The above result at the Cliff Creek zone was from 265.9m and graded 1.65g/t gold and 110.02g/t silver, while a hole 100m north intercepted 221.53m at 1.01g/t Au-eq.

Benchmark said it had now defined gold-silver mineralisation from surface over a 1.2km strike length at Cliff Creek, up to 200m width which extended to a vertical depth of more than 550m.

"Our current drill density of between 15-35m, averaging 20m, is significantly increasing the confidence level of our new mineral resource estimate expected in early 2021," CEO John Williamson said.

The company is targeting 5 million ounces Au-eq.

A preliminary economic assessment is due in the second quarter of 2021.

Benchmark has estimated about $50 million in infrastructure remains at Lawyers, which was previously mined between 1989-1992.

The company closed the third tranche of a placement, priced at C$1.30 per unit, in September raising $50.3 million to fast-track Lawyers towards a production decision in 2022.

Its shares (TSXV: BNCH) traded about C40c or lower for the first half of the year, before soaring to $1.64 in August as the gold price reached a record high and it reported 57.91m at 3.05g/t Au-eq and positive metallurgical results at Lawyers.

It closed up 13.8% on Friday to $1.32, valuing the company at $161.7 million (US$124 million).