Benton Resumes Drilling at Great Burnt and Plans Expansion of the Surface Deep Electro Magnetic Survey a Further 1 km to the Northern Claim Boundary at South Pond

Rhea-AI Summary

Benton Resources (TSXV: BEX) has resumed diamond drilling at its Great Burnt Copper Gold project. The company is drilling Hole GB-25-61 to test 50m below a recent discovery at the North Stringer Zone, where previous Hole GB-25-59 yielded two mineralized zones: an upper zone with 0.69% Cu over 14.40m (including 0.67g/t Au) and a lower zone with 0.80% Cu over 15.00m. The company plans 4 holes to expand this area. Additionally, a 50m step-out hole will test the GB Main Deposit's southern continuation, targeting an EM conductor where previous drilling returned 0.77% Cu over 32.1m. Benton has completed a 5km surface EM survey along the South Pond trend and plans to extend it by 1km to the northern claim boundary. Benton holds a 70% interest in the project, with Homeland Nickel holding the remaining 30%.

Positive

• Strong copper mineralization discovered in multiple zones with significant grades (up to 4.34% Cu)
• Gold mineralization present in upper zone (0.67g/t Au over 14.40m)
• EM survey indicates potential for expansion of mineralized zones
• Majority stake (70%) in the project with operational control

Negative

• None.

Thunder bay, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - May 5, 2025) - Benton Resources Inc. (TSXV: BEX) ("Benton" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has recommenced diamond drilling at its Great Burnt Copper Gold project. Hole GB-25-61 is underway and will test 50 m below the recently announced new discovery under the North Stringer Zone ("NSZ") in Hole GB-25-59. This hole 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, which demonstrates considerable expansion potential for this new area. Drilling will target this new anomaly and area for expansion with 4 holes; above, below, North and South of these new intercepts (see news release dated April 2, 2025).

The Company will also complete a 50 m step-out hole designed to test the continuation of the GB Main Deposit to the south and down-plunge. The hole will target where a deep down-hole pulse electromagnetic survey has identified an EM conductor in drill hole GB-25-53 that 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.

The Company has also completed the planned 5 km long surface pulse Electro Magnetic (EM) survey along the northern 5 km South Pond trend on the Great Burnt Property. Given that the interpreted conductive trend remains open to the North and South, the Company has decided the expand the survey another 1 km to its northern claim boundary to define its limits. Diamond drilling and further geological mapping will target these conductive zones this coming summer.

The South Pond trend has been drill-tested at shallow depths over a strike length of approximately 2.3km with impressive results (see news release dated April 22, 2025).

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.

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 1.62 g/t Au, SP-24-07: 74.20 m of 1.43g/t Au, SP-24-15: 22.50 m of 1.24 g/t Au and SP-24-32: 54.5 m of 1.88 g/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/250788

FAQ

What are the recent drilling results from Benton Resources' (BNTRF) Great Burnt Copper Gold project?

Recent drilling at Hole GB-25-59 revealed two mineralized zones: an upper zone with 0.69% Cu over 14.40m (including gold mineralization of 0.67g/t Au) and a lower zone with 0.80% Cu over 15.00m.

What is Benton Resources' (BNTRF) ownership stake in the Great Burnt project?

Benton Resources owns 70% of the Great Burnt Copper-Gold Project and serves as the project operator, while Homeland Nickel holds the remaining 30%.

What are Benton Resources' (BNTRF) expansion plans for the Great Burnt project in 2025?

Benton plans to drill 4 expansion holes around the new discovery at the North Stringer Zone, plus a 50m step-out hole at the GB Main Deposit. They're also extending their EM survey by 1km to the northern claim boundary.

What were the highest copper grades reported in Benton Resources' (BNTRF) recent drilling?

The highest copper grade reported was 4.34% Cu over 1.00m within a broader intersection of 0.77% Cu over 32.1m at the GB Main Deposit.