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Bonterra Provides Operational Update and Launches an Exploration Program at the Duke Property with Joint Venture Partner Osisko Mining

Val-d’Or, QC – March 6, 2022 – Bonterra Resources Inc. (TSX-V: BTR, OTCQX: BONXF, FSE: 9BR2) (“Bonterra” or the “Company”) a Canadian gold exploration company with a large portfolio of advanced exploration assets anchored by a central milling facility in northern Quebec, Canada, provides the following operational updates:

Inflation and further Cost Saving Initiatives

In response to the challenging inflationary pressures related to project development, specifically in northern Quebec, the Company continues to significantly reduce its fixed expenses. In addition to the cost saving initiatives announced in November 2022 (see press release dated November 23, 2022), the Company has completed the transition from processing most assays at its wholly owned laboratory to an external laboratory.

Bonterra has also entered into an agreement for the rental of the Bachelor camp with the main contractor in charge of the construction of the proposed Kuikuhaacheu hydroelectric power transmission line from the Waswanipi substation to the Windfall gold project. The Company is also evaluating other cost-saving initiatives.

Infill Drill Program at Barry

On September 7, 2022, the Company began a 125,000 metres (“m”) drill program at the Barry underground deposit, which holds 0.5 million ounces of Measured and Indicated Mineral resources and 0.7 million ounces of Inferred Mineral resources according to the last mineral resources estimate (the “2021 MRE”, see press release dated June 23, 2021). To date, 31,350 m of infill drilling (107 holes) has been completed, mainly in the upper half of the deposit.

The challenging inflationary pressures related to project development have also led the Company to pause the infill drill program and engineering work related to the Barry underground deposit. However, geological interpretation work will continue at both the Barry and Gladiator deposits throughout the year.

The two rigs formerly used for infill drilling will now be utilized for a targeted regional exploration program across the Company’s 38,050 hectares land package, averaging about 1,400 m per month. This drill program will be focused primarily in the Urban-Barry property and to a lesser extent, the Bachelor property. An airborne geophysical survey will also be conducted at Bachelor to identify optimal exploration targets.

Renewed Focus on Regional Exploration

The Company is pleased to announce the launch of an exploration program at the Duke property (“Duke” or the “Property”), a joint venture with Osisko Mining Inc. (“Osisko” or the “Partner”). The Property consists of 81 mineral claims totaling 3,590 hectares, adjacent to the Company’s Gladiator deposit and Osisko’s Windfall gold project (Figure 1). Bonterra and Osisko are joint venture partners with a 70% and 30% working interest, respectively, to explore Duke (see press release dated July 13, 2021). This program is part of the Company’s renewed focus on regional exploration.

The exploration program for Duke comprises ten holes, totaling 3,300 m in the corridor of volcanic rocks bounded by the Rouleau and St Çyr faults which contains the lac Rouleau deposit that comprises Zones 18, 17 and 14. Seven holes will be drilled northeast of the Lac Rouleau deposit, where the litho-structural trend abruptly shifts from N80 to N45 degrees related to the emplacement of intrusive bodies creating potential traps for mineralizing fluids, while three holes will be drilled on the west side of the Lac Rouleau deposit, directly south of the Rouleau fault to test N60 degrees trending structures that connects the St Çyr and Rouleau faults (Figure 2).

Known gold mineralization at Duke are, like the Barry and Gladiator deposits, controlled by N60 to N80 degrees trending shear zones located on, or proximal to major regional litho-stratigraphical contacts such as the Rouleau or the St Çyr faults. Gold occurrences are often associated with the lithological complexity created by mafic to felsic intrusions. It is to be noted that the Gladiator deposit contains 0.4 million ounces of Measured and Indicated Mineral resources and 1.0 million ounces of Inferred Mineral resources, as stated in the 2021 MRE.

Marc André Pelletier, President and CEO commented: “As part of our ongoing commitment to cost reduction and optimizing capital allocation for the benefit of our shareholders, we have made the decision to pause the infill drilling campaign at the Barry deposit. We are mindful of the challenging market conditions faced by junior mining companies like Bonterra, as well as inflationary pressures such as higher energy costs for underground operations without access to the hydroelectric grid. We are pleased to note the forthcoming construction of the hydroelectrical transmission line near our projects by Miyuukaa Corporation, and we are contributing to this project by providing a camp to the main contractor. In addition, we are excited to launch a regional exploration program in collaboration with Osisko as part of our joint venture on Duke, with the goal of targeting untested ground along the Rouleau fault using two drill rigs. This program supports our view of the significant exploration potential in the Urban-Barry camp.”

Figure 1 – Duke Property – Regional Map

Geology

La propriété Duke couvre trois unités litho-stratigraphiques de la ceinture de roches vertes Urban-Barry. La formation de Lacroix composée de roches volcaniques ultramafiques à mafiques qui encaisse le gîte Gladiator, la formation de Chanceux composée majoritairement d’unités volcano-sédimentaires et de roches volcaniques mafiques qui abrite l’indice Cominco, l’indice #4 et l’indice Centaur ainsi que des occurrences de minéralisations sulfurées volcanogènes comme l’indice Lac Morissette (Quesnel), enfin la formation Macho composée de volcanites mafiques avec des centres volcaniques felsiques qui encaissent les gîtes Barry et Windfall. Ces trois unités litho-stratigraphiques sont délimitées par deux failles majeures orientées N60 degrés sub-verticales : la faille Barry, sur laquelle le gîte de Gladiator est situé, entre la formation Lacroix et Chanceux; la faille de St Çyr se produit au contact entre les formations de Chanceux et de Macho où le gîte du Lac Rouleau est situé. La faille Rouleau parallèle aux failles St Cyr et Barry, délimitent un fort contraste magnétique dans la formation Macho créant une zone très prometteuse pour découvrir de nouveaux gîtes. La minéralisation sur la propriété Duke varie en style. Le gîte du lac Rouleau consiste en une diorite fortement altérée et cisaillée au contact entre des coulées mafiques et des tufs intermédiaires avec une minéralisation en pyrite et des veines de quartz fumé. Les indices Cominco, indice #4 et Centaur, encaissés dans un gabbro et son contact cisaillé avec les roches volcaniques, sont composés de brèches de quartz blanc associées à une forte altération carbonatée en séricite et fuchsite avec une pyritisation mineure. L’indice du Lac Morissette (Quesnel) est formé par une lentille de sulfures massifs avec un porphyre de quartz feldspaths. Le programme de forage d’exploration est conçu pour tester de nouvelles cibles le long du corridor entre les failles St Cyr et Rouleau ainsi que pour tester l’extension le long de la minéralisation connue. 

Figure 2 – Duke Exploration Program and Airborne Magnetic field Survey Results – Diamond drill holes targets location

Quality Control and Reporting Protocols

The Company’s drill core gold analyses are performed at Activation Laboratories Ltd (“Actlabs”) based in Ste-Germaine-Boulé, Quebec. The analyses are carried out by fire assay (A.A.) with atomic absorption finish and with gravimetric finish for assay above 10 g/t Au. Samples with visible gold are assayed by a metallic sieving method. Bonterra applies industry standard Quality Assurance/Quality Control (“QA/QC”). The geological team inserts blank certified samples and pulps duplicates in every batch of 20 samples. Actlabs routinely inserts certified samples (2 standards for gold, one duplicate and one blank) and results are reported in certificates of analysis. Approximately 5% of sample pulps grading more than 0.5 g/t are sent to secondary laboratories for check assay. Standards, blanks, and duplicates used by Bonterra and Actlabs are in compliance with QA/QC associated to a project at early exploration stage. A review of results is performed by Qualified Persons.

Qualified Person

Donald Trudel, P.Geo., (OGQ # 813) Director of Geology of the Company oversees all exploration activities on the Bonterra’s properties and has compiled and approved the information contained in this press release. Mr. Trudel is a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 on standards of disclosure for mineral projects.

About Bonterra Resources Inc.

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 four main assets, Gladiator, Barry, Moroy, and Bachelor that collectively have a total of 1.24 million ounces in Measured and Indicated categories, and 1.78 million ounces in Inferred category. Importantly, the Company owns the only permitted and operational gold mill in the region. Bonterra is focused on graduating from advanced exploration to a development company to deliver shareholder value.

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Marc-André Pelletier, President & CEO

ir@btrgold.com 

2872 Sullivan Road, Suite 2, Val d’Or, Quebec J9P 0B9

819-279-9304 | Site Web: 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.

Caution regarding 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 and placing the Bachelor-Moroy deposit under long-term care and maintenance. 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 forwardlooking 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.

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