MAS Gold Corp. announced the results of a preliminary metallurgical testwork program on drill core samples from the North Lake gold deposit located in the La Ronge Gold Belt of northeastern Saskatchewan. In July of 2019, MAS Gold submitted core samples from the 2019 North Lake drill program to Blue Coast Research Ltd. ("Blue Coast") of Nanaimo, B.C., for preliminary metallurgical testwork.

The main objectives of the testwork program are to: determine the amenability of the North Lake samples to both gravimetric gold concentration and to cyanidation extraction; and outline a suitable processing method (or methods), together with preliminary recovery rates, for purposes of supporting a National Instrument 43-101 Mineral Resource estimate. The cyanidation test results are reported in this news release; the gravity results are expected soon. Within the scope of its ongoing metallurgical test program, MAS Gold will consider future project development options such as co-mingling North Lake gold mineralized material from one of more of the other high grade gold deposits within its portfolio of La Ronge Gold Belt prospects.

Discussion of Analytical Results: The very low sulphur contents of the three sub-samples suggest that a significant proportion of the gold mineralization is likely free (i.e. in the form of native gold and not associated with sulphides). The very low sulphur contents of the sub-samples is a positive feature of North Lake mineralized material, both from environmental and metallurgical perspectives. For example, low (or very low) cyanide consumption rates may reasonably be expected if cyanide treatment is incorporated into processing and the acid generating potential of processing fines, disposed of as tailings waste, would be minor.

Preliminary Cyanidation Test Program and Results: Two, 48 hour bottle roll cyanidation tests were undertaken on 2.0 kg aliquots with P80 grind sizes of 106 micron ("m") and 75 m. A sodium cyanide solution of 1 g/L NaCN was maintained throughout; solids were maintained at 40%. The ultimate gold recoveries were approximately 97% for the coarser, 106 m sample and approximately 99% for the finer, 75 m sample. The extraction kinetics were slightly faster for the finer size grind test, but the recovery curves start to converge at about 24 hours, by which time recovery was substantially complete.

Cyanide consumption was low to very low in both tests: the rates ranged between 0.003 kg/t and 0.53 kg/t. Discussion of the Cyanidation Test Results: The results of these preliminary cyanidation tests suggest that most of the gold in the North Lake samples occurs as free grains that are very cyanide soluble, hence amenable to processing using cyanidation methods. In addition to the cyanide testwork, Extended Gravity Recoverable Gold ("E-GRG") tests, using a Knelson concentrator, are in progress. The main objective of the tests is to identify the amount of gold released at various size fractions, and to predict the gravity recovery of gold over a range of different grind sizes.

The results of the tests are expected soon. Additional Metallurgical Testwork: In addition to the E-GRG tests outlined above, Blue Coast is conducting flotation testing on sub-samples from the same Master Composite described above, as well as Ball Mill Bond Work Index Tests to quantify material hardness. Carbon-in-Leach tests will be performed, if deemed appropriate.

Additional metallurgical test programs will be carried out as required and deemed appropriate. The objectives will be to identify a suitable processing methodology (or methodologies), as well as details such as optimum grind sizes. Additional results from the current and future metallurgical test programs will be reported as received.

The North Lake gold project is a joint venture between MAS Gold and Golden Band Resources Inc.