VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwire - March 1, 2010) - BCGold Corp. (or the "Company") (TSX VENTURE:BCG) is pleased to announce that the Company has entered into a Letter of Intent with Goldbard Capital Corp. ("Goldbard") (TSX VENTURE:GDB.P) whereby, subject to regulatory approval, Goldbard can earn up to a 70% interest in BCGold Corp.'s 100% controlled Pepper Property.
BCGold Corp. has granted Goldbard the option to acquire up to a 60% interest in the Pepper Property ("Property") by making $250,000 in cash payments, $2,000,000 in exploration expenditures and issuing 400,000 shares of Goldbard to BCGold Corp. over a four year period. Goldbard can earn an additional 10% interest in the Property by completing a bankable feasibility study, for a total interest of up to 70%. In addition to regulatory approval, the Goldbard option is subject to BCGold Corp. and Goldbard entering into a definitive option and joint venture agreement (the "Option Agreement").
The 670 hectare Pepper Property is the northernmost of BCGold Corp.'s 17 Minto/Carmacks Copper Gold Properties (16,985 hectares) in Yukon, strategically located proximal and adjacent to Capstone Mining Corp.'s currently producing, high-grade copper-gold Minto Mine and Western Copper's recently permitted Carmacks Copper Project. BCGold Corp. is the largest land holder in the Carmacks Copper-Gold Belt, having spent approximately $3.5 million in exploration over the past 3 years and advancing 7 properties to the drill-ready stage.
The Pepper Property is located 12 kilometers northwest of the Minto mine, along the "Minto Trend" and 260 kilometres northwest of Whitehorse, Yukon. The Pepper Property is drill-ready and hosts a number of "Minto-type" copper-gold targets. As part of the Option Agreement, Goldbard is required to conduct a $350,000 work program on the Pepper Property in 2010, which is to include up to 1,000 metres of diamond drilling. The Pepper Property is subject to a 2.75% net smelter returns royalty interest held by BCGold Corp. and a third party.
"This agreement demonstrates that BCGold Corp.'s business model to maximize shareholder exposure to the upside of new discoveries in an emerging mining camp is working," stated Brian P. Fowler, P.Geo., President and CEO of BCGold Corp. "We are very pleased to take on a new exploration partner in the Carmacks Copper-Gold Belt."
Details of the agreement are as follows:
1.) Subject to the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange, Goldbard will make the following cash payments and share issuances:
a. 100,000 common shares and a cash payment of $20,000 to BCGold Corp. on or before March 15, 2010; and
b. 100,000 common shares and a cash payment of $30,000 to BCGold Corp. on or before the first anniversary of the Option Agreement; and
c. 100,000 common shares and a cash payment of $35,000 to BCGold Corp. on or before the second anniversary of the Option Agreement; and
d. 100,000 common shares and a cash payment of $65,000 to BCGold Corp. on or before the third anniversary of the Option Agreement; and
e. 100,000 common shares and a cash payment of $100,000 to BCGold Corp. on or before the fourth anniversary of the Option Agreement.
2.) Goldbard will make staged exploration expenditures on the property totaling $2,000,000 within four years of the Option Agreement. Year 1 expenditures will be a minimum of $350,000, with advance expenditure cash payments of $100,000 required by June 15, 2010, $100,000 by July 1, 2010 and $150,000 by August 1, 2010. Year 2 expenditures will be a minimum of $350,000 in advance expenditure cash payments, Year 3 and Year 4 expenditures will be a minimum of $650,000. BCGold Corp. will act as project operator in return for a 10% operator fee.
Upon incurring a minimum of $1,000,000 in exploration expenditures, providing that all cash payments and share issuances have been made, Goldbard will be vested with a 50% interest in the Pepper Property and a joint venture will be formed, with Goldbard being the operator of the Property.
Upon completion of Year 4 requirements, Goldbard will be vested with an additional 10% interest for a total property interest of 60%.
3.) Goldbard can earn an additional 10% interest in the Property by completing a bankable feasibility study within 3 years of earning a 60% interest, for a total property interest of 70%.
First Year Work Program
A $350,000 exploration program to be conducted by Goldbard for Year 1 is scheduled to commence in mid August 2010, and is expected to consist of up to 1,000 metres of diamond drilling. Drilling would be focused on testing a number of coincidental soil geochemical and geophysical anomalies believed to represent significant copper-gold mineralization at depth.
About BCGold Corp.
BCGold Corp. (TSX VENTURE:BCG) is a Vancouver-based junior resource company focused on copper and gold exploration in under-explored historic and emerging 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