Benz Mining: PhotonAssay Delivers Increase in Reported Gold and Confirms Coarse Gold
Benz Mining: PhotonAssay Delivers Increase
in Reported Gold and Confirms Coarse Gold
HIGHLIGHTS
PhotonAssay analysis of 18,143 samples (from 8,500kg of coarse crushed rejects) from
the 2020 drilling campaign identifies more high-grade gold Eastmain Gold Project
Results include
39% increase in the number of reportable intercepts (>0.2g/t Au) from 84 to 117
80% increase in the number of high-grade intercepts (>8g/t Au) from 5 to 9
85% of reportable samples returned higher gold value by PhotonAssay
Exclusivity agreement executed with MSA laboratories which will see the first
PhotonAssay facility in North America
The agreement will enable Benz to assay 20,000 samples per month, resulting in much
faster turnaround and better gold detection
Additional 7,500kg of coarse crushed material from the 2021 drilling campaign has arrived
for PhotonAssay in Perth
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - November 3, 2021) - Benz Mining Corp. (TSXV: BZ) (ASX: BNZ) (the
Company
or
Benz
) is pleased to provide an update on the recently completed PhotonAssay duplicate
analysis. The campaign was a success with a substantial increase in both the overall amount of gold
mineralised intervals and the number of high-grade (>8g/t Au) intervals reported.
CEO Xavier Braud commented:
"PhotonAssay of material from our 2020 drilling campaign has delivered exceptional results, showing
there is more gold in the system than previously reported. Despite running it on a relatively small
number of samples, we can clearly see that this assay method is detecting more gold in most
samples submitted. We went from 84 reportable intercepts (gold>0.2g/t) to 117. This is 39% more
reportable gold than obtained from fire assay analysis.
"Out of 117 reportable samples, 99 have returned higher maximum values by PhotonAssay than by
Fire Assay. This means that for 85% of samples, PhotonAssay yielded higher gold values
"In one instance, Fire Assay had returned <0.01 g/t Au and the best PhotonAssay came back at 0.7g/t
Au (a >13,900% uplift). This turns a seemingly barren zone into a prospective area with strongly
anomalous gold. In this instance, the 0.7g/t Au result was even flagged as heterogeneous, confirming
nugget effect. This is of prime importance - the nugget effect is the main attribute of true high grade
gold deposits.
"This round of analysis fulfilled our expectations with regards to the assay method and pushed us to
negotiate an exclusivity agreement with MSA laboratories on the first PhotonAssay laboratory to be
installed in North America.
"This new laboratory will be setup in Val D'Or, Quebec, approximately 750km from the Eastmain
Project and will give Benz a much shorter turnaround time on drill core assay, solving a problem which
has been impacting many explorers worldwide
"We have been fortunate that the abundance of visible gold at Eastmain has allowed us to keep
drilling, knowing we are broadly exploring in the right place, but this agreement will certainly expediate
our program going forward."
Fire Assays vs. PhotonAssay
In 2020, half core samples from our drilling program were assayed using conventional fire assays.
Fire assays are done on a finely pulverised 50g subsample of the half core sample submitted for assay.
This widely accepted protocol is the norm for gold assays worldwide but it has proven to potentially
introduce a sampling bias, especially in samples containing larger (>75um) gold particles. This
phenomenon is usually known as nugget effect.
In February 2021, Benz Mining reported assay results from the maiden drilling campaign at its high-
grade Eastmain Gold project in northern Quebec, Canada. (11 February 2021:
Assays confirm the
discovery of 2 new trends at Eastmain
).
Gold assays at the time had been exclusively conducted using Fire Assay with AA or gravimetric finish.
The high-grade nature of the deposit with the presence of coarse visible gold prompted Benz Mining to
investigate the appropriateness of Chrysos' PhotonAssay technology, a high energy X-Ray fluorescence
technology, to analyse samples from Eastmain.
8,500kg of coarse crush rejects were shipped from Canada, where the technology is not yet available
commercially, to Perth, Australia where PhotonAssay has been available for gold assays since 2018.
Coarse crush rejects are the leftover material from a standard sample preparation for fire assays. In the
case of the 2020 drilling campaign, samples were half NQ core samples. Core length for individual
samples ranged between 0.3m and 1.6m with weights ranging from 850g to 4.5kg. Fire Assays were
conducted on 50g subsamples, leaving between 800g and 4.45kg of sample potentially containing
singled out gold particles not captured in the sub-sampling process.
Exclusivity Deal with MSA Laboratories:
Benz is pleased to report the execution of a services agreement with MSA Laboratories Ltd
(MSALABS) guaranteeing exclusivity for a maximum of 20,000 analysis per month by PhotonAssay in
MSALABS' Val d'Or laboratory in Quebec, at ongoing commercial rates.
The laboratory is expected to be operational on 1
st
December 2021 with a total nameplate analytical
capacity of 40,000 samples per month, giving Benz up to 50% of the total laboratory capacity for an
initial period of 12 months.
Benz is currently drilling over 1,200m of core per week.
Sample intervals varies between 0.5m and 2m.
This analytical facility will also give Benz an opportunity to re-assay historical core, present on site at the
Eastmain Gold project which was assayed by conventional Fire Assay in the past.
Table 1: Photon Assay results with Previously released Fire Assay Results (best assays >0.2g/t Au
reported)
Sample Number
Hole
number
From
To
Length
Gold (g/t Au) by
Fire Assay (best)
Gold (g/t Au) by
Photon Assay
(best)
%Difference
A837201
EM20-131
28.7
30
1.3
0.116
0.28
+141%
A837212
EM20-131
51.7
52.5
0.8
0.244
0.28
+15%
A837214
EM20-131
53.59
54.6
1.01
1.063
1.59
+50%
A837215
EM20-131
54.6
55.6
1
0.487
0.94
+93%
A837232
EM20-131
123
124
1
0.798
0.87
+9%
A837336
EM20-132
122.6
123
0.4
0.137
0.25
+82%
A837424
EM20-132
529.75
530.75
1
0.36
0.55
+53%
A837426
EM20-132
531.75
532.75
1
39.602
35.79
-10%
A837429
EM20-132
533.75
534.75
1
1.469
1.22
-17%
A837458
EM20-132
570
571
1
1.256
1.38
+10%
A837576
EM20-133
110.5
112
1.5
0.03
0.25
+733%
A837609
EM20-133
189.5
191
1.5
0.043
0.31
+621%
A837635
EM20-133
267
268.5
1.5
0.03
0.39
+1200%
A838019
EM20-134
424.15
424.45
0.3
0.188
0.32
+70%
A838028
EM20-134
431
431.6
0.6
0.471
0.66
+40%
A838030
EM20-134
432.3
432.8
0.5
9.25
10.06
+9%
A838031
EM20-134
432.8
433.8
1
0.289
0.34
+18%
A838112
EM20-135
53
53.3
0.3
0.218
0.25
+15%
A838122
EM20-135
79.2
79.5
0.3
21.44
18.19
-15%
A838124
EM20-135
79.8
80.1
0.3
0.703
0.67
-5%
A838686
EM20-135
645
646.5
1.5
0.373
0.53
+42%
A838709
EM20-135
668.4
669
0.6
0.012
0.77
+6317%
A838719
EM20-135
677
677.5
0.5
0.913
1.03
+13%
A838735
EM20-135
695.5
697
1.5
0.208
0.25
+20%
A838344
EM20-136
121.7
122
0.3
0.213
0.18
-15%
A838370
EM20-136
235
236.45
1.45
0.091
0.22
+142%
A838371
EM20-136
243
244
1
0.642
0.27
-58%
A838506
EM20-136
454
455.5
1.5
3.301
1.44
-56%
A838564
EM20-136
535
536.5
1.5
0.19
0.28
+47%
A838571
EM20-136
544.3
545.3
1
0.159
0.2
+26%
A838577
EM20-136
552
553.5
1.5
0.289
0.33
+14%
A838586
EM20-136
562.6
563.85
1.25
0.496
0.02
-96%
A838594
EM20-136
569.5
570.5
1
0.232
0.03
-87%
A838604
EM20-136
578.5
579.5
1
0.111
0.25
+125%
A838605
EM20-136
579.5
580.5
1
0.196
0.06
-69%
A838606
EM20-136
580.5
581
0.5
0.32
0.38
+19%
A838607
EM20-136
581
582
1
0.279
0.64
+129%
A838626
EM20-136
605.5
607
1.5
0.095
0.68
+616%
A839017
EM20-137
409.16
409.57
0.41
0.319
0.12
-62%
A839021
EM20-137
410.38
411
0.62
1.28
0.75
-41%
A839022
EM20-137
411
411.8
0.8
1.055
1.31
+24%
A839023
EM20-137
411.8
412.49
0.69
0.24
0.3
+25%
A839026
EM20-137
414
415.36
1.36
0.391
0.54
+38%
A839029
EM20-137
417.5
417.9
0.4
0.506
0.34
-33%
A839082
EM20-137
503
504
1
0.167
0.42
+151%
A839083
EM20-137
504
504.58
0.58
5.699
5.88
+3%
A839084
EM20-137
504.58
505
0.42
0.22
0.2
-9%
A839085
EM20-137
505
505.5
0.5
2.797
0.24
-91%
A839089
EM20-137
509
510
1
0.259
0.39
+51%
A839092
EM20-137
512
513
1
0.318
0.74
+133%
A839093
EM20-137
513
514
1
0.241
0.88
+265%
A839098
EM20-137
519.5
521
1.5
2.791
3.26
+17%
A839109
EM20-137
531
532.5
1.5
0.08
0.21
+163%
Sample Number
Hole
number
From
To
Length
Gold (g/t Au) by
Fire Assay (best)
Gold (g/t Au) by
Photon Assay
(best)
%Difference
A839112
EM20-137
535.5
537
1.5
>0.005
0.21
+4100%
A839237
EM20-138
239.6
240.25
0.65
0.08
0.56
+600%
A839289
EM20-138
312
313.5
1.5
0.04
0.35
+775%
A839290
EM20-138
313.5
315
1.5
0.647
0.61
-6%
A839291
EM20-138
315
316
1
0.123
0.38
+209%
A839298
EM20-138
319.2
319.8
0.6
0.117
0.21
+79%
A839301
EM20-138
321.25
322.3
1.05
0.206
0.53
+157%
A839309
EM20-138
330
331
1
0.139
0.21
+51%
A839332
EM20-138
357.7
359
1.3
0.018
0.65
+3511%
A839391
EM20-138
493.5
495
1.5
0.058
0.34
+486%
A839394
EM20-138
496.6
497.35
0.75
0.206
0.5
+143%
A839396
EM20-138
498
499
1
0.172
0.23
+34%
A839402
EM20-138
501.7
502
0.3
0.185
0.26
+41%
A839408
EM20-138
507
508
1
12.48
14.7
+18%
A839409
EM20-138
508
508.45
0.45
3.904
3.86
-1%
A839410
EM20-138
508.45
509.5
1.05
3.93
1.23
-69%
A839476
EM20-139
106
107
1
0.139
0.21
+51%
A839562
EM20-139
285
286.5
1.5
0.049
0.43
+778%
A839711
EM20-139
507
508.5
1.5
>0.005
0.7
+13900%
A839752
EM20-140
94
95
1
0.327
0.3
-8%
A839757
EM20-140
109
110.5
1.5
0.063
1.26
+1900%
A839798
EM20-140
345
346.5
1.5
0.859
1.65
+92%
A839861
EM20-140
507
507.55
0.55
0.211
0.2
-5%
A839866
EM20-140
510.4
510.95
0.55
2.072
0.26
-87%
A839867
EM20-140
510.95
512.24
1.29
0.126
0.66
+424%
A839868*
EM20-140
512.24
513
0.76
0.273
0
-100%
A839883
EM20-140
524.58
525.35
0.77
0.2
0.25
+25%
A839896
EM20-140
535.7
536
0.3
1.186
1.37
+16%
A839909
EM20-140
549
550.5
1.5
0.028
0.42
+1400%
A840024
EM20-140
664
665
1
0.427
0.68
+59%
A840025
EM20-140
665
666
1
0.431
0.42
-3%
A840030
EM20-140
668.5
669.34
0.84
0.15
0.43
+187%
A840031
EM20-140
669.34
669.8
0.46
0.477
0.59
+24%
A840048
EM20-140
686.5
688
1.5
0.427
1.05
+146%
A840056
EM20-140
695.6
696
0.4
0.45
0.57
+27%
A840057
EM20-140
696
697
1
0.21
0.32
+52%
A840142*
EM20-141
142
143.3
1.3
0.588
0
-100%
A840179
EM20-141
176
177.5
1.5
0.66
0
-100%
A840209
EM20-141
209.5
209.97
0.47
6.97
8.71
+25%
A840271*
EM20-141
316.1
316.5
0.4
1.79
0
-100%
A840272*
EM20-141
326.5
326.8
0.3
0.98
0
-100%
A840282*
EM20-141
332.5
334
1.5
0.66
0
-100%
A840312*
EM20-141
371
372
1
0.873
0
-100%
A840306
EM20-141
365
366.5
1.5
<0.01
0.23
+4500%
A840349
EM20-141
403
403.6
0.6
0.353
0.2
-43%
A840367
EM20-141
417.5
418.5
1
0.937
0.59
-37%
A840368
EM20-141
418.5
419
0.5
5.562
6.23
+12%
A840369
EM20-141
419
420
1
0.967
0.82
-15%
A840370
EM20-141
420
421
1
8.803
19.69
+124%
A840371
EM20-141
421
421.8
0.8
0.425
0.51
+20%
Sample Number
Hole
number
From
To
Length
Gold (g/t Au) by
Fire Assay (best)
Gold (g/t Au) by
Photon Assay
(best)
%Difference
A840372
EM20-141
421.8
422.8
1
1.968
2.58
+31%
A840465
EM20-141
561.33
562
0.67
0.315
0.57
+81%
A840467
EM20-141
562.34
562.7
0.36
0.569
0.66
+16%
A840468
EM20-141
562.7
563
0.3
0.236
0.52
+120%
A840471
EM20-141
564.7
565.42
0.72
0.168
0.23
+37%
A840472
EM20-141
565.42
565.79
0.37
85.029
48.53
-43%
A840474
EM20-141
566.7
568
1.3
0.488
0.55
+13%
A840475
EM20-141
568
568.5
0.5
0.175
0.27
+54%
A840612
EM20-142
139.64
140.14
0.5
7.556
6.38
-16%
A840613
EM20-142
140.14
141
0.86
6.924
8.1
+17%
A840614
EM20-142
141
141.8
0.8
1.124
1.57
+40%
A840615
EM20-142
141.8
143
1.2
1.25
1.48
+18%
A840616
EM20-142
143
144
1
4.375
11.01
+152%
A840617
EM20-142
144
145
1
0.38
2.12
+458%
A840645
EM20-142
215.4
216
0.6
0.144
0.47
+226%
A840650
EM20-142
219.62
220
0.38
0.058
0.47
+710%
A840658
EM20-142
225.5
226.4
0.9
0.09
0.47
+422%
A840662
EM20-142
227.7
229.1
1.4
0.051
0.2
+292%
A840672
EM20-142
238.4
240
1.6
0.033
0.23
+597%
A840687
EM20-142
272.8
273.1
0.3
0.477
0.38
-20%
A840701
EM20-142
284.93
285.38
0.45
0.624
1.07
+71%
Sample Number
Hole
number
From
To
Length
Gold (g/t Au) by
Fire Assay (best)
Gold (g/t Au) by
Photon Assay
(best)
%Difference
In total, 27 samples returned PhotonAssay results >0.2g/t Au while having only returned values <0.2g/t Au
by Fire Assay. By comparison, 6 samples which had returned results>0.2g/t Au by Fire Assay have
returned PhotonAssay results >0.2g/t Au.
Benz will duplicate these 6 samples by sampling ¼ of the core retained at the Eastmain Camp at
another laboratory and then submit those samples to another analysis by PhotonAssay for verification.
The analysis of multiple duplicate samples is a requirement for resource estimation calculation. All the
duplicate measurements obtained by both PhotonAssay and Fire Assay will be integrated in the
Heterogeneity test, currently in progress and driven by world renowned expert Dominique François-
Bongarçon.
The first part of the heterogeneity test was conducted under supervision from Dominique François-
Bongarçon at SGS laboratories in Vancouver, BC on core samples from historical drillholes from the
various ore zones of the Eastmain deposit. The second part of the test required pulps and coarse rejects
from drill core samples submitted by Eastmain Resources in 2011 and 2016. Those pulps and rejects
were in possession of Fury Gold in Toronto and the Covid lockdown of Toronto
prevented Benz from
collecting them. Following the end of the lockdown in Ontario, the samples were transferred to a
warehouse in Chibougamau and subsequently shipped to the Eastmain Mine site.
They are currently
stored in one of the warehouses.
The second part of the heterogeneity test has commenced and Benz is looking forward to receiving the
results of this test which will greatly help the next resource calculation
This press release was prepared under supervision and approved by Dr. Danielle Giovenazzo,
P.Geo, acting as Benz's qualified person under National Instrument 43-101.
About Benz Mining Corp.
Benz Mining Corp. (TSXV: BZ) (ASX: BNZ) brings together an experienced team of geoscientists and
finance professionals with a focused strategy to acquire and develop mineral projects with an emphasis
on safe, low risk jurisdictions favourable to mining development. Benz is earning a 100% interest in the
former producing high grade Eastmain gold mine, Ruby Hill West and Ruby Hill East projects in Quebec
and owns 100% of the Windy Mountain Project.
About the Eastmain Gold Project
The Eastmain Gold Project, situated on the Upper Eastmain Greenstone Belt in Quebec, Canada,
currently hosts a NI 43-101 and JORC (2012) compliant resource of 376,000oz at 7.9gpt gold (Indicated:
236,500oz at 8.2gtp gold, Inferred: 139,300oz at 7.5gtp gold). The existing gold mineralisation is
associated with 15-20% semi-massive to massive pyrrhotite, pyrite and chalcopyrite in highly deformed
and altered rocks making it amenable to detection using electromagnetic techniques. Multiple gold
occurrences have been identified by previous explorers over a 10km long zone along strike from the
Eastmain Mine with very limited but highly encouraging testing outside the existing resource area. Benz
has subsequently identified over 160 DHEM conductors over a strike length of 6km which is open in all
directions.
Figure 1: Benz tenure over Upper Eastmain Greenstone Belt simplified geology.
To view an enhanced version of Figure 1, please visit:
https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/1818/101815_5193b2b99437cb1d_001full.jpg
On behalf of the Board of Directors of Benz Mining Corp.
Xavier Braud, CEO
For more information please contact:
Paul Fowler
Head of Corporate Development (Canada)
Benz Mining Corp.
Telephone: +1 416 356 8165
Email:
Xavier Braud
CEO, Head of Corporate Development (Aus)
Benz Mining Corp.
Telephone +61 8 6143 6702
Email:
Forward-Looking Information:
Certain statements contained in this news release may constitute
"forward-looking information" as such term is used in applicable Canadian securities laws. Forward-
looking information is based on plans, expectations and estimates of management at the date the
information is provided and is subject to certain factors and assumptions, including, that the Company's
financial condition and development plans do not change as a result of unforeseen events and that the
Company obtains regulatory approval. Forward-looking information is subject to a variety of risks and
uncertainties and other factors that could cause plans, estimates and actual results to vary materially
from those projected in such forward-looking information. Factors that could cause the forward-looking
information in this news release to change or to be inaccurate include, but are not limited to, the risk that
any of the assumptions referred to prove not to be valid or reliable, that occurrences such as those
referred to above are realized and result in delays, or cessation in planned work, that the Company's
financial condition and development plans change, and delays in regulatory approval, as well as the
other risks and uncertainties applicable to the Company as set forth in the Company's continuous
disclosure filings filed under the Company's profile at
www.sedar.com
. The Company undertakes no
obligation to update these forward-looking statements, other than as required by applicable law.
NEITHER THE 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 ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS RELEASE.
Competent Person's Statements:
The information in this report that relates to Exploration Results is
based on and fairly represents information and supporting information compiled by Mr Xavier Braud,
who is a member of the Australian Institute of Geoscientists (AIG membership ID:6963). Mr Braud is a
consultant to the Company and has sufficient experience in the style of mineralization and type of
deposits under consideration and qualifies as a Competent Person as defined in the 2012 edition of the
"Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves". Mr
Braud holds securities in Benz Mining Corp and consents to the inclusion of all technical statements
based on his information in the form and context in which they appear.
The information in this announcement that relates to the Inferred Mineral Resource was first reported
under the JORC Code by the Company in its prospectus released to the ASX on 21 December 2020.
The Company confirms that it is not aware of any new information or data that materially affects the
information included in the original market announcement and confirms that all material assumptions and
technical parameters underpinning the estimate continue to apply and have not materially changed.
The
Company confirms that the form and context in which the Competent Person's findings are presented
have not been materially modified from the original market announcement.
Appendix 1: JORC Tables
Section 1 Sampling Techniques and Data
(Criteria in this section apply to all succeeding sections.)
Criteria
JORC Code explanation
Commentary
Sampling
techniques
Nature and quality of sampling (eg cut channels, random
chips, or specific specialised industry standard
measurement tools appropriate to the minerals under
investigation, such as down hole gamma sondes, or
handheld XRF instruments, etc). These examples should
not be taken as limiting the broad meaning of sampling.
Include reference to measures taken to ensure sample
representivity and the appropriate calibration of any
measurement tools or systems used.
Aspects of the determination of mineralisation that are
Material to the Public Report.
In cases where 'industry standard' work has been done
this would be relatively simple (eg 'reverse circulation
drilling was used to obtain 1 m samples from which 3 kg
was pulverised to produce a 30 g charge for fire assay'). In
other cases more explanation may be required, such as
where there is coarse gold that has inherent sampling
problems. Unusual commodities or mineralisation types (eg
submarine nodules) may warrant disclosure of detailed
information.
NQ size core drilling
Duplicate analysis by PhotonAssay of previously sampled
material
Original samples :
Core cut in two equal halves with one half
submitted for assays
Core length for individual samples was based on
geological observations
No samples were less than 30cm (0.3m) in length
Drilling
techniques
Drill type (eg core, reverse circulation, open-hole hammer,
rotary air blast, auger, Bangka, sonic, etc) and details (eg
core diameter, triple or standard tube, depth of diamond
tails, face-sampling bit or other type, whether core is
oriented and if so, by what method, etc).
Triple tube NQ core drilling.
Hole depths vary between 309m and 777m
Core was oriented using downhole orientation tool
Drill sample
recovery
Method of recording and assessing core and chip sample
recoveries and results assessed.
Measures taken to maximise sample recovery and ensure
representative nature of the samples.
Whether a relationship exists between sample recovery
and grade and whether sample bias may have occurred
due to preferential loss/gain of fine/coarse material.
Core recoveries were measured by comparing the length
of core recovered against the length of drill rods used and
recorded by the drilling contractor.
For the sampled intervals the core was cut in half and half
of the core was sent for assays
Length of core sampled for individual assays was
determined by the logging geologist following
geological/mineralisation boundaries.
To ensure representativity, no intervals shorter than 30cm
were sampled.
Logging
Whether core and chip samples have been geologically
and geotechnically logged to a level of detail to support
appropriate Mineral Resource estimation, mining studies
and metallurgical studies.
Whether logging is qualitative or quantitative in nature.
Core (or costean, channel, etc) photography.
The total length and percentage of the relevant
intersections logged.
All core was logged for
Lithology
Alteration
Mineralisation
Mineral species abundance
Veining
Structures
Both qualitative and quantitative logging was conducted
100% of the core drilled has been logged
Sub-sampling
techniques
and sample
preparation
If core, whether cut or sawn and whether quarter, half or
all core taken.
If non-core, whether riffled, tube sampled, rotary split, etc
and whether sampled wet or dry.
For all sample types, the nature, quality and
appropriateness of the sample preparation technique.
Quality control procedures adopted for all sub-sampling
stages to maximise representivity of samples.
Measures taken to ensure that the sampling is
representative of the in situ material collected, including
for instance results for field duplicate/second-half
sampling.
Whether sample sizes are appropriate to the grain size of
the material being sampled.
Half core sampled
Criteria
JORC Code explanation
Commentary