Gold at Grey River Sokoman / Benton Intersect Gold in all Five Drill Holes over 5 km Strike Length Confirming Extensive Gold System at Grey River
ST. JOHN'S, NL / ACCESSWIRE / March 16, 2022 / Sokoman Minerals Corp. (TSXV:SIC)(OTCQB:SICNF) ("Sokoman") and Benton Resources Inc. (TSXV:BEX) ("Benton") together (the "Alliance"), are pleased to announce the results from the maiden drill program at Grey River, Newfoundland. The Alliance reports that the drilling has returned multiple intersections in drill holes covering 5.0 kilometers of strike length and is open in all directions. The results are highlighted by GR-21-01, the easternmost hole drilled, that intersected three distinct gold zones including a high-grade interval of 10.58 g/t Au over 1.80 m including 50.13 g/t Au over 0.35 m.
Program highlights include:
| DDH # | Target | | From (m) | To
(m) | Length m* | Au (g/t) |
| | | | | | | |
| GR-21-01 | Historical Au - 0.25 g/t | | 33.40 | 35.00 | 1.60 | 1.40 |
| | | and | 45.30 | 48.35 | 3.05 | 2.64 |
| | | and | 74.50 | 76.30 | 1.80 | 10.58 |
| | | incl | 74.50 | 74.85 | 0.35 | 50.13 |
| | | | | | | |
| GR-21-02 | Surface chip - 134 g/t Au | | 77.00 | 77.70 | 0.70 | 2.04 |
| | | and | 81.90 | 84.00 | 2.10 | 0.80 |
| | | and | 98.00 | 105.40 | 7.40 | 1.14 |
| | | incl | 101.00 | 101.75 | 0.75 | 8.22 |
| | | | | | | |
| GR-21-03 | Historical Au - 3.80 g/t | and | 124.00 | 126.00 | 2.00 | 1.78 |
| | | and | 164.00 | 168.00 | 4.00 | 1.37 |
| | | | | | | |
| GR-21-04 | Surface grab - 0.80 g/t Au | | 115.50 | 115.80 | 0.30 | 1.25 |
| | | and | 128.10 | 131.00 | 2.90 | 1.36 |
| | | | | | | |
| GR-21-05 | Test EM Anomaly | | 93.00 | 99.40 | 6.40 | 0.29 |
| | | incl | 95.90 | 96.80 | 0.90 | 1.67 |
| * Core lengths - believed to be 90% of reported lengths. | | | |
Grey River 2021 Drilling Program Map
Timothy Froude, P. Geo., President and CEO of Sokoman states; "The first drilling that tested the gold potential of this huge system has exceeded our expectations. It is hard to believe that the area has never been drilled for gold even though gold was first reported from the property in the 1980s. In addition to the assays in the table, broad zones of anomalous Au mineralization, from 5 to 250 ppb, were intersected in all holes. More exploration is required to understand the controls on the gold mineralization particularly the high-grade zones which are found in two areas on the property over four kilometers apart. The highest-grade results are from the easternmost hole (GR-21-01) and all the mineralized zones are open in every direction."
Stephen Stares, President and CEO of Benton states; "It is important for shareholders to understand the scale and potential of this project. We've essentially tested random areas of a huge silica zone to see if the system was carrying gold mineralization at depth. This maiden drill program has exceeded our expectations, and not only did we hit gold in every hole over 5 km, but we've also confirmed high grades which is open in all directions. The alliance is very excited to get back working on this project and permitting for a more extensive exploration program including 25 to 30 drill holes is underway. I truly believe this very large (>10 km) silica system could be host to a very significant gold deposit and I can hardly wait to get drills turning again."
Field setup for GR-21-01 - Grey River JV Property
Gold mineralization is associated with extensive silica zones containing 2%-20% disseminated and stringer pyrite in the >10 km quartz/silica body in the eastern half of the property. The higher grades appear to be associated with discreet quartz-sulphide veins that cut the silica body at a low angle. Historic grab samples, and recent grab samples taken by Sokoman and Benton personnel (see September 2, 2021 press release), have given gold values ranging from 5 ppb to 225 g/t Au and drilling has confirmed the gold mineralized zones are extensive. Previously released assay values from GR-21-01 (37.65 g/t Au over 0.35 m) have increased to 50.13 g/t Au over 0.35 m due to re-assaying using the metallic screen method suggesting that free gold is present.
Previous workers have compared the gold mineralization at Grey River to the high-grade Pogo gold mine in the Tintina district of Alaska. The Pogo mine, to the end of 2019, produced 3.9M oz gold at 13.6 g/t Au (Northern Star Resources, November 22, 2021).
Noteworthy of the Grey River project is:
- No previous drilling for gold in the silica zone which has been mapped over a 10 km strike length and remains open - most holes collared in, and ended in, the silica zone
- Gold mineralization has been located in five holes over a 5 km strike length
- Gold zones in multiple drill holes with grades up to 50.13 g/t Au
- 25-30 drill holes planned to start spring/early summer 2022