Bell Copper Reports Big Sandy Assays
June 7, 2022
News Release
Bell Copper Corporation
Bell Copper Reports Big Sandy Assays
VANCOUVER, B.C. - Bell Copper Corporation (TSXV:BCU) (OTCQB:BCUFF) (“Bell Copper” or the “Company”) reports that it has received complete assay results from drillhole BS-3 at its Big Sandy project. Big Sandy is a large, truncated porphyry copper-molybdenum target located in northwestern Arizona, approximately 30 kilometers south of the Company’s Perseverance Project.
Highlights
Inclined drillhole BS-3 cut 200 meters grading 0.42 percent copper (8.4 lbsCu/st) and 2.4 grams of silver per tonne from 1302 meters to 1502 meters, including 54 meters grading 0.67 percent copper (13.4 lbsCu/st) and 3.7 grams of silver per tonne from 1445 meters to 1499 meters.
BS-3 drilled an additional 524.33 meters from 1502 to 2026.33 meters (total depth) grading 0.16 percent copper and 2.2 grams of silver per tonne.
The entire bedrock interval in BS-3, extending 834.33 meters from 1192 meters to 2026.33 meters (total depth), consisted of pervasively sericitized quartz monzonite porphyry typical of the low grade, outer “phyllic” or “QSP” (quartz-sericite-pyrite) alteration zone of a porphyry copper system.
Metallurgical testing continues on the 200-meter chalcocite-bearing interval 1302-1502 meters for copper recovery via routine froth flotation and leaching.
Drillhole BS-3
Disseminated chalcocite (copper sulfide) and pyrite was first encountered in drillhole BS-3 at an inclined depth of 1302 meters, immediately beneath leached capping. Chalcocite variably overprints predominantly pyritic mineralization from the inclined depth of 1302m to at least 1589m. Chalcocite mineralization in this 287-meter interval is interrupted by spotty jarosite-bearing shear zones lacking pyrite and chalcocite. No copper oxide minerals were encountered in the intersection. Pyrite content averaged over 9 percent by weight across the interval.
The 200-meter interval between 1302 meters and 1502 meters returned an average grade of 0.42 percent copper (8.4 lbsCu/st) and 2.4 grams of silver per tonne, including 54 meters from 1445 meters to 1499 meters grading 0.67 percent copper (13.4 lbsCu/st) and 3.7 grams of silver per tonne. The true thickness of the 200-meter chalcocite-bearing interval is not known. The maximum copper assay in the interval was 4.30 percent copper over 0.3 meters. Two other copper assays in the interval exceeded one percent copper, including 2.65 percent copper over 1.6 meters and 2.12 percent copper over 0.60 meters.
From an inclined depth of 1502 meters to the bottom of the hole at 2026.33 meters, sulfide minerals were dominated by pyrite, accompanied by minor chalcopyrite, tennantite, sphalerite, and trace molybdenite, with pyrite averaging 10 percent by weight over the interval. This interval averaged 0.16 percent copper and 2.2 grams of silver per tonne. The average ratio of pyrite to chalcopyrite in this interval is 20:1 by weight.
The entire bedrock interval in BS-3, extending 834.33 meters from 1192 meters to 2026.33 meters (total depth), consisted of pervasively sericitized quartz monzonite porphyry typical of the low grade, outer “phyllic” or “QSP” (quartz-sericite-pyrite) alteration zone of a porphyry copper system.
BS-3 was terminated when the mechanical limits of the drill were reached. The inclination of the hole steepened to over 80 degrees at the bottom of the hole, so negligible progress was being made to cross laterally through the pyrite zone and into any adjacent copper shell. Future drilling will test hypothetical supergene chalcocite that would be expected to overlie any adjacent copper shell.
Metallurgical Testing Ongoing
A composite sample of coarse assay rejects from the chalcocite-bearing (copper-bearing) interval 1302-1502 meters was shipped to SGS Lakefield lab in Ontario for a bank of scoping metallurgical studies (see March 22 release). Chalcocite is being tested for its amenability to recovery by both froth flotation and acid leaching. Molybdenite is being tested for its amenability to concentration by froth flotation and for its rhenium content. The testing allows Bell to consider multiple extraction scenarios as we drill future intersections at Big Sandy.
Figure A. Core from BS-3 (1927.5 m) showing coarse-grained pyrite with quartz, sericite, and minor chalcopyrite (copper-iron sulfide) cutting quartz-molybdenite in quartz monzonite porphyry.
Figure B. Core from BS-3 at the bottom of the hole (2026.33 m) showing coarse-grained pyrite with quartz, sericite, and minor chalcopyrite (copper-iron sulfide) in quartz monzonite porphyry. High pyrite content, pervasive late-stage sericitic alteration, and high ratios of pyrite to chalcopyrite suggest that BS-3 did not penetrate the copper-rich part of the porphyry system.
Figure C. Vein-filling chalcocite (shiny silver gray) and pyrite (brassy) in sericitized porphyry at 1364.5 meters running 2.12 percent copper over 0.6 meters.
Tim Marsh, Bell’s President and CEO, and a Qualified Person as defined by NI43-101, said,
“Bell Copper has demonstrated the existence of a new supergene enriched porphyry copper deposit at Big Sandy. We have shown that significant copper grades are present over a length scale of 200 meters, though we lack knowledge of the true thickness in this first intersection. Drilling a half-mile of QSP with little primary geochemical gradient gives us our first clue that this is the large porphyry system that we went looking for. We have not yet found the primary source of the copper, though the veins and minerals in the core all suggest that BS-3 was close. The Company is following up the BS-3 intersection with a 900-meter step-out hole, BS-4, from a new drill pad. Precollar drilling and casing into bedrock will be completed with an angle-capable mud rotary drill, which is expected to significantly accelerate the pace of future drilling at Big Sandy.”
Sampling, Assaying and Quality Control
Core was sawn lengthwise using a diamond saw and was then sampled under the supervision of on-site geological staff and transported by the Company’s Qualified Person from the drill site near Kingman, Arizona to Skyline Laboratories in Tucson, Arizona for sample preparation and assay. Core was sampled on nominal 3-meter intervals, but was shortened around prominent sulfide-rich veins to limit the influence of high grade material.
Analysis at Skyline consisted of a four-acid digest (hydrochloric, nitric, hydrofluoric, and perchloric acids) with ICP-MS determination for 48 elements, and gold by fire assay. One matrix-matched, certified reference standard or coarse field blank was inserted into the sample stream for every 10 samples of core from BS-3. Skyline internal quality control included pulp replicate analyses and certified reference materials.
About Bell Copper
Bell Copper is a mineral exploration company focused on the identification, exploration and discovery of large copper deposits located in Arizona. Bell Copper is exploring its 100% owned Big Sandy Porphyry Copper Project and the Perseverance Porphyry Copper Project which is under a Joint Venture - Earn In.
Qualified Person
The technical content of this release has been reviewed and approved by Timothy Marsh, PhD, PEng., the Company’s CEO and President. No mineral resource has yet been identified on the Big Sandy Project. There is no certainty that the present exploration effort will result in the identification of a mineral resource or that any mineral resource that might be discovered will prove to be economically recoverable.
On behalf of the Board of Directors of
Bell Copper Corporation
"Timothy Marsh"
Timothy Marsh, President, CEO & Director
For further information please contact the Company
Tel: 1 800 418 8250
Email: info@bellcopper.net
Neither the 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.
Forward Looking Statements
This news release includes “forward-looking statements” and “forward-looking information” within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation. All statements included in this news release, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include predictions, projections and forecasts and are often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "anticipate", "believe", "plan", "estimate", "expect", "potential", "target", "budget" and "intend" and statements that an event or result "may", "will", "should", "could" or "might" occur or be achieved and other similar expressions and includes the negatives thereof.
Forward-looking statements are based on a number of assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by management based on the business and markets in which Bell Copper operates, are inherently subject to significant operational, economic, and competitive uncertainties, risks and contingencies. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results, and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company's expectations include actual exploration results, interpretation of metallurgical characteristics of the mineralization, changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined, future metal prices, availability of capital and financing on acceptable terms, general economic, market or business conditions, uninsured risks, regulatory changes, delays or inability to receive required approvals, and other exploration or other risks detailed herein and from time to time in the filings made by the Company with securities regulators, including those described in the Company’s most recently filed MD&A. The Company does not undertake to update or revise any forward-looking statements, except in accordance with applicable law.
