Benton's Prospecting and Trenching Program Returns High-Grade Copper and Gold Results at the South Pond Zone within the Great Burnt Project

Rhea-AI Summary

Benton Resources Inc. (TSXV: BEX) announces high-grade copper and gold zones at surface in Newfoundland's Great Burnt Copper-Gold Project. The first pass trenching and prospecting program uncovered multiple significant mineralized areas, with grab samples grading up to 5.51% copper, 5.03g/t gold, and 14.6g/t silver. The company plans to enlarge exposures of mineralized zones and increase its drill program to a minimum of 5,000m.

Thunder Bay, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - November 17, 2023) - Benton Resources Inc. (TSXV: BEX) ("Benton" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that its first pass trenching and prospecting program has returned multiple high-grade copper and gold zones at surface up to 14km north from the Great Burnt Main Zone, all part of the Company's recently acquired Great Burnt Copper-Gold Project in Newfoundland (the "Project").

Multiple surface grab samples located on or near airborne electromagnetic (AEM) conductors have outlined three significant mineralized areas near the north end of the Project, approximately 14km north of the main Great Burnt Main Zone. The surface zones were uncovered by new trenching in the vicinity of 1970's drilling that previously identified copper mineralization. Highlights of selective individual grab samples from three zones were as follows:

• Zone 1 graded up to 5.51% copper, 5.03g/t gold, 14.6g/t silver and 0.076% cobalt and 5.67% copper, 2.65g/t gold, 12.6g/t silver and 0.063% cobalt.

• Zone 2, approximately 40m southeast in the same trench, graded 2.74% copper, 6.34g/t gold, 10.4g/t silver and 0.02% cobalt and 4.86% copper, 1.64g/t gold, 11.0g/t silver and 0.030% cobalt.

• Zone 3, approximately 35m south, graded 1.64% copper, 5.92g/t gold, 2.0g/t silver and 0.023% cobalt.

Several other samples have identified highly anomalous copper zones along a 4.0km trend with grades up to 1.26% copper.

A table of the significant results (see Table 1) from the three exposed zones is shown below along with a map showing sample locations (see Figure 1 and Figure 2). The Company will proceed to enlarge the exposures of selected mineralized zones to permit geological mapping and channel sampling as much as possible as weather permits.

The Company has also increased its ongoing drill program from 4,000m to a minimum of 5,000m and continues its extensive compilation of historical data, ongoing prospecting and soil geochemical sampling to the north of the Great Burnt Main Zone.

Table 1: Samples from Prospecting/Trenching

Sample #	Easting	Northing	Target	Zone	Type	Cu (%)	Au (g/t)	Ag (g/t)	Co (%)
138772	563709.041	5363900.388	Trench 4	Zone 1	outcrop	2.45	0.05	2.90	0.008
138773	563709.671	5363903.619	Trench 4	Zone 1	outcrop	0.3	0.00	0.50	0.012
138774	563715.318	5363901.459	Trench 4	Zone 1	outcrop	0.1	0.01	<0.2	0.002
138775	563714.79	5363902.343	Trench 4	Zone 1	outcrop	0.19	0.02	0.30	0.006
138776	563716.098	5363897.911	Trench 4	Zone 1	outcrop	2.44	2.82	6.70	0.029
138777	563716.393	5363898.025	Trench 4	Zone 1	outcrop	0.69	0.62	1.60	0.015
138778	563716.245	5363898.024	Trench 4	Zone 1	outcrop	1.75	0.41	3.30	0.013
138779	563721.167	5363894.522	Trench 4	Zone 1	outcrop	2.39	1.35	5.50	0.016
138780	563721.899	5363895.197	Trench 4	Zone 1	outcrop	1.96	0.69	5.60	0.013
138781	563724.15	5363892.443	Trench 4	Zone 1	outcrop	5.51	5.03	14.60	0.076
138782	563724.82	5363892.117	Trench 4	Zone 1	outcrop	4.93	2.20	10.40	0.032
138783	563724.668	5363892.449	Trench 4	Zone 1	outcrop	5.67	2.65	12.60	0.063
138784	563725.347	5363891.234	Trench 4	Zone 1	outcrop	5.81	1.48	12.20	0.031
138785	563725.823	5363888.46	Trench 4	Zone 1	outcrop	1.46	0.64	3.50	0.015
138700	563760.33	5363833.265	Trench 4	Zone 2	outcrop	0.18	0.05	<0.2	0.012
138752	563746.195	5363859.897	Prospecting	Zone 2	sub-crop	2.74	6.34	10.40	0.016
138753	563744.921	5363861.328	Prospecting	Zone 2	sub-crop	4.86	1.64	11.00	0.030
138787	563747.988	5363851.802	Trench 4	Zone 2	outcrop	0.11	0.35	<0.2	0.010
138788	563747.588	5363854.466	Trench 4	Zone 2	outcrop	0.17	1.71	<0.2	0.010
138789	563749.604	5363852.821	Trench 4	Zone 2	outcrop	0.19	0.18	<0.2	0.011
138794	563755.845	5363843.887	Trench 4	Zone 2	outcrop	0.17	1.35	0.80	0.017
138796	563758.655	5363837.471	Trench 4	Zone 2	outcrop	0.12	2.10	0.20	0.011
138750	563716.379	5363859.784	Prospecting	Zone 3	angular float	1.64	5.92	2.00	0.023
138751	563716.97	5363859.902	Prospecting	Zone 3	angular float	1.53	5.17	0.90	0.021

 

Figure 1: Sample Location Map 1

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/3657/187818_cc372d2c3433d996_002full.jpg

Figure 2: Sample Location Map 2 (Trench 4)

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/3657/187818_cc372d2c3433d996_003full.jpg

Drilling from 2016 to 2023 at Great Burnt Copper-Gold Project

The Great Burnt Main Zone has an NI 43-101 compliant resource prepared in 2022 for Spruce Ridge Resources Ltd. by P&E Mining Consultants Inc. of 667,000 Tonnes (47.2 Mlb) Cu at 3.21% (indicated) and 482,000 Tonnes (25.0 Mlb) Cu at 2.35% (inferred), contained within mining lease 211(10210M). The Copper resource remains open to the south and at depth. Highlights of the previous drill programs and previously released results from the current program include:

• GB20-05: 27.20 m of 8.06% Cu, including 7.75 m of 16.88% Cu
• GB20-20: 22.75 m of 6.89% Cu, including 12.55 m of 10.59% Cu
• GB18-05: 20.94 m of 6.21% Cu, including 6.98 m of 10.71% Cu
• GB18-06: 9.97 m of 7.45% Cu, including 5.03 m of 11.42% Cu
• GB16-08: 7.50 m of 9.45% Cu, including 3.00 m of 19.30% Cu
• GB16-09: 5.75 m of 6.68% Cu, including 1.50 m of 11.70% Cu
• GB23-01: 3.25 m of 4.13% Cu and 4.30 m of 8.01% Cu (Benton 2023 drill hole)
• GB23-02: 13.0 m of 8.31% Cu including 3.0 m of 12.80% Cu (Benton 2023 drill hole)

Exploration at the South Pond Zone has identified potential for both copper and gold along several kilometers of strike. Highlights of the 2021 drill program include:

• SP21-01: 1.69g/t Au over 51.00 m, including 3.19g/t Au over 11.00 m, within 10 m of surface
• SP21-03: 2.36g/t Au over 15.00 m, including 11.33g/t Au over 1.00 m
• SP21-08: 1.75g/t Au over 21.20 m, including 2.82g/t Au over 10.20 m
• SP21-11: 1.34g/t Au over 17.60 m, including 2.48g/t Au over 4.20 m
• SP21-14: 2.06g/t Au over 21.00 m
• SP21-16: 1.72g/t Au over 10.00 m

Note: Widths quoted are core length, true widths are estimated at approximately 70% of core lengths

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 it's preparation.

About Benton Resources Inc.

Benton Resources is a well-financed mineral exploration company listed on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol BEX. Following a project generation business model, Benton has a diversified, highly prospective property portfolio of gold, silver, nickel, copper, platinum group elements and, most recently, lithium and cesium assets. In addition, it currently 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.

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

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/187818

FAQ

What did Benton Resources Inc. announce?

Benton Resources Inc. announced the discovery of high-grade copper and gold zones at surface in Newfoundland's Great Burnt Copper-Gold Project.

What are the highlights of the grab samples?

The grab samples graded up to 5.51% copper, 5.03g/t gold, and 14.6g/t silver.

What are the company's plans following the discovery?

The company plans to enlarge exposures of selected mineralized zones and increase its ongoing drill program from 4,000m to a minimum of 5,000m.

Who approved the scientific and technical disclosure in the news release?

Stephen House (P.Geo.), Vice President of Exploration for Benton Resources Inc., approved the scientific and technical disclosure in the news release.