Benchmark Metals Inc (CVE:BNCH) (OTCQB:CYRTF) (FRA:87CA) plans to carry out further drilling at the Marmot zone discovery in a bid to develop new gold-silver ounces near surface following a statistical analysis of drill assays and surface sampling across its flagship Lawyers project.
As reported in January this year, four holes at Marmot in British Columbia returned 'significant' near-surface results, including an interval of 101 metres (m) showing 0.82 grams per ton (g/t) gold-equivalent (AuEq).
The company said it was now planning to delineate and expand Marmot on strike, depth and width, as well as start drilling at the Marmot East zone. And the completion of the statistical analysis means the firm now plans to expand, via drilling, new discovery areas across the Lawyers property.
READ: Benchmark Metals excited about discovery at Marmot zone, which could be a Cliffs Creek look-alike
"The drill-ready targets have potential to generate additional near-surface gold and silver ounces that may be incorporated into future economic studies as satellite deposits located near to the existing deposits. Drilling in 2020 provided a new discovery at the Marmot Target area with 101 metres at 0.82 g/t AuEq," said John Williamson, the CEO of Benchmark.
"Drilling will expand mineralization at surface where outcrop samples have yielded up to 61.3 g/t gold and 3,890 g/t silver. There is potential to quickly grow areas that exhibit the same anomalous geological features as the Cliff Creek Zone that measures over 1.2 kilometres strike length."
The controls on mineralization at Marmot were found to be similar to those at Cliff Creek, where Benchmark has already defined a bulk-tonnage target in the range of 1.68 to 1.92 million ounces (Moz) of gold equivalent.
"Today's results indicate the potential footprint of the alteration system associated with this mineralization, demonstrating the expansion possibility and potential future addition of satellite resources to the Cliffs Creek-AGB-Dukes deposits," Benchmark also noted.
The company is focused on developing the substantial resource potential of its huge Lawyers asset, which sits in the prolific Golden Horseshoe of northern British Columbia.
Contact the author at giles@proactiveinvestors.com