Benton Identifies Large, Deep Conductive Electro Magnetic Plates Associated with Known Mineralized Zones at South Pond

Rhea-AI Summary

Benton Resources (TSXV: BEX) has completed 70% of a planned 5 km surface Pulse Electromagnetic survey along the northern portion of the South Pond trend on the Great Burnt Property. The survey has identified several new conductive plates associated with known mineralized zones at surface, potentially situated near an anticlinal fold crest.

Recent drilling highlights from the South Pond trend include significant gold intersections across multiple holes, with notable results such as 1.62 g/t Au over 43.75m (SP-24-03) and 1.88 g/t Au over 54.50m (SP-24-32). The company plans to resume drilling at the Great Burnt Main Zone, where previous hole GB-25-53 intersected 0.77% Cu over 32.1m including higher-grade sections.

Additional drilling is planned around the new discovery beneath the North Stringer Zone, where recent results showed 0.69% Cu over 14.40m with associated gold mineralization, and 0.80% Cu over 15.00m in the lower zone. Benton holds a 70% interest in the Great Burnt Copper-Gold Project, with Homeland Nickel holding the remaining 30%.

Positive

• Multiple high-grade gold intersections discovered at South Pond trend over 2.3km strike length
• New extensive conductive plates identified through EM survey, indicating expansion potential
• Significant copper mineralization at Great Burnt Main Zone with grades up to 4.34% Cu
• New copper-gold discovery at North Stringer Zone with multiple mineralized zones

Negative

• True width of mineralization still undetermined, requiring further drilling
• Project requires ongoing funding from both joint venture partners

Drilling at Great Burnt Set to Resume in the Next Week

Thunder Bay, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - April 22, 2025) - Benton Resources Inc. (TSXV: BEX) ("Benton" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has completed approximately 70% of a planned 5 km-long surface Pulse Electromagnetic ("EM") survey along the northern portion of the South Pond trend on the Great Burnt Property. Interpretation of the data collected to date has identified several new, extensive conductive plates, along with large conductive plates directly associated with known mineralized zones at surface. Preliminary interpretation suggests that the known zones may be situated near the crest of an anticlinal fold, with additional conductive EM plates located to the east and west along the limbs of the structure. Diamond drilling and further geological mapping will target these conductive zones in the next phase of drilling (see Figure 1).

Figure 1: South Pond Drilling and EM Conductors

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/3657/249299_d9c17a0094d82886_002full.jpg

The South Pond trend has been drill-tested at shallow depths over a strike length of approximately 2.3 km with impressive results highlighted below.

Table 1: Highlights of South Pond trend Drill Results:

DDH #		From (m)	To (m)	Length (m)	Au (g/t)
SP-24-01		18.20	37.00	18.80	1.13
	incl	27.24	33.20	5.96	2.06
	incl	27.24	28.90	1.66	5.17
SP-24-03		20.15	63.90	43.75	1.62
	incl	33.00	43.90	10.90	1.90
	incl	58.90	63.90	5.00	3.48
	incl	58.90	62.90	4.00	3.99
SP-24-08		81.00	95.00	14.00	1.23
	incl	81.00	85.00	4.00	2.33
	incl	84.00	85.00	1.00	3.24
SP-24-09		32.00	56.00	24.00	1.48
	incl	48.00	55.00	7.00	2.03
	incl	50.00	52.00	2.00	3.09
SP-24-12		27.00	54.07	27.07	1.08
	incl	38.00	43.00	5.00	2.11
	incl	38.00	39.00	1.00	4.11
SP-24-13		3.25	23.00	19.75	1.42
	incl	10.00	14.00	4.00	3.08
	incl	12.00	13.00	1.00	5.30
SP-24-15		36.40	58.90	22.50	1.24
	incl	41.40	45.40	4.00	2.08
SP-24-17		32.60	41.20	8.60	1.32
	incl	36.60	38.60	2.00	2.10
	and	50.05	59.30	9.25	0.47
SP-24-23		59.75	66.50	6.75	2.90
	incl	60.75	63.75	3.00	6.42
	incl	60.75	61.75	1.00	15.72
SP-24-28		9.40	36.80	27.40	1.00
	incl	13.40	16.40	3.00	2.92
	incl	15.40	16.40	1.00	5.88
SP-24-30		2.30	10.30	8.00	2.07
	incl	6.30	10.30	4.00	3.54
	incl	7.30	9.30	2.00	4.83
	incl	8.30	9.30	1.00	5.13
SP-24-31		37.00	45.00	8.00	1.26
	incl	37.00	40.00	3.00	2.78
	incl	39.00	40.00	1.00	5.43
SP-24-32		34.10	88.60	54.50	1.88
	incl	43.10	57.10	14.00	2.41
	incl	52.10	53.10	1.00	9.68
	and	68.10	80.10	12.00	3.34
	incl	72.10	75.10	3.00	4.87

 

Note: Widths quoted are true core length, at this early stage, further drilling is required to determine true width of mineralization

Figure 2: South Pond Drill Hole Location Map 

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https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/3657/249299_d9c17a0094d82886_003full.jpg

In addition, the Company is pleased to announce that it will recommence drilling at the Great Burnt Main Zone ("GBMZ") and the new discovery at the deep NSZ within the next week. The Company recently completed drill hole GB-25-53, a 100 m step out from GB-23-45, which intersected a wide zone of copper mineralization grading 0.77% Cu over 32.1 m including 1.12% Cu over 18.97 m, 1.83% Cu over 8.63 m, 2.41% Cu over 5.25 m, and 4.34% Cu over 1.00 m within the broader 32.1 m interval. A subsequent downhole Pulse Electromagnetic Survey has identified the presence of a conductor down-plunge from the new intercept indicating further expansion potential to the south. A 50 m step-out hole will be designed to test the conductor in anticipation of further expanding the zone.

Figure 3: Great Burnt Copper Main Zone Longitudinal Section

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https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/3657/249299_d9c17a0094d82886_004full.jpg

North Stringer and Footwall Zones

In addition, the Company plans at least 4 drill holes around the significant new discovery beneath the North Stringer Zone ("NSZ") where Hole GB-25-59 encountered two zones, with the upper zone returning 0.69% Cu over 14.40 m, including 1.09% Cu over 3.00 m. The lower zone returned 0.80% Cu over 15.00 m, including 0.96% Cu over 6.20 m, 1.65% Cu over 3.00 m and 2.07% Cu over 2.00 m. The upper zone was associated with gold mineralization grading 0.67g/t Au over 14.40 m including 2.16g/t Au over 3.00 m. The lower zone, with higher grade copper, is associated with a down-hole/off-hole EM anomaly, indicating considerable expansion potential for this new area. Drilling will target this new anomaly and area for expansion.

Additional drilling will also target the Footwall Zone ("FZ") located 250 m east of the GBMZ where Hole GB-25-51 intersected a significant copper-gold horizon which graded 0.58% Cu over 10.47 m including 1.11% Cu and 0.88g/t Au over 5.09 m.

Figure 4: Great Burnt Project Compilation Map

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https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/3657/249299_d9c17a0094d82886_005full.jpg

Benton has a 70% interest in the Great Burnt Copper-Gold Project and Homeland Nickel holds the remaining 30%, where they are funding their respective interest, with Benton as the project operator.

The Company would also like to express its appreciation to the Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Government's Junior Exploration Assistance program for financial grants supporting mineral exploration projects in the province. Benton has been fortunate to have received these grants, which are an important catalyst for mineral exploration in this highly favourable mining jurisdiction.

QA/QC Protocols

Core and rock samples, including standards, blanks and duplicates, are submitted to Eastern Analytical Ltd., Springdale, Newfoundland for preparation and analysis. All samples were acquired by saw-cut (channels/drill core) with one-half submitted for assay and one-half retained for reference, or hand (rocks) and delivered, by Benton personnel, in sealed bags, to the Springdale lab of Eastern Analytical, which is an accredited assay lab that conforms to the requirements of ISO/IEC 17025. Samples are analyzed using Eastern's Au (Fire assay) @ 30g + ICP-34 method that delivers a 34-element package utilizing a 200 mg subsample totally dissolved in four acids and analyzed by ICP-OES analytical technique. Overlimits are analysed with Eastern's atomic absorption method, using a 0.200 g to 2.00 g of sample, digested with three acids. All reported assays are uncut. Eastern Analytical Ltd. achieved ISO 17025 accreditation in February 2014 (for more details on the scope of accreditation visit the CALA website).

QP

Stephen House (P.Geo.), Vice President of Exploration for Benton Resources Inc., the 'Qualified Person' under National Instrument 43-101, has approved the scientific and technical disclosure in this news release and prepared or supervised its preparation.

About Benton Resources Inc.

Benton Resources is a well-financed mineral exploration company listed on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol BEX. Benton has a diversified, highly prospective property portfolio and holds large equity positions in other mining companies that are advancing high-quality assets. Whenever possible, BEX retains net smelter return (NSR) royalties with potential long-term cash flow.

Benton is focused on advancing its high-grade Copper-Gold Great Burnt Project in central Newfoundland, which has a Mineral Resource estimate of 667,000 tonnes @ 3.21% Cu Indicated and 482,000 @ 2.35% Cu Inferred. The Project has an excellent geological setting covering 25 km of strike and boasts six known Cu-Au-Ag zones over 15 km that are all open for expansion. Further potential for discovery is excellent given the extensive number of untested geophysical targets and Cu-Au soil anomalies.

All drilling phases at Great Burnt to date have returned impressive results including: GB-23-02: 13.00 m of 8.31% Cu, incl 3.00 m of 12.80% Cu GB-23-04: 26.87 m of 7.18% Cu, incl 11.16 m of 10.28% Cu GB-23-12: 25.42 m of 5.51% Cu, incl 1.00 m of 8.77% Cu, 82.00g/t Ag, 4.43g/t Au GB-23-15: 22.59 m of 5.03% Cu, incl 0.50 m of 20.00% Cu GB-23-21: 24.00 m of 5.81% Cu, incl 7.00 m of 11.47% Cu GB-23-22: 21.68 m of 3.59% Cu, incl 2.00 m of 15.3% Cu.

Drilling at the South Pond Gold Zone, approximately 7.5 km north of the Great Burnt Copper-Gold Zone, has confirmed a robust gold-mineralized system over 2.5 km with robust results including: SP-24-03: 43.75 m of 1.62g/t Au, SP-24-07: 74.20 m of 1.43g/t Au, SP-24-15: 22.50 m of 1.24g/t Au and SP-24-32: 54.5 m of 1.88g/t Au and is open for expansion in all directions.

On behalf of the Board of Directors of Benton Resources Inc.,

"Stephen Stares"

Stephen Stares, President

Parties interested in seeking more information about properties available for option can contact Mr. Stares at the number below.

For further information, please contact:

Stephen Stares, President & CEO
Phone: 807-474-9020
Email: sstares@bentonresources.ca

Nick Konkin, Investor Relations
Phone: 647-249-9298 ext. 322
Email: nick@grovecorp.ca

Website: www.bentonresources.ca
Twitter: @BentonResources
Facebook: @BentonResourcesBEX

THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE HAS NOT REVIEWED AND DOES NOT ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE.

The information contained herein contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. Forward-looking statements relate to information that is based on assumptions of management, forecasts of future results, and estimates of amounts not yet determinable. Any statements that express predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance are not statements of historical fact and may be "forward-looking statements."

Forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties which could cause actual events or results to differ from those reflected in the forward-looking statements, including, without limitation: risks related to failure to obtain adequate financing on a timely basis and on acceptable terms; risks related to the outcome of legal proceedings; political and regulatory risks associated with mining and exploration; risks related to the maintenance of stock exchange listings; risks related to environmental regulation and liability; the potential for delays in exploration or development activities or the completion of feasibility studies; the uncertainty of profitability; risks and uncertainties relating to the interpretation of drill results, the geology, grade and continuity of mineral deposits; risks related to the inherent uncertainty of production and cost estimates and the potential for unexpected costs and expenses; results of prefeasibility and feasibility studies, and the possibility that future exploration, development or mining results will not be consistent with the Company's expectations; risks related to gold price and other commodity price fluctuations; and other risks and uncertainties related to the Company's prospects, properties and business detailed elsewhere in the Company's disclosure record. Should one or more of these risks and uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described in forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned against attributing undue certainty to forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof and the Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances. Actual events or results could differ materially from the Company's expectations or projections.

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FAQ

What are the latest drilling results from Benton Resources' South Pond trend?

Recent drilling at South Pond revealed significant intersections including 1.62 g/t Au over 43.75m in hole SP-24-03 and 1.88 g/t Au over 54.50m in hole SP-24-32, among other notable gold mineralization results.

What did the electromagnetic survey reveal at Benton's Great Burnt Property?

The EM survey identified several new extensive conductive plates associated with known mineralized zones, suggesting potential mineralization along the limbs of an anticlinal fold structure.

What are the copper grades from the recent Great Burnt Main Zone drilling?

Hole GB-25-53 intersected 0.77% Cu over 32.1m, including 1.12% Cu over 18.97m and higher-grade sections up to 4.34% Cu over 1.00m.

What is Benton Resources' ownership stake in the Great Burnt Project?

Benton Resources holds a 70% interest in the Great Burnt Copper-Gold Project, while Homeland Nickel owns the remaining 30%.