VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwire - Jan. 13, 2009) - BCGold Corp. ("BCGold" or the "Company") (TSX VENTURE:BCG) is pleased to announce the discovery of significant copper mineralization during its recent diamond drill program on its WS Property. The Property is located in central Yukon, adjacent and along trend to Western Copper Corp.'s ("Western Copper") Carmacks Property and Carmacks copper-gold deposits, respectively. Significant results are presented below in Table 1.
Table 1. 2008 Diamond Drill Results
WS Property, Yukon
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dip/
Drill Azimuth Length From To Width Copper Gold Silver
Hole (degrees) (metres) (metres) (metres) (metres) (%) (ppb) (ppm)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
WS08-08 -50/230 292.3 261.0 263.0 2.0 0.12 2.5 0.70
WS08-09B -60/230 294.1 46.0 66.0 20.0 0.13 5.2 0.76
85.5 109.1 23.6 0.34 64.7 2.65
or 46.0 109.1 63.1 0.17 26.0 1.27
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
BCGold drilled 5 holes in 1,235 metres on the WS Property along the Western Copper property boundary, targeting 5 discrete Induced Polarization (I.P.) geophysical and/or copper mobile metal ion (MMI(TM)) geochemical trends defined in 2008 by BCGold (Figure 1). The most significant intersection is in hole WS08-09B, which targeted a weak copper MMI(TM) anomaly coincident with a pronounced, 2 kilometre long linear I.P. geophysical anomaly. This I.P. anomaly is along strike and 1 kilometre from Western Copper's Zone 14. Western Copper intersected 79.7 metres averaging 0.23% copper in Zone 14 during its 2007 drill program (Western Copper News Release - November 22, 2007). BCGold's drill holes WS08-10, 11 and 12 did not intersect any significant copper mineralization.
Drill Hole WS08-09B - Copper Mineralization
Copper mineralization in drill hole WS08-09B occurs in 2 discrete and relatively homogenous intervals of foliated biotite schist within a white mega-crystic alkali feldspar granodiorite. Mineralization in the upper interval, which averages 0.13% copper over 20.0 metres between 46.0 - 66.0 metres, consists primarily of pyrite and chalcopyrite intermixed in foliated schist. Massive chalcopyrite occurs along the edges of carbonate stringers and malachite occurs along fractures.
Chalcopyrite mineralization occurs in a similar fashion in the lower mineralized interval between 85.5 and 109.1 metres, and averages 0.34% copper over 23.6 metres. Chalcopyrite and fracture controlled malachite occur intermixed with pyrite in foliated biotite schist. Massive chalcopyrite rims carbonate stringers and larger chalcopyrite grains display red oxidized rims. Propylitic (chlorite, epidote, carbonate, and sericite) alteration with secondary hematite and weak alkali feldspar alteration predominates.
"BCGold is very pleased with results from the 2008 Carmacks Copper-Gold Properties exploration programs," cites Brian P. Fowler, P.Geo., President and Chief Executive Officer of BCGold. "Results from drill hole WS08-09B clearly indicate that the Carmacks copper-gold mineralizing system extends onto BCGold's WS Property. A trenching and diamond drilling program designed to follow up the WS08-9B discovery, as well as a number of other quality copper targets on the WS Property, is warranted. BCGold is actively exploring the best means to advance the Carmacks Copper-Gold Properties in 2009, by way of option, joint venture, strategic alliance, equity financing or a combination of these possibilities."
2008 Exploration Program
In 2008 BCGold conducted a comprehensive $1.2 million, two phase exploration program on 9 of the 17 properties that compose the Company's Carmacks Copper-Gold Properties. A multitude of new coincidental geochemical and geophysical targets have been defined on 6 properties. This includes a new copper-oxide discovery on the WS Property, where grab sample grades of up to 0.85% copper were obtained from an outcropping of foliated granodiorite with malachite stringers (Figure 1).
Upon completion of Phase I geological mapping, prospecting, MMI(TM) and I.P. surveys on 9 properties, BCGold elected to focus Phase II drilling on possible extensions of Western Copper's Carmacks copper-gold deposits, within the WS Property. Drill holes targeting I.P. anomalies associated with a broad copper MMI(TM) anomaly, 1 kilometre south of BCGold's 2008 drilling, had to be cancelled owing primarily to the lateness in the drilling season and onset of winter conditions. The Company has drilled 12 holes in 2,595 metres in 3 areas on the WS and ICE Properties to date.
Quality Assurance/ Quality Control
All diamond drill core was logged, with visibly mineralized sections split by diamond saw, and sampled in geologically constrained intervals. One split section of all mineralized core is retained for future reference. Samples were delivered directly to the Eco Tech sample preparation facility in Whitehorse by the Company's expeditor with chain of custody documented.
Assays were completed by Eco Tech Laboratories Ltd. in Kamloops, a subsidiary of the global Alex Stewart Group, BC Certified Assayers and an ISO 9001-2000 certified laboratory. All samples were analysed for 45 elements including copper by induction coupled plasma mass spectroscopy (ICP-MS) and for gold by fire assay on a 30 g sample with atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) determination. Samples returning greater than 1 g/t gold were re-assayed by fire assay with a gravimetric measurement.
In addition to the laboratory's internal quality control program, BCGold has put in place a rigorous QA/QC program including the systematic insertion of certified reference materials (standards), duplicate samples and blanks. All standards returned results within acceptable limits for copper and gold. The duplicates and blanks indicated that the analytical results had an acceptable degree of precision and were free from contamination during sample preparation.
The technical contents of this release have been reviewed by Mr. Gary Lustig, P.Geo., a Qualified Person for the purposes of National Instrument 43-101.
About BCGold Corp.
BCGold Corp. (TSX VENTURE:BCG) is a Vancouver-based junior resource company focused on base and precious metal exploration in under-explored historic mining and exploration districts in British Columbia and Yukon. BCGold Corp. acquires and develops conceptual, early and mid-stage, exploration opportunities and advances them towards resource development by using internal expertise, engaging preferred joint venture partners, and creating strategic alliances with major exploration and mining companies.
On behalf of the Board of Directors,
Brian P. Fowler, P. Geo., President & CEO |
