Benchmark Files Independent Technical Report for Its Multi-Million Ounce Gold-Silver Deposits
Benchmark Files Independent Technical Report for
Its Multi-Million Ounce Gold-Silver Deposits
Edmonton, Alberta--(Newsfile Corp. - June 30, 2021) - Benchmark Metals Inc. (TSXV: BNCH) (OTCQX:
BNCHF) (WKN: A2JM2X) (the "Company" or "Benchmark") - is pleased to announce, in accordance with
National Instrument 43-101 ("NI 43-101") it has filed an independent Technical Report entitled, "Technical
Report and Updated Mineral Resource Estimate of the Lawyers Gold-Silver Property, Omineca Mining
Division, British Columbia, Canada," with an effective date of June 28, 2021.
On May 14, 2021, the Company announced the Updated Mineral Resource Estimate that provided 2.1 million
ounces ("Moz") grading 1.62 grams per tonne ("g/t") gold equivalent ("AuEq") of Indicated Mineral Resources
and 821,000 ounces grading 1.58 g/t AuEq of Inferred Mineral Resources. The Mineral Resource remains open
for expansion and is amenable to both open pit and underground mining methods. The Technical Report is
available for review on SEDAR (www.sedar.com) and on the Company's website
(www.benchmarkmetals.com). Benchmark's 2021, 100,000 metre drill program will focus on expanding and
defining the deposit areas and include drilling on new high-priority targets that have potential for near surface
gold-silver mineralization.
The 2021 drill program will consist of approximately 100,000 metres of drilling, of which 50,000 metres will be
for Mineral Resource definition drilling to both expand current Mineral Resources and to upgrade the current
Inferred Mineral Resources to Measured & Indicated classifications for inclusion in an anticipated Feasibility
Study in 2022. In addition to expanding the Mineral Resource zones at depth and along strike, a regional
exploration program will consist of ~50,000 metres to drill test and expand existing and new discovery targets.
The regional program has potential to add gold-silver ounces in an updated Mineral Resource Estimate for
2021.
Table #1: Lawyers Initial Mineral Resource Estimate (1-7)
Pit Constrained Mineral Resource @ 0.5 g/t AuEq Cut-Off
Resource Area Classification Tonnes k Au
g/t
Ag
g/t AuEq g/t Au
M oz
Ag
M oz
AuEq
M oz
Cliff
Creek
Indicated 30,008 1.18 36.6 1.58 1.134 35.4 1.525
Inferred 12,875 0.95 24.4 1.22 0.393 10.1 0.505
Dukes Ridge Indicated 2,618 0.91 34.1 1.29 0.077 2.9 0.109
Phoenix Inferred 964 0.83 25.9 1.12 0.026 0.8 0.035
AGB
Indicated 7,340 1.27 45.5 1.77 0.300 10.7 0.419
Inferred 1,132 1.13 33.0 1.50 0.041 1.2 0.055
Total
Indicated 39,966 1.18 38.1 1.60 1.511 49.0 2.053
Inferred 14,971 0.96 25.1 1.24 0.460 12.1 0.595
Total Out of Pit Mineral Resource @ 2.0 g/t AuEq Cut-Off
Classification Tonnes k Au
g/t
Ag
g/t AuEq g/t Au
M oz
Ag
M oz
AuEq
M oz
Total
(Cliff Creek + AGB)
Indicated 333 3.24 110.1 4.45 0.035 1.2 0.048
Inferred 1,232 4.03 152.3 5.71 0.160 6.0 0.226
Total Mineral Resource
Resource
Classification Tonnes k Au
g/t
Ag
g/t AuEq g/t Au
M oz
Ag
M oz
AuEq
M oz Area
All
Indicated 40,299 1.19 38.7 1.62 1.546 50.2 2.101
Inferred 16,203 1.19 34.7 1.58 0.620 18.1 0.821
1. Mineral Resources are not Mineral Reserves and do not have demonstrated economic viability. The estimate of Mineral Resources may be
materially affected by environmental, permitting, legal, title, taxation, socio-political, marketing, or other relevant issues. There is no certainty
that Mineral Resources will be converted to Mineral Reserves.
2. The Inferred Mineral Resource in this estimate has a lower level of confidence than that applied to an Indicated Mineral Resource and must not
be converted to a Mineral Reserve. It is reasonably expected that the majority of the Inferred Mineral Resource could be upgraded to an
Indicated Mineral Resource with continued exploration.
3. The Mineral Resources in this news release were estimated in accordance with the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (CIM),
CIM Standards on Mineral Resources and Reserves, Definitions (2014) and Best Practices Guidelines (2019) prepared by the CIM Standing
Committee on Reserve Definitions and adopted by the CIM Council.
4. Mineral Resource estimation parameters used were as follows:
a. Total database of 696 drill holes with 77,175 assays
b. 65 mineralized domains
c. 5m x 5m x 5m block model
d. One metre capped composites
e. Inverse distance cubed grade interpolation for Indicated used minimum of three composites from two holes
f. Average bulk density of 2.67 t/m3
g. Average respective Indicated and Inferred classification search ranges of 35m and 65m
5. Metal prices used were US$1,600/oz Au and US$20/oz Ag and 0.80 FX with process recoveries of 90% Au and 83% Ag. A C$24/tonne process cost
and C$5 G&A cost were used. The Au:Ag ratio was 90.5:1.
6. The constraining pit optimization parameters were C$3/t mineralized and waste material mining cost and 50-degree pit slopes with a 0.50 g/t
AuEq cut-off.
7. The out-of-pit parameters were at a C$100/t mining and $15/t sustaining development cost. The out-of-pit Mineral Resource grade blocks were
quantified above the 2.0 g/t AuEq cut-off, below the constraining pit shell and within the constraining mineralized wireframes. Out-of-Pit Mineral
Resources selected exhibited continuity and reasonable potential for extraction by the long hole underground mining method. Isolated, non-
contiguous blocks were removed.
Figure 1 - Map illustrating the Cliff Creek, AGB, Dukes Ridge and Phoenix block models, $1600/oz AuEq
modeled open pits and the expansion potential of the zones
To view an enhanced version of Figure 1, please visit:
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Table #2: Sensitivity analysis of grade and tonnage at varying pit-constrained AuEq cut-off grades at the Cliff
Creek, AGB, and Dukes Ridge & Phoenix deposits.
Zone Class Cut-off Tonnage Au Contained Au Ag Contained AuEq Contained
Cliff
Creek
AuEq g/t k g/t Au k oz g/t Ag M oz g/t AuEq M oz
Indicated
1.00 14,742 1.82 862 60.5 28.6 2.49 1.179
0.90 16,666 1.70 908 55.6 29.8 2.31 1.237
0.80 19,004 1.57 958 50.9 31.1 2.13 1.301
0.70 21,841 1.44 1,011 46.1 32.3 1.95 1.369
0.60 25,380 1.31 1,070 41.4 33.8 1.77 1.443
0.50 30,008 1.18 1,134 36.6 35.4 1.58 1.525
0.40 36,274 1.03 1,205 31.8 37.1 1.38 1.615
0.35 40,207 0.96 1,242 29.4 38.0 1.29 1.662
0.30 44,853 0.89 1,280 27.0 38.9 1.19 1.711
0.20 55,950 0.75 1,348 22.7 40.8 1.00 1.799
Inferred
1.0 5,354 1.51 259 40.1 6.9 1.95 0.335
0.90 6,219 1.40 280 37.1 7.4 1.81 0.362
0.80 7,312 1.29 303 34.0 8.0 1.67 0.392
0.70 8,737 1.18 330 30.8 8.6 1.52 0.426
0.60 10,470 1.07 359 27.7 9.3 1.37 0.462
0.50 12,875 0.95 393 24.4 10.1 1.22 0.504
0.40 16,375 0.82 433 20.9 11.0 1.05 0.554
0.35 18,512 0.76 453 19.4 11.5 0.98 0.580
0.30 20,847 0.70 472 17.9 12.0 0.90 0.604
0.20 26,438 0.60 506 15.3 13.0 0.76 0.649
DR_PX
Indicated
1.00 1,122 1.48 53 54.7 2.0 2.08 0.075
0.90 1,292 1.37 57 50.9 2.1 1.94 0.080
0.80 1,501 1.26 61 47.0 2.3 1.78 0.086
0.70 1,773 1.15 65 42.9 2.4 1.63 0.092
0.60 2,146 1.03 71 38.4 2.6 1.46 0.100
0.50 2,619 0.91 77 34.1 2.9 1.29 0.109
0.40 3,238 0.80 83 29.9 3.1 1.13 0.117
0.35 3,634 0.74 86 27.8 3.2 1.05 0.122
0.30 4,084 0.68 89 25.8 3.4 0.97 0.127
0.20 5,144 0.58 95 21.9 3.6 0.82 0.135
Inferred
1.0 426 1.23 16 36.5 0.5 1.63 0.022
0.90 494 1.15 18 34.7 0.6 1.54 0.024
0.80 578 1.08 20 32.8 0.6 1.44 0.026
0.70 682 1.00 21 30.4 0.7 1.33 0.029
0.60 814 0.91 23 28.3 0.7 1.22 0.032
0.50 964 0.83 26 25.9 0.8 1.12 0.035
0.40 1,148 0.75 27 23.5 0.9 1.01 0.037
0.35 1,265 0.70 28 22.3 0.9 0.95 0.038
0.30 1,396 0.66 29 21.0 0.9 0.89 0.040
0.20 1,702 0.57 31 18.5 1.0 0.78 0.042
AGB Indicated
1.00 3,892 2.02 253 62.9 8.0 2.72 0.340
0.90 4,355 1.87 262 59.6 8.3 2.53 0.354
0.80 4,906 1.72 271 56.1 8.8 2.34 0.369
0.70 5,533 1.58 280 52.7 9.4 2.16 0.384
0.60 6,320 1.43 290 49.2 10.0 1.97 0.400
0.50 7,340 1.27 300 45.5 10.7 1.77 0.419
0.40 8,620 1.12 309 41.6 11.5 1.58 0.437
0.35 9,454 1.04 314 39.4 12.0 1.47 0.447
0.30 10,489 0.95 320 37.0 12.5 1.36 0.458
0.20 13,464 0.76 331 31.5 13.6 1.11 0.481
Inferred
1.00 541 1.89 32 41.8 0.7 2.35 0.040
0.90 613 1.74 34 40.6 0.8 2.18 0.043
0.80 707 1.57 35 39.1 0.9 2.01 0.045
0.70 854 1.38 37 37.1 1.0 1.79 0.049
0.60 988 1.25 39 35.2 1.1 1.64 0.052
0.50 1,132 1.13 41 33.0 1.2 1.50 0.055
0.40 1,311 1.02 42 30.7 1.3 1.35 0.057
0.35 1,421 0.95 43 29.5 1.3 1.28 0.058
0.30 1,560 0.88 44 28.1 1.4 1.19 0.059
0.20 1,934, 0.74 45 24.9 1.6 1.01 0.062
Quality Assurance and Control
Results from samples were analyzed at ALS Global Laboratories (Geochemistry Division) in Vancouver,
Canada (an ISO/IEC 17025:2017 accredited facility). The sampling program was undertaken by Company
personnel under the direction of Rob L'Heureux, P.Geol. A secure chain of custody is maintained in
transporting and storing of all samples. Gold was assayed using a fire assay with atomic emission spectrometry
and gravimetric finish when required (+10 g/t Au). Analysis by four acid digestion with 48 element ICP-MS
analysis was conducted on all samples with silver and base metal over- limits being re-analyzed by atomic
absorption or emission spectrometry. Rock chip samples from outcrop/bedrock are selective by nature and may
not be representative of the mineralization hosted on the Project.
Michael Dufresne, M.Sc, P.Geol., P.Geo., and Eugene Puritch, P.Eng. of P&E Mining Consultants Inc. are the
Qualified Persons, as defined in National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects, who
have reviewed and approved of the scientific and technical disclosure in this news release. Mr. Puritch is
independent of the Company.
About Benchmark Metals
Benchmark Metals Inc. is a Canadian based gold and silver company advancing its 100% owned Lawyer's
Gold-Silver Project located in the prolific Golden Horseshoe of northern British Columbia, Canada. The Project
consists of three mineralized deposits that remain open for expansion, in addition to +20 new target areas along
the 20 kilometre trend. The Company trades on the TSX Venture Exchange in Canada, the OTCQX Best
Market in the United States, and the Tradegate Exchange in Europe. Benchmark is managed by proven resource
sector professionals, who have a track record of advancing exploration projects from grassroots scenarios
through to production.
www.metalsgroup.com
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Benchmark is part of the Metals Group of companies, managed by an award-winning team of professionals who stand for technical excellence, painstaking
project selection and uncompromising corporate governance, with a proven ability to capitalize on investment opportunities and deliver shareholder returns.
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
s/ "John Williamson"
John Williamson, Chief Executive Officer
For further information, please contact:
Jim Greig
Email: [email protected]
Telephone: +1 604 260 6977
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.
This news release may contain certain "forward-looking statements". Forward-looking statements involve
known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors that may cause the actual results,
performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or
achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statement speaks
only as of the date of this news release and, except as may be required by applicable securities laws, the
Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of
new information, future events or results or otherwise.