Benton Receives Best Gold Assay Results to Date at the South Pond Gold-Copper Zone

Rhea-AI Summary

Benton Resources (TSXV: BEX) has announced its best gold results to date at the South Pond Gold-Copper Zone (SPGCZ) within its Great Burnt Lake project in Newfoundland. The key highlight is drill hole SP-24-32, which cut 1.88 g/t Au over 54.50 m, including two higher-grade zones: an upper section grading 2.41 g/t over 14.00 m (including 9.68 g/t over 1.00 m) and a lower section grading 3.34 g/t over 12.00 m (including 4.87 g/t over 3.00 m).

The SPGCZ structure spans approximately 3.0 km and remains open, located 8 km north of the Great Burnt Lake Copper Deposit. The company plans to resume drilling in mid-January at the Great Burnt Copper Deposit and has scheduled a 15,000 m drill program for 2025. Benton holds a 70% interest in the project, with Homeland Nickel holding the remaining 30%.

Positive

• Best gold assay results to date with significant intercepts (1.88 g/t Au over 54.50 m)
• SPGCZ structure spans 3.0 km and remains open for expansion
• Planned 15,000 m drill program for 2025
• Majority stake (70%) ownership in the project

Negative

• None.

Thunder Bay, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - January 6, 2025) - Benton Resources Inc. (TSXV: BEX) ("Benton" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has received its best gold results to date at the South Pond Gold-Copper Zone ("SPGCZ") within the Company's Great Burnt Lake project in Newfoundland. These new results continue to demonstrate the robust potential of the SPGCZ structure identified through surface exploration and drilling which now spans approximately 3.0 km and remains wide open. The SPGCZ is located approximately 8 km north of the Great Burnt Lake Copper Deposit.

Highlights:

• SP-24-32 Cut 1.88 g/t Au over 54.50 m at the South Pond Gold-Copper Zone, this included two higher grade zones with an upper section grading 2.41 g/t over 14.00 m including, 9.68 g/t over 1.00 m and a lower section grading 3.34 g/t over 12.00 m including, 4.87 g/t over 3.00 m;

• Drilling will recommence in mid-January at the Great Burnt Copper Deposit to continue testing recently identified parallel and deep EM conductors;

• A further 15,000 m drill program planned for2025 with potential for expansion;

• The Company awaits further gold and copper assay results for the last 3 holes drilled in 2024.

Stephen Stares, President & CEO of the Company stated "I would like to take this opportunity to wish all stakeholders of Benton a very Happy New Year and express our confidence that the Great Burnt project will continue to demonstrate its amazing potential as we advance it through 2025. The latest results highlight the robustness and strength of this copper-gold system and we are excited to get back working in the next two weeks. We look forward to receiving our remaining results from our 2024 drill program and determining what new discoveries are in store for us in 2025. This is certainly an exciting start to the new year."

A table of the results to date are listed below showing the mineralized zone. (see Table 1, Figure 1).

Table 1: South Pond Drill Results

DDH #		From (m)	To (m)	Length (m)	Au (g/t)
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 1: Drill Hole Location Map

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/3657/236123_1bb49433e458a90d_003full.jpg

Figure 2: Property Compilation

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/3657/236123_1bb49433e458a90d_004full.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 operator.

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. Phase 1, 2 and 3 drill programs returned impressive results with 25.42 m of 5.51% Cu, including 9.78 m of 8.31% Cu, and 1.00 m of 12.70% 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 results of 74.20 m of 1.43g/t Au and 43.75 m of 1.62g/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.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/236123

FAQ

What are the latest gold assay results from Benton Resources' South Pond Zone (BEX)?

The latest results show drill hole SP-24-32 cut 1.88 g/t Au over 54.50 m, including two higher-grade zones: 2.41 g/t over 14.00 m and 3.34 g/t over 12.00 m.

How large is the South Pond Gold-Copper Zone structure at Benton's Great Burnt project?

The SPGCZ structure spans approximately 3.0 kilometers and remains open for expansion.

What is Benton Resources' planned drilling program for 2025 at Great Burnt?

Benton has planned a 15,000-meter drill program for 2025, with potential for expansion.

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

Benton Resources owns 70% interest in the project, while Homeland Nickel holds the remaining 30%.

When will Benton Resources resume drilling at the Great Burnt Copper Deposit?

Drilling will recommence in mid-January 2025 to test recently identified parallel and deep EM conductors.