| Vancouver, BC, May 5, 2022 – New Found Gold Corp. (“New Found” or the “Company”) (TSX-V: NFG, NYSE-A: NFGC) is pleased to announce that it has commenced shipping drill core samples from its Queensway project to MSALAB's newly commissioned Chrysos PhotonAssay™ lab in Val d'Or, Quebec. New Found is conducting a 400,000m drill campaign on its 100% owned approximately 1500km2 Queensway project accessible via the Trans-Canada Highway approximately 15km west of Gander, Newfoundland.
Highlights - The initial sample batches sent to the MSALAB's Val d'Or facility will be used to complete a QA/QC assessment for the Company's utilization of Chrysos PhotonAssay™ at this facility. The Chrysos PhotonAssay™ method is non-destructive and New Found’s QA/QC program will include fire assay/metallic screening of sample material post photon assay for comparison of the results. This process of follow-on fire assay will continue until an adequate data population is acquired to allow the Company to fully validate the Chrysos PhotonAssay™ method on Queensway samples.
- In April, 2022, COO Greg Matheson, P.Geo. along with Senior Database Geologist Candice Ooi visited the MSALAB's Val d'Or facility as part of the Company's due diligence prior to shipping samples for assay.
- Queensway core will be cut, logged, and photographed at New Found's facilities in Gander prior to shipment to Val d'Or where sample preparation and Chrysos PhotonAssay™ assaying of the samples will be completed. Sample batches will continue to include internal reference materials and blanks to validate the laboratory methods.
- In late 2021 New Found shipped a batch of core samples to Intertek's facility in Perth, Western Australia, and subsequently reported PhotonAssay™ results for these samples (see January 26, 2022, news release).
- Utilization of the Chrysos PhotonAssay™ method by the Company is anticipated to result in much faster assay turn around times and significant cost savings. This earlier receipt of assay results will allow faster and more efficient adjustment of drill targeting based on results received.
- Chrysos PhotonAssay™ machines have been commissioned by some of the largest assay labs including for example three machines at Intertek's laboratory facility in Perth, Australia, and the method is now utilized by a broad spectrum of gold mining and exploration companies. Kirkland Lake Gold (now Agnico Eagle) has a unit installed at its Fosterville Mine in Victoria, Australia, and Barrick Gold with MSALAB’s operates a unit at its Bulyanhulu mine in Tanzania.
- New Found is also pleased to report progress on its new 25,000 square foot GigaShack core processing and logging facility in Gander. Construction is proceeding quickly with an anticipated occupation date of July 2022. A recent photo of the facility construction is shown in Figure 2.
- Further, the Company is pleased to announce that a twelfth drill has arrived at site and is expected to commence drilling in the coming days. The Company is planning to ramp up to fourteen rigs.
Greg Matheson, COO for New Found, stated: “The Company and its exploration programs have continued to grow significantly over the past two years along with the necessary infrastructure required to accommodate both a growing workforce and the scope of work at Queensway. Since inception we have aimed to be at the forefront of exploration as early adopters of machine learning with GoldSpot Discoveries and now as one of the first in North America to utilize Chrysos PhotonAssay™, which provides another tool for the team to make better, faster decisions. We look forward to working closely with MSALABS to assess and implement this technology alongside our growing exploration efforts.”
Figure 1. MSALAB's newly commissioned Chrysos PhotonAssay™ machine.
Photo taken during New Found's due diligence visit to the facility.
Figure 2. Construction on the Company’s 25,000 square foot GigaShack is underway.
Qualified Person
The technical content disclosed in this press release was reviewed and approved by Greg Matheson, P. Geo., Chief Operating Officer, and a Qualified Person as defined under National Instrument 43-101. Mr. Matheson consents to the publication of this news release dated May 5, 2022, by New Found. Mr. Matheson certifies that this news release fairly and accurately represents the information for which he is responsible.
About New Found Gold Corp.
New Found holds a 100% interest in the Queensway Project, located 15km west of Gander, Newfoundland, and just 18km from Gander International Airport. The project is intersected by the Trans-Canada Highway and has logging roads crosscutting the project, high voltage electric power lines running through the project area, and easy access to a highly skilled workforce. The Company is currently undertaking a 400,000m drill program at Queensway, now approximately 43% complete. The Company is well funded for this program with cash and marketable securities of approximately $100 million as of May 2022. |