Bullfrog Gold Corp. announced gold and silver assay results from 9 more holes of the 25 holes recently drilled at its Bullfrog Project (“Project”). The Project comprises 2,125 hectares (5,250 acres) of strategic lands, established resources, and prospective exploration potential in the Bullfrog Mining District located 4 miles west of Beatty, Nevada (200 km northwest of Las Vegas, Nevada). The Bullfrog Mining District and surrounding area are in one of the most active gold exploration regions in North America. The Company has commanding land and resource positions in the Bullfrog mine area and obtained a very large database from Barrick Bullfrog Inc., including detailed information on 250,000 meters (155 miles) of drilling in the area.
Key Points
Assays on MH Holes
Table 1 shows the 5 MH holes that contained mineral intercepts. These assays are very significant, as area resources are favorably oxidized and highly amenable to using high-pressure grinding rolls (HPGR) that produce a much finer leach feed with more microfractures than conventional crushing equipment. Average gold recoveries of 85% were achieved on extensive tests of four bulk samples sized at minus 1/16-inch compared to 71% from sample splits conventionally crushed to a -3/8-inch size. The HPGR gold recovery from the MH bulk sample was particularly favorable at 91% from a grade of only 0.34 g/t. Additional bulk sampling and HPGR leach testing are planned to provide greater certainty with the results established to date.
Table 1 | |||||||||||
MH Assay Results | |||||||||||
Hole | MH Intervals, Feet 2 | MH Intervals, Meters | Gold 1 | Silver | Total | ||||||
No. | From | To | Length | From | To | Length | g/t | g/t | Depth, Ft | ||
BH-20-6 | 295 | 655 | 360 | 90 | 200 | 110 | 0.41 | 0.61 | 750 | ||
includes | 395 | 480 | 85 | 120 | 146 | 26 | 0.906 | 0.91 | |||
BH-20-7 | 150 | 175 | 25 | 46 | 53 | 8 | 3.229 | 3.36 | 240 | ||
BH-20-9 | 75 | 95 | 20 | 23 | 29 | 6 | 0.534 | 0.91 | 640 | ||
120 | 140 | 20 | 37 | 43 | 6 | 0.308 | 0.45 | ||||
150 | 175 | 25 | 46 | 53 | 8 | 0.313 | 0.33 | ||||
340 | 640 | 300 | 104 | 195 | 91 | 0.333 | 0.32 | ||||
BH-20-14 | 0 | 40 | 40 | 0 | 12 | 12 | 0.223 | 0.30 | 400 | ||
75 | 95 | 20 | 23 | 29 | 6 | 0.304 | 0.21 | ||||
160 | 180 | 20 | 49 | 55 | 6 | 0.284 | 0.20 | ||||
220 | 260 | 40 | 67 | 79 | 12 | 0.444 | 0.47 | ||||
275 | 305 | 30 | 84 | 93 | 9 | 0.396 | 0.16 | ||||
380 | 400 | 20 | 116 | 122 | 6 | 0.243 | 0.46 | ||||
BH-20-15 | 35 | 130 | 95 | 11 | 40 | 29 | 0.286 | 0.26 | 540 | ||
315 | 365 | 50 | 96 | 111 | 15 | 0.262 | 0.19 | ||||
395 | 540 | 145 | 120 | 165 | 44 | 0.310 | 0.39 | ||||
Tot./ Wtd. Avg | 1,210 | 369 | 0.408 | 0.48 | |||||||
1 Nominal gold cut off: 0.20 g/t. Could be lower with current gold prices and higher leach recovery. | |||||||||||
Minimum 20 feet waste between mineral intervals. Maximum 20 feet waste within mineral intervals. | |||||||||||
2 As spatial data is not currently not available, mineral lengths are not true thicknesses. | |||||||||||
Holes BH-20-16 and 17 were drilled near the east perimeter of MH area and were not mineralized but were needed to define the northeast limits of mineralization. As all the old holes immediately east of the recent drilling also did not contain significant mineralization, the objective of defining the northeast limit of resources and the proposed Bullfrog pit expansion has now been met with much greater certainty. Angled hole BH-20-7 was lost at 240 feet, as was offset hole 7A. As a replacement, vertical hole BH-20-9 was drilled 80 m east and successfully confirmed four intercepts in this area.
For reference, the bottom of the Bullfrog pit ramp is 213 meters (700 feet) below the MH area and provides reasonable access to nearly all resources within a proposed layback of the northeast limit of the Bullfrog pit. Other Project attributes include a paved highway to the front gate; steep pit walls up to 53 degrees that remain stable after 25 years; water supply under the Bullfrog pit; excellent mining venue; nearly all waste can potentially be backfilled in the south Bullfrog pit to substantially reduce disturbances and costs; mineral and waste rocks overall are highly alkaline (no acid generation), and several additional exploration and development drill holes are permitted and bonded.
Twenty-one of the 25 holes were drilled on lands leased from Barrick to fulfill a final work commitment and, thereby, allow the Company to purchase by mid-September a 100% interest in those lands, subject to production royalties. Figure 1 shows the locations of the 25 holes drilled, the Bullfrog and M-S proposed pit expansions, the Company’s new Paradise Ridge exploration target and the location of a cross section included as Figure 2.
Most of the Company’s resources are located in the north Bullfrog deposit within the dashed green line on Figure 1 and northern one-third of the pit, and they are on lands in the Barrick lease/option. These resources have also been adequately drilled in all dimensions necessary to optimize a final pit plan. Assay results for holes BM-20-1 through 3 and BH-20-4, 5 and 8 were disclosed in a June 17, 2020, press release.
About Bullfrog Gold Corp.
Bullfrog Gold Corp. is a Delaware corporation that controls the commanding land and mineral positions in the Bullfrog Mine area where Barrick produced 2.3 million ounces of gold by conventional milling beginning in 1989 and ending in 1999. Measured and indicated 43-101 compliant resources were estimated in mid-2017 by Tetra Tech Inc. at 525,000 ounces of gold, averaging 1.02 gold g/t in base case pit plans. Most of these resources are in the north extension to the Bullfrog pit. Inferred resources within these pit plans were estimated at 110,000 ounces of gold averaging 1.2 g/t. It is noted that the 3-year trailing average gold prices are now more than $160 higher than the $1,200 price used in the mid-2017 Canadian NI 43-101 resource estimates, which were also based on a heap leach gold recovery of 72% compared to the average 85% leach test recoveries recently achieved on four bulk samples.
Table 2 | |||||||
Summary of Previous MH Drill Results 1 | |||||||
Hole | Mineral Intercepts | ||||||
No. | Thick, Ft | Au G/T | Ag G/T | From, ft | To, ft | ||
Five Interior Holes Within the MH Perimeter | |||||||
rdh | 496 | 80 | 0.25 | 0.24 | 0 | 80 | |
25 | 0.35 | 0.34 | 130 | 155 | |||
20 | 0.33 | 0.45 | 175 | 195 | |||
rdh | 457 | 35 | 0.20 | 0.17 | 10 | 45 | |
160 | 0.34 | 0.15 | 145 | 305 | |||
rdh | 458 | 55 | 0.83 | 0.65 | 270 | 325 | |
125 | 0.24 | 0.05 | 380 | 505 | |||
es | 002 | 70 | 0.34 | 1.54 | 25 | 95 | |
20 | 0.99 | 1.10 | 130 | 150 | |||
70 | 1.22 | 1.00 | 190 | 260 | |||
rdh | 459 | 30 | 0.52 | 0.95 | 90 | 120 | |
110 | 0.45 | 0.41 | 215 | 325 | |||
70 | 0.33 | 0.09 | 375 | 445 | |||
85 | 0.28 | 0.23 | 590 | 675 | |||
Tot./Wtd. Avg. | 955 | 0.43 | 0.43 | ||||
1 Hole es-001 is the only other internal hole in the 300 m x 250 m MH area and defines | |||||||
part of the eastern limit of resource as it had no significant mineralization. | |||||||
Closest MH Intercepts West of the MH Perimeter 2 | |||||||
rdh | 904 | 50 | 0.33 | 0.20 | 535 | 580 | |
rdh | 903 | 40 | 0.40 | 0.45 | 340 | 350 | |
rdh | 285 | 125 | 0.25 | 0.26 | 350 | 475 | |
rdh | 218 | 30 | 0.30 | 0.63 | 170 | 200 | |
25 | 0.23 | 0.62 | 245 | 270 | |||
20 | 0.26 | 0.34 | 300 | 320 | |||
150 | 0.22 | nil | 424 | 575 | |||
rdh | 321 | 35 | 0.25 | 0.29 | 420 | 455 | |
20 | 0.68 | 0.82 | 570 | 595 | |||
rdh | 345 | 30 | 0.28 | 0.57 | 290 | 320 | |
rdh | 311 | 30 | 0.54 | 0.86 | 100 | 130 | |
25 | 0.27 | 0.27 | 215 | 240 | |||
rdh | 342 | 150 | 0.45 | 0.58 | 150 | 300 | |
rdh | 212 | 50 | 0.28 | 0.38 | 360 | 410 | |
20 | 0.27 | 0.34 | 435 | 455 | |||
rdh | 343 | 30 | 0.27 | 0.46 | 50 | 80 | |
85 | 0.28 | 0.59 | 210 | 295 | |||
Tot./Wtd. Avg. | 915 | 0.32 | 0.40 | ||||
2 In MH fault zone only, Excludes peripheral intercepts in the Bullfrog vein and | |||||||
stockworks that were in previous resource estimates and located above the above | |||||||
the MH fault zone. | |||||||
Quality Control/Quality Assurance
The drill program was designed by David Beling, CEO and P.E., and managed by Clive Bailey, CPG and Lead Consultant responsible for all aspects of field activities, geological services and quality assurance and control requirements. On-site personnel log and track all samples prior to sealing and shipping. Quality control is monitored by the insertion of blind, certified standard reference materials, duplicate splits, and blanks into each sample shipment. All samples are shipped to American Assay Laboratories (AAL) in Reno, Nevada, for preparation and assaying. AAL is independent of the Company, and its quality system complies with the requirements for the International Standards ISO 9001:2000 and ISO 17025:1999. Analytical accuracy and precision are monitored by the analysis of reagent blanks, reference material and duplicate samples. Upon receipt of all assays, additional field samples and pulps may be assayed by other labs to further validate and verify results. Mr. Beling has verified the data underlying the information disclosed herein, including sampling, analytical and test data, and reviewing the reports of AAL, methodologies, results and all procedures undertaken for quality assurance and quality control in a manner consistent with industry practice.
Qualified Person
David Beling, P.E., has 55 years of project and corporate experience in the mining industry and is a qualified person as defined by Canadian National Instrument 43-101 – Standards of Disclosure or Mineral Projects. Mr. Beling has prepared, supervised the preparation of, or approved the technical information that forms the basis of the Company’s disclosures but is not independent of Bullfrog Gold Corp. For further information, please contact David Beling, CEO & President, at (970) 628-1670.
Corporate Communications:
InvestorBrandNetwork (IBN)
Los Angeles, California
www.InvestorBrandNetwork.com
310.299.1717 Office
Editor@InvestorBrandNetwork.com