazardous Materials at any of their facilities and assets (including
the Principal Mines and the Mine Assets thereat) in violation of any
Environmental Laws, except where any such violation would not reasonably be
expected to have a Materially Adverse Effect and (c) there are no events,
conditions or circumstances occurring at or relating to any facilities or assets
of the Borrower or its Subsidiaries or CMM (including the Principal Mines and
the Mines Assets thereat) involving any environmental pollution or contamination
that have, or would reasonably be expected to have, a Materially Adverse Effect.

      SECTION 6.20.    Pari Passu.  The payment Obligations of each Obligor
under this Agreement and each other Loan Document to which it is a party rank at
least pari passu in right of payment with all of such Obligor 's other unsecured
      ---- -----                                                                
and unsubordinated Indebtedness, other than any such Indebtedness which is
preferred by mandatory provisions of Applicable Law.

      SECTION 6.21.    Royalties, etc.  Other than as disclosed in Item 9
                                                                   ------
("Royalty Agreements") of the Disclosure Schedule, no Principal Mine (and no
--------------------                                                        
Obligor's or CMM's interest therein) is subject to any royalty, net smelter
return obligation, net profit payment or similar arrangement.

      SECTION 6.22.  Commodities Regulation.  This Agreement is not a contract
or sale of a commodity for future delivery subject to the Commodity Exchange Act
(7 U.S.C. (S)1, et seq).
                ------  

      SECTION 6.23.    Operation of the Principal Mines other than the Fort Knox
Mine.

           (a) The Borrower has taken all actions, and has used its best efforts
      (including through the utilization of any voting rights available to it,
      directly or indirectly, pursuant to any shareholders or similar agreement
      between the shareholders of CMM or any joint venture or similar agreement
      relating to the Refugio Mine) to cause CMM to take all actions, to ensure
      the construction, development, operation, management and maintenance of
      the Refugio Mine in accordance with sound mining 

                                     -84-
<PAGE>
 
      and business practice and all relevant Requirements of Law and other
      relevant requirements binding on the Refugio Mine in order to enable the
      Refugio Mine to achieve physical completion and economic completion
      thereof, as and when required by the Consolidated Base Case. CMM has good
      title to all Mining Assets constituting the Refugio Mine and has acquired
      all Mining Rights in connection therewith except where failure to comply
      with the foregoing would not have a Materially Adverse Effect. None of the
      Borrower, CMM or any Affiliate of either is in default of any Requirement
      of Law with respect to, and no event or condition has occurred or exists
      at, the Refugio Mine, which default, event or condition would, singly or
      in the aggregate, have a Materially Adverse Effect.

           (b) Each of Guanaco Mining, Lassen Gold and Nevada Gold has good
      title to all Mine Assets constituting the Principal Mine in which it has
      an interest and has acquired all Mining Rights in connection therewith,
      except where failure to comply with the foregoing would not have a
      Materially Adverse Effect.  None of Guanaco Mining, Lassen Gold and Nevada
      Gold is in default in the payment of (or in the performance of any
      material obligation applicable to) any Indebtedness or of any Requirement
      of Law with respect to, and no event or condition has occurred or existing
      at, the Principal Mine in which such Principal Subsidiary has an interest,
      which default, event or condition would, singly or in the aggregate, have
      a Materially Adverse Effect.

                             ARTICLE 7.  COVENANTS
                             ---------------------

      SECTION 7.1.     Certain Affirmative Covenants.  Each Obligor agrees with
each Lender Party that, until all Commitments have terminated and all
Obligations have been paid and performed in full, such Obligor will perform its
respective obligations set forth in this Section.  Except where the context
specifically requires otherwise, the Borrower shall use its best efforts to
ensure that each relevant Subsidiary complies with its obligations set forth in
this Section.

      SECTION 7.1.1.  Financial Information, etc.  The Obligors will deliver, or
will cause to be delivered, to the Administrative Agent (or, as may be
appropriate, the Documentation and Technical Agent) copies (with sufficient
copies for each other Lender Party) of the following financial statements,
reports and information:

           (a)  (i)  each of the Borrower, Fairbanks Gold and Melba Creek will
      deliver, promptly when available, and in any event within 90 days after
      the close of each Fiscal Year of such Obligor:

                (x) in the case of the Borrower, the consolidated balance sheet
           at the close of such Fiscal Year and the related consolidated
           statements of operations, cash flows and shareholders' equity (for
           the Fiscal Year then ended) of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries; and

                                     -85-
<PAGE>
 
                (y) in the case of Fairbanks Gold and Melba Creek, its balance
           sheet at the close of such Fiscal Year and its related statements of
           operations and cash flows for such Obligor,

      in each case with comparable information at the close of and for the prior
      Fiscal Year and (A) solely in the case of the Borrower, reported on
      without Impermissible Qualification by Price Waterhouse & Co., or another
      independent certified public or chartered accountant of recognized
      international standing, together with a certificate from such accountant
      in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent
      (including with respect to any disclaimers for legal matters) (1)
      certifying that to the best of its knowledge no Default has occurred, or,
      if such a Default has occurred, specifying the nature and extent thereof,
      and (2) setting forth in reasonable detail the calculations (including
      (without prejudice to Section 1.5) the impact of any adjustments between
                            -----------                                       
      GAAP as in effect on the Effective Date and GAAP as in effect at the time
      of preparation of the relevant financial statements referred to above)
      required to demonstrate the due observance and performance of the
      covenants and agreements contained in Article 7 and (B) in the case of
                                            ---------                       
      Fairbanks Gold and Melba Creek, certified by an accounting or financial
      Authorized Representative of such Obligor; and

           (ii) the Borrower will deliver, promptly when available, and in any
      event within 90 days after the close of each Fiscal Year of the Borrower,
      consolidating balance sheets at the close of such Fiscal Year and the
      related consolidating statements of operations, cash flows and
      shareholders' equity (for the Fiscal Year then ended) of the Borrower and
      its Subsidiaries, certified by an accounting or financial Authorized
      Representative of the Borrower;

           (b) each of the Borrower, Fairbanks Gold and Melba Creek will
      deliver, promptly when available, and in any event within 45 days after
      the close of each of the first three Fiscal Quarters of each Fiscal Year
      of such Obligor:

                (i) in the case of the Borrower, the consolidated balance sheet
           at the close of such Fiscal Quarter and the related consolidated
           statements of operations and cash flows of the Borrower and its
           Subsidiaries; and

                (ii) in the case of each of Fairbanks Gold and Melba Creek, its
           balance sheet at the close of such Fiscal Quarter, and its related
           statements of operations and cash flows for such Obligor;

      in each case, for such Fiscal Quarter and for the period commencing at the
      close of the previous Fiscal Year and ending with the close of such Fiscal
      Quarter (with comparable information at the close of and for the
      corresponding Fiscal Quarter of the prior Fiscal 

                                     -86-
<PAGE>
 
      Year and for the corresponding portion of such prior Fiscal Year) and
      certified by an accounting or financial Authorized Representative of such
      Obligor;

           (c) the Borrower (i) will deliver, promptly when available, and in
      any event (x) within 90 days after the close of each Fiscal Year of Cyprus
      Amax, a copy of Cyprus Amax' annual report on Form 10-K and (y) within 45
      days after the close of each of the first three Fiscal Quarters of each
      Fiscal Year of Cyprus Amax, a copy of Cyprus Amax' quarterly report on
      Form 10-Q, and (ii) will use its best efforts to deliver, promptly after
      the close of each Fiscal Quarter of Cyprus Amax during such period when
      the Competitive Advance Facility Agreement shall be in effect, information
      as to Cyprus Amax' compliance with Section 7.05 thereunder and shall
      deliver promptly when aware of the same details of any default by Cyprus
      Amax in respect of its obligations under such Section 7.05;

           (d) the Borrower will deliver within thirty (30) Business Days after
      the close of each calendar quarter, and will deliver on the Fort Knox
      Physical Completion Date and the Fort Knox Economic Completion Date, a
      Compliance Certificate prepared as of the last date of such calendar
      quarter or the Fort Knox Physical Completion Date or the Fort Knox
      Economic Completion Date, as the case may be, together with such
      information concerning the calculations and assumptions used by the
      Borrower in delivering such Compliance Certificate as the Administrative
      Agent may request;

           (e) the Borrower will deliver within twenty one (21) days after the
      end of each calendar month occurring prior to the Fort Knox Economic
      Completion Date, a Monthly Report (and will ensure that copies thereof are
      delivered simultaneously to the Independent Consultant);

           (f) the Borrower will deliver annually, on or before each anniversary
      of the Effective Date, a memorandum prepared by the Borrower summarizing
      the then outstanding insurance coverage with respect to the Fort Knox Mine
      and the Hayden Hill Mine and a certificate of insurance prepared by the
      Borrower and acceptable in form and substance to the Insurance Consultant
      confirming that: (i) all such insurance coverage is in full force and
      effect and all premiums payable in connection therewith have been paid;
      (ii) such insurance is sufficient for the purposes of the Fort Knox Mine
      and the Hayden Hill Mine and is responsive to the requirements of Section
                                                                        -------
      7.1.7; (iii) except with respect to Group Insurance Policies, the
      -----                                                            
      Collateral Agent is (subject, in the case of the Fort Knox Mine, to any
      right which the State of Alaska may have under any applicable Approval)
      named as the first loss payee under all policies of property insurance
      with respect to the Fort Knox Mine and the Hayden Hill Mine pursuant to a
      438 BFU endorsement (or such other endorsement as may be satisfactory to
      the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion) and as an
      additional insured under all policies of liability insurance with respect
      to the Fort Knox Mine and the Hayden Hill Mine; and (iv) the insurers
      under such insurance policies have undertaken in 

                                     -87-
<PAGE>
 
      writing not to amend or terminate those policies relating to the Fort Knox
      Mine and the Hayden Hill Mine without at least 30 days' prior written
      notice thereof to the Administrative Agent and have entered into such
      undertakings as are required pursuant to the provisions of Section 7.1.7;
                                                                 -------------
      it being agreed that such certificate shall be conclusive as against the
      relevant Obligors both as to the amount of insurance required and the
      perils against which coverage is required and the relevant Obligor shall
      immediately insure in accordance with such certificate;

           (g) the Borrower will deliver as promptly as practicable details as
      to any: (i) material disputes between Fairbanks Gold, Melba Creek and
      Lassen Gold and their insurance carriers; (ii) failure by any such
      Principal Subsidiary to pay any insurance premium as and when required
      that might result in the cancellation of the relevant policy; (iii)
      occurrence of any actual or potential casualty or loss which is covered by
      the terms of any policy of insurance maintained by or on behalf of any
      such Principal Subsidiary; (iv) notices received from any of such
      Principal Subsidiary's insurance carriers with respect to the cancellation
      of or proposed cancellation of any policy of insurance; (v) material
      reduction in the amount of, or any other material change in, insurance or
      coverage maintained by any Obligor; and (vi) failure by any Obligor to
      comply with its obligations under Section 7.1.7, in each case stating the
                                        -------------                          
      reasons therefor, together with any other information concerning the
      insurance coverage required to be maintained by it as the Administrative
      Agent shall have reasonably requested;

           (h) (i) each of the Borrower, Fairbanks Gold and Melba Creek will
      deliver promptly upon the occurrence thereof a detailed report of any
      material change or modification (without prejudice to the provisions of
      clause (a) of Section 7.2.12 or Section 7.2.13, 8.1.7, 8.1.8 or 8.1.9) to
      ----------    --------------    --------------  -----  -----    -----
      any Project Document to which it is a party and (ii) the Borrower will
      deliver promptly upon the occurrence thereof a detailed report of any
      material change or modification (without prejudice to the provisions of
      clause (b) of Section 7.2.12) to the DOCLOC Support Agreement or the 1994
      ----------    --------------
      DOCLOC Facility Agreement;

           (i) each of the Borrower, Fairbanks Gold and Melba Creek will deliver
      promptly notice of the occurrence of any default or event of default by
      any party under, or any other material change in or circumstance
      affecting, any of the Project Documents to which it is a party;

           (j) the Borrower will deliver, not less frequently than annually and
      in addition upon the request of the Documentation and Technical Agent, (i)
      forecasts of mining production, ore grades, recovery rates, operating
      costs, on-going capital expenditures, water uses and sources and all other
      technical information relating to production at the Principal Mines
      reasonably requested by the Documentation and 

                                     -88-
<PAGE>
 
      Technical Agent and (ii) details of the identity of counterparties under
      any refining contracts entered into by the Borrower or any Subsidiary;

           (k) without duplication of any other clause of this Section, as soon
      as possible and in any event within three Business Days after the
      occurrence of any Default, the Borrower will deliver a statement of its
      chief financial Authorized Representative setting forth details of such
      Default and the action which the relevant Obligor has taken and proposes
      to take with respect thereto;

           (l) as soon as possible and in any event within three Business Days
      after (i) the occurrence of any adverse development with respect to any
      labor controversy, litigation, arbitration or governmental investigation
      or proceeding described in Section 6.6 which could have a Materially
                                 -----------                              
      Adverse Effect or (ii) the commencement of any labor controversy,
      litigation, arbitration or governmental investigation or proceeding of the
      type described in the penultimate sentence of Section 6.6, the Borrower
                                                    -----------              
      will deliver notice thereof and copies of all documentation relating
      thereto;

           (m) without duplication of any other clause of this Section, the
      Borrower will deliver notice of the occurrence as soon as possible and in
      any event within three Business Days after the Borrower knows or has
      reason to know of any circumstance which has a reasonable likelihood of
      having a Materially Adverse Effect;

           (n) immediately upon becoming aware of the institution of any steps
      by any Obligor or any other Person to terminate any Pension Plan, or the
      failure to make a required contribution to any Pension Plan if such
      failure is sufficient to give rise to a Lien under section 302(f) of
      ERISA, or the taking of any action with respect to a Pension Plan which
      could result in the requirement that such Obligor furnish a bond or other
      security to the PBGC or such Pension Plan, or the occurrence of any event
      with respect to any Pension Plan which could result in the incurrence by
      such Obligor of any material liability, fine or penalty, or any material
      increase in the contingent liability of such Obligor with respect to any
      post-retirement Welfare Plan benefit, the Borrower will deliver notice
      thereof and copies of all documentation relating thereto;

           (o) the Borrower will deliver (i) promptly after the sending or
      filing thereof, copies of all reports that any Obligor sends to its public
      shareholders and copies of registration statements and material filings
      made with the SEC or any other national securities exchange or commission,
      and (ii) without duplication of sub-clause (i), promptly upon the making,
                                      --------------                           
      filing or receipt thereof, copies of each material report and document
      delivered to, filed with, or received from any Governmental Agency (other
      than any such report, etc. concerning a matter the Borrower reasonably
      believes, will not be adversely determined or resolved against any
      Obligor) which contains details of any event or circumstance which could
      or might have a Materially Adverse Effect;

                                     -89-
<PAGE>
 
           (p) the Borrower will, as soon as practicable prior to the effective
      date thereof, deliver to the Administrative Agent information as to (i)
      any material changes in the nature of the 1994 DOCLOC Facility Allocated
      Portion and (ii) the occurrence of the 1994 DOCLOC Facility Release Date;
      and

           (q) each Obligor will deliver such other information with respect to
      the financial condition, business, property, assets, revenues and
      operations of such Obligor as either the Administrative Agent or the
      Documentation and Technical Agent or any Lender (acting through such
      Agent) may from time to time reasonably request.

      SECTION 7.1.2.   Compliance with Laws and Operative Documents.  Each
Obligor will comply in all material respects with all Applicable Laws relating
to it and to its assets and properties (including in the case of each Principal
Subsidiary, the Principal Mine in which it has an interest and the Mine Assets
thereat) and any Operative Document to which it is or may be a party (including
the performance of all obligations evidenced thereby), except where such failure
to comply would not have a Materially Adverse Effect.

      SECTION 7.1.3.   Approvals.

           (a) Each Obligor will obtain, maintain in full force and effect, and
      comply in all respects with, all Approvals (including those identified in
      Item 1 ("Approvals") of the Disclosure Schedule) as may be required or
      ------   ---------                                                    
      advisable from time to time for such Obligor to (i) execute, deliver,
      perform and preserve its rights under any of the Operative Documents
      executed or to be executed by it, (ii) grant and perfect the Liens granted
      or purported to be granted and perfected by it pursuant to any Security
      Document to which it is a party, (iii) in the case of Fairbanks Gold and
      Melba Creek, consummate the Fort Knox Project in accordance with sound
      mining and business practice and (iv) in the case of any such Principal
      Subsidiary, operate each Principal Mine in which it has any interest and
      own, lease, use or licence the Mine Assets located thereat in accordance
      with sound mining and business practice, except where, in the case of sub-
                                                                            ---
      clauses (iii) and (iv), failure to obtain, maintain in full force and
      -------------     ----                                               
      effect or, as the case may be, comply with such Approvals would not have a
      Materially Adverse Effect.

           (b) Without limiting the foregoing clause (a), each of the Borrower,
                                              ----------                       
      Fairbanks Gold, Melba Creek and Lassen Gold will obtain all Approvals in
                                                                              
      Part B of Item 1 ("Pending Material Approvals") of the Disclosure Schedule
      ------    ------   --------------------------                             
      by the date set forth in the Disclosure Schedule opposite such Approval
      and, within five (5) Business Days of obtaining any such Approval deliver
      to the Administrative Agent certified copies (or originals where requested
      by the Administrative Agent) of all such Approvals as then in effect and
      will use its best efforts to obtain all Non-Material Approvals as and when
      it deems it reasonably prudent to do so.

                                     -90-
<PAGE>
 
      SECTION 7.1.4.   Maintenance of Corporate Existence.  Except as may be
permitted pursuant to sub-clause (a) of the proviso to Section 7.2.9, each
                      --------------        -------    -------------      
Obligor will do and will cause to be done at all times all things necessary to
maintain and preserve its corporate existence.

      SECTION 7.1.5.   Foreign Qualification.  Except where failure to comply
with the provisions of this Section would not have a Materially Adverse Effect,
each Obligor will do and cause to be done at all times all things necessary to
be duly qualified to do business and be in good standing (where such concept is
relevant) as a foreign corporation, in each jurisdiction where the nature of its
business makes such qualification necessary.

      SECTION 7.1.6.   Payment of Taxes, etc.  Each Obligor will pay and
discharge, as the same may become due and payable, all taxes, assessments, fees
and other governmental charges or levies against it or on any of its property,
as well as claims of any kind or character (including claims for sums due for
labor, material, supplies, personal property and services); provided, however,
                                                            --------  ------- 
that the foregoing shall not require any Obligor to pay or discharge any such
tax, assessment, fee, charge, levy or claim so long as it shall be diligently
contesting the validity or amount thereof in good faith by appropriate
proceedings and shall have set aside on its books adequate reserves in
accordance with GAAP with respect thereto.

      SECTION 7.1.7.  Insurance.

           (a) Each Principal Subsidiary will maintain, or ensure that each
      other Project Party maintains (or, as the case may be, each relevant Group
      Insurance Policy continues to be maintained) with responsible insurance
      companies: (i) insurance as required under this Agreement, the Security
      Documents and any other Operative Document and (ii) such other insurance
      (including business interruption insurance) with respect to the properties
      and business of such Principal Subsidiary against such casualties and
      contingencies and of such types and in such amounts as is customary in the
      case of similar businesses similarly situated and such other insurance as
      may be required by any Applicable Law and the Borrower will, upon request
      of the Administrative Agent, deliver to the Administrative Agent at
      reasonable intervals a certificate of an Authorized Representative of the
      Borrower setting forth the nature and extent of all insurance (including
      details of Group Insurance Policies as in effect from time to time)
      maintained in accordance with this Section.  The Administrative Agent
      shall solicit the services of the Insurance Consultant to assess the
      adequacy and sufficiency of the insurance coverage required to be
      maintained hereunder and evaluate the contents of the foregoing
      certificate.  The Borrower will immediately notify the Administrative
      Agent of any proposed change of any insurance company providing material
      insurance coverage (excluding, however (but subject to clause (d)), with
                                                             ----------       
      respect to any Group Insurance Policies) of the nature referred to in this
      Section, and any such change shall require the consent of the
      Administrative Agent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld.

                                     -91-
<PAGE>
 
           (b) All of the insurance policies referred to in clause (a) relating
                                                            ----------         
      to the Fort Knox Mine and the Hayden Hill Mine will, in each case in
      accordance with standard practice in the mining industry:

                (i) except in the case of Group Insurance Policies, specify the
           Collateral Agent (for the rateable benefit of the Lender Parties) as
           an additional insured under all policies of liability insurance and
           (subject, in case of the Fort Knox Mine, to any right which the State
           of Alaska may have under any applicable Approval) as the first loss
           payee under all policies of property insurance pursuant to a 438 BFU
           endorsement (or such other endorsement as may be satisfactory to the
           Administrative Agent acting in its reasonable discretion), and
           contain such other endorsements in favor of the Collateral Agent (for
           the rateable benefit of the Lender Parties), as the Administrative
           Agent shall require;

                (ii) except in the case of Group Insurance Policies, not be
           cancellable (or non-renewable or subject to a material decrease in
           the scope or amount of coverage (including by way of increase in any
           deductible)) as against the Collateral Agent (including for failure
           to pay premiums) or subject to material alteration of any kind
           without at least 30 days' (or less in case of war and kindred risks)
           prior written notice to the Administrative Agent;

                (iii)  except in the case of Group Insurance Policies, in the
           case of insurance covering loss or damage to any Mine Assets
           constituting the Fort Knox Mine, and to the extent available on
           reasonable commercial terms, contain a "breach of warranty" provision
           (including that the policy shall not be invalidated as against the
           Collateral Agent or any other Lender Party by reason of any action or
           failure to act of any Person (including any negligence on behalf of
           the foregoing)), provide for waiver of any right of set-off,
           recoupment, subrogation, counterclaim or any other deduction, by
           attachment or otherwise, with respect to any liability of any
           beneficiary of such insurance policy, and shall provide that all
           amounts payable by reason of loss or damage to any of the Mine Assets
           shall be payable to the Collateral Agent for replacement in a manner
           which is consistent with the provisions of clause (c); and
                                                      ----------     

                (iv) otherwise be in form and substance satisfactory to the
           Administrative Agent.

           (c) Each of the Borrower, Fairbanks Gold and Lassen Gold will cause
      proceeds of all insurances maintained with respect to the Fort Knox
      Project or the Hayden Hill Project, as the case may be, and/or the Mine
      Assets thereat to be applied as follows:

                                     -92-
<PAGE>
 
                (i) all amounts received in respect of (x) the partial or total
           taking or requisition of either such Principal Mine or the Mine
           Assets thereat, or any interest therein, (y) any release, inhibition,
           modification, suspension or extinguishment of any Mining Rights
           relating to such Principal Mine, or the imposition of any restriction
           affecting either such Principal Mine or any Mine Assets thereat or
           the grant of any Mining Right related thereto and (z) the suspension
           or material modification of any Approval required or advisable in
           connection with the Fort Knox Project or the operation of either such
           Principal Mine shall be applied to make a mandatory prepayment of the
           Principal Amount of the Loans then outstanding pursuant to clause (k)
                                                                      ----------
           of Section 3.1.1;
              ------------- 

                (ii) prior to an Enforcement Event, all amounts received in
           respect of any liability insurance may be paid directly to the Person
           entitled thereto and after an Enforcement Event, all such amounts
           shall be deposited into such account as the Administrative Agent
           shall direct;

                (iii)  prior to an Enforcement Event, all amounts received in
           respect of any business interruption insurance or delay in start-up
           insurance may be retained by any such Obligor and after an
           Enforcement Event, such amounts shall be deposited into such account
           as the Administrative Agent shall direct; and

                (iv) prior to an Enforcement Event, all proceeds from casualty
           or property insurance received for any single repair, replacement or
           restoration costing less than $20,000,000 (or the equivalent thereof
           in any other currency) may be applied to the repair, replacement or
           restoration of the assets in respect of which the relevant proceeds
           were received or for reimbursement of the Person which effected such
           repair, replacement or restoration and after an Enforcement Event all
           such proceeds shall be deposited into such account as the
           Administrative Agent shall direct.  All such proceeds received for
           any such single repair, etc. costing an amount which is equal to or
           in excess of $20,000,000 shall, with the consent of the
           Administrative Agent (which consent shall be granted within 10
           Business Days unless a Default shall have then occurred and be
           continuing or the Administrative Agent determines in good faith that
           repair, replacement or restoration of the asset in question would not
           be economical or that the insurance proceeds, together with funds
           available from other sources, are insufficient to repair, replace or
           restore such asset) be applied to the prompt payment of the cost of
           the repair, replacement or restoration of such damaged or destroyed
           asset.  In the event that the consent of the Administrative Agent
           shall not be granted pursuant to the provisions of the immediately
           preceding sentence, then all such proceeds shall be applied to make a
           mandatory prepayment of the Principal Amount of the Loans pursuant to
           clause (k) of Section 3.1.1.
           ----------    ------------- 

                                     -93-
<PAGE>
 
           (d) The Borrower shall, promptly following any reasonable request of
      the Administrative Agent given from time to time, cause copies of any and
      all Group Insurance Policies and any other requested information relating
      thereto to be delivered to the Administrative Agent.

      SECTION 7.1.8.   Books and Records.  Each Obligor will keep financial
records and statements reflecting all of its business affairs and transactions
in accordance with GAAP.  Each Obligor will permit the Independent Consultant,
the Agents and the Lenders or any of their respective representatives to inspect
any and all of its properties and operations and to visit all of its offices or
any other location where relevant personnel or records are located.  Each
Obligor will permit the Independent Consultant, the Agents and the Lenders or
any of their respective representatives to discuss its financial matters with
its officers and independent chartered and certified public accountants, as the
case may be (and hereby authorizes such independent chartered or certified
public accountants, as the case may be, to discuss its financial matters with
any of the foregoing Persons or its representatives whether or not any
representative of such Obligor is present) and to examine (and photocopy
extracts from) any of its books or other corporate records or any of the Project
Documents. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the relevant
Obligor or Obligors shall provide all relevant and necessary assistance to the
Independent Consultant (including the preparation of Completion Certificates,
Independent Consultant's Reports and Monthly Reports) and the Agents in
connection with the performance of the duties of the Independent Consultant and
the Agents contemplated hereby. The Borrower shall, subject to the provisions of
clause (b) of Section 10.3, pay any fees of such chartered or certified public 
----------    ------------                                             
accountant and the Independent Consultant and the Agents incurred in connection
with the exercise of their rights pursuant to this Section. It is expressly
understood that none of the Independent Consultant nor any Lender Party assumes
any obligation to any Obligor or any other party in respect of the consummation
of the Fort Knox Project or the operation, management and maintenance of any
Principal Mine in accordance with the Consolidated Base Case or otherwise.

      SECTION 7.1.9.   Completion of the Fort Knox Mine; Operation of the
Principal Mines; Further Opinions.

           (a)  Each of Fairbanks Gold and Melba Creek will use its best efforts
      to consummate the Fort Knox Project in accordance with the Base Cases and
      sound mining and business practice and will ensure that the Fort Knox Mine
      is operated, managed and maintained and that Mine Output thereat is
      produced and processed, all substantially in accordance with the Base
      Cases, Applicable Laws and sound mining and business practice and will use
      its best efforts so as to achieve Fort Knox Physical Completion no later
      than March 31, 1997 and Fort Knox Economic Completion no later than
      January 31, 1998.

           (b) Each of Lassen Gold, Guanaco Mining (to the extent the same shall
      be within its control pursuant to any joint venture or similar agreement
      between Guanaco 

                                     -94-
<PAGE>
 
      Mining and any joint venturer or similar person relating to the control
      and/or operation of the Guanaco Mine) and Nevada Gold shall except where
      failure to comply with this clause would not have a Materially Adverse
      Effect, operate, manage and maintain the Principal Mine in which it has an
      interest, and ensure that Mine Output thereat is produced and processed,
      in accordance with the Consolidated Base Case, sound mining and business
      practice and all relevant Requirements of Law.

           (c) The Borrower shall take, and shall use its best efforts
      (including through the utilization of any voting rights available to it,
      directly or indirectly, pursuant to any shareholders or similar agreement
      between the shareholders of CMM or any joint venture or similar agreement
      relating to the Refugio Mine) to cause CMM to take, all actions to ensure
      the construction, development, operation, management and maintenance of
      the Refugio Mine and the production and processing of Mine Output thereat
      in accordance with sound mining and business practice, all relevant
      Requirements of Law and other relevant requirements binding on the Refugio
      Mine in order to enable the Refugio Mine to achieve physical completion
      and economic completion thereof, as and when required by the Consolidated
      Base Case.

           (d) Within six months after the Fort Knox Physical Completion Date,
      each of Fairbanks Gold and Melba Creek shall enter into and deliver to the
      Collateral Agent supplements and/or amendments to the Fairbanks Gold/Melba
      Creek Collateral Agreement and related financing statements in form and
      substance satisfactory to counsel to the Administrative Agent which
      supplements, amendments and financing statements shall confirm that a
      first priority perfected Lien shall have been granted in favor of the
      Collateral Agent over all properties and assets acquired during the period
      from the Initial Borrowing Date to (and including) the date of such
      supplements, amendments and financing statements.

           (e) On or prior to the date which is 35 days after the Initial
      Borrowing Date, the Obligors shall procure delivery to the Administrative
      Agent of opinions of Gresham, Varner, Nolan, Savage & Tilden, special
      California counsel to the Borrower and Lassen Gold and of Guess & Rudd,
      special Alaska counsel to the Borrower, Fairbanks Gold and Melba Creek,
      substantially in the form of Exhibits G-7 and G-8, respectively, attached
                                   ------------     ---                        
      hereto and on or prior to December 15, 1995 the Obligor shall procure
      delivery to the Administrative Agent of an additional title opinion of
      Guess & Rudd with respect to the claims within the millsite permit area at
      the Fort Knox Mine in form and substance satisfactory to the
      Administrative Agent, in its reasonable discretion.  The Obligors hereby
      instruct the counsels referred to in this clause to deliver the opinions
      referred to herein to the Administrative Agent and the other Lender
      Parties.

      SECTION 7.1.10.  Hedging Agreements.  At all times on and after the
Initial Borrowing Date, the Borrower shall provide evidence to the
Administrative Agent to the effect that it has directly entered into (or that
APMI shall have directly entered into and assigned the 

                                     -95-
<PAGE>
 
rights and benefits thereof to the Borrower in a manner satisfactory to the
Administrative Agent), and the Administrative Agent (for the rateable benefit of
the Lender Parties) shall have been granted a first priority perfected Lien in
respect of the Borrower's rights under Committed Hedging Agreements reasonably
acceptable to the Administrative Agent or put options or other similar
uncommitted transactions with respect to the sale of Gold (together with such
Committed Hedging Agreements, collectively, the "Hedging Agreements") which are
                                                 ------------------ 
in effect with counterparties (the "Hedging Counterparties") satisfactory to the
                                    ----------------------                      
Administrative Agent such that the proceeds thereof (both as to the amount and
to the timing) are sufficient to discharge in full all Consolidated Costs
(excluding, however, Consolidated Capital Costs in respect of Hedging Agreements
and Consolidated Capital Costs scheduled to be incurred in connection with the
construction of the Fort Knox Mine for the period prior to April 1, 1997) for
the three calendar year period (or such shorter period ending on the date which
is 12 calendar months after the Final Maturity Date) commencing at such time
(such Consolidated Costs, the "Hedged Consolidated Costs"); provided, however,
                               --------------------------    --------  -------
that:

           (a) any repayment of the Tranche B Gold Loans to be made at any date
      pursuant to clause (d) of Section 3.1.1 shall for purposes of clause (c)
                  ----------    -------------                       ----------
      of Section 2.4, Section 5.1.7 and this Section be treated as a Committed
         -----------  -------------                                           
      Hedging Agreement requiring delivery on such date of a number of ounces of
      Gold equal to such repayment at the relevant Loan Base Price; and

           (b) (i) for each 12 month period commencing on any April 1
      (commencing on April 1, 1997), the sum of the number of ounces of Gold
      required to be delivered during such 12 month period under all Committed
      Hedging Agreements entered into by the Borrower or any Subsidiary (whether
      or not required pursuant to this Section) other than spot deferred sales
      agreements (excluding any repayment or prepayment of Tranche B Gold Loans)
      shall not exceed an amount equal to seventy-five percent (75%) of
      Production (Hedging Adjusted) for such 12 month period; and (ii) for any
      period commencing on or after April 1, 1997 and ending on the date which
      is 12 calendar months after the Final Maturity Date, the sum of the number
      of ounces of Gold required to be delivered during such period under such
      Committed Hedging Agreements (excluding any repayment or prepayment of
      Tranche B Gold Loans) shall not exceed an amount equal to seventy-five
      percent (75%) of Production (Hedging Adjusted) for such period.

      SECTION 7.1.11.  Interest Rate Protection Agreements.  At all times when
any Dollar Loan shall be outstanding, the Borrower shall have implemented and,
the Administrative Agent shall have been granted (for the rateable benefit of
the Lender Parties) a first priority perfected Lien in respect of confirmations
and/or other interest rate protection agreements pursuant to documentation
satisfactory in form and substance to the Administrative Agent (each such
confirmation or agreement, individually, an "Interest Rate Protection
                                             ------------------------
Agreement") with counterparties (individually, an "Interest Rate Protection
                                                   ------------------------
Counterparty") satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, and providing for
------------                                                              
protection to the Borrower for the three calendar year 

                                     -96-
<PAGE>
 
period (or such shorter period ending on the date which is 12 months after the
Final Maturity Date) commencing on any relevant date against payment of interest
(on a nominal amount equal to at least 50% of the Principal Amount of such
Dollar Loans then outstanding and projected in the Base Cases at such time to be
outstanding from time to time) which is in excess of the sum of (a) the weighted
average LIBO Rate, (b) one percent (1%) per annum, plus (c) the Applicable
                                        --- -----  ----
Margin from time to time in effect.

      SECTION 7.1.12.  Proceeds.  The Borrower shall apply the proceeds of the
Loans strictly in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, including the
sixth recital.  Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the proceeds
-------------                                                                 
of any Loans advanced to fund the Fort Knox Project shall only be utilized to
fund or to reimburse Fairbanks Gold in respect of bona fide costs remaining
                                                  ---- ----
unpaid or previously paid not earlier than the date which is the first day of
the calendar month immediately preceding the calendar month during which such
Loans are made and, in each such case, referred to in the Borrowing Request
submitted in connection with the making of such Loans.

      SECTION 7.1.13.  Environmental Covenant.

           (a) Each Obligor will, and will use its best efforts to ensure that
      each other Project Party will, use and operate each Principal Mine, the
      Mine Assets thereat and all of its facilities and properties related
      thereto in material compliance with, keep all material Approvals relating
      to environmental matters in effect and remain in material compliance with
      and handle all Hazardous Materials in material compliance with, all
      applicable Environmental Laws;

           (b) Each Obligor will immediately notify the Administrative Agent and
      (upon the request of the Administrative Agent) provide (and ensure that
      each other Project Party provides) copies upon receipt of all (and, in the
      case of each Principal Mine other than the Fort Knox Mine and the Hayden
      Hill Mine, material) written claims or complaints or (to the extent any
      matter referred to in any notice or inquiry might have a Materially
      Adverse Effect) notices or inquiries relating to the condition of its
      facilities and properties or compliance with all applicable Environmental
      Laws, and shall promptly cure (to the extent necessary to terminate such
      action or proceeding) any actions and proceedings relating to compliance
      with all applicable Environmental Laws; and

           (c) Each Obligor will provide such information and certifications
      which the Administrative Agent may reasonably request from time to time to
      evidence compliance with this Section.

      Notwithstanding the foregoing, neither Fairbanks Gold nor Melba Creek
shall have any obligations under this Section in respect of the Fort Knox Mine
and Lassen Gold shall have no obligations under this Section in respect of the
Hayden Hill Mine.

                                     -97-
<PAGE>
 
      SECTION 7.1.14.  Maintenance of Mine Assets.  Each of Fairbanks Gold and
Melba Creek and (except where failure to comply with the provisions of this
Section would not have a Materially Adverse Effect) Lassen Gold will maintain,
preserve, protect and keep:

           (a) all of such Principal Subsidiary's ownership, lease, use, licence
      and other interests in the relevant Mine Assets (including all Mining
      Rights) as are necessary or advisable for such Principal Subsidiary to be
      able to operate the Principal Mine in which it has an interest
      substantially in accordance with sound mining and business practice and in
      a manner such that the requirements of, and projections contained in,
      the Fort Knox Base Case, or, as the case may be, the Consolidated Base
      Case, can be achieved; and

           (b) all of the Mine Assets constituting the Principal Mine in which
      such Principal Subsidiary has an interest in good repair, working order
      and condition, and make necessary and proper repairs, renewals and
      replacements so that its business carried on in connection therewith may
      be properly conducted at all times, unless the continued maintenance of
      any of such Mine Assets is no longer necessary or economically desirable
      for the operation of the relevant Principal Mine as determined
      substantially in accordance with sound mining and business practice.

      SECTION 7.1.15.  Capitalization of the Borrower; Availability of 1994
DOCLOC Facility.

           (a) Without limiting Cyprus Amax' obligations under the DOCLOC
      Support Agreement, the Borrower shall ensure that at all times prior to
      the 1994 DOCLOC Facility Release Date, the 1994 DOCLOC Facility Available
      Portion shall be maintained for the account of the Borrower in a principal
      amount of at least $70,000,000.

           (b) No later than July 31, 1996 (unless by such date the 1994 DOCLOC
      Facility Release Date shall have occurred and the Borrower shall be in
      compliance with the provisions of clause (c)), Approved Subordinated
                                        ----------                        
      Indebtedness (Borrower) shall have been issued or equity share capital
      shall have been issued to any Person in such an amount as to yield Net
      Issuance Proceeds of at least $25,000,000 for application as a mandatory
      prepayment of the Principal Amount of the Loans then outstanding pursuant
      to clause (f) of Section 3.1.1.
         ----------    ------------- 

           (c) Following the 1994 DOCLOC Facility Release Date (details of which
      the Borrower shall notify to the Administrative Agent pursuant to clause
                                                                        ------
      (p)(ii) of Section 7.1.1), and without limiting clause (b) or Cyprus Amax'
      -------    -------------                        ----------                
      obligations under the DOCLOC Support Agreement, the Borrower shall ensure
      that the 1994 DOCLOC Facility Fort Knox Portion shall be maintained in a
      principal amount of at least the 

                                     -98-
<PAGE>
 
      lesser of (i) $100,000,000 or (ii) the sum of (x) the aggregate
                                 --
      outstanding Principal Amounts of the Loans plus (y) the aggregate
                                                 ----
      Available Commitments, if any.

           (d) If at any time, the Administrative Agent shall notify the
      Borrower that Cyprus Amax shall not be in compliance with the provisions
      of Section 7.05 of the Competitive Advance Facility Agreement (a copy of
      which shall have been supplied to the Administrative Agent in connection
      with the closing of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement), the
      Borrower shall forthwith make drawdowns of all amounts in respect of the
      1994 DOCLOC Facility Available Portion (or, at any time following the
      1994 DOCLOC Facility Release Date, the 1994 DOCLOC Facility Fort Knox
      Portion) or, in the alternative, arrange for letters of credit to be
      provided for the benefit of the Administrative Agent (for the rateable
      benefit of the Lenders Parties) from an issuing bank or other financial
      institution satisfactory to the Administrative Agent in a face amount
      equal to the 1994 DOCLOC Facility Available Portion (or, at any time
      following the 1994 DOCLOC Facility Release Date, the 1994 DOCLOC Facility
      Fort Knox Portion).

           (e) While the Borrower acknowledges that the foregoing provisions of
      this Section restrict utilization of the 1994 DOCLOC Facility (and subject
      to clause (d)), the Borrower undertakes, to the extent that the Required
         ----------                                                           
      Lenders shall then have consented thereto and to the extent that funds are
      not otherwise available, to utilize any then available portion of the 1994
      DOCLOC Facility (including the 1994 DOCLOC Facility Fort Knox Portion) in
      order to fund the costs of development and operation of the Fort Knox
      Project and the payment of the Obligations of the Borrower hereunder.

           (f) In the event that Cyprus Amax shall exercise the Lender's
      Purchase Option (as defined in the 1994 DOCLOC Facility Agreement) then,
      subject to the application of any proceeds thereof as may be required
      pursuant to clause (g)(i) of Section 3.1.1, the obligations of the
                  -------------    -------------                        
      Borrower pursuant to clauses (a) and (c) shall be reduced pro rata
                           -----------     ---                          
      according to the principal amount of the available 1994 DOCLOC Facility
      immediately following such exercise.

           (g) The Borrower specifically acknowledges that it intends that the
      obligations of Cyprus Amax under the 1994 DOCLOC Facility Agreement shall
      not be suspended or rendered unenforceable by the commencement of a case
      under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code with respect to the Borrower.
      Accordingly, and unless the Administrative Agent otherwise directs in
      writing, (i) the Borrower hereby waives to the fullest extent permissible
      by Applicable Law and to the extent that the 1994 DOCLOC Facility
      Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby constitute an
      "executory contract" (under Section 365 of the Bankruptcy Code), any right
      it may have to request, or to join in any request, that any trustee
      (including the Borrower as debtor in possession in a case under the
      Bankruptcy Code) in any bankruptcy or insolvency case relating to the
      Borrower reject the 1994 DOCLOC Facility Agreement, (ii) the 

                                     -99-
<PAGE>
 
      Borrower agrees to file promptly (and to prosecute in good faith with
      reasonable diligence) upon the commencement of any such case under the
      Bankruptcy Code respecting the Borrower, a motion under Sections 364 and
      365 of the Bankruptcy Code, asking the related bankruptcy court to
      authorize the Borrower to continue to obtain financing pursuant to the
      1994 DOCLOC Facility Agreement, and (iii) the Borrower waives to the
      fullest extent permissible by Applicable Law, any objection, under Section
      364 or 365(c) of the Bankruptcy Code or otherwise, to assumption of the
      1994 DOCLOC Facility Agreement by the Borrower, as debtor or debtor in
      possession, or by any trustee on behalf of the Borrower's bankruptcy
      estate and any objection to the assumption, by the Borrower or any
      successor in interest thereto, of the 1994 DOCLOC Facility Agreement in
      connection with the confirmation of any plan of reorganization for the
      Borrower.

      SECTION 7.1.16.  Pari Passu.     Each Obligor will ensure that its payment
Obligations under this Agreement and each other Loan Document to which it is a
party rank at least pari passu in right of payment with all of such Obligor's
                    ---- -----                                               
other unsecured and unsubordinated Indebtedness other than any such Indebtedness
which is preferred by mandatory provisions of Applicable Law.

      SECTION 7.1.17.  Accuracy of Information.  All factual information
hereafter delivered by or on behalf of any Obligor in writing to any Lender
Party for the purposes of or in connection with this Agreement or any
transaction contemplated hereby (other than any such information of the nature
referred to in the immediately succeeding sentence) will be true and accurate in
every material respect on the date as of which such information is dated or
certified and such information shall not be incomplete by omitting to state any
material fact necessary (in the context of the circumstances in which such
information is given) to make such information not misleading.  All financial
projections, estimates and other expressions of view as to future circumstances
hereafter delivered by or on behalf of any Obligor in writing to any Lender
Party for the purposes of or in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan
Document or any transaction contemplated hereby or thereby will be fair and
reasonable and, to the best of such Obligor's knowledge, will be arrived at
after reasonable enquiry and will be made in good faith by the Person
responsible therefor on the date as and when prepared (and, for the avoidance of
doubt, on no other date).

      SECTION 7.1.18.  Plans.  Each Obligor will maintain and operate each Plan
in material compliance with ERISA and the Code.

      SECTION 7.2.     Certain Negative Covenants.  Each Obligor agrees with
each Lender Party that, until all Commitments have terminated and all
Obligations have been paid and performed in full, such Obligor will perform its
respective obligations set forth in this Section.  Except where the context
specifically requires otherwise, the Borrower shall use its best efforts to
ensure that each relevant Subsidiary complies with its respective obligations
set forth in this Section.

                                     -100-
<PAGE>
 
      SECTION 7.2.1.   Business Activities; Place of Business; Organic
Documents; Fiscal Year.

                (a) (i)   The Borrower shall not engage in any business
           activity, directly or indirectly through its Subsidiaries (including
           the Principal Subsidiaries), other than the exploration for gold and
           other metals and minerals and the construction, development and
           operation of gold and other metal and mineral mines (including the
           Principal Mines) and any activity incidental thereto.

                     (ii) Fairbanks Gold shall not engage in any business
           activity other than the consummation of the Fort Knox Project, the
           operation, management and maintenance of the Fort Knox Mine and any
           activity incidental thereto.  Melba Creek shall not engage in any
           business activity other than the ownership and leasing of the real
           estate and mining rights referred to in, and contemplated by, the
           Fort Knox Lease Agreement and any activity incidental thereto.

                     (iii)  No other Principal Subsidiary shall engage in any
           business activity other than the operation, management and
           maintenance of the Principal Mine in which it has an interest and any
           activity incidental thereto.

           (b) None of the Borrower, Fairbanks Gold, Melba Creek or Lassen Gold
      shall change its place of business or the location of any assets the
      subject of any Security Document to which it is a party without first
      taking (to the satisfaction of the Administrative Agent and/or the
      Collateral Agent) all actions necessary to protect the effectiveness and
      the priority of the Lien granted pursuant to the relevant Security
      Document.

           (c) No Obligor shall amend its Organic Documents, change its
      corporate name or change its Fiscal Year.

      SECTION 7.2.2.   Indebtedness.  The Borrower shall not, and shall not
permit any Subsidiary to, create, incur, assume, or suffer to exist or otherwise
become or be liable in respect of any Indebtedness other than:

           (a) Indebtedness in respect of the Loans and other Obligations;

           (b) Indebtedness in respect of Hedging Agreements or Interest Rate
      Protection Agreements entered into by the Borrower in accordance with
      Section 7.1.10 or 7.1.11 or, without prejudice to the provisions of clause
      --------------    ------                                            ------
      (b) of Section 7.1.10, other Hedging Obligations incurred in the ordinary
      ---    --------------                                                    
      course of business;

                                     -101-
<PAGE>
 
           (c) until the Initial Borrowing Date, Bridge Loan Existing
      Indebtedness, Guanaco Existing Indebtedness, Hayden Hill Existing
      Indebtedness and other Indebtedness in the amounts described in Item 2
                                                                      ------
      ("Indebtedness to be Paid") of the Disclosure Schedule;
      -------------------------                              

           (d) solely in the case of the Borrower, Indebtedness which is
      identified in Item 10 ("Ongoing Borrower Indebtedness") of the Disclosure
                    -------   -----------------------------                    
      Schedule;

           (e) at any date (i) unsecured Indebtedness outstanding at such date
      incurred by way of open accounts of less than 270 days extended by
      suppliers, or letters of credit opened for the benefit of suppliers, on
      normal trade terms in connection with purchases of goods and services in
      the ordinary course of business of such Principal Subsidiary which
      constitute Consolidated Costs (and excluding, for the avoidance of doubt,
      Indebtedness incurred through the borrowing of money) (ii) Indebtedness of
      any Obligor not in excess of $500,000 at any one time outstanding in
      respect of such Obligor incurred to suppliers of equipment constituting
      Consolidated Capital Costs (other than pursuant to the Construction
      Contract) in respect of the deferred purchase price of such equipment and
      (iii) Indebtedness evidenced by the Project Documents as in effect on the
      Effective Date;

           (f) Approved Subordinated Indebtedness;

           (g) Indebtedness (other than Indebtedness of the nature referred to
      in the foregoing clauses) in an aggregate principal amount not in excess
      of $5,000,000 (or the equivalent thereof in any other currency) for the
      Borrower and its Subsidiaries at any one time outstanding; and

           (h) Indebtedness of any Subsidiary to the Borrower or any other
      Subsidiary incurred in connection with any Investment permitted to be made
      pursuant to clause (a), (d), (e) or (f) of Section 7.2.6;
                  ----------  ---  ---    ---    ------------- 

provided, however, that no Indebtedness of the nature referred to in clause (f),
--------  -------                                                    ---------- 
(g) or (h) may be incurred if, immediately before or after giving effect
---    ---                                                              
thereto, any Default shall have occurred and be continuing.

      SECTION 7.2.3.   Liens.  The Borrower shall not, and shall not permit any
Subsidiary to, create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Lien upon any of its
properties, revenues or assets, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, except:

           (a) Liens in favor of the Administrative Agent and/or the Collateral
      Agent (for the rateable benefit of the Lender Parties) granted pursuant to
      any Loan Document;

                                     -102-
<PAGE>
 
           (b) Liens securing Existing Hayden Hill Indebtedness, which Liens
      shall be released in full on the Initial Borrowing Date;

           (c) Liens securing Indebtedness of the type permitted by and
      described in clause (d) of Section 7.2.2, and disclosed in Item 11
                   ----------    -------------                   -------
      ("Ongoing Borrower Liens") of the Disclosure Schedule;
      ------------------------                              

           (d) Liens for taxes, assessments or other governmental charges or
      levies not at the time delinquent or thereafter payable without penalty or
      being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and for which
      adequate reserves in accordance with GAAP shall have been set aside on its
      books;

           (e) Liens of carriers, warehousemen, mechanics, materialmen,
      suppliers and landlords incurred in the ordinary course of business for
      sums not overdue or being contested in good faith by appropriate
      proceedings and for which adequate reserves in accordance with GAAP shall
      have been set aside on its books;

           (f) Liens incurred in the ordinary course of business in connection
      with workmen's compensation, unemployment insurance or other forms of
      governmental insurance or benefits, or to secure performance of tenders,
      statutory obligations, leases and contracts (other than for borrowed
      money) entered into in the ordinary course of business or to secure
      obligations on surety or appeal bonds;

           (g) Liens incurred in the ordinary course of business in connection
      with the ownership of such property or assets which do not secure
      Indebtedness and which do not materially detract from the value of such
      property or assets or materially impair the value or use thereof;

           (h) solely in the case of any property acquired by the Borrower or
      any Subsidiary after the Effective Date, Liens existing prior to the date
      of acquisition of any such property attaching only to such property but
      not incurred in connection with such acquisition and any replacement or
      extension of such Liens; provided, however, that any such replacement or
                               --------  -------                              
      extension of any such Lien shall not secure obligations in an amount
      greater than those originally secured;

           (i) Liens permitted to be incurred pursuant to any Collateral
      Agreement;

           (j) judgment Liens in existence less than 10 days after the entry
      thereof or with respect to which execution has been stayed or the payment
      of which is covered in full (subject to a customary deductible) by
      insurance maintained with responsible insurance companies;

                                     -103-
<PAGE>
 
           (k) Liens securing Indebtedness permitted to be incurred pursuant to
      clause (e)(ii) of Section 7.2.2; provided, however, that any such Lien
      --------------    -------------  --------  -------                    
      shall attach only to the equipment in respect of which such Indebtedness
      is incurred; and (l) without duplication of clause (b), Liens disclosed in
                                                  ----------
      Item 4 ("Assets; Properties") of the Disclosure Schedule.
      ------   ------  ----------      

      SECTION 7.2.4.   Financial Condition of Borrower.  The Borrower will not
permit:

           (a) the Cash Flow Ratio (calculated on the date of preparation of
      each Compliance Certificate with respect to each consecutive three-month
      period commencing on the Fort Knox Economic Completion Date and (without
      duplication) all Calculation Dates which are Quarterly Payment Dates
      scheduled to occur on or after such date of preparation (and, in the case
      of the Calculation Date which is the Fort Knox Economic Completion Date,
      calculated with respect to the three month period ending on the next
      succeeding scheduled Calculation Date which is a Quarterly Payment Date),
      to be less than or equal to one-hundred and twenty-five percent (125%);

           (b) the Loan Life Ratio (calculated on the date of preparation of
      each Compliance Certificate with respect to the Initial Borrowing Date,
      each March 31, June 30, September 30 and December 31 occurring prior to
      the first Quarterly Payment Date and all Calculation Dates, in each case
      scheduled to occur on or after such date of preparation), to be less than
      or equal to one hundred and sixty percent (160%);

             (c)  the Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio, for any
      Measurement Period ending on the last day of each Fiscal Quarter
      (commencing with the first Fiscal Quarter to end on or after the Fort Knox
      Economic Completion Date) during either period set forth below, to be less
      than or equal to the percentage set forth below opposite such period:

<TABLE> 
<CAPTION> 
 
Measurement Period                Minimum Consolidated Fixed
Ending                            Charge Coverage Ratio
---------------------------       -------------------------------
<S>                               <C> 
From the last day of the
first Fiscal Quarter ending       200%
on or after the Fort Knox   
Economic Completion         
Date to (and including)     
December 31, 2000            

</TABLE> 

                                     -104-
<PAGE>
 
<TABLE> 
<S>                               <C>  
 
From March 31, 2001 to            180%
(and including) December
31, 2001
</TABLE>


           (d) the Consolidated Indebtedness/Capitalization Ratio, at any date
      to be equal to or greater than fifty percent (50%);

           (e) Consolidated Tangible Net Worth, at any date, to be less than the
      sum of (i) $285,000,000 (or, in the case of any computation of
      Consolidated Tangible Net Worth to be made on any date occurring on or
      prior to December 31, 1995, $275,750,000), (ii) all Capital Contributions
      (including any Capital Contribution of the nature referred to in clause
                                                                       ------
      (d) of Section 5.1.12) made by Cyprus Amax to the Borrower (excluding, for
      ---    --------------                                                     
      the avoidance of doubt, any undrawn amount under either DOCLOC Facility
      and any amount drawn thereunder which has not been converted into equity
      share capital on or prior to such date) during the period commencing on
      June 30, 1995 and ending on such date, plus (iii) fifty percent (50%) of
      Consolidated Net Income for the period commencing on June 30, 1995 and
      ending on such date; or

           (f) the Proven and Probable Reserves to be at any date less than four
      hundred percent (400%) of the Gold equivalent of (i) at any time on or
      prior to the Commitment Termination Date, the Total Commitment Amount,
      plus (ii) at any time thereafter, the Principal Amount of all Loans on
      such date.

      SECTION 7.2.5.   Capital Expenditures.

           (a) No Obligor will make or commit to make any Capital Expenditures
      other than (i) in the case of Fairbanks Gold with respect to the Fort Knox
      Mine, Capital Expenditures not to exceed 110% of those amounts designated
      as "Permitted Capital Expenditures" for the Fort Knox Mine in the Fort
      Knox Base Case for such Fiscal Year (or longer period commencing with the
      Effective Date and ending on December 31, 1996) and (ii) in the case of
      each other Principal Subsidiary (excluding Melba Creek) with respect to
      the Principal Mine in which it has an interest, Capital Expenditures
      corresponding to those amounts designated as "Permitted Capital
      Expenditures" in the Consolidated Base Case for such Fiscal Year (or such
      longer period) for each such Principal Mine.  Notwithstanding the
      foregoing, the Principal Subsidiaries (other than Fairbanks Gold) may
      defer the making of Capital Expenditures permitted to be expended for any
      Fiscal Year (or longer period commencing with the Effective Date and
      ending on December 31, 1996) but not actually expended during such Fiscal
      Year (or such longer period) with respect to the Principal Mines in which
      such Principal Subsidiaries have interests for expenditure in a subsequent
      Fiscal Year in an amount not to exceed an aggregate of $3,000,000 for all
      Capital Expenditures so deferred.

                                     -105-
<PAGE>
 
           (b) Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Obligor shall make or commit to
      make any Capital Expenditures if, at the time, or as a consequence of,
      incurring any such item of expenditure any Default shall have occurred and
      be continuing; provided, however, that, if a Default shall have occurred
                     --------  -------                                        
      and be continuing and no Enforcement Event shall then have occurred and be
      continuing, (i) solely with respect to the Fort Knox Mine, prior to the
      Fort Knox Economic Completion Date, Fairbanks Gold may, with the prior
      consent of the Documentation and Technical Agent (acting in consultation
      with the Required Lenders), only make Capital Expenditures constituting
      Required Completion Expenditures and (ii) subsequent to the Fort Knox
      Economic Completion Date (in the case of the Fort Knox Mine) and at any
      time (in the case of any other Principal Mine), each Principal Subsidiary
      (excluding Melba Creek) may, with the prior consent of the Documentation
      and Technical Agent (acting in consultation with the Required Lenders),
      only make Capital Expenditures constituting Required Maintenance
      Expenditures with respect to the Principal Mine in which it has an
      interest.

      SECTION 7.2.6.   Investments.  No Obligor will form or suffer to exist any
Subsidiary (other than those Subsidiaries disclosed in Item 5 of the Disclosure
                                                       ------                  
Schedule ("Subsidiaries")) and, without duplication of the foregoing, will not
           ------------                                                       
make, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Investment in any other Person,
except (without duplication):

           (a) Investments in CMM and the Refugio Mine and other investments
      existing on the Effective Date and identified in Item 12 ("Ongoing
                                                       -------   -------
      Investments") of the Disclosure Schedule;
      -----------                              

           (b) Cash Equivalent Investments purchased and held in accordance with
      investment guidelines adopted by the Board of Directors of the Borrower
      from time to time;

           (c) solely in the case of the Borrower, Investments permitted as
      Approved Subordinated Indebtedness (Principal Subsidiaries) pursuant to
                                                                             
      clause (f) of Section 7.2.2;
      ----------    ------------- 

           (d) Investments permitted as Capital Expenditures (including
      Investments in Subsidiaries in the form of Capital Contributions in
      respect of Investments permitted as Capital Expenditures) pursuant to
      Section 7.2.5;
      ------------- 

           (e) (i) Investments by the Borrower in Subsidiaries in respect of
      joint venture and exploration projects and in respect of reclamation
      costs, in each such case as described in the Consolidated Base Case (but
      not to exceed, in the case of any such Investments in respect of joint
      venture and exploration projects and subject to any changes to the
      Consolidated Base Case as may be agreed pursuant to the terms of this
      Agreement, aggregate amounts of $4,200,000 (or the equivalent thereof in
      any other currency) for the 1995 Fiscal Year or $4,000,000 (or the
      equivalent thereof in any other 

                                     -106-
<PAGE>
 
      currency) for any Fiscal Year thereafter) (ii) Investments by the Borrower
      in Lancaster Mining Company, Inc. in respect of expenditures at the Haile
      gold project in South Carolina described in the Consolidated Base Case,
      (iii) Investments in or by
      APMI incurred by way of intercompany accounts in relation to hedging
      programs implemented by APMI in connection with Production and referred to
      in the Consolidated Base Case and (iv) Investments incurred in connection
      with the acquisition of an interest in the Kubaka Project in the manner
      referred to in clause (c) of Section 7.2.9 (it being understood that the
                     ----------    -------------                              
      consideration for such acquisition may only consist of any form of common
      share capital of the Borrower); and

           (f) Investments in any Subsidiary (excluding any Principal
      Subsidiary) made for the purpose of funding any expenses incurred in the
      ordinary course of business of such Subsidiary and not in excess of
      $1,000,000 at any one time outstanding in respect of the aggregate
      Investments in all such Subsidiaries;

provided, however, that
--------  -------      

           (g) any Investment which when made complies with the requirements of
      the definition of "Cash Equivalent Investment" may continue to be held
                         --------------------------                         
      notwithstanding that such Investment if made thereafter would not comply
      with such requirements; and

           (h) no Investment otherwise permitted by clause (c), (e) or (f) shall
                                                    ----------  ---    ---      
      be permitted to be made if, immediately before or after giving effect
      thereto, any Default shall have occurred and be continuing.

      SECTION 7.2.7.   Restricted Payments, etc.  No Obligor shall:

           (a) declare, pay or make any dividend or distribution (in cash,
      property or obligations) on any shares of any class of capital stock (now
      or hereafter outstanding) of such Obligor or on any warrants, options,
      convertible securities or other rights with respect to any shares of any
      class of capital stock (now or hereafter outstanding) of such Obligor or
      apply any of its funds, property or assets to the purchase, redemption or
      other retirement of any shares of any class of capital stock (now or
      hereafter outstanding) of such Obligor, or warrants, options, convertible
      securities or other rights with respect to any shares of any class of
      capital stock (now or hereafter outstanding) of such Obligor;

           (b) repay, redeem, purchase or otherwise defease any Approved
      Subordinated Indebtedness, or make any other payment in respect thereof;
      or

           (c) make any deposit for any of the foregoing purposes or otherwise
      discharge any Indebtedness incurred by any Affiliate;

                                     -107-
<PAGE>
 
provided, however, that, so long as no Default shall have occurred and be
--------  -------                                                        
continuing or would result from any such payment, (i) any Obligor may declare,
pay or make a dividend or distribution as aforesaid; (ii) any Principal
Subsidiary may make any payment in respect of any Approved Subordinated
Indebtedness (Principal Subsidiaries) incurred by it, and (iii) the Borrower may
make payments in respect of Approved Subordinated Indebtedness referred to in
clause (a) of the definition of "Approved Subordinated Indebtedness (Borrower)";
----------
and provided, further, however, that any such dividend or distribution in the
    --------  -------  -------
case of any shares of common stock of the Borrower may only be paid in the form
of a dividend or distribution of further common stock; and provided, further,
                                                           --------  -------
however, that nothing herein shall, or shall be deemed to, prevent the
-------
redemption or defeasance of any Approved Subordinated Indebtedness (Borrower)
outstanding to Cyprus Amax through the issue of shares of common stock of the
Borrower pursuant to the AGI Stock Issue Agreement or otherwise.

      SECTION 7.2.8.   Take or Pay Contracts.  Except as set forth in Item 13
                                                                      -------
("Take or Pay Contracts") of the Disclosure Schedule, none of the Borrower,
-----------------------                                                    
Fairbanks Gold, Melba Creek or Lassen Gold will enter into or be a party to any
material arrangement for the purchase of materials, supplies, other property or
services if such arrangement by its express terms requires that payment be made
by such Obligor regardless of whether or not such materials, supplies, other
property or services are delivered or furnished to it.  For the avoidance of
doubt, nothing in this Section shall prohibit the Borrower from entering into
any Hedging Agreement or Interest Rate Protection Agreement.

      SECTION 7.2.9.   Consolidation, Merger, etc.  The Borrower will not, and
will not permit any Subsidiary to, liquidate or dissolve, consolidate with, or
merge into or with, any other corporation, or purchase or otherwise acquire all
or substantially all of the assets of any Person (or of any division thereof);
provided, however, that (a) the Borrower may consolidate or merge as aforesaid
--------  -------                                                             
if the conditions described in the proviso to clause (a) of the definition of
                                   -------    ----------                     
"Change in Control" are satisfied, (b) any Subsidiary which is not a Principal
------------------                                                            
Subsidiary may liquidate or dissolve or consolidate with, or merge into or with,
any other such Subsidiary and (c) in connection with the acquisition of the
Kubaka Project from Cyprus Amax, Amax Russia Corporation, a Delaware corporation
and a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Borrower, may merge into Cyprus Magadan
Gold Corporation, a Delaware corporation.

      SECTION 7.2.10.  Asset Dispositions.  The Borrower will not, and will not
permit any of its Subsidiaries or (except to the extent that CMM shall be under
any obligation to the contrary pursuant to the terms and conditions applicable
to any financing obtained in relation to the Refugio Mine (excluding any
Indebtedness provided by any Affiliate of CMM)) CMM to sell, transfer, lease or
otherwise dispose of any of, or grant options, warrants or other rights with
respect to, any of its assets (including accounts receivable) to any Person,
unless:

           (a) such disposition is made in the ordinary course of business and
      consists of finished goods inventories (which may consist, without
      limitation, of gold-bearing 

                                     -108-
<PAGE>
 
      concentrates, gold-bearing ore, refined gold or other product forms
      customarily sold as end products in the mining industry);

           (b) such disposition is of obsolete or replaced assets, which are no
      longer used or useful to the Borrower or such Subsidiary;

           (c) the net book value of all assets disposed of by the Borrower and
      its Subsidiaries (excluding, however, assets disposed of pursuant to
                                                                          
      clauses (a) and (b)) in the same Fiscal Year (or shorter period,
      -----------     ---                                             
      commencing with the Effective Date and ending on December 31, 1995) does
      not exceed $5,000,000 or the equivalent thereof in any other currency
      calculated at the time of the relevant disposition) and fair value in cash
      is received therefor; or

           (d) such disposition is of a Material Asset for cash proceeds as to
      which the Required Lenders shall have consented and the Net Disposition
      Proceeds resulting therefrom shall be used to make a mandatory prepayment
      of the Loans pursuant to clause (h) of Section 3.1.1;
                               ----------    ------------- 

provided, however, that nothing herein shall prohibit any disposition of Gold to
--------  -------                                                               
the Administrative Agent or the Lenders in direct repayment of any Gold
Obligation.

      SECTION 7.2.11.  Transactions with Affiliates.  No Obligor will enter
into, or cause, suffer or permit to exist:

           (a) any arrangement or contract pursuant to which any Indebtedness is
      extended by such Obligor to any Affiliate as obligor (except (i) solely in
      the case of the Borrower, any Approved Subordinated Indebtedness
      (Principal Subsidiary) extended in favor of any Principal Subsidiary and
      any intercompany Indebtedness extended in favor of CMM with respect to the
      Refugio Mine and (ii) any Investments in any Subsidiary of such Obligor of
      the nature permitted to be made pursuant to Section 7.2.6);
                                                  -------------  

           (b) any arrangement or contract with any of its Affiliates of a
      nature customarily entered into by Persons which are Affiliates of each
      other (including management or similar contracts or arrangements relating
      to the allocation of revenues, taxes and expenses or otherwise) requiring
      any payments to be made by such Obligor to any Affiliate unless such
      arrangement is fair and equitable to such Obligor; and

           (c) any other transaction, arrangement or contract with any of its
      other Affiliates which would not be entered into by a prudent Person in
      the position of such Obligor with, or which is on terms which are less
      favorable to such Obligor than are obtainable from, any Person which is
      not one of its Affiliates.

                                     -109-
<PAGE>
 
      SECTION 7.2.12.  Project Documents; 1994 DOCLOC Facility Agreement; DOCLOC
Support Agreement.

           (a) None of the Borrower, Fairbanks Gold or Melba Creek will (i) in
      any material respect amend, modify or waive, or (ii) terminate or replace,
      any Project Document to which it is a party, except as expressly permitted
      pursuant to any Loan Document or with the prior written consent of the
      Required Lenders.

           (b) The Borrower will not (i) in any material respect amend, modify
      or waive or (ii) terminate or replace the 1994 DOCLOC Facility Agreement,
      or grant or suffer to exist any Lien in favor of any party over its rights
      thereunder except with the prior written consent of all the Lenders.

      SECTION 7.2.13.  Actions under Project Documents.  None of the Borrower,
Fairbanks Gold or Melba Creek will take or refrain from taking any action under
any Project Document to which it is a party which would have a Materially
Adverse Effect.

      SECTION 7.2.14.  Royalty Agreements.  No Obligor will, and, solely in the
case of the Refugio Mine, the Borrower will use its best efforts (including
through the utilization of any voting rights available to it, directly or
indirectly, pursuant to any shareholders or similar agreement between the
shareholders of CMM or any joint venture or similar agreement relating to the
Refugio Mine) to ensure that CMM will not, enter into any agreement relating to
the granting of royalties, net smelter returns, net profits (or similar)
interests in connection with any Principal Mine other than as set forth in the
royalty agreements listed in Item 9 ("Royalty Agreements") of the Disclosure
                             ------   ------------------                    
Schedule.

      SECTION 7.2.15.  Sale-Leaseback Transactions.  None of the Borrower,
Fairbanks Gold, Melba Creek or Lassen Gold shall enter into any arrangement with
any Person providing for the leasing by such Obligor of any property which
property has been or is to be sold or transferred by such Obligor to such other
Person.


                         ARTICLE 8.  EVENTS OF DEFAULT
                         -----------------------------

      SECTION 8.1.     Events of Default.  The term "Event of Default" shall
                                                     ----------------       
mean any of the events set forth in this Section.

      SECTION 8.1.1.   Non-Payment of Obligations.  Any Obligor:

           (a) shall default in the payment or prepayment when due of any
      Principal Amount on any Loan; or

           (b) shall default in the payment when due of interest on any Loan or
      any other Obligation (and such default shall continue unremedied for a
      period of five Business Days).

                                     -110-
<PAGE>
 
      SECTION 8.1.2.  Non-Performance of Certain Covenants.  Any Obligor shall
default in the due performance and observance of any of its obligations under
(a) Section 7.1.4, 7.1.7 (other than any obligation to provide any written
    -------------  -----                                                  
information thereunder), 7.1.12, 7.1.15, 7.1.16 or 7.2 (other than Section
                         ------  ------  ------    ---             -------
7.2.4, 7.2.8 or 7.2.14 and, to the extent such default shall have arisen as a
-----  -----    ------                                                       
result of any action or event beyond the control of any Obligor or any of their
respective Affiliates, Section 7.2.2 or 7.2.3), (b) Section 4.2 of the Borrower
                       -------------    -----       -----------                
Security Agreement (other than, to the extent such default shall have arisen as
a result of any action or event beyond the control of the Borrower, the
provisions of clause (a) thereof relating to the creation or existence of
              ----------                                                 
Liens), (c) the first sentence of Section 4.1 (other than to the extent such
                                  -----------                               
default shall have arisen as a result of any action or event beyond the control
of the Borrower or Fairbanks Canada, as the case may be) and Section 4.5 of
                                                             -----------   
either Pledge Agreement or (d) Section 2.6 of either Subordination Agreement.
                               -----------                                   

      SECTION 8.1.3.   Non-Performance of Other Obligations.  Any Obligor or
Fairbanks Canada shall default in the due performance or observance of any term,
condition, covenant or agreement contained herein or in any other Operative
Document executed by it (other than a default arising pursuant to Section 8.1.1
                                                                  -------------
or 8.1.2), and, if capable of cure or remedy, such default shall continue
   -----                                                                 
unremedied for a period of thirty (30) days after notice thereof shall have been
given to such Obligor or Fairbanks Canada by the Administrative Agent (acting in
its own discretion and/or at the request of the Required Lenders).

      SECTION 8.1.4.   Breach of Representation or Warranty.  Any representation
or warranty of any Obligor or Fairbanks Canada hereunder or in any other Loan
Document executed by it or in any other writing delivered by or on behalf of
such Obligor or Fairbanks Canada to any Lender Party for the purposes of or in
connection with this Agreement or any such Loan Document is or shall be
incorrect when made (a) (in the case of any representation or warranty made or
repeated on any Borrowing Date) in any material respect or (b) (in the case of
any representation or warranty made on any other date) and such incorrectness
shall have a Materially Adverse Effect.

      SECTION 8.1.5.   Default on other Indebtedness.  A default shall occur in
the payment when due (subject to any applicable grace period), whether by
acceleration or otherwise, of any Indebtedness (other than Indebtedness
described in Section 8.1.1 or 8.1.7) of any Obligor having a principal amount,
             -------------    -----                                           
individually  or in the aggregate, in excess of $5,000,000 and $1,000,000 (or
the equivalent thereof in any other currency), with respect to the Borrower and
any Principal Subsidiary, respectively, or a default shall occur in the
performance or observance of any obligation or condition with respect to such
Indebtedness if (a) (i) the effect of such default is to permit (after the
passage of time, the giving of notice, the making of any required determination
or any combination of the foregoing) the acceleration of the maturity of any
such Indebtedness and (ii) in the reasonable opinion of the Required Lenders,
such default is not capable of being cured within the applicable period for cure
set forth in the relevant documentation relating to such Indebtedness, or (b)
such default shall continue unremedied for any applicable period of time
sufficient to permit the holder or holders of such Indebtedness, or 

                                     -111-
<PAGE>
 
any trustee or agent for such holders, to cause such Indebtedness to become due
and payable prior to its expressed maturity.

      SECTION 8.1.6.   Bankruptcy, Insolvency, etc.  Any Obligor, Cyprus Amax or
Fairbanks Canada shall:

           (a) become insolvent or generally fail to pay, or admit in writing
      its inability to pay, debts as they become due;

           (b) apply for, consent to, or acquiesce in, the appointment of a
      trustee, receiver, sequestrator or other custodian for such Obligor (or
      Cyprus Amax or Fairbanks Canada), or any property (or, in the case of
      Cyprus Amax, any material property) of any thereof, or make a general
      assignment for the benefit of creditors;

           (c) in the absence of such application, consent or acquiescence,
      permit or suffer to exist the appointment of a trustee, receiver,
      sequestrator or other custodian for such Obligor (or Cyprus Amax or
      Fairbanks Canada) or for a substantial part of the property (or, in the
      case of Cyprus Amax, any material property) of any thereof, and such
      trustee, receiver, sequestrator or other custodian shall not be discharged
      within 60 days, provided that each Obligor hereby expressly authorizes
      each Lender Party to appear in any court conducting any relevant
      proceeding during such 60-day period to preserve, protect and defend the
      Lender Parties' rights under the Loan Documents;

           (d) permit or suffer to exist the commencement of any bankruptcy,
      reorganization, debt arrangement or other case or proceeding under any
      bankruptcy or insolvency law, or any dissolution, winding up or
      liquidation proceeding, in respect of any Obligor (or Cyprus Amax or
      Fairbanks Canada) and, if such case or proceeding is not commenced by such
      Obligor (or Cyprus Amax or Fairbanks Canada), such case or proceeding
      shall be consented to or acquiesced in by such Obligor (or Cyprus Amax or
      Fairbanks Canada) or shall result in the entry of an order for relief or
      shall remain for 60 days undismissed, provided that each Obligor hereby
      expressly authorizes each Lender Party to appear in any court conducting
      any relevant proceeding during such 60-day period to preserve, protect and
      defend the Lender Parties' rights under the Loan Documents;

           (e) suffer any comparable event to any of the foregoing in any
      jurisdiction; or

           (f) take any corporate or other action authorizing, or in furtherance
      of, any of the foregoing.

      SECTION 8.1.7.  Hedging Agreements; Interest Rate Protection Agreements.
Any payment default by any party shall occur under any Hedging Agreement or
Interest Rate 

                                     -112-
<PAGE>
 
Protection Agreement or any Hedging Agreement or Interest Rate Protection
Agreement shall terminate or cease in whole or in part to be the legal, valid
and binding obligation of any party thereto; provided, however, that in the 
                                             --------  ------- 
event that the Borrower shall have made arrangements within five Business Days
after such default, termination or cessation satisfactory to the Required
Lenders with respect to the replacement of any such Hedging Agreement or
Interest Rate Protection Agreement in accordance with Section 7.1.10 or
                                                      --------------   
7.1.11, as the case may be, and on substantially similar economic terms and
------                                                                     
benefits (or on such other terms or benefits as may be satisfactory to the
Required Lenders) then no Event of Default shall be deemed to have occurred
pursuant to this Section.

      SECTION 8.1.8.   Project Documents, etc.

           (a) Any of the Project Documents shall terminate (other than pursuant
      to its terms) or for any reason cease to be in full force and effect
      (excluding, however, to the extent referred to in Section 8.1.7, any
                                                        -------------     
      Hedging Agreement or Interest Rate Protection Agreement which is a Project
      Document or in Section 8.1.9, the Construction Contract), except if such
                     -------------                                            
      termination or cessation is capable of cure or remedy by any Obligor party
      thereto, in which case an Event of Default shall be deemed to have
      occurred pursuant to this Section if such termination or cessation is not
      remedied within ten Business Days after the occurrence thereof.

           (b) A default by the Borrower or any other party under any of the
      Project Documents (excluding, however, to the extent referred to in
                                                                         
      Section 8.1.7, any Hedging Agreement or Interest Rate Protection Agreement
      -------------                                                             
      which is a Project Document or in Section 8.1.9, the Construction
                                        -------------                  
      Contract) shall occur, and such default is, in the reasonable opinion of
      the Required Lenders, likely to have a Materially Adverse Effect and such
      default, if capable of cure or remedy, is not remedied within ten Business
      Days after notification to the Borrower from the Administrative Agent that
      the Required Lenders are of the opinion that such default is likely to
      have a Materially Adverse Effect as aforesaid.

      SECTION 8.1.9.   Default, etc by Construction Contractor.  The
Construction Contractor shall default in any of its material obligations under
the Construction Contract and the Construction Contractor shall not have
remedied such default within the time prescribed under the Construction
Contract; provided, however, that an Event of Default shall not be deemed to
          --------  -------                                                 
have occurred hereunder in such circumstances if a substitute or replacement
Construction Contractor (complying with the requirements of the definition of
such term) shall have been appointed and the Independent Consultant shall have
determined that such substitute or replacement Construction Contractor is
capable of performing the obligations binding on the Construction Contractor in
accordance with the Construction Contract so as to ensure construction of the
Fort Knox Mine in accordance with the Consolidated Base Case.

                                     -113-
<PAGE>
 
      SECTION 8.1.10.  Impairment of Loan Documents. (a) This Agreement or any
other Loan Document (excluding any Hedging Agreement or Interest Rate Protection
Agreement which is a Loan Document) shall terminate or cease in whole or part to
be the legal, valid, binding and enforceable obligation of the relevant Obligor
party thereto; (b) the relevant Obligor or any other party shall, directly or
indirectly, contest in any manner such effectiveness, validity, binding nature
or enforceability; (c) any Lien securing (or intended to secure) any Obligation
shall, in whole or in part, cease to be a perfected Lien which, except as
permitted by Section 7.2.3, ranks first in priority; or (d) any Obligor shall
             -------------                                                   
enter into any agreement (excluding any Loan Document) (i) prohibiting the
creation or assumption of any Lien upon its properties, revenues or assets,
whether now owned or hereafter acquired, or the ability of such Obligor to amend
or otherwise modify this Agreement or any other Operative Document or (ii)
containing any provision which would be violated or breached by the Loans
hereunder or by the performance by such Obligor of its obligations hereunder or
under any Loan Document.

      SECTION 8.1.11.  Abandonment, Mining Rights.

           (a) Any of Fairbanks Gold, Melba Creek or Lassen Gold shall abandon
      all or any significant portion of its interest in the Principal Mine in
      which it has an interest or the Mine Assets thereat or surrender, cancel
      or release, or suffer any termination or cancellation of any of its
      material rights, title or interest in such Principal Mine or such Mine
      Assets, other than as specifically permitted by this Agreement and each
      other Loan Document.

           (b) Any Person other than Fairbanks Gold, Melba Creek or Lassen Gold
      shall acquire Mining Rights in respect of all or any portion of the real
      property constituting the Principal Mine of such Principal Subsidiary if
      such acquisition shall have a Materially Adverse Effect.

           (c) (i) Any of CMM, Guanaco Mining or Nevada Gold shall abandon all
      or any significant portion of its interest in the Principal Mine in which
      it has an interest or the Mine Assets thereat or surrender, cancel or
      release, or suffer any termination or cancellation of any of its rights,
      title or interest in such Principal Mines or such Mine Assets, if the
      foregoing shall have a Materially Adverse Effect or (ii) any Person other
      than CMM, Guanaco Mining or Nevada Gold shall acquire Mining Rights in
      respect of all or any portion of the real property constituting the
      Principal Mine in which CMM or such Principal Subsidiary has an interest
      if such acquisition shall have a Materially Adverse Effect.

      SECTION 8.1.12.  Judgments.  Any judgment or order for the payment of
money in excess of $5,000,000 or $1,000,000 (or the equivalent thereof in any
other currency) with respect to the Borrower or any Principal Subsidiary,
respectively, shall be rendered against such Obligor and either:

                                     -114-
<PAGE>
 
           (a) enforcement proceedings shall have been commenced by any creditor
      upon such judgment or order; or

           (b) there shall be any period of ten consecutive days during which a
      stay of enforcement of such judgment or order, by reason of a pending
      appeal or otherwise, shall not be in effect.

      SECTION 8.1.13.  Plans.  Any of the following events shall occur with
respect to any Plan:

           (a) the institution of any steps by any Obligor, any member of its
      Controlled Group or any other Person to terminate a Pension Plan if, as a
      result of such termination, such Obligor or any such member could be
      required to make a contribution to such Pension Plan, or could reasonably
      incur a liability or obligation to such Pension Plan, in excess of
      $1,000,000; or

           (b) a contribution failure occurs with respect to any Pension Plan
      sufficient to give rise to a Lien under section 302(f) of ERISA.

      SECTION 8.1.14.  Change in Control.  Any Change in Control of the type
described in clause (b) of the definition thereof shall occur.
             ----------                                       

      SECTION 8.1.15.  Failure to Achieve Completion.  The Fort Knox Physical
Completion Date shall not have occurred on or prior to March 31, 1997 or the
Fort Knox Economic Completion Date shall not have occurred on or prior to
January 31, 1998.

      SECTION 8.1.16.  Approvals.  Any Approval which is material to the Fort
Knox Project or either the Fort Knox Mine or the Hayden Hill Mine or otherwise
material to the conduct of the business of any Obligor or the performance of
such Obligor's obligations under any Operative Document executed by it shall be
denied or withdrawn or shall cease to remain in full force and effect or shall
otherwise be materially impaired and, if such Approval is obtainable or
renewable in the ordinary course, such Approval is not obtained or renewed
within 30 days.

      SECTION 8.1.17.  Materially Adverse Effect.  Any event shall occur or
condition shall exist which constitutes a Materially Adverse Effect.

      SECTION 8.1.18.  Cease to Carry on Business.  Any Obligor ceases, is
restrained from or threatens to cease to carry on in the ordinary course its
business (including, in the case of Fairbanks Gold and Melba Creek, the
consummation of the Fort Knox Project and, in the case of any Principal
Subsidiary, the operation, management and maintenance and closure of the
Principal Mine in which it has an interest) or a substantial part thereof or a
similar circumstance shall occur with respect to the Refugio Mine and in the
case of any restraint caused by a Person 

                                     -115-
<PAGE>
 
other than any Obligor (or CMM), such Obligor (or CMM) does not recommence its
business as aforesaid within 30 days.

      SECTION 8.1.19.  Unpatented Mining Claims.  Any Governmental Agency of the
United States (including, in the case of the Fort Knox Mine, the State of
Alaska) shall challenge any unpatented mining claim of any Principal Subsidiary
relating to the Principal Mine in which it has an interest and such challenge
shall, in the opinion of the Documentation and Technical Agent or the
Administrative Agent, be reasonably likely to have a Materially Adverse Effect.

      SECTION 8.2.     Action if Bankruptcy.  If any Event of Default described
in Section 8.1.6 shall occur, the Commitments (if not theretofore terminated)
   -------------                                                             
shall automatically terminate, without notice, and the Principal Amount of all
Loans and all other Obligations (excluding, however, unless express instructions
to the contrary are received from the relevant Lender, Obligations in respect of
any Hedging Agreement or Interest Rate Protection Agreement to which any Lender
is a party) shall automatically be and become immediately due and payable,
without notice or demand.

      SECTION 8.3.     Action if Other Event of Default.  If any Event of
Default (other than any Event of Default described in Section 8.1.6) shall occur
                                                      -------------             
for any reason, whether voluntary or involuntary, and be continuing, the
Administrative Agent may (acting with the consent of the Required Lenders), and
upon the direction of the Required Lenders, shall, upon notice or demand to the
Borrower, declare all or any portion of the Principal Amount of the Loans to be
due and payable and any or all other Obligations (excluding, however, unless
express instructions to the contrary are received from the relevant Lender,
Obligations in respect of any Hedging Agreement or Interest Rate Protection
Agreement to which any Lender is a party) to be due and payable and/or the
Commitments (if not theretofore terminated) to be terminated, whereupon the
Principal Amount of such Loans and any and all other Obligations which shall be
so declared due and payable shall be and become immediately due and payable,
without further notice, demand or presentment, and/or, as the case may be, the
Commitments shall terminate.


                                 ARTICLE 9.  THE AGENTS
                                 ----------------------

      SECTION 9.1.     Actions.  Each Lender Party authorizes each Agent to act
on behalf of such Lender Party under this Agreement and each other Loan Document
in connection with the responsibilities delegated to such Agent hereunder and
thereunder and, in the absence of other written instructions from the Required
Lenders received from time to time by such Agent (with respect to which such
Agent agrees that it will, subject to the last paragraph of this Section, comply
in good faith except as otherwise advised by counsel to the effect that any such
compliance might subject such Agent to any liability of whatsoever nature), to
exercise such 

                                     -116-
<PAGE>
 
powers hereunder and thereunder as are specifically delegated to or required of
such Agent by the terms hereof and thereof, together with such powers as may be
reasonably incidental thereto.

      Each Lender agrees (which agreement shall survive any termination of this
Agreement) to indemnify each Agent, pro rata according to such Lender's
                                    --- ----                           
Aggregate Percentage, from and against any and all liabilities, obligations,
losses, damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses or
disbursements of any kind or nature whatsoever which may at any time be imposed
on, incurred by, or asserted against such Agent in any way relating to or
arising out of this Agreement, the Notes or any other Loan Document, including
the reimbursement of such Agent for all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses
(including attorneys' fees and expenses on a full indemnity basis) incurred by
such Agent hereunder or in connection herewith or with any other Loan Document
or in enforcing the Obligations of any Obligor under this Agreement or any other
Loan Document, in all cases as to which such Agent is not reimbursed by any such
Obligor; provided, however, that no Lender shall be liable for the payment of
         --------  -------                                                   
any portion of such liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties,
actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses or disbursements determined by a
court of competent jurisdiction to have resulted from such Agent's gross
negligence or wilful misconduct.

      Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, each Lender Party hereby
authorizes:

           (a) the Administrative Agent to act on behalf of such Lender Party to
      act as administrative agent in connection with the Facility, to execute
      and accept on its behalf the Borrower Security Agreement and the Pledge
      Agreements and to take all such actions thereunder necessary or
      appropriate with respect to the management or enforcement of the
      collateral security provided by such Security Documents and enforcement of
      the rights of the Lender Parties thereunder;

           (b) the Collateral Agent to act on behalf of such Lender Party to
      execute and accept on its behalf the Collateral Agreements and the
      Environmental Indemnity Agreements and, in consultation with the
      Administrative Agent, to take all actions thereunder necessary or
      appropriate with respect to the management or enforcement of the
      collateral security provided by such Collateral Agreements and enforcement
      of the rights of the Lender Parties thereunder and under the Environmental
      Indemnity Agreements; and

           (c) the Documentation and Technical Agent to take all such actions as
      may be necessary or appropriate in connection with the technical aspects
      of the Facility.

      No Agent shall be required to take any action hereunder or under the Notes
or any other Loan Document, or to prosecute or defend any suit in respect of
this Agreement, the Notes or any other Loan Document, unless it is indemnified
to its satisfaction by the Lenders against loss, costs, liability and expense.
If any indemnity in favor of any such Agent shall become impaired, 

                                     -117-
<PAGE>
 
it may call for additional indemnity and cease to do the acts indemnified
against until such additional indemnity is given.

      SECTION 9.2.     Funding Reliance, etc.  Unless the Administrative Agent
shall have been notified by telephone, confirmed in writing, by any Lender by
5:00 p.m., (London time), on the day prior to any proposed Borrowing Date, that
such Lender will not make available the amount which would constitute its
Funding Percentage of the Loans to be made by all the Lenders on such date, the
Administrative Agent may assume that such Lender has made such amount available
to the Administrative Agent and, in reliance upon such assumption, make
available to the Borrower a corresponding amount.  If and to the extent that
such Lender shall not have made such amount available to the Administrative
Agent, such Lender and the Borrower severally agree to repay the Administrative
Agent forthwith on demand such corresponding amount together with interest
thereon, for each day from the date the Administrative Agent made such amount
available to the Borrower to the date such amount is repaid to the
Administrative Agent, at the interest rate applicable at the time to the
relevant Loans.

      SECTION 9.3.     Exculpation.  None of the Agents or Arrangers nor any of
the directors, officers, employees or agents of any of the foregoing shall be
liable to any other Lender Party for any action taken or omitted to be taken by
it under this Agreement or any other Loan Document, or in connection herewith or
therewith, except for its own wilful misconduct or gross negligence, or
responsible for any recitals or warranties herein or therein, or for the
effectiveness, enforceability, validity or due execution of this Agreement or
any other Loan Document, or to make any inquiry respecting the performance by
the Borrower or any other Obligor of its obligations hereunder or thereunder, or
the validity, genuineness, creation, perfection or priority of the Liens created
by any of the Loan Documents, or the validity, genuineness, enforceability,
existence, value or sufficiency of any collateral security.  Each Agent and
Arranger shall be entitled to rely upon advice of counsel concerning legal
matters and upon any notice, consent, certificate, statement or writing which it
believes to be genuine and to have been presented by a proper Person.

      SECTION 9.4.     Successors.  Any Agent may resign as such at any time
upon at least 30 days' prior notice to the Borrower and all the Lenders. If any
Agent shall resign at any time, the Required Lenders may appoint (subject, as
long as no Default shall have occurred and be continuing, to the prior written
consent of the Borrower, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or
delayed) another Lender as the relevant successor Agent which shall thereupon
become such Agent hereunder. If no such successor Agent shall have been so
appointed as aforesaid, and shall have accepted such appointment, within 30 days
after such retiring Agent's giving notice of resignation, then the retiring
Agent may, on behalf of the Lenders, appoint (subject, as long as no Default
shall have occurred and be continuing, to the prior written consent of the
Borrower, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) a relevant
successor Agent, which shall be one of the Lenders or a commercial banking
institution having a combined capital and surplus of at least $500,000,000 (or
the equivalent

                                     -118-
<PAGE>
 
thereof in another currency). In addition, any successor Collateral Agent
appointed pursuant to this Section shall be a Person organized under the laws of
the United States. Upon the acceptance of any appointment as an Agent hereunder
by any successor Agent, such successor Agent shall be entitled to receive from
the relevant retiring Agent such documents of transfer and assignment as such
successor Agent may reasonably request, and shall thereupon succeed to and
become vested with all rights, powers, privileges and duties of the relevant
retiring Agent and the retiring Agent shall be discharged from its duties and
obligations under this Agreement and each other Loan Document.

      SECTION 9.5.     Loans by Merrill, Lynch, ABN AMRO, LaSalle, Rothschild
and Toronto-Dominion.  Each of Merrill Lynch, ABN AMRO, Rothschild and Toronto-
Dominion shall have the same rights and powers with respect to (i) the Loans
made by it or any of its Affiliates and (ii) the Notes held by it or any of its
Affiliates as any Lender and may exercise the same as if it were not an Agent or
Arranger, as the case may be, hereunder.  Each of Merrill Lynch, ABN AMRO,
LaSalle, Rothschild, Toronto-Dominion and the Affiliates of any of the foregoing
may accept deposits from, lend money to, act as Hedging Counterparties and
Interest Rate Protection Counterparties, and generally engage in any kind of
business with any Obligor or any Affiliate of any thereof as if it were not an
Agent or Arranger.

      SECTION 9.6.     Rothschild as the Administrative Agent. In acting as
Administrative Agent for the Lenders, the Treasury Division of Rothschild shall
be treated as a separate entity from any other division of Rothschild (or
similar units of Rothschild in any subsequent reorganization) or Affiliates and,
without detracting from the generality of the foregoing, in the event that any
of Rothschild's divisions (or similar units) or Affiliates should act for the
Borrower, any other Obligor, or any Affiliate of any of the foregoing (the
"Group") in an advisory capacity in relation to any other matter, any
------                                                               
information given by any member of the Group to such divisions (or similar
units) or Affiliates for the purpose of obtaining advice shall be treated as
confidential and shall not be available to the other Lender Parties without the
consent of such member of the Group; and notwithstanding anything to the
contrary expressed or implied herein and without prejudice to the generality of
the foregoing, Rothschild shall not as between itself and the other Lender
Parties be bound to disclose to any Lender Party or other Person any information
supplied by any member of the Group to Rothschild in its capacity as the
Administrative Agent hereunder which is identified by such member at the time of
supply as being unpublished price sensitive information relating to a proposed
transaction by a member of the Group and supplied solely for the purpose of
evaluating in consultation with Rothschild in such capacity whether such
transaction might require a waiver or amendment to any of the provisions
contained herein or in any other Loan Document.

      SECTION 9.7.     Credit Decisions.  Each Lender acknowledges that it has,
independently of each other Lender Party, and based on the financial and other
information referred to in clause (c) of Section 5.1.6 and Sections 6.4 and 6.17
                           ----------    -------------     ------------     ----
and such other documents, information and investigations as it has deemed
appropriate, made its own credit decision to extend its Commitment.  Each Lender
also acknowledges that it will, independently of the 

                                     -119-
<PAGE>
 
Agents, the Arrangers and each other Lender, and based on such other documents,
information and investigations as it shall deem appropriate at any time,
continue to make its own credit decisions as to exercising or not exercising
from time to time any rights and privileges available to it under this Agreement
or any other Loan Document.

      SECTION 9.8.     Copies, etc.  Each Agent shall give prompt notice to each
Lender of each notice or request required or permitted to be given to such Agent
by any Obligor pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or any other Loan
Document.  Each Agent will distribute to each Lender each Instrument or other
writing received for its account (including any item of documentation delivered
by any Obligor or any Affiliate thereof pursuant to Article 5 (but excluding,
                                                    ---------                
for the avoidance of doubt, any letters referred to in Section 3.3.2 or 3.3.3 as
                                                       -------------    -----   
such letters relate to fees payable to the Agents and Arrangers)) and copies of
all other communications received by such Agent from any Obligor for
distribution to the Lenders by such Agent in accordance with the terms of this
Agreement or any other Loan Document.


                           ARTICLE 10.  MISCELLANEOUS
                           --------------------------

      SECTION 10.1.    Waivers, Amendments, etc.  The provisions of this
Agreement and of each other Loan Document (except to the extent expressly
otherwise set forth in such other Loan Document) may from time to time be
amended, modified or waived, if such amendment, modification or waiver is in
writing and consented to by the relevant Obligors, the Administrative Agent
(and, in the case of the Collateral Agreements and the Environmental Indemnity
Agreements, the Collateral Agent) and the Required Lenders; provided, however,
                                                            --------  ------- 
that no such amendment, modification or waiver which would:

           (a) modify any requirement hereunder that any particular action be
      taken or a determination be made by, or with the consent of or in
      consultation with, all the Lenders or the Required Lenders shall be
      effective unless consented to by each Lender;

           (b) modify this Section, change the definition of "Required Lenders"
      or "Required Tranche B Lenders", increase the Total Commitment Amount, the
      Tranche A Commitment Amount, the Tranche B Commitment Amount or the
      Commitment Amount (Tranche A Portion), the Commitment Amount (Tranche B
      Portion), the Funding Percentage or the Aggregate Percentage of any Lender
      or otherwise subject any Lender to any additional obligation or reduce any
      fees described in Section 3.3.1 or modify any of the provisions of Section
                        -------------                                    -------
      1.6 or 1.7, shall be made without the consent of each Lender;
      ---    ---                                                   

           (c) modify any provision relating to the funding and conversion
      mechanics of the Tranche B Gold Loans shall be made without the consent of
      the Required Tranche B Lenders;

                                     -120-
<PAGE>
 
           (d) extend the due date for, or reduce the amount of, any payment or
      prepayment of any Principal Amount of or interest on any Loan or any other
      amount payable hereunder or under any other Loan Document shall be made
      without the consent of each Lender;

           (e) (i) reduce any fees described in Section 3.3.2 or 3.3.3 shall be
                                                -------------    -----         
      made without the consent of the Arranger or Agent entitled thereto or (ii)
      otherwise affect the interests, rights or obligations of any Agent qua
                                                                         ---
      such Agent shall be made without consent of such Agent;

           (f) result in the release of each of the obligations of any Principal
      Subsidiary under the Principal Subsidiary Guaranty to which it is a party
      or the release of any Lien in respect of any material collateral granted
      pursuant to any Security Document shall be made without the consent of
      each Lender; or

           (g) modify any term of this Agreement or any other Loan Document
      expressly relating to the priority of payment of, or the granting of any
      security in respect of, any obligations of the Borrower under any Hedging
      Agreement or any Interest Rate Protection Agreement to which any Lender is
      a party shall be made without the consent of such Lender.

No failure or delay on the part of any Lender Party in exercising any power or
right under this Agreement or any other Loan Document shall operate as a waiver
thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such power or right
preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other
power or right.  No notice to or demand on any Obligor in any case shall entitle
it or any other Obligor to any notice or demand in similar or other
circumstances.  No waiver or approval by any Lender Party under this Agreement
or any other Loan Document shall, except as may be otherwise stated in such
waiver or approval, be applicable to subsequent transactions. No waiver or
approval hereunder shall require any similar or dissimilar waiver or approval
thereafter to be granted hereunder.

      SECTION 10.2.    Notices.  All notices and other communications provided
to any party hereto under this Agreement or any other Loan Document shall be in
writing and shall be sent by hand delivery, courier delivery, first class
prepaid post, telex (if the receiving party shall have telex facilities) or
facsimile and addressed or delivered to it at its address set forth below its
signature hereto and designated as its "Address for Notices" or at such other
address as may be designated by such party in the relevant Loan Document or a
notice to the other parties.  Any notice, if mailed and properly addressed with
first class postage prepaid, shall be deemed given when delivered; and any
notice, if sent by hand delivery or courier delivery, shall be deemed given when
delivered; any notice, if transmitted by telex or facsimile, shall be deemed
given when transmitted (answerback received at both the beginning and the end of
the relevant transmission in the case of telexes and transmission completed and
confirmed by the sending facsimile machine in the case of facsimiles).

                                     -121-
<PAGE>
 
      SECTION 10.3.    Costs and Expenses.

           (a) The Borrower agrees to pay on demand all expenses (inclusive of
      United Kingdom Value Added Tax or any other similar tax) of each Agent and
      Arranger and the negotiation, preparation, execution and delivery of this
      Agreement, the Notes and each other Loan Document, including schedules and
      exhibits, and any amendments, waivers, consents, supplements or other
      modifications to this Agreement or any other Loan Document as may from
      time to time hereafter be required (including the reasonable fees and
      expenses of counsel to the Administrative Agent (and any local counsel
      selected thereby) on a full indemnity basis from time to time incurred in
      connection therewith), whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby
      are consummated, and all expenses (inclusive as aforesaid) of the Agents
      and Arrangers (including reasonable fees and expenses of counsel to the
      Administrative Agent (and any local counsel selected thereby) on a full
      indemnity basis and any stamp or other taxes) incurred in connection with
      the preparation and review of the form of any Instrument or other writing
      relevant to this Agreement or any other Loan Document, the consideration
      of legal questions relevant hereto and thereto and the filing, recording,
      refiling or re-recording of any Loan Document and all amendments or
      supplements to any thereof and any and all other documents or Instruments
      of further assurance required to be filed or recorded or refiled or re-
      recorded by the terms hereof or of any other Loan Document.

           (b) The Borrower agrees to pay on demand all reasonable expenses of
      each Agent's officers or agents in connection with its annual on-site
      inspections of each Principal Mine (limited, in the case of any inspection
      by any Agent at any time when no Default shall then have occurred and be
      continuing, to inspections by two officers or agents of each such Agent
      during any calender year) and all reasonable fees and expenses of the
      Independent Consultant for the preparation of each Independent
      Consultant's Report, the fees and reasonable expenses of the independent
      chartered accountants and certified public accountants in connection with
      the performance of their duties described in Section 7.1.8, the
                                                   -------------
      certification of each Completion Certificate or any other matter relating
      to the Fort Knox Project and the Principal Mines, and all reasonable fees
      and expenses of the Independent Consultant and each Agent in connection
      with the performance of their respective duties referred to herein.

           (c) The Borrower agrees to reimburse each Lender Party upon demand
      for all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses (including attorneys' fees and
      expenses on a full indemnity basis and inclusive of United Kingdom Value
      Added Tax or any other similar tax) incurred by such Lender Party in
      connection with (i) the negotiation of any restructuring or "work-out",
      whether or not consummated, of any Obligations and (ii) the enforcement of
      any Obligations.

                                     -122-
<PAGE>
 
      SECTION 10.4.    Indemnification.  In consideration of the structuring of
the Facility by the Arrangers, the execution and delivery of this Agreement by
each Lender Party and the extension of the Commitments, each Obligor hereby
jointly and severally indemnifies, exonerates and holds each Lender Party and
each of its Affiliates, officers, directors, shareholders, employees and agents
(the "Indemnified Parties") free and harmless from and against any and all
      -------------------                                                 
actions, causes of action, suits, losses, costs, liabilities and damages and
expenses in connection therewith, including reasonable attorneys' fees and
disbursements on a full indemnity basis (the "Indemnified Liabilities"),
                                              -----------------------   
incurred by the Indemnified Parties or any of them as a result of, or arising
out of, or relating to:

           (a) any transaction financed or to be financed in whole or in part,
      directly or indirectly, with the proceeds of any Loan;

           (b) the entering into and performance of this Agreement and any other
      Loan Document by any of the Indemnified Parties (including any action
      brought by or on behalf of any Obligor as the result of any determination
      by the Lenders pursuant to Article 5 or otherwise not to fund any
                                 ---------                             
      Borrowing);

           (c) any investigation, litigation or proceeding related to any
      environmental cleanup, audit, compliance or other matter relating to the
      protection of the environment or the release by any Obligor (or any other
      Person) of any Hazardous Material in connection with the consummation of
      the Fort Knox Project or the operation, management and maintenance of any
      Principal Mine; or

           (d) the presence on or under, or the escape, seepage, leakage,
      spillage, discharge, emission, discharging or  Releases or threatened
      Releases from, any real property owned or operated by any Obligor or any
      other Person of any Hazardous Material (including any losses, liabilities,
      damages, injuries, costs, expenses or claims asserted or arising under any
      Environmental Law), regardless of whether caused by, or within the control
      of, such Obligor or such other Person,

except for any such Indemnified Liabilities arising for the account of a
particular Indemnified Party by reason of the relevant Indemnified Party's gross
negligence or wilful misconduct, and if and to the extent that the foregoing
undertaking may be unenforceable for any reason, the Obligors hereby jointly and
severally agree to make the maximum contribution to the payment and satisfaction
of each of the Indemnified Liabilities for which it is liable hereunder and
which is permissible under Applicable Law.  Notwithstanding the foregoing,
neither Fairbanks Gold nor Melba Creek shall be under any obligation under this
Section to any Indemnified Party for any Indemnified Liability described in
clauses (c) and (d) above, to the extent the same relates to the Fort Knox Mine,
-----------     ---                                                             
and Lassen Gold shall be under no obligation under this Section to any
Indemnified Party for any Indemnified Liability described in clauses (c) and (d)
                                                             -----------     ---
above, to the extent the same relates to the Hayden Hill Mine.

                                     -123-
<PAGE>
 
      SECTION 10.5.    Survival.  The obligations of the Borrower under Sections
                                                                        --------
3.3, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4, and 10.3, the obligations of each Obligor under Sections 4.6
---  ---  ---  ---      ----                                        ------------
and 10.4 and the obligations of the Lenders under Section 10.1, shall, in each
    ----                                          ------------                
case, survive any termination of this Agreement.  The representations and
warranties made by each Obligor in this Agreement and in each other Loan
Document to which it is a party shall survive the execution and delivery of this
Agreement and each such other Loan Document.

      SECTION 10.6.    Severability.  Any provision of this Agreement or any
other Loan Document which is prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction
shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition
or unenforceability without invalidating the remaining provisions of this
Agreement or such other Loan Document or affecting the validity or
enforceability of such provision in any other jurisdiction.

      SECTION 10.7.    Headings.  The various headings of this Agreement and of
each other Loan Document are inserted for convenience only and shall not affect
the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement or such other Loan Document or
any provisions hereof or thereof.

      SECTION 10.8.    Counterparts, Effectiveness, etc.  This Agreement may be
executed by the parties hereto in several counterparts, each of which shall be
executed by the Obligors and the Administrative Agent and be deemed to be an
original and all of which shall constitute together but one and the same
agreement.  This Agreement shall become effective on the date (the "Effective
                                                                    ---------
Date") when counterparts hereof executed on behalf of each Obligor, each Agent
----                                                                          
(other than the Administrative Agent), each Arranger and each Lender (or
evidence thereof satisfactory to the Administrative Agent) shall have been
received by the Administrative Agent.

      SECTION 10.9.    Governing Law; Entire Agreement.  (a)  THIS AGREEMENT,
THE NOTES AND, UNLESS OTHERWISE SPECIFIED THEREIN, EACH OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT,
SHALL EACH BE DEEMED TO BE A CONTRACT MADE UNDER AND GOVERNED BY THE INTERNAL
LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

      (b) Except with respect to the Borrower's obligations to indemnify and pay
the costs and expenses of the Underwriters as set forth in the Commitment
Letter, this Agreement, the Notes and the other Loan Documents constitute the
entire understanding among the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter
hereof and thereof and supersede any prior agreements, written or oral, or
documents with respect thereto (including the Commitment Letter (except as
aforesaid), the Indicative Summary Terms for $250,000,000 Senior Term Loan
Facility, dated August 15, 1995, and the Information Memorandum).

                                     -124-
<PAGE>
 
      SECTION 10.10.   Successors and Assigns.  This Agreement shall be binding
upon and shall inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective
successors and assigns; provided, however, that:
                        --------  -------       

           (a) no Obligor may assign or transfer its rights or obligations
      hereunder without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent
      and all the Lenders; and

           (b) the rights of sale, assignment, and transfer of the Agents and
      the Lenders are subject to Article 9 and Section 10.11.
                                 ---------     ------------- 

      SECTION 10.11.   Sale and Transfer of Loans; Participations in Loans.
Each Lender may assign, or sell participations in, its Loans and Commitments to
one or more other Persons in accordance with this Section.

      SECTION 10.11.1. Assignments.  Any Lender, with notice to the Borrower and
the other Lenders, may assign and delegate to any of its Affiliates or to any
other Lender or to one or more commercial banks or other financial institutions
(each Person described as being the Person from or to whom such assignment and
delegation is to be made, being hereinafter referred to as an "Assignor Lender"
                                                               --------------- 
or "Assignee Lender", respectively), all or any fraction of such Lender's total
    ---------------                                                            
Loans and/or Commitment Amounts (which shall be of a constant, and not a
varying, percentage of all the Assignor Lender's Loans and/or Commitment
Amounts) in a minimum aggregate amount of $5,000,000 and an integral multiple of
$2,000,000 (with the Dollar equivalent of the Principal Amount of any
outstanding Tranche B Gold Loans subject of any assignment under this Section
calculated on the effective date of the proposed assignment and delegation);
provided, however, that any transfer by any Lender of any Commitment Amount 
--------  -------                                                   
shall (as long as no Default shall have occurred and be continuing) require the
consent (not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) of the Borrower ; and
provided, further, however, that, the Borrower, each other Obligor and each 
--------  -------  -------                                            
Agent shall be entitled to continue to deal solely and directly with the
Assignor Lender in connection with the interests so assigned and delegated to an
Assignee Lender until:

           (a) written notice of such assignment and delegation, together with
      payment instructions, addresses and related information with respect to
      such Assignee Lender, shall have been given to the Borrower and the
      Administrative Agent by such Assignor Lender and such Assignee Lender,

           (b) such Assignee Lender shall have executed and delivered to the
      Borrower and the Administrative Agent a Lender Assignment Agreement, which
      shall have been accepted by the Administrative Agent, and

           (c) the processing fees (if any) described below shall have been
      paid.

                                     -125-
<PAGE>
 
From and after the date that the Administrative Agent accepts such Lender
Assignment Agreement (which shall be promptly after the delivery of the
documentation referred to above and after the Administrative Agent shall be
satisfied that the relevant assignment is in compliance with the requirements of
this Agreement and each other Loan Document), (x) the Assignee Lender thereunder
shall be deemed automatically to have become a party hereto and to the extent
that rights and obligations hereunder have been assigned and delegated to such
Assignee Lender in connection with such Lender Assignment Agreement, shall have
the rights and obligations of a Lender hereunder and under the other Loan
Documents, and (y) the Assignor Lender, to the extent that rights and
obligations hereunder have been assigned and delegated by it in connection with
such Lender Assignment Agreement, shall be released from its obligations
hereunder and under the other Loan Documents.  Accrued interest on that part of
the Loans assigned to the Assignee Lender, and accrued fees in respect thereof,
shall be paid as provided in the Lender Assignment Agreement.  Except in the
case where any such Assignee Lender is an Affiliate of such Assignor Lender,
such Assignor Lender or such Assignee Lender shall also pay a processing fee to
the Administrative Agent upon delivery of any Lender Assignment Agreement in the
amount of $1500.  Any attempted assignment and delegation not made in accordance
with this Section shall be null and void.

      The Administrative Agent will promptly notify the Borrower and the other
Lender Parties of the accession of any Assignee Lender as aforesaid, specifying
in such notice to the Borrower the details of any substitute Notes to be
executed and delivered pursuant to Section 10.11.3.
                                   --------------- 

      SECTION 10.11.2. Participations.  Any Lender may at any time sell to one
or more commercial banks or other financial institutions (being herein called a
"Participant") participating interests in any of the Loans, Commitment Amounts
 -----------  
or other interests of such Lender hereunder; provided, however, that:
                                             --------  -------       

           (a) no participation contemplated in this Section shall relieve such
      Lender from its Commitment or its other obligations hereunder or under any
      other Loan Document;

           (b) the Obligors and each Agent shall continue to deal solely and
      directly with such Lender in connection with such Lender's rights and
      obligations under this Agreement and each of the other Loan Documents;

           (c) no Participant, unless such Participant is an Affiliate of such
      Lender, or is itself a Lender, shall be entitled to require such Lender to
      take or refrain from taking any action hereunder or under any other Loan
      Document, except that such Lender may agree with any Participant that such
      Lender will not, without such Participant's consent, take any actions of
      the type described in clause (b) or (d) of Section 10.1; and
                            ----------    ---    ------------     

                                     -126-
<PAGE>
 
           (d) the Borrower shall not be required to pay any amount under
      Sections 4.2, 4.3, 4.4 and 4.5 and no Obligor shall be required to pay any
      ------------  ---  ---     ---                                            
      amount under Section 4.6 that is greater than the amount which it would
                   -----------                                               
      have been required to pay had no participating interest been sold.

Each relevant Obligor acknowledges and agrees that each Participant, for
purposes of Article 4 (excluding, however, Sections 4.1, 4.8, 4.12, and 4.13)
            ---------                      ------------  ---  ----      ---- 
and Sections 10.3 and 10.4, shall be considered a Lender.
             ----     ----                               

      SECTION 10.11.3. New Notes.  Within five Business Days after its receipt
of notice that the Administrative Agent has accepted a Lender Assignment
Agreement pursuant to Section 10.11.1 and upon the written request of the
                      ---------------                                    
relevant Assignee Lender (given through the Administrative Agent), the Borrower
shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent (for delivery to the
relevant Assignee Lender) a new Note (or new Notes, if the Assignee Lender is a
Tranche B Lender) evidencing such Assignee Lender's assigned Loans and, if the
Assignor Lender has retained Loans hereunder, the Borrower shall execute and
deliver to the Administrative Agent (for delivery to the Assignor Lender) a
replacement Note (or Notes) in the Principal Amount of the Loans retained by the
Assignor Lender hereunder (such Note (or Notes) to be in exchange for, but not
in payment of, the Note (or Notes) then held by such Assignor Lender).  Each
such new Note shall be dated the date of any predecessor Note.  The Assignor
Lender shall mark any predecessor Note "exchanged" and deliver it to the
Borrower.

      SECTION 10.12.   Confidentiality.  Each Lender Party agrees that all non-
public information provided to it by any Obligor in connection with this
Agreement or any other Loan Document or the transactions contemplated hereby or
thereby will be held and treated by such Lender Party, its agents, directors,
affiliates, officers and employees in confidence and further agrees and
undertakes that neither it nor any of the foregoing Persons shall use any such
information for any purpose or in any manner other than pursuant to the terms
contemplated by this Agreement or such other Loan Document. Any Lender Party may
disclose such information: (a) at the request of any bank regulatory authority
or in connection with an examination of such Lender Party by any such authority
or examiner; (b) pursuant to subpoena or other court process; (c) when required
to do so in accordance with the provisions of any Applicable Law; (d) at the
written request or the express direction of any other agency of any State of the
United States or of any other jurisdiction in which such Lender Party conducts
its business; and (e) to such Lender Party's independent auditors, counsel and
other professional advisors. Notwithstanding the foregoing, each Obligor
authorizes each Lender to disclose to any Participant or Assignee Lender and any
prospective Participant or Assignee Lender such financial and other information
in such Lender's possession concerning any Obligor or any of its Subsidiaries
which has been delivered to such Lender pursuant to this Agreement or any other
Loan Document or which has been delivered to such Lender by any Obligor in
connection with such Lender's credit evaluation of such Obligor and its
respective Subsidiaries prior to entering into this Agreement; provided,
                                                               --------
however, that such Lender shall procure that such Participant or Assignee Lender
-------
or prospective Participant or Assignee Lender agree in writing with such 

                                     -127-
<PAGE>
 
Lender to keep such information confidential to the same extent required of such
Lender hereunder.

      SECTION 10.13.   Other Transactions.  Without prejudice to the provisions
of Section 9.5 or 9.6, nothing contained herein shall preclude any Lender Party
   -----------    ---                                                          
from engaging in any transaction, in addition to those contemplated by this
Agreement or any other Loan Document, with any Obligor or any of their
Affiliates in which such Obligor or such Affiliate is not restricted hereby from
engaging with any other Person.

      SECTION 10.14.   Forum Selection and Consent to Jurisdiction; Waiver of
Immunity.  ANY LITIGATION BASED HEREON, OR ARISING OUT OF, UNDER, OR IN
CONNECTION WITH, THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT, OR ANY COURSE OF
CONDUCT, COURSE OF DEALING, STATEMENTS (WHETHER VERBAL OR WRITTEN) OR ACTIONS OF
THE AGENTS, THE ARRANGERS, THE LENDERS OR THE OBLIGORS MAY BE BROUGHT AND
MAINTAINED IN THE COURTS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK OR IN THE UNITED STATES
DISTRICT COURT FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK AND IN ADDITION IN THE
COURTS OF ANY JURISDICTION WHERE ANY COLLATERAL OR OTHER PROPERTY OF ANY OBLIGOR
MAY BE LOCATED OR DEEMED LOCATED.  EACH OBLIGOR HEREBY EXPRESSLY AND IRREVOCABLY
SUBMITS TO THE JURISDICTION OF THE COURTS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK AND OF THE
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK FOR THE
PURPOSE OF ANY SUCH LITIGATION AS SET FORTH ABOVE AND IRREVOCABLY AGREES TO BE
BOUND BY ANY JUDGMENT RENDERED THEREBY IN CONNECTION WITH SUCH LITIGATION. EACH
OBLIGOR HEREBY IRREVOCABLY APPOINTS CT CORPORATION SYSTEM WITH OFFICES ON THE
DATE HEREOF AT 1633 BROADWAY, NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10019, AS ITS AGENT FOR SERVICE
OF PROCESS IN NEW YORK (THE "PROCESS AGENT"). SERVICE OF PROCESS MAY BE MADE
                             ------------- 
UPON ANY OBLIGOR BY MAILING OR DELIVERING A COPY OF SUCH PROCESS TO IT IN CARE
OF THE PROCESS AGENT AT THE PROCESS AGENT'S ADDRESS AND EACH OBLIGOR HEREBY
FURTHER IRREVOCABLY CONSENTS TO THE SERVICE OF PROCESS IN ANY SUIT, ACTION OR
PROCEEDING IN NEW YORK ARISING OUT OF THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT
BY THE MAILING OF COPIES OF SUCH PROCESS TO IT AT ITS ADDRESS FOR NOTICES SET
FORTH BELOW ITS SIGNATURE HERETO. EACH OBLIGOR HEREBY EXPRESSLY AND IRREVOCABLY
WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, ANY OBJECTION WHICH IT MAY HAVE
OR HEREAFTER MAY HAVE TO THE LAYING OF VENUE OF ANY SUCH LITIGATION BROUGHT IN
ANY SUCH COURT REFERRED TO ABOVE AND ANY CLAIM THAT ANY SUCH LITIGATION HAS BEEN
BROUGHT IN AN INCONVENIENT FORUM. TO THE EXTENT THAT ANY OBLIGOR HAS OR
HEREAFTER MAY ACQUIRE ANY IMMUNITY FROM JURISDICTION OF ANY COURT OR FROM ANY
LEGAL PROCESS (WHETHER 

                                     -128-
<PAGE>
 
THROUGH SERVICE OR NOTICE, ATTACHMENT PRIOR TO JUDGMENT, ATTACHMENT IN AID OF
EXECUTION OR OTHERWISE) WITH RESPECT TO ITSELF OR ITS PROPERTY, SUCH OBLIGOR
HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES SUCH IMMUNITY IN RESPECT OF ITS OBLIGATIONS UNDER THIS
AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS.

      SECTION 10.15.   Waiver of Jury Trial.  THE AGENTS, THE ARRANGERS, THE
LENDERS AND THE OBLIGORS HEREBY KNOWINGLY, VOLUNTARILY AND INTENTIONALLY WAIVE
ANY RIGHTS THEY MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT OF ANY LITIGATION BASED
HEREON, OR ARISING OUT OF, UNDER, OR IN CONNECTION WITH, THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY
OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT, OR ANY COURSE OF CONDUCT, COURSE OF DEALING, STATEMENTS
(WHETHER VERBAL OR WRITTEN), OR ACTIONS OF THE AGENTS, THE ARRANGERS, THE
LENDERS, OR THE OBLIGORS.  THIS PROVISION IS A MATERIAL INDUCEMENT FOR THE
AGENTS, THE ARRANGERS AND THE LENDERS ENTERING INTO THIS AGREEMENT AND EACH
OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT.

                                     -129-
<PAGE>
 
      IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be
executed by their respective officers thereunto duly authorized as of the day
and year first above written.

                            The Obligors
                            ------------

                            AMAX GOLD INC.,
                             as the Borrower


                            By:    /s/ MARK A. LETTES
                                   -------------------------------

                            Name Printed: MARK A. LETTES
                                          -----------------------

                            Title: Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
                                   ------------------------------------------

                            Address
                             for Notices:
 
                               9100 East Mineral Circle
                               Englewood
                               Colorado 80112
                               U.S.A.
 
                            Facsimile No.: 1-303-643-5507

                            Telex:    216910

                            (Answerback:   CMCO UR)

                            Attention:     President


                                     -130-
<PAGE>
 
                            FAIRBANKS GOLD MINING, INC.,
                             as a Principal Subsidiary


                            By:   /s/ MARK A. LETTES
                                  ------------------
                            Name Printed: MARK A. LETTES
                                          --------------
                            Title: Vice President and Treasurer
                                   ----------------------------


 
                            GUANACO MINING COMPANY, INC.,
                             as a Principal Subsidiary


                            By:   /s/ MARK A. LETTES
                                  ------------------
                            Name Printed: MARK A. LETTES
                                          --------------
                            Title: Vice President and Treasurer
                                   ----------------------------              


                            LASSEN GOLD MINING, INC.,
                             as a Principal Subsidiary


                            By:   /s/ MARK A. LETTES
                                  ------------------
                            Name Printed: MARK A. LETTES
                                          --------------
                            Title: Vice President and Treasurer
                                   ----------------------------


                            MELBA CREEK MINING, INC.,
                             as a Principal Subsidiary


                            By:   /s/ MARK A. LETTES
                                  ------------------
                            Name Printed: MARK A. LETTES
                                          --------------
                            Title: Vice President and Treasurer
                                   ----------------------------


                            NEVADA GOLD MINING, INC.,
                             as a Principal Subsidiary


                            By:   /s/ MARK A. LETTES
                                  ------------------
                            Name Printed: MARK A. LETTES
                                          --------------
                            Title: Vice President and Treasurer
                                   ----------------------------

                                     -131-
<PAGE>
 
                            Address for Notices for each Principal Subsidiary:

                              c/o Amax Gold Inc.
                              9100 East Mineral Circle
                              Englewood
                              Colorado 80112
                              U.S.A.
 
                            Facsimile No.: 1-303-643-5507

                            Telex:     216910

                            (Answerback:   CMCO UR)

                            Attention:     President


                                     -132-
<PAGE>
 
                                  The Lenders
                                  -----------
                                        

Commitment Amount - Tranche A  ABN AMRO BANK N.V.
-----------------------------                    
$13,225,000

Commitment Amount - Tranche B  By: /s/ SEAN M. STACK
-----------------------------      ------------------------------
                               Name Printed: SEAN M. STACK
                                             ---------------
$11,775,000                    Title: Vice President
                                      -------------- 
                               

                               By:   /s/ JOHN ELLENWOOD
                                     ------------------
                               Name Printed: JOHN ELLENWOOD
                                             --------------
                               Title: GROUP VICE PRESIDENT
                                      --------------------
                                    Address
                                     for Notices:
 
                                     135 South LaSalle Street
                                     Suite 425
                                     Chicago
                                     Illinois 60674-9135
                                     U.S.A.

                               Telex No.:  6732700 ABN AMRO CGO

                               Facsimile No.: (312) 606-8425

                               Attention:  Sean Stack

                               Gold Lending Office:
 
                                 500 Park Avenue
                                 New York
                                 NY  10022
                                 U.S.A.

                               Facsimile No.: (212) 688-5815

                               Attention:  Ron Spurga

                               With a copy to:

                                 Loan Administration
                                 135 South LaSalle Street
                                 Suite 425
                                 Chicago
                                 Illinois  60674-9135
                                 U.S.A.


                                     -133-
<PAGE>
 
                            Dollar Lending
                             Office:

                               135 South LaSalle Street
                               Suite 425
                               Chicago
                               Illinois 60674-9135
                               U.S.A.

                            Telex No.:  6732700 ABN AMRO CGO

                            Facsimile No.: (312) 606-8435

                            Attention:  Loan Administration


                                     -134-
<PAGE>
 
Commitment Amount - Tranche A  ARAB BANKING CORPORATION (B.S.C.)
-----------------------------                                   
$10,000,000

Commitment Amount - Tranche B  By: /s/ STEPHEN A. PLAUCHE
-----------------------------      ----------------------------
$0                             Name Printed: STEPHEN A. PLAUCHE
                                             ------------------
                               Title: Vice President
                                      -------------------------


                                    Address
                                     for Notices:

                                     245 Park Avenue
                                     31st Floor
                                     New York, NY 10167

                               Telex No.:  661978/427531                     
                                                                             
                               Facsimile No.: (212) 599-8385                 
                                                                             
                               Attention:  Mr. R. Hassan, Loan Administration
                                                                             
                               Gold Lending                                  
                                Office:  Not applicable                      
                                                                             
                               Dollar Lending                                
                                Office: 245 Park Avenue                      
                                  31st Floor                                 
                                  New York, NY 10167                         
                                                                             
                                  Telex No.:  661978/427531                  
                                                                             
                                  Facsimile No.:  (212) 599-8385             
                                                                             
                                  Attention:  Mr. R. Hassan, Loan            
                                    Administration                           
                                                                             
                                  With a copy to:                            
                                                                             
                                  600 Travis Street                          
                                  Suite 1900                                 
                                  Houston, TX 77002                          
                                                                             
                                  Telex No.:  240722                         
                                                                             
                                  Facsimile No.:  (713) 227-6507             
                                                                             
                                  Attention:  Mr. Stephen Plauche             

                                     -135-
<PAGE>
 
Commitment Amount - Tranche A  BAYERISCHE VEREINSBANK AG
-----------------------------                           
$0

Commitment Amount - Tranche B  By: /s/ CLAIRE SIMONELLI
-----------------------------      -----------------------------------
$20,000,000                    Name Printed: CLAIRE SIMONELLI
                                             -------------------------
                               Title: Vice President
                                      --------------------------------

                               By: /s/ ANDREW G. MATTHEWS
                                    ----------------------------------
                               Name Printed: ANDREW G. MATTHEWS
                                             -------------------------
                               Title: Vice President
                                      --------------------------------


                                    Address
                                     for Notices:
  
                                     335 Madison Avenue
                                     19th Floor
                                     New York  N.Y. 10017
                                     U.S.A.

                                Telex No.:  62850 UBB                    
                                                                         
                                Facsimile No.: (212) 210 0345            
                                                                         
                                Attention: Claire Simonelli/             
                                      Andrew Matthews                    
                                                                         
                                With a copy to, in the case of notices relating
                                 to the funding of Loans and payments:
                                                                      
                                   Bayerische Vereinsbank AG,         
                                   1 Royal Exchange Buildings         
                                   London EC3V 3LD                    
                                   England                            
                                                                      
                                Attention:  Jane Jellicoe             
                                                                      
                                Gold Lending                          
                                 Office:                              
                                                                      
                                Bayerische Vereinsbank AG,            
                                1 Royal Exchange Buildings            
                                London EC3V 3LD                       
                                England                               
                                                                      
                                Attention:  Jane Jellicoe             


                                     -136-
<PAGE>
 
                                Dollar Lending                    
                                 Office:                          
                                                                  
                                     Bayerische Vereinsbank AG,   
                                     Cayman Islands               
                                     c/o 335 Madison Avenue       
                                     19th Floor                   
                                     New York, N.Y. 10017         
                                     U.S.A.                       
                                                                  
                                Telex No.:  62850 UBB             
                                                                  
                                Facsimile No.:  (212) 880-9724    
                                                (212) 210-0354        
                                                                             
                                Attention:  Gilda Andrews          


                                     -137-
<PAGE>
 
Commitment Amount - Tranche A  CANADIAN IMPERIAL BANK OF COMMERCE
-----------------------------                                    
$5,000,000

Commitment Amount - Tranche B  By: /s/ JOHN W. KUNKLE
-----------------------------      -------------------------------        
$5,000,000                     Name Printed: JOHN W. KUNKLE
                                             ---------------------
                               Title: Authorized Signatory
                                      ----------------------------
                            
                                    Address
                                     for Notices:

                                     Two Paces West        
                                     2727 Paces Ferry Road 
                                     Suite 1200            
                                     Atlanta, GA 30339     
                                     U.S.A.                 

                               Facsimile No.: (404) 319-4950               
                                                                           
                               Attention:  Sherry Smith                    
                                                                           
                               With a copy to:                             
                                  200 West Madison Street                  
                                  Suite 2300                               
                                  Chicago                                  
                                  IL  60606                                
                                                                           
                               Attention:  John W. Kunkle                  
                                                                           
                               Gold Lending                                
                                Office:                                    
                                                                           
                                  Two Paces West                           
                                  2727 Paces Ferry Road                    
                                  Suite 1200                               
                                  Atlanta, GA  30339                       
                                  U.S.A.                                   
                                                                           
                               Facsimile No.:  (404) 319-4950              
                                                                           
                               Attention:  Sherry Smith                    
                                                                           
                               Dollar Lending                              
                                Office:                                    
                                    Two Paces West                         
                                    2727 Paces Ferry Road                  
                                    Suite 1200                             
                                    Atlanta, GA 30339                      
                                    U.S.A.                                  



                                     -138-
<PAGE>
 
Commitment Amount - Tranche A  CHEMICAL BANK
-----------------------------               
$5,000,000

Commitment Amount - Tranche B  By: /s/ JAMES H. RAMAGE
-----------------------------      -------------------------------
$5,000,000                     Name Printed: JAMES H. RAMAGE
                                             ----------------------
                               Title: Vice President
                                      ----------------------------
                            
                                    Address
                                     for Notices:

                                     270 Park Avenue, 9th Floor
                                     New York, NY  10017      
                                     U.S.A.                    

                               Telex No.:  177828 CHEMUT                 
                                                                         
                               Facsimile No.: (212) 270-4711             
                                                                         
                               Attention:  John F. Gehebe, AVP           
                                                                         
                               Gold Lending                              
                                Office:                                  
                                                                         
                                  270 Park Avenue, 9th Floor             
                                  New York, NY  10017                    
                                  U.S.A.                                 
                                                                         
                               Telex No.:  177828 CHEMUT                 
                                                                         
                               Facsimile No.: (212) 270-4711             
                                                                         
                               Attention:  John F. Gehebe, AVP           
                                                                         
                               Dollar Lending                            
                                Office:                                  
                                                                         
                                    140 East 45th Street                 
                                    New York, NY  10017                  
                                    U.S.A.                               
                                                                         
                               For the account of Loan Services          
                                                                         
                               A/C No. 402-205009                        
                                                                         
                               Telex No.:  177828 CHEMUT                 
                                                                         
                               Facsimile No.:  (212) 622-0002            
                                                                         
                               Attention:  Rene Pierre-Louise             

                                     -139-
<PAGE>
 
Commitment Amount - Tranche A  CREDIT LYONNAIS
-----------------------------                 
$20,000,000

Commitment Amount - Tranche B  By: /s/ MICHAEL PEPE
-----------------------------      -------------------------------
$0                             Name Printed: MICHAEL PEPE
                                             ---------------------
                               Title: Vice President
                                      ----------------------------
                                                                  
                               By:   _____________________________
                               Name Printed:______________________
                               Title: ____________________________
                            

                                    Address
                                     for Notices:

                                     1301 Avenue of the Americas
                                     New York                   
                                     NY  10019-6022             
                                     U.S.A.                      

                               Facsimile No.: (212) 261-3421            
                                                                        
                               Attention:  Loan Servicing Department    
                                                                        
                               Gold Lending                             
                                Office:   Not Applicable                
                                                                        
                               Dollar Lending                           
                                Office:                                 
                                                                        
                                  1301 Avenue of the Americas           
                                  New York                              
                                  NY  10019-6022                        
                                  U.S.A.                                 

                                     -140-
<PAGE>
 
Commitment Amount - Tranche A  THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF CHICAGO
-----------------------------                                    
$0

Commitment Amount - Tranche B  By: /s/ FRANK L. GROSSMAN
-----------------------------      -------------------------------
$10,000,000                    Name Printed: FRANK L. GROSSMAN
                                             ---------------------
                               Title: Authorized Agent
                                      ----------------------------
                            


                                    Address
                                     for Notices:

                                     1 First National Plaza
                                     Suite 0363           
                                     Chicago, IL 60670    
                                     U.S.A.                

                               Facsimile No.: (312) 732-3055               
                                                                           
                               Attention:  Bill Liard                      
                                       Michele Alberico                    
                                       Frank Grossman                      
                                                                           
                               Gold Lending                                
                                Office:                                    
                                                                           
                                  J.P. Morgan                              
                                  60 Victoria Embankment                   
                                  London                                   
                                  England                                  
                                  EC4 0JP                                  
                                                                           
                               Account No.:  0619                          
                                                                           
                                For the account of                         
                                The First National Bank of Chicago         
                                                                           
                               cc:  Bullion Department                     
                                                                           
                               Attention:  Bill Liard                      
                                                                           
                               Facsimile No.:  (312) 732-3055              
                                                                           
                               Dollar Lending                              
                                Office:                                    
                                                                           
                                  1 First National Plaza                   
                                  Suite 0363                               
                                  Chicago, IL  60670                       
                                  U.S.A.                                    

                                     -141-
<PAGE>
 
Commitment Amount - Tranche A  THE FUJI BANK LIMITED, Los Angeles Agency
-----------------------------                                           
$10,000,000

Commitment Amount - Tranche B  By:   /s/ NOBUHIRO UMEMURA
-----------------------------        -------------------------------
$0                             Name Printed: NOBUHIRO UMEMURA
                                             -----------------------
                               Title: Joint General Manager 
                                      ------------------------------

                                    Address
                                     for Notices:

                                     333 South Grand Avenue
                                     25th Floor            
                                     Los Angeles, CA 90071 
                                     U.S.A.                 

                               Telex No.:  67-3336                           
                                                                             
                               Facsimile No.: (213) 253-4198                 
                                                                             
                               Attention:  Project Finance Group             
                                                                             
                               Gold Lending                                  
                                Office:  Not applicable                      
                                                                             
                               Dollar Lending                                
                                Office:                                      
                                                                             
                                    333 South Grand Avenue                   
                                    25th Floor                               
                                    Los Angeles, CA 90071                    
                                    U.S.A.                                   
                                                                             
                               Telex No.: 67-3336                            
                                                                             
                               Facsimile No.: (213) 253-4198                  


                                     -142-
<PAGE>
 
Commitment Amount - Tranche A  MERRILL LYNCH CAPITAL CORPORATION
-----------------------------                                   
$23,550,000

Commitment Amount - Tranche B  By: /s/ CHRISTOPHER BIROSAK
-----------------------------      -------------------------------
$21,450,000                    Name Printed: CHRISTOPHER BIROSAK
                                            ----------------------
                               Title: Vice President
                                      ---------------------------- 
                            
                                    Address
                                     for Notices:

                                     250 Vesey Street           
                                     7th Floor                  
                                     New York, N.Y.  10281-1307 
                                     U.S.A.                      

                               Facsimile No.: (212)-449-8230               
                                                                           
                               Attention:  Christopher Birosak, Director   
                                                                           
                               Gold Lending                                
                                Office:                                    
                                                                           
                                  Midland Bank plc                         
                                  Thames Exchange                          
                                  10 Queen Street Place                    
                                  London                                   
                                  England EC4R 1BQ                         
                                                                           
                               Facsimile No.: 44-171-488-1929              
                                                                           
                               Attention:  Precious Metals Division        
                                                                           
                               Favor:                                      
                                                                           
                                  Merrill, Lynch, Pierce, Fenner and       
                                  Smith, Inc.                              
                                  New York                                 
                                  U.S.A.                                   
                                                                           
                               Dollar Lending                              
                                Office:                                    
                                                                           
                                  c/o Chemical Bank                        
                                  4 New York Plaza                         
                                  2nd Floor                                
                                  New York, N.Y.  10004                    
                                  U.S.A.                                    


                                     -143-
<PAGE>
 
                               Account Name:               
                                                           
                               Merrill Lynch Capital       
                                Corporation                
                               Account Number:  1400 21153  


                                     -144-
<PAGE>
 
Commitment Amount - Tranche A  NATIONAL BANK OF ALASKA
-----------------------------                         
$10,000,000

Commitment Amount - Tranche B  By: /s/ PATRICIA JELLEY BENZ
-----------------------------      ---------------------------------
$0                             Name Printed: PATRICIA JELLEY BENZ
                                             -----------------------
                               Title: Vice President
                                      ------------------------------ 
                            


                                    Address
                                     for Notices:

                                     Commercial Loan Department           
                                     301 West Northern Lights Boulevard   
                                     Anchorage, AK  99502                 
                                     U.S.A.                                

                               Facsimile No.: (907) 265-2141       
                                                                   
                               Attention:  Patricia Benz           
                                                                   
                               Gold Lending                        
                               Office:  (Not applicable)           
                                                                   
                               Dollar Lending                      
                                Office:                            
                                                                   
                                  Commercial Loan Department       
                                  P.O. Box 100600                  
                                  Anchorage                        
                                  AK 99510-0600                     


                                     -145-
<PAGE>
 
Commitment Amount - Tranche A  PNC BANK, N.A.
-----------------------------                
$10,000,000

Commitment Amount - Tranche B  By: /s/ ROBERT E. ERWIN
-----------------------------  -----------------------
                               Name Printed: ROBERT E. ERWIN
                                             ---------------
$0                             Title: Assistant Vice President
                                      ------------------------
                            


                                    Address
                                     for Notices:

                                       2 PNC Plaza       
                                       2nd Floor         
                                       620 Liberty Avenue
                                       Pittsburgh        
                                       PA  15265         
                                       U.S.A.             

                               Facsimile No.: (412) 762-2571                
                                                                            
                               Attention:  Robert D. Erwin                  
                                                                            
                               Gold Lending                                 
                                Office:  Not applicable                     
                                                                            
                               Dollar Lending                               
                                Office:                                     
                                                                            
                                       2 PNC Plaza                          
                                       2nd Floor                            
                                       620 Liberty Avenue                   
                                       Pittsburgh                           
                                       PA  15265                            
                                       U.S.A.                               
                                                                            
                               Payment Instructions:                        
                                                                            
                                       PNC Bank, N.A.                       
                                       Pittsburgh, PA                       
                                       ABA # 043000096                      
                                       Attention: Commerical Loan Department
                                       Reference:  Amax Gold Inc.           
                                       Customer # 9381209                    

                                     -146-
<PAGE>
 
Commitment Amount - Tranche A  per pro N M ROTHSCHILD & SONS LIMITED
-----------------------------                                       
$0

Commitment Amount - Tranche B  By: /s/ MICHAEL ALLEN PRICE
                                   -----------------------------
-----------------------------  Name Printed: MICHAEL ALLEN PRICE
$25,000,000                                  -------------------
                               Title: Director
                                      --------------------------


                               By: /s/ ANDREW WRIGHT
                                   -----------------------------
                               Name Printed: ANDREW WRIGHT
                                             -------------------
                               Title: Manager
                                      --------------------------
                                    Address
                                     for Notices:
 
                                     New Court          
                                     St. Swithin's Lane 
                                     London  EC4P 4DU   
                                     England             

                               Telex No.:  888031                        
                                                                         
                               Facsimile No.: 44-171-280-5679            
                                                                         
                               Attention:  Dr. Michael A. Price          
                                                                         
                               Gold Lending                              
                                Office:                                  
                                                                         
                                  New Court                              
                                  St. Swithin's Lane                     
                                  London  EC4P 4DU                       
                                  England                                
                                                                         
                               Telex No.:  888031                        
                                                                         
                               Facsimile No.: 44-171-280-5679            
                                                                         
                               Attention:  Mark Turner                   
                                                                         
                               Dollar Lending                            
                                Office:                                  
                                                                         
                                  Chase Manhattan Bank N.A.              
                                  1 Chase Manhattan Plaza                
                                  New York, N.Y.                         
                                  U.S.A.                                  


                                     -147-
<PAGE>
 
                               For the account of:                 
                                                                   
                                  N M Rothschild & Sons Limited    
                                  London                           
                                                                   
                               A/C No.: 001-1-948262               
                                                                   
                               Telex No.:  888031                  
                               Facsimile No.:  44-171-280-5679     
                               Attention:  Mark Turner/Muriel Bond  

                                     -148-
<PAGE>
 
Commitment Amount - Tranche A  SOCIETE GENERALE
-----------------------------                  
$5,000,000

Commitment Amount - Tranche B  By: /s/ RICHARD ERBERT
-----------------------------      -------------------------------
$5,000,000                     Name Printed: RICHARD ERBERT
                                             ---------------------
                               Title: Vice President
                                      ----------------------------
                            


                                    Address
                                     for Notices:
                                       4800 Trammell Crow Center
                                       2001 Ross Avenue        
                                       Dallas, Texas  75201    
                                       U.S.A.                   
 
                               Facsimile No.: (214) 979-1104              
                                                                          
                               Attention:  Terri Jones                    
                                                                          
                                                                          
                               With a copy to:                            
                               1111 Bagby Suite 2020                      
                               Houston, Texas  77002                      
                                                                          
                               Facsimile No.:  (713) 650-0824
                                                                          
                               Attention:  Richard A. Erbert              
                                                                          
                               Gold Lending                               
                                Office:                                   
                                  Directin des Marches                    
                                    de Capiteaux                          
                                  MARC/OTC/EMP                            
                                  6/8 Cite D'Antin                        
                                  75009 Paris                             
                                  France                                  
                                                                          
                                  Facsimile No.:  33-1-40-98-53-96        
                                                                          
                                  Attention:  Serge Topolanski            
                                                                          
                                                                          
                               Dollar Lending                             
                                Office:                                   
                                  4800 Trammel Crow Center                
                                  2001 Ross Avenue                        
                                  Dallas, Texas  75201                     


                                     -149-
<PAGE>
 
Commitment Amount - Tranche A  SWISS BANK CORPORATION
-----------------------------  Cayman Island Branch                      
$0                             

Commitment Amount - Tranche B  By: /s/ TERENCE P. SWEENEY
-----------------------------      -------------------------------
$10,000,000                    Name Printed: TERENCE P. SWEENEY
                                            ----------------------
                               Title: Executive Director
                                      ---------------------------- 
                               
                               By: /s/ STEPHANIE W. KIM  
                                   -------------------------------
                               Name Printed: STEPHANIE W. KIM
                                            ----------------------
                               Title: Associate Director
                                      ---------------------------- 

                                    Address
                                     for Notices:

                                     Swiss Bank Corporation    
                                     Cayman Island Branch      
                                     c/o New York Branch       
                                     222 Broadway              
                                     4th Floor                 
                                     New York, New York  10038  

                                 Facsimile No.: (212) 574-4176           
                                                                         
                                 Attention:  Valerie Williams            
                                          CPM - Client Services          
                                                                         
                               Gold Lending                              
                                Office:                                  
                                                                         
                                 Swiss Bank Corporation                  
                                 Cayman Island Branch                    
                                 c/o New York Branch                     
                                 222 Broadway                            
                                 4th Floor                               
                                 New York, New York  10038               
                                                                         
                                 Facsimile No.: (212) 574-4176           
                                                                         
                                 Attention:  Valerie Williams            
                                             CPM - Client Services       
                                                                         
                               Dollar Lending                            
                                Office:                                  
                                                                         
                                 New York Branch                         
                                 222 Broadway                            
                                 4th Floor                               
                                 New York, New York  10038               
                                                                         
                                 Facsimile No.: (212) 574-4176           
                                                                         
                                 Attention:  Valerie Williams            
                                             CPM - Client Services        

                                     -150-
<PAGE>
 
Commitment Amount - Tranche A  THE TORONTO-DOMINION BANK
-----------------------------                           
$13,225,000

Commitment Amount - Tranche B  By: /s/ R.C. BINGHAM
-----------------------------     --------------------------------
$11,775,000                    Name Printed: R.C. BINGHAM
                                             ---------------------
                               Title: Managing Director
                                      ---------------------------- 
                            

                                    Address
                                     for Notices:

                                     70 West Madison Street
                                     Suite 5430           
                                     Chicago              
                                     IL  60602             

                               Facsimile No.: (312) 782-6337              
                                                                          
                               Attention: Mario J. da Ponte               
                                                                          
                               Gold Lending                               
                                Office:                                   
                                                                          
                                  Houston Agency                          
                                  909 Fannin Street                       
                                  Suite 1700                              
                                  Houston                                 
                                  Texas 77010                             
                                                                          
                               Facsimile No.: (713) 951-9921              
                                                                          
                               Attention: David G. Parker                 
                                                                          
                               Dollar Lending                             
                                Office:                                   
                                                                          
                                  Houston Agency                          
                                  909 Fannin Street                       
                                  Suite 1700                              
                                  Houston                                 
                                  Texas 77010                             
                                                                          
                               Facsimile No.: (713) 951-9921              
                                                                          
                               Attention: David G. Parker                  

                                     -151-
<PAGE>
 
                               The Agents and the Arrangers
                               ----------------------------

                               ABN AMRO BANK N.V., as an Arranger              
                                                                               
                               By:   /s/ SEAN M. STACK
                                    --------------------------------
                               Name Printed: SEAN M. STACK
                                             -----------------------
                               Title: Vice President
                                      ------------------------------
                                                                               
                                                                               
                               By:  /s/ JOHN ELLENWOOD
                                    --------------------------------
                               Name Printed: JOHN ELLENWOOD
                                             -----------------------
                               Title: Group Vice President
                                      ------------------------------
                                                                               
                                                                               
                               Address                                         
                                for Notices:                                   
                                                                               
                                  135 South LaSalle Street                     
                                  Suite 425                                    
                                  Chicago                                      
                                  Illinois 60674-9135                          
                                                                               
                               Facsimile No.: (312) 606-8425                   
                                                                               
                               Telex: 6732700 ABN AMRO CGO                     
                                                                               
                               Attention: Sean Stack                           
                                                                               
                                                                               
                               LASALLE NATIONAL TRUST, N.A., as the Collateral 
                               Agent                                           
                                                                               
                                                                               
                               By:   /s/ SARAH H. WEBB
                                     -------------------------------
                               Name Printed: SARAH H. WEBB
                                             -----------------------
                               Title: Vice President
                                      ------------------------------
                                                                               
                                                                               
                               By:   /s/ DIANE S. SWANSON
                                     -------------------------------
                               Name Printed: DIANE S. SWANSON
                                             -----------------------
                               Title: Assistant Vice President
                                      ------------------------------


                                     -152-
<PAGE>
 
                               Address                                     
                                for Notices:                               
                                  135 South LaSalle Street                 
                                  Suite 425                                
                                  Chicago, Illinois  60603                 
                                                                           
                               Telex No.:  190393 LASBNK UT                
                                                                           
                               Facsimile No.: (312) 904-2236               
                                                                           
                               Attention:  Sarah H. Webb,                  
                                       Vice President                      
                                                                           
                               MERRILL LYNCH CAPITAL CORPORATION,          
                                as the Syndication Agent and as an Arranger.
                                                                           
                                                                           
                               By: /s/ CHRISTOPHER BIROSAK
                                   ---------------------------------
                               Name Printed: CHRISTOPHER BIROSAK
                                             -----------------------
                               Title: Vice President
                                      ------------------------------
                                                                           
                                                                           
                               By: _________________________________       
                               Name Printed:________________________       
                               Title: ______________________________       
                                                                           
                                                                           
                               Address                                     
                                for Notices:                               
                                                                           
                                  250 Vesey Street                         
                                  7th Floor                                
                                  New York                                 
                                  N.Y.  10281-1307                         
                                                                           
                               Facsimile No.: (212) 449-8230               
                                                                           
                               Attention:  Christopher Birosak, Director    


                                     -153-
<PAGE>
 
                               per pro N M ROTHSCHILD & SONS LIMITED,          
                                as the Administrative Agent and as an Arranger 
                                                                               
                                                                               
                               By: /s/ MICHAEL ALLEN PRICE
                                   ---------------------------------
                               Name Printed: MICHAEL ALLEN PRICE
                                             -----------------------
                               Title: Director
                                      ------------------------------
                                                                               
                                                                               
                               By: /s/ ANDREW WRIGHT
                                   ---------------------------------
                               Name Printed: ANDREW WRIGHT
                                             -----------------------
                               Title: Manager
                                      ------------------------------
                                                                               
                                                                               
                               Address                                         
                                for Notices:                                   
                                                                               
                                  New Court                                    
                                  St. Swithin's Lane                           
                                  London  EC4P 4DU                             
                                  England                                      
                                                                               
                               Telex No.:  888031                              
                                                                               
                               Facsimile No.: 44-171-280-5679                  
                                                                               
                               Attention:  Dr. Michael A. Price                
                                                                               
                               Address                                         
                                for Notices:                                   
                                                                               
                                  New Court                                    
                                  St. Swithin's Lane                           
                                  London  EC4P 4DU                             
                                  England                                      
                                                                               
                               Telex No.:  888031                              
                                                                               
                               Facsimile No.: 44-171-280-5679                  
                                                                               
                               Attention:  Dr. Michael A. Price                 


                                     -154-
<PAGE>
 
                               Gold Lending                               
                                Office:                                   
                                                                          
                                  New Court                               
                                  St. Swithin's Lane                      
                                  London  EC4P 4DU                        
                                  England                                 
                                                                          
                               Telex No.:  888031                         
                                                                          
                               Facsimile No.: 44-171-280-5679             
                                                                          
                               Attention:  Mark Turner                    
                                                                          
                               Dollar Lending                             
                                Office:                                   
                                                                          
                               Chase Manhattan Bank N.A.                  
                               1 Chase Manhattan Plaza                    
                               New York, New York                         
                               U.S.A.                                     
                                                                          
                               For the account of:                        
                                  N M Rothschild & Sons Limited           
                                  London                                  
                                                                          
                               A/C No.: 001-1-948262                      
                                                                          
                               Telex No.:  888031                         
                                                                          
                               Facsimile No.:  44-171-280-5679            
                                                                          
                               Attention: Mark Turner/Muriel Bond          

                                     -155-
<PAGE>
 
                               THE TORONTO-DOMINION BANK,                       
                                as the Documentation and Technical Agent and as 
                                an Arranger                                     
                                                                                
                                                                                
                               By: /s/ R.C. BINGHAM
                                   ---------------------------------
                               Name Printed: R.C. BINGHAM
                                             -----------------------
                               Title: Managing Director
                                      ------------------------------
                                                                                
                                                                                
                               Address                                          
                                for Notices:                                    
                                                                                
                                  70 West Madison Street                        
                                  Suite 5430                                    
                                  Chicago, Illinois  60602                      
                                                                                
                               Facsimile No.: (312) 782-6337

                               Attention: Mario J. da Ponte


                                     -156-