VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwired - Nov. 15, 2016) - BCGold Corp. (TSX
VENTURE:BCG) ("BCGold" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the completion of Phase I exploration and the discovery
of a broad area of porphyry intrusive and copper porphyry-style mineralization at its 100%-owned Pucacorral Project in Central
Peru.
Pucacorral is located approximately 90 kilometres east of Lima in the Miocene Central Peru Porphyry Copper Belt, known to host
numerous, very large porphyry deposits that collectively contain more than 10 billion tonnes of mineral resources. The property
shares geological similarities with Chinalco's Toromocho copper-molybdenum-silver mine, reported to contain 1.53 billion tonnes
averaging 0.5% copper (www.chinalco.com.pe/en/operations),
located 30 kilometres to the north, and is 15 kilometres south of Nyrstar's 600 tpd bio-leach facility and Coricancha
mine. Pucacorral lies within the same regional cluster of copper porphyries that includes the Codicada and recently
discovered Ticlio porphyry.
Pucacorral is centred on the historic San Mateo mine developed in the late 1960's by Minera San Mateo, a small Peruvian miner
focused on exploiting base metal veins and breccias. Two main veins at San Mateo mine, Lourdes and Gianella, and one lesser
vein WSW of the mine named Sairita, were partially mined. Mine workings include nearly 800 metres of drifts and over 130 metres
of shafts. The concept of copper porphyry mineralization was mostly unknown and not the target of past exploration in the
area.
BCGold's Phase I exploration program was tremendously successful as results confirm the presence of a potentially large
porphyry system at Pucacorral, with an areal exposure measuring at least 1.5 kilometre x 1.5 kilometre, comprised of
hydrothermally altered porphyry, breccias and wall rock. The porphyry discovery occurs within 30 metres of the entrance to the
lower two levels of the Lourdes vein and approximately 70 metres into the lower adit on the Sairita vein, where it is
open-ended.
While a significant portion of the veins and breccias in mine workings have already been mapped, approximately one-third
remain largely unmapped and almost all remain unmapped on the surface. Upon receipt of confirmatory assays, BCGold plans to
continue geological mapping and sampling, on both surface and underground, and undertake a geophysical survey designed to enhance
drill targeting for both vein-type breccia occurrences and the underlying mineralized porphyry at Pucacorral.
Pucacorral Phase I Exploration Program
BCGold's 2-month, Phase I Pucacorral field program has greatly exceeded Company expectations, defining what appears to be a
large, porphyry system without any drilling. Exploration work included detailed mapping of tabular or elongated (vein-like)
breccia bodies and selective sampling of a number of old mine workings, existing ore piles and waste rock dumps. The results
of the sampling program (92 rock samples and 18 QA/QC samples) are expected within the next three to four weeks.
Porphyry Copper-Style Mineralization and Intrusive Centre Confirmed
The intrusive porphyry believed to have given rise to widespread alteration and mineralization at Pucacorral infiltrates
the project area and hosts disseminated and stockwork porphyry-style mineralization. The true dimensions and shape of the
porphyry are currently unknown and it is possible it may occur as apophyses or part of a much larger mineralized system nearby or
at depth.
The porphyry source/host (quartz monzonite to granodiorite) was recognised in several mine adits by BCGold's geologists, most
especially in those driven into the Lourdes and Sairita veins. Widespread porphyry-style hydrothermal alteration was
identified in underground workings and on surface, indicating relatively close proximity to a porphyry centre.
Both porphyry and strongly silicified and locally hornfelsed mafic host rocks contain disseminated sulphides throughout
variable intervals adjacent to veins and breccias. The disseminated sulphides comprise between 1% and 5% of the
rock. Sulphide bearing veinlets also occur in intense stockwork zones throughout the mafic host rocks. The porphyry hosting
the Lourdes vein is highly altered and brecciated where adjacent to vein, and contains sphalerite, galena, chalcopyrite, and
pyrite.
Additional Underground Evidence for a Significant Mineralized Porphyry System at Pucacorral
- A porphyritic rock type with disseminations of pyrite and minor chalcopyrite and stockwork veinlets of quartz-chalcopyrite
in a quartz-sericite-pyrite matrix (Phyllic Alteration) has been identified adjacent to the Lourdes Vein along drift ribs of
the two lowest levels. This has also been observed in the lower level at Sairita.
- Multiple episodes of magmatic-hydrothermal brecciation are present in the underground workings. Thus far up to 10 different
breccia types have been identified in the Property; these include eight in the Lourdes Vein and two in Sairita. These are
generally found in the upper sections of copper porphyries.
- Multiple phase intrusions of diorite to granodiorite composition are present at Pucacorral. Some breccias have sub-angular
to sub-rounded broken rock fragments of granodiorite which contain disseminations and clusters of chalcopyrite. This may
indicate a mineralized porphyry at depth and/or in the vicinity.
- Several phases of stockwork type quartz veinlets, of variable orientation, are present in the porphyritic andesite host
rocks. Some are coated fracture surfaces impregnated with chalcopyrite and/or pyrite. Other veinlets contain quartz
with chalcopyrite; others are barren, while others contain only quartz pyrite.
- The wall rocks near the mineralized fault breccias are strongly silicified, and within the stockwork areas contain sericite
and pyrite (phyllic alteration found in porphyries).
There are at least two stages of mineralization after the emplacement of the copper porphyry type mineralization at
Pucacorral. The first is the formation of quartz Zn-Pb-Cu-Ag veins along NE-SW faults and the second is the development of base
metal quartz-calcite breccias along the earlier quartz veins. The early stage veins contain inclusions of sphalerite,
chalcopyrite and argentiferous galena, and the second stage veins comprise base metal mineralization in a breccia of quartz and
porphyry rock fragments.
While it is possible that all discovered underground porphyry may represent apophyses and/or dykes, it is considered more
plausible to represent a shallow-seated porphyry "shoulder". At least two larger exposures of porphyry have been located on
the surface, one of which is co-hosting the Lourdes vein and has dimensions of approximately 250 metres x 120
metres. Another cluster of porphyry exposures is located about 300 metres east and 100 metres above the Sairita vein, with
approximate dimensions of 300 metres x 120 metres. If all exposures are related to a single intrusion, then the porphyry
could have a relative height above that of the nearby Pucacorral Valley floor.
Qualified Person
Victor Jaramillo, M.Sc.A., P.Geo, a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101, has read and approved all
technical and scientific information contained in this news release. Mr. Jaramillo is responsible for the company's Pucacorral
project development.
About BCGold
BCGold is a Vancouver-based junior resource company that has been listed on the TSX Venture Exchange for 10 years, with a
focus on copper and gold exploration in British Columbia, Yukon and more recently, Peru. The Company acquires prospective
gold and copper-gold exploration properties considered to have significant mineral potential by staking, option or purchase
agreements. The Company strives to acquire 100% of these opportunities and after cost-effective and diligent exploration to
develop drill targets, option 51-70% of these properties to third parties in return for some multiple of the Company's
expenditures. The Company currently has a portfolio of 2 - 100% owned gold-copper-silver properties in Peru, 10 - 100% owned
and 2 partially owned gold and copper-gold properties in B.C. and Yukon. BCGold is actively seeking qualified option
partners to advance these properties.
On behalf of the Board of Directors,
Brian P. Fowler, P. Geo., President & CEO
Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX
Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
Some statements in this news release contain forward-looking information or forward-looking statements. These statements
include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to future expenditures and exploration, development and production
activities. These statements address future events and conditions and, as such, involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties
and other factors, which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future
results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the statements. Such factors include, among others, the timing and
completion of contemplated financings, the actual use of proceeds, receipt of regulatory approvals and the timing and success of
future exploration, development and production activities. The Company expressly disclaims any intention or obligation to update
or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise except as otherwise
required by applicable securities legislation.