Val-d’Or, QC – March 31, 2021 – Bonterra Resources Inc. (TSX-V: BTR, OTCQX: BONXF, FSE: 9BR2) (“Bonterra” or the “Company”) is pleased to announce an update on results from the ongoing drilling campaign at the Barry project. Recent drilling was designed to expand the Barry “H-Series” gold mineralized zones at depth (See Figures 1 and 2). The latest drilling results encompass 11 expansion diamond drill holes (4,794 metres (“m”)), including six drill holes that were deepened to test for potential extensions of “H-Series” subparallel zones. Drilling was highlighted by a wide zone of mineralization in drill hole MB-21-340 that intercepted 7.4 grams-per-tonne gold (“g/t Au”) over 14.7 m. The Company is currently drilling at a rate of approximately 10,000 m per month and plans a mineral resource estimate update for Q2/21 (the “2021 Resource Update”), which is expected to incorporate approximately 130,000 m of new drilling information, including results presented today. In addition, work on the the Preliminary Economic Assessment (“PEA”) is ongoing and is expected to be completed in the fall of 2021 (See press release dated March 1, 2021).
Highlights:
Pascal Hamelin, CEO commented: “The ongoing drilling results at Barry are very encouraging and support our view that tremendous exploration potential remains within the camp near existing infrastructure. Several historical intercepts suggest the potential for higher-grade material to the west and drill hole MB-21-340 is no exception. There are currently two diamond drill rigs operating at Barry. Importantly, having several parallel gold-bearing structures allows for drilling to pierce several zones with each hole. The Company continues to test extensions of the deposits at all three of the Company’s flagship assets in preparation of the upcoming resource update expected in Q2/21.”
Figure 1 – Barry Project – Drill Hole Location Map
Figure 2 – Barry Deposit Longitudinal Section
The Company has drilled 70 holes and deepened six existing holes representing a total of 28,658 m at Barry since July 23, 2020. Results from eight drill holes have been received since the press release dated March 1, 2021. Results from the remaining three holes are still pending (See Table 1 and Figures 1 and 2).
The Barry gold deposit is characterized as multiple sub-parallel, sub-vertical, shear zones and a second set of subparallel “H-Series” veins dipping 50 to 60 degrees to the south hosted within intermediate to mafic volcanics and tuffs with local felsic intrusions. Gold mineralization consists of disseminated sulfides within the shear zones and the veins with local visible gold. The Barry deposit has been delineated over 1.4 kilometres along strike and 600 m vertical and remains open for expansion.
Due to an accumulated backlog at the Company’s laboratory, assaying priority has been assigned to drill hole samples directly affected within the 2021 Resource Update. Pending assays of samples awaiting analysis from drilling beyond the project models not included in the 2021 Resource Update are to be processed by Activation Laboratories Ltd. (“Actlabs”), based in northwestern Quebec.
Table 1: Significant mineralized intersections of recent drilling on the Barry deposit
Six existing drill holes (MB-18-189, MB-18-191, MB-18-198, MB-20-246, MB-20-255 and MB-20-278) were deepened and five new holes (MB-21-336 to 340) targeted the expansion of key areas confirming mineral continuity within the inferred resource from the 2019 Barry mineral resource estimate. Drilling results confirm the expansion of multiple “H-Series” subparallel zones open at depth in the central and west areas of the Barry deposit.
The following holes have returned significant grades in this sector; MB-20-255: 3.5 g/t Au over 6.3 m in the H15 Zone; MB-20-278: 3.9 g/t Au over 2.7 m in the H15 Zone; MB-21-339: 3.8 g/t Au over 6.8 m in the H12 zone and 2.1 g/t Au over 6.6 m in the H15 zone; MB-21-340: 7.4 g/t Au over 14.7 m in the H8 Zone and 1.4 g/t Au over 6.8 m in the H15 Zone. Hole MB-21-336 intersected the 1000 zone returning 2.0 g/t Au over 2.0 m confirming that mineralization along this Barry zone remains open towards the east and at depth (See Table 1 and Figures 1 and 2).
The Barry project’s drill core gold analyses are performed at the Company’s Bachelor Mine analytical laboratory (the “Laboratory”). The Company employs a rigorous QA-QC analysis program that meets industry standards. The analyses are carried out by fire assay (A.A.) with atomic absorption finish. Blanks, duplicates, and certified reference standards are inserted into the sample stream to monitor the Laboratory’s performance. The Company’s QA-QC program requires that at least 10% of samples be analyzed by an independent laboratory. These verification samples are sent to ALS Minerals laboratory facility located in Val-d’Or, Quebec. The verifications show a high degree of correlation with the Laboratory’s results. Pending assays of samples awaiting analysis from drilling beyond the project models not included in the 2021 Resource Update are to be processed at Actlabs, based in northwestern Quebec.
Marc Ducharme, P.Geo. and Bonterra’s Exploration Manager, has compiled and approved the information contained in this press release. Mr. Ducharme is a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101.
Bonterra is a Canadian gold exploration company with a large portfolio of advanced exploration assets anchored by a central milling facility in Quebec, Canada. The Company has three main assets, Gladiator, Barry, and Moroy, that collectively have a total of 698 thousand ounces in measured & indicated categories, and 1.4 million ounces in inferred category. Approximately 130,000 m of drilling will be used to update this resource shortly. Importantly, the Company owns the only permitted and operational gold mill in the region that is currently two-thirds the way through the permitting process to expand from 800 to 2,400 tonnes-per-day. Bonterra is focused on graduating from advanced exploration to a development company over the next 18-months to deliver shareholder value.
Pascal Hamelin, President & CEO
ir@btrgold.com
2872 Sullivan Road, Suite 2, Val d’Or, Quebec J9P 0B9
819-825-8678 | Website: www.btrgold.com
Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
Cautionary and Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains “forward-looking information” that is based on Bonterra’s current expectations, estimates, forecasts and projections. This forward-looking information includes, among other things, statements with respect to Bonterra’s exploration and development plans. The words “will”, “anticipated”, “plans” or other similar words and phrases are intended to identify forward-looking information. This forward-looking information includes namely, information with respect to the planned exploration programs and the potential growth in mineral resources. Exploration results that include drill results on wide spacings may not be indicative of the occurrence of a mineral deposit and such results do not provide assurance that further work will establish sufficient grade, continuity, metallurgical characteristics and economic potential to be classed as a category of mineral resource. The potential quantities and grades of drilling targets are conceptual in nature and, there has been insufficient exploration to define a mineral resource, and it is uncertain if further exploration will result in the targets being delineated as mineral resources. Forward-looking information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause Bonterra’s actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Such factors include but are not limited to: uncertainties related exploration and development; the ability to raise sufficient capital to fund exploration and development; changes in economic conditions or financial markets, environmental and other judicial, regulatory, political and competitive developments; technological or operational difficulties or inability to obtain permits encountered in connection with exploration activities; and labour relations matters. This list is not exhaustive of the factors that may affect our forward-looking information. These and other factors should be considered carefully and readers should not place undue reliance on such forward-looking information.