Benton Discovers High-Grade Massive Sulphide and Gold at Dominion Lake, Expands Project near Calibre's Marathon Mine

Rhea-AI Summary

Benton Resources (BNTRF) has made significant discoveries at its Dominion Lake project in Newfoundland during a 15-day prospecting program. The newly discovered Trinity Zone, located 3.5 km SSE of Daniel's Pond VMS Deposit, yielded impressive grab samples with up to 14.60% zinc, 2.53% copper, 68.70 g/t silver, 1.31% lead, and 0.17 g/t gold. The company also extended the Rickirb gold discovery by 100m, with samples grading up to 6.41 g/t gold, and identified a new gold-bearing area 7.7 km SW of Rickirb Zone with samples up to 6.00 g/t gold. To expand its presence, Benton acquired additional land through a purchase agreement worth $15,000 cash and 200,000 shares, subject to a 2% NSR. The project's strategic location, just 21 km from Calibre Mining's newest gold mine, positions it well in this emerging exploration area.

Positive

• Discovery of high-grade Trinity Zone with significant zinc (14.60%), copper (2.53%), and silver (68.70 g/t) mineralization
• Extension of Rickirb gold discovery by 100m with samples up to 6.41 g/t Au
• New gold discovery 7.7 km SW of Rickirb Zone with samples up to 6.00 g/t Au
• Strategic land acquisition expanding presence in promising area near Calibre Mining's gold mine
• Project location in highly favorable geological terrain for both VMS and gold mineralization

Negative

• Grab samples are selective and may not represent average grades
• Only partial ICP/base metal analysis results received (14 out of 26 samples)
• New land acquisition includes 2% NSR royalty obligation

Thunder Bay, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - June 5, 2025) - Benton Resources Inc. (TSXV: BEX) ("Benton" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that in the first 15 days of prospecting and mapping, it has made several significant new gold and base metal discoveries in bedrock at the Company's Dominion Lake project located in Newfoundland. One new discovery ("Trinity Zone"), located 3.5 km SSE of the Daniel's Pond VMS Deposit, has returned grab samples assaying from trace up to 14.60% Zn (zinc), 2.53% Cu (copper), 68.70 g/t Ag (silver) 1.31% Pb (lead), and 0.17 g/t Au (gold). Follow-up work will recommence this week on this new discovery.

In addition to the new high grade base metal discovery, two new areas of significant gold mineralization have been identified. The first area extended last year's Rickirb gold discovery by 100 m to the NNE. This zone is up to 12.0 m wide and has been expanded intermittently now for >200 m along strike and remains open. New sampling, grading from trace up to 6.41 g/t Au, was collected approximately 100 m NNE from the original Rickirb samples which graded up to 4.6 g/t Au.

A second area, located approximately 7.7 km SW of the Rickirb Zone, has identified multiple quartz boulders and outcrop, which returned highly anomalous gold grading up to 6.00 g/t Au. This area will be subject to immediate follow-up as well.

At the beginning of May 2025, Benton conducted a two-week program collecting 117 grab samples with gold ranging from trace to 6.41 g/t Au. To date, we have received ICP/base metal analysis for 14 samples with 12 other samples remaining (only select samples were included for ICP/base metal analysis).

The Company cautions that these grab samples are selective in nature and may not represent average grades in underlying bedrock or over the whole property.

The Company acquired the Dominion Lake project last year, after a large parcel of land became available for staking within the northern Tulks Volcanic Belt of the Victoria Lake Supergroup, a highly favorable geological terrain with demonstrated potential for hosting both volcanogenic massive sulphide and gold mineralization. In light of these significant new discoveries, Benton has executed a property purchase agreement with a local prospector to increase the Company's land position. The deal, subject to regulatory approval, includes a one-time payment to the vendor of $15,000 cash and 200,000 shares of the Company for a 100% interest in the property, subject to a 2% NSR (net smelter royalty), whereby Benton can purchase 1% for $1 million at anytime.

Stephen Stares, Company President and CEO, commented, "We are excited about these new discoveries and the potential the project holds for both gold and base metals. We have now assembled a large land position in this emerging exploration and development area, with the Daniel's Pond VMS deposits just a few kilometres away and Newfoundland's newest gold mine, owned by Calibre Mining Corp., only 21 km to the SSW. Our team is confident that this project will deliver excellent value for our shareholders, and will nicely compliment our project portfolio, that includes our flagship high-grade Great Burnt Copper-Gold project located 60 km ESE."

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.

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).

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 25km of strike and boasts six known Cu-Au-Ag zones over 15km 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 and 2 drill programs returned impressive results including 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/254562

FAQ

What are the key mineral discoveries at Benton Resources' Dominion Lake project?

Benton discovered the Trinity Zone with up to 14.60% zinc, 2.53% copper, and 68.70 g/t silver, extended the Rickirb gold zone with samples up to 6.41 g/t Au, and found a new gold area with samples up to 6.00 g/t Au.

How much did Benton Resources pay for the new land acquisition at Dominion Lake?

Benton agreed to pay $15,000 cash and 200,000 shares for 100% interest in the property, subject to a 2% NSR, with an option to purchase 1% for $1 million.

Where is BNTRF's Dominion Lake project located relative to other mines?

The project is located in Newfoundland, 21 km NNE of Calibre Mining's newest gold mine and 3.5 km from the Daniel's Pond VMS Deposit.

What were the highest grade mineral samples found at Dominion Lake?

The highest grades were 14.60% zinc, 2.53% copper, 68.70 g/t silver, 1.31% lead, and 0.17 g/t gold in the Trinity Zone, and up to 6.41 g/t gold in the Rickirb Zone.

How many samples were collected in Benton's May 2025 program at Dominion Lake?

Benton collected 117 grab samples during the two-week program, with gold values ranging from trace to 6.41 g/t Au.