Exhibit 10.4.4                 OPTION AGREEMENT

which is hereby entered into between
ANTONIO BARROS DE SOUZA, Brazilian, married, cattle breeder, bearer of ID card
RG 5116343 SSP-PA, registered at CPF/MF under no. 070.601.652-15, with address
at Av. Maranhao, no 91, Municipio de Itaituba-PA, CEP 68181-140, hereinafter
referred to as LICENSEE; and

AURORA GOLD MINERACAO LTDA, a company registered with CNPJ under no.
07.763.340/0001-50, with its Office at Av. das Americas, no 700, bl. 8, lj.
215-A, parte, CEP: 22640-100, Barra da Tijuca, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, in this act
represented by its attorney Luis Mauricio Ferraiuoli de Azevedo, Brazilian,
single, lawyer, registered with the Brazilian Bar Association (RJ) under no.
80412 and registered at CPF/MF under no. 753. 468.697-00, hereinafter referred
to as AURORA;

WHEREAS:

A. The LICENSEE is the titleholder of certain mineral rights in areas located in
the region named Garimpo Sao Domingos, Municipality of Itaituba, State of Para,
comprised of Requests for Mining Permit specified as follows:

BLOCK 1 according to annex A-1 of the present instrument, and includes Requests
for Mining Permit DNPM no. 850.991/95, 850.992/95, 850.993/95, 850.994/95,
850.995/95, 850.996/95, 850.997/95, 850.998/95, 850.999/95, 851.000/95,
851.001/95, 851.002/95, 851.003/95, 851.004/95, 851.005/95, 851.006/95,
851.007/95, 851.008/95, 851.009/95, 851.010/95, 851.011/95, 851.012/95;

B. The LICENSEE possesses the ground areas "Garimpo Sao Domingos" and has been
exploring in a rudimentary and continuous manner the areas of "Garimpo Sao
Domingos", but due to the scarcity of gold that can be mined and the apparent
potential of primary resources, looked for an interested company with technology
and resources to survey, explore and make economic use of the gold mineral
reserves which may eventually exist therein.

C. The LICENSEE signed and celebrated a Memorandum of Understanding on
09DEC2005, hereinafter referred to as "MOU", whereby the LICENSEE allowed Supply
Consult, a company with its Head Office in Germany at Karolinen Platz 5a,
Muenchen, hereinafter referred to as "Supply", the rights to survey and acquire
the mineral rights of "Garimpo Sao Domingos", against payments, calculated and
due under the terms and conditions indicated and declared therein;

D. AURORA received from Supply the information regarding the potential primary
gold in "Garimpo Sao Domingos" and believes possible the existence of primary
minerals and, therefore, is interested in acquiring the pertinent mineral
rights;

E. Supply then indicated to AURORA to receive the mineral rights which have been
conferred upon Supply by the LICENSEE in the MOU, and the LICENSEE then


                                        1
<PAGE>
substituted the pertinent mineral rights and jointly resolved to transfer them
to AURORA, which the latter agrees to;

Therefore, AURORA and LICENSEE agree to execute a definitive agreement, whereby
the amounts, deadlines and other clauses and conditions shall be established,
and which shall hereon be in force, between the parties hereby present, and in
this regard, the parties AURORA and LICENSEE agree to the following:

I. ASSESSMENT OF GARIMPO SAO DOMINGOS

1. The LICENSEE, hereby and in the best form of the law, permits AURORA to
execute in "Garimpo Sao Domingos", for a period of 41 (forty-one) months as from
the date of this agreement, assessment work and geological survey which it deems
necessary to ascertain the existence of possible primary deposits, which may be
economically explored and, consequently, its interest in definitively acquiring
or not the respective mineral rights and the properties in question; (the
"Assessment").

2. It shall be up to AURORA to determine the nature, scope and extension of the
survey works, and thus, all costs and expenses incurred therein are of its
exclusive responsibility.

3. For the purposes of assuring a good execution of the Assessment, the
LICENSEE:
a) Grants to AURORA the right to occupy any of the surface areas of "Garimpo Sao
Domingos", which possession he declares to have, free of claims from third
parties, and AURORA is assured that in case it cannot exercise its rights due to
eventual problems with surface occupants, it is hereby authorized by the
LICENSEE to take legal action in this regard, and eventual expenses or
compensations paid to them shall be deducted from the payments stipulated
herein;
b) Authorizes AURORA to use the landing strip for airplanes and, if needed, to
alter its outline and access roads, facilities and other improvements therein
existing, and in this regard the parties shall sign a term of responsibility
and/or a "loan for use".
c) Shall prepare a survey of the persons involved in the mining works at
"Garimpo Sao Domingos" and shall present to AURORA a complete report within 90
(ninety) days from AURORA's request, but AURORA is assured that in case it
cannot exercise its rights due to eventual problems with miners, it is hereby
authorized by the LICENSEE to take legal action in this regard, and eventual
expenses or compensations paid to them shall be deducted from the payments
stipulated herein;

4. The LICENSEE agrees to transfer the Requests for Mining Permit to VERA LUCIA
LOPES FERRAZ, Brazilian, married, businesswoman, bearer of ID no. 1816002
IFP/RJ, and registered at CPF/MF under no. 600.396.207-00, with address at Rua
Barra do Mendes, no 245, casa 1, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, CEP 22753-040, under the
terms of annex B 1, and the latter, in the condition of depository, shall be the
titleholder until when these rights can be transferred to AURORA, according to
clause 10, item b below, with the mineral rights to be kept in order and good
condition, until they can be assigned to AURORA or eventually returned to the
LICENSEE, all this in the manner hereunder stipulated. In consideration for the
authorization which is now being granted to proceed with the Assessment of
"Garimpo Sao Domingos", and as price, AURORA shall pay the LICENSEE for the
assignment of


                                        2
<PAGE>
the mineral rights and the rights of possession over their surface area,
according to items A and B:

a) US$ 31,500.00 (thirty-one thousand dollars), on 30JAN2006, upon signing this
instrument;

b) US$ 67,500.00 (sixty-seven thousand five hundred dollars), on 30JUL2006,
provided AURORA confirms the mineral rights have priority and are in order and
duly registered without any fault or pending issue which affect them negatively;

c) US$ 112,500.00 (one hundred and twelve thousand and five hundred dollars) on
30JUL2007, and provided that the approval of the assignments has been published
at this time for the totality of the mineral rights. In the absence of such
facts, and within the referred period, the above-mentioned payment is to be
suspended and shall be paid within five days upon total compliance with such
stipulations;

d) US$ 139,500.00 (one hundred and thirty-nine thousand and five hundred
dollars) on 30JUL2008, and provided that the transformation of the Requests for
Mining Permit into survey licenses have been published for the totality of this
kind of mineral rights referred to herein. In the absence of such facts, and
within the referred period, the above-mentioned payment is to be suspended and
shall be paid within five days upon total compliance with such stipulations;

e) US$ 675,000.00 (six hundred and seventy-five thousand dollars) on 30DEC2008,
or in twelve months from the payment stipulated in item d above, whichever
occurs last.

4.1 In addition to the price herein established, AURORA shall pay to the
LICENSEE a monthly participation in the mining results which might be obtained
in any of the mining rights in the GARIMPO, in a value equivalent to 2% (two
percent) of the monthly net results of the primary gold production, as defined
below in item 4.1.2.

4.1.2 The participation in the mining results shall be paid by the 10th (tenth)
business day of the month subsequent to the production month, and the payment
shall be made through a bank deposit as stipulated by the LICENSEE.

4.1.3 For the purposes specified above, the production net result shall
correspond to the value of the gross revenue AURORA obtains from the sale of the
gold produced by AURORA and originating from the Garimpo, being deducted the
values corresponding to (i) transportation cost from the mine to the refinery;
(ii) refining cost; (iii) any and all direct taxes of any nature incurring upon
the trading of the gold; and (iv) "financial compensation" as provided for in
Law 7790 of December 28, 1989.

4.1.4 AURORA is entitled to the right to redeem the obligation for participation
payment in the mining results upon payment, in local currency, of US$ 500,000.00
(five hundred thousand US dollars).

4.1.4.1 The above right conferred to AURORA may be exercised at any time, by
means of


                                        3
<PAGE>
a notice addressed to the LICENSEE.

4.1.4.2 If AURORA exercises the right referred to in the above item, the payment
referred to therein shall be made within 10 (ten) days, and the exchange rate
used shall be that referred to in clause 4.2 below.

4.2 Amounts due, Conversion and Calculation: On the original due date of each of
the portions, "4(a) to 4 (e)" , its amount shall be converted from US dollars to
Reals according to the exchange rate obtained by AURORA for the foreign exchange
transaction occurring during the 30 (thirty) days prior to the payment, or, in
its absence, to the average of the current commercial buying and selling
exchange rates obtained on the last business day immediately prior to the date
of the referred payment, as informed in the newspaper "Gazeta Mercantil" or in
its absence, in another major daily newspaper.

4.2.1 The payment of the amounts shall be made:

4.2.1.1 Personally, or via deposit in bank account in Itaituba, specified as
follows, or any other which the LICENSEE may indicate to AURORA:

-    Maria Zizeuda Lima Marques, CPF 110.441.442-20, Banco Bradesco, no 237,
     Branch 524-0, CC (Current Account) 28477;

4.2.1.2 The above bank account may only be changed up to the 5th business day
immediately prior to the date of payment.

4.3 The above payments include indemnities and rentals payable to the surface
occupants of the property in which AURORA conducts its survey; in case any
surface occupant other than the LICENSEE is found in those areas, the LICENSEE,
in view of the Block in question, should obtain for AURORA access to survey and
the right to mining, without onus; otherwise, AURORA may take legal action in
this regard and deduct all and any expense which it may incur from the above
referred payments.


II TEMPORARY SUSPENSION

5. If for any reason beyond its control, including, but not limited to, the
invasion of "Garimpo Sao Domingos" by third parties and impossibility of access
to same due to resistance of its proprietors and/or occupants, AURORA is
obstructed from executing mineral research works therein, it shall have the
right to suspend work for the period of time which the obstruction lasts.

6. Should this occur, AURORA shall immediately: (i) notify the facts to the
LICENSEE and (ii) adopt, if the nature of the circumstance so allows and with
the cooperation of the LICENSEE, including the provisions of item 3 above, all
measures within its reach to overcome such obstruction and resume work.

7. During the period of suspension of works, the deadlines for conclusion of the


                                        4
<PAGE>
Assessment and for payment of the instalments of the price referred to in
clauses 4(c) to 4(e) shall be extended by a period equal to the suspension.

III COMPATIBILITY BETWEEN SURVEY WORKS AND MINING WORKS

8. During the geological assessment stage of the "Garimpo Sao Domingos" referred
to in Chapter I above, the LICENSEE may develop mining works therein, provided
such mining work does not interfere with the survey activities by AURORA and
there is no increase in the production fronts (volume of gold recovered)
previously developed and, further:

a) its object is exclusively extractable gold; gold panning, prospecting and
collecting.
b) it is limited to open sky works;
c) it is limited to a depth not exceeding 25 (twenty-five) meters of the surface
quota;
d) does not employ more workers than those involved to date.

THE IMPROVEMENT OF THE MINERAL RIGHTS

9. The parties are aware that part of the mineral rights held by the LICENSEE to
pursue what is stipulated in this instrument, may be converted into survey
license, that is, they will be the object of requests for survey license, and
the requests for mining permits on the "Garimpo Sao Domingos" as listed in item
A above may be extinct or discontinued.

10. It is the undertaking of all parties that, jointly, they will work to obtain
as soon as possible:

a) The issue of environmental licences and the proper assignment of mining
permits for conversion into survey licenses, issue of survey licenses, for
"Garimpo Sao Domingos" for the areas object of the requests still under
examination by DNPM;

b) The proper transformation of the requests for mining permits already assigned
and those to be assigned into authorization of mineral survey, according to
current legislation.

11. For the purposes contained in clause 10 above, the LICENSEE shall give
representation powers to AURORA and its lawyer, in the form of annex C1, before
the DNPM and the environmental agency of the state of Para, which commits not to
object, and to facilitate regarding the transfer, conversion, assent, regarding
said mineral rights, and the survey work done by and for AURORA or by and for
whomever it indicates, without any onus.

12. The expenses incurred for the purposes of this Chapter IV, including, among
other things, obtaining environmental licences, payment of taxes and fess, shall
be for AURORA's account.

V ANTECIPATED RESCISION OF THE AGREEMENT

13. AURORA shall have the right, with a notice addressed to the LICENSEE, to
denounce this Agreement and consider it terminated in all or in part, if:


                                        5
<PAGE>
a) The Requests for Mining Permits (PLG's) are not granted or if the conversion
of said PLG's into authorization(s) are denied by DNPM;

b) the DNPM refuses to approve the assignment in its favour of the mineral
rights referred to in Chapter I above;

c) At its exclusive discretion, the results of the geological assessment, even
if partial, indicate the inexistence or insufficiency of gold reserve for
economical industrial use.

13.1 Occurring either of the situations above, the agreement shall be
immediately deemed rescinded, and the parties shall be free from the
undertakings yet to be due, which both parties reciprocally hereby undertook,
and none of the party is entitled to any indemnity or compensation of any nature
by virtue of the resulting rescission.

13.2 Still in those situations, AURORA:

a) Shall not be entitled to the reimbursement of any amounts previously paid to
the LICENSEE or spent in the survey works;

b) Shall be dispensed from effecting any payment still to be due,

c) Shall withdraw from the surface areas of "Garimpo Sao Domingos", returning
the mineral rights granted in the state they are back to the LICENSEE;

d) Shall, within 30 (thirty) days from the date of notice of rescission and
independently of any payment, supply to the LICENSEE the technical information
generated in the course of its survey works.

VI RETURN OF THE MINERAL RIGHTS

14. At any time during the assessment period, if the results of the assessment
are unfavourable, and the measures referred to in Chapter I above are
unsuccessful, AURORA may notify the LICENSEE so that it receives back the rights
to the mining permits referred to herein. In case the LICENSEE, after 60 days
from the notification, has not done so, that is, has not provided the required
documentation in this regard, AURORA may dispose of those rights as it deems
fit, giving them up or assigning to third parties.

VII OTHER OBLIGATIONS

15. As provided for in this agreement, the LICENSEE is obliged to, besides other
obligations undertaken with AURORA,

Care for the proper handling of the mining permits and comply adequately with
all the requirements which are requested by the competent authorities regarding
the assignment of Permits, obtaining survey licenses or mining resolutions;

b) Execute the mining works in strict obedience to the pertinent legal and
regulating norms,


                                        6
<PAGE>
observing the limitations covered in Chapter III above;

c) Adopt all measures within its reach to guarantee that AURORA may execute its
mineral survey by avoiding or stopping the invasion of "Garimpo Sao Domingos" by
third parties;

d) Supply to AURORA, whenever requested, geological data and information
regarding "Garimpo Sao Domingos", which have been obtained in the course of the
mining works.

16. As provided for in this agreement, AURORA is obliged to, besides other
obligations undertaken with the LICENSEE:

a) Follow up with DNPM all processes listed in item A, from the date when the
survey requests and/or assignments, and/or conversions of the mining permits
into survey authorizations were submitted;

b) Care for the proper handling of the requests referred to in item (a) above
and comply, if necessary, with the cooperation of the LICENSEE, all the
requirements which are requested by the competent authorities regarding the
assignment of survey authorizations;

c) Effect full payment (i) of all expenses necessary to obtain the environmental
licenses required for the assignment of the survey authorizations referred to in
clause 10 above, and (ii) all taxes and fees necessary for the assignment of
such survey authorizations;

d) Executive mineral survey works in strict compliance with the pertinent legal
norms;

VIII GENERAL CONDITIONS

17. IRREVOCABILITY - Except as provided for in clause 13 above, this agreement
is signed in an irrevocable manner, and the LICENSEE is obliged not to alienate
or promise to alienate, in any way or form, not to burden nor abandon the
mineral rights object of this agreement.

18. ASSIGNMENT AND TRANSFER - The LICENSEE hereby agrees and has nothing to
oppose that the rights hereby conferred to AURORA in this agreement may in part
or in whole be transferred, assigned, alienated, sold to third parties at the
exclusive discretion of AURORA, which may also associate with others for the
compliance of this agreement, however, AURORA, in case of assignment,
alienation, sale and or total transfer of the rights hereby conferred, shall
include a clause in this regard, and notify the LICENSEE of its decision.

19. CONFIDENTIALITY - Except if required by law or by Stock Exchange regulation,
the parties shall maintain strict confidentiality of the terms and conditions of
this agreement and shall not disclose to third parties, in any form, oral or
written, information regarding the mining or survey works, or their results,
without the prior consent in writing of the other non-disclosing party. Each
party shall demand from its representatives, employees, consultants and service
providers identical confidentiality agreement.


                                        7
<PAGE>
20. COMMUNICATIONS/CITATIONS - All communications and notices transmitted under
the terms of this agreement are to be made in writing and delivered personally
or transmitted by cable to the addresses indicated in the preamble of this
agreement, or to any other place that each of the party indicates, in the form
indicated in this clause, and to this effect the present clause is irrevocable,
without any possibility of revocation until all the obligations herein
established have been complied with.

21. AMENDMENTS - Any amendment to this agreement shall be made in writing and
signed by the parties hereby represented.

22. ARBITRATION - The partners elect the Main Court of the city of Rio de
Janeiro, State of Rio de Janeiro, to resolve any doubts deriving from this
agreement which can not be resolved amicably.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties execute this instrument in 3 (three)
counterparts of identical tenor and form, in the presence of two witnesses who
also subscribe this instrument.

Belem, January 26, 2006


ANTONIO BARROS DE SOUZA


AURORA GOLD MINERACAO LTDA.


WITNESSES:
1)                                     2)
Name:                                  Name:
CPF:                                   CPF:


                                        8
<PAGE>
                                                                       Annex B 1

TO THE DIRECTOR OF THE NATIONAL DEPARTMENT OF MINERAL PRODUCTION (DNPM)

Process DNPM NO:

850.991/95                                       851.002/95
850.992/95                                       851.003/95
850.993/95                                       851.004/95
850.994/95                                       851.005/95
850.995/95                                       851.006/95
850.996/95                                       851.007/95
850.997/95                                       851.008/95
850.998/95                                       851.009/95
850.999/95                                       851.010/95
851.000/95                                       851.011/95
851.001/95                                       851.012/95

ANTONIO BARROS DE SOUZA, Brazilian, married, cattle breeder, bearer of ID card
RG 5116343 SSP-PA, registered at CPF/MF under no. 070.601.652-15, with address
at Av. Maranhao, no 91, Municipality of Itaituba, PA, CEP 68181-140, hereinafter
referred to as ASSIGNOR; and VERA LUCIA LOPES FERRAZ, Brazilian, married,
businesswoman, registered at CPF under o no 600. 396.207-00, ID card no. RG
1816002 IFP/RJ, with address at Rua Barra do Mendes, no 245, Casa 1, Rio de
Janeiro, CEP 22753-040, hereinafter referred to as ASSIGNEE, hereby inform and
request the follows

On 26JAN06, the ASSIGNOR, holder of the above-mentioned mineral rights, executed
with the ASSIGNEE an "Agreement of Assignment of Mineral Rights", transferring
to the latter the aforesaid mineral rights, in accordance with the document
submitted to this DNPM as per annex I, and as such, the parties hereby present
resolve to apply for the filing and registry of the requests for assignment and
registration of the transfer.
We remain,
Requesting your approval,

Belem, January 26, 2006


ANTONIO BARROS DE SOUZA


VERA LUCIA LOPES FERRAZ


                                        9
<PAGE>
                PRIVATE AGREEMENT FOR THE ASSIGNMENT AND TRANSFER
                          OF MINERAL RIGHTS AS FOLLOWS:

ANTONIO BARROS DE SOUZA, Brazilian, married, cattle breeder, bearer of ID card
RG 5116343 SSP-PA, registered at CPF/MF under no. 070.601.652-15, with address
at Av. Maranhao, no 91, Municipality of Itaituba, PA, CEP 68181-140, hereinafter
referred to as ASSIGNOR; and VERA LUCIA LOPES FERRAZ, Brazilian, married,
businesswoman, registered at CPF under o no 600. 396.207-00, ID card no. RG
1816002 IFP/RJ, with address at Rua Barra do Mendes, no 245, Casa 1, Rio de
Janeiro, CEP 22753-040, hereinafter referred to as ASSIGNEE,

WHEREAS the ASSIGNOR is the titleholder of the Requests for Mining Permits, DNPM
no 850.991/95, 850.992/95, 850.993/95, 850.994/95, 850.995/95, 850.996/95,
850.997/95, 850.998/95, 850.999/95, 851.000/95, 851.001/95, 851.002/95,
851.003/95, 851.004/95, 851.005/95, 851.006/95, 851.007/95, 851.008/95,
851.009/95, 851.010/95, 851.011/95, 851.012/95;

WHEREAS the above-mentioned Requests for Mining Permits, herein referred to as
Mining Rights, are free and clear of any claims, liens or encumbrances;

WHEREAS the ASSIGNOR wishes to assign to the ASSIGNEE the Mineral Rights, and
the latter being in agreement with such transfer, the Parties agree to execute
this Agreement of Assignment and Transfer of Mineral Rights, in accordance with
the following clauses and conditions:

1. By this present private agreement entered into, and as prescribed by law, the
ASSIGNOR assigns and transfer to the ASSIGNEE the Mineral Rights, as they are in
fact assigned and transferred, in a definitive manner.

2. It is up to the ASSIGNEE to verify with the DNPM the correctness, validity
and legal status of the Mineral Rights now being assigned, and it is agreed that
this present instrument will automatically loose any legal effect with regard to
any of the Mineral Rights which for any reason are denied or declined by the
DNPM, and as such nothing shall be alleged against the ASSIGNOR, and the parties
shall mutually endeavour their best efforts to obtain the registration of the
assignment now being agreed upon.

3. It is the responsibility of the ASSIGNEE, independently of the registration
of the Mineral Rights referred to herein, to pay all and any taxes or expenses.

4. The ASSIGNOR hereby grants the ASSIGNEE, with regard to the Mineral Rights,
full representation powers with the DNPM - National Department of Mineral
Production, the Ministry of Mines and Energy, the State Secretary for
Environment of the State of Para, and IBAMA - the Brazilian Institute of
Environment and Renewable Natural Resources, with full powers to request and
apply for the registration of the assignment, provide declarations and
clarifications, to sign, present or withdraw any document, to meet requirements,
make payments, receive the correspondent receipts, to ratify or rectify, or to


                                       10
<PAGE>
compromise as well as to practice any and all acts necessary for the good
compliance of the powers herein granted.

5. This present instrument is irrevocable and the signatories, their heirs or
successors, are obliged to comply with the terms and conditions set forth
herein, and any previous document signed between the parties with the object
being the assignment and transfer of the Mineral Rights referred to herein shall
be null and void.

6. The Parties hereby agree that any and all dispute arising from this agreement
shall be resolved at the Main Court of the city of Rio de Janeiro, with the
waiver of any other, prevailing over any others.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties execute this instrument in 3 (three)
counterparts of identical tenor and form, in the presence of the witnesses
below, who also subscribe this instrument.

Belem, January 20, 2006


ANTONIO BARROS DE SOUZA


VERA LUCIA LOPES FERRAZ


                                       11
<PAGE>
                                                                      ANNEX C 1.

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

ANTONIO BARROS DE SOUZA, Brazilian, married, cattle breeder, bearer of ID card
RG 5116343 SSP-PA, registered at CPF/MF under no. 070.601.652-15, with address
at Av. Maranhao, no 91, Municipality of Itaituba, PA, CEP 68181-140,
468.697appoints as his attorney Luis Mauricio Ferraiuoli de Azevedo, Brazilian,
single, lawyer, registered with the Brazilian Bar Association (RJ) under no
80412, and registered at CPF under no 753.468.697-00, with office at Av. das
Americas, 700, Bloco 8, sala 215-A, Barra da Tijuca, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, CEP
22640-100, granting him powers to represent him in the condition of titleholder
of certain mineral rights in the location named Garimpo Sao Domingos, in the
Municipality of Itaituba, PA, comprised of Requests for Survey Authorization
DNPM no. 850. 991/95, 850. 992/95, 850. 993/95, 850. 994/95, 850.995/95,
850.996/95, 850.997/95, 850.998/95, 850.999/95, 851.000/95, 851.001/95,
851.002/95, 851.003/95, 851.004/95, 851.005/95, 851.006/95, 851.007/95,
851.008/95, 851.009/95, 851.010/95, 851.011/95, 851.012/95; with ample and
general powers to: take all necessary steps to receive, transfer and assign,
whether free or in payment, the Requests Survey,  who may apply whatever is
necessary, including request for transformations of the same requests into
Mineral Research Licenses or agree with the mineral survey on the same areas,
regarding transfer or assign, whether free or not, as well as visit, and so
practice such acts, and further in this regard, contact the NATIONAL DEPARTMENT
OF MINERAL PRODUCTION - DNPM, the Ministry of Mines and Energy, the Brazilian
Institute of Environment and Renewable Natural Resources, SECTAM, and federal,
state or municipal agencies, Lawyers and Notary Public offices and Government
Registries in general, with powers also to sub-establish this Power of Attorney,
in whole or in part, which now signs irrevocably.

Itaituba, January 26, 2006



ANTONIO BARROS DE SOUZA


                                       12