Benton Stakes the New Great Copper-Gold Corridor, Adding Significantly to Its Land Position in Newfoundland

Rhea-AI Summary

Benton Resources (OTC:BNTRF) announced on October 16, 2025 that it acquired a 100% interest in the Stoney Caldera Project (SCP), consisting of nine mineral licences totaling 611 claim units along the Great Copper-Gold Corridor in Newfoundland.

Initial grab and outcrop samples returned up to 6.41 g/t Au, 0.42% Cu, 2.1 ppm Ag and a separate outcrop interval up to 2.74% Cu and 0.087% Co. Several high-grade zones are untested by drilling.

The SCP complements Benton's Great Burnt, Dominion and Victoria West projects, which include reported wide copper intercepts over 950 m strike and gold over 2.7 km. Further assay results, mapping and permitting for trenching are pending.

Positive

• 100% interest in Stoney Caldera: nine licences, 611 claim units
• Grab samples up to 6.41 g/t Au
• Grab/outcrop samples up to 2.74% Cu and 0.087% Co
• Sits on same corridor as Great Burnt and South Pond deposits

Negative

• Key high-grade zones are untested by drilling
• Grab samples are selective and may not represent average mineralization
• Further results and trenching are pending, creating near-term data gap

Thunder Bay, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - October 16, 2025) - Benton Resources Inc. (TSXV: BEX) ("Benton" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that the Company has acquired a 100% interest in the Stoney Caldera Project ("SCP"), located along the Great Copper-Gold Corridor, directly along strike to the northeast of the Great Burnt Project and southwest of Sokoman Minerals Corp.'s Moosehead Project. The SCP was acquired through direct staking and consists of nine minerals licences encompassing a total of 611 claim units.

The new SCP has multiple high-grade Copper and Gold occurrences with grab samples from local float and subcrop returning values ranging from trace up to 6.41g/t Au, 0.42% Cu, and 2.1ppm Ag. These samples are described as semi-massive sulphides of pyrrhotite and chalcopyrite in a chlorite-rich matrix. Other significant zones include grab samples in outcrop grading from trace up to 2.74% copper and 0.087% cobalt, with apparent strike length of ~25 m in an area of limited exposure and have never been drill tested.

The SCP complements Benton's Great Burnt, Dominion, and Victoria West Projects which all have excellent geology and mineral endowment potential that are proximal to gold and Volcanic Massive Sulphide (VMS) deposits.

A map of highlights and descriptions showing Benton's projects is below (see Figure 1).

Highlights for Benton's Projects Include:

• Large land holdings in Newfoundland, one of Canada's hottest mining jurisdictions
• Proximal to Equinox Gold, Canterra Minerals Corporation, Sokoman Minerals Corp.
• Dominion Lake project hosts new high-grade base metal and gold showings surrounding Canterra's Daniel's Pond and Bobby's Pond VMS deposits and lies just 8 km north of Equinox Gold
• Victoria West situated directly along strike to the west from Equinox Gold's Valentine Gold mine and less than 2 km from drilling at the Frank Zone which cut 172.8 m grading 2.43g/t Au, including 90.9 m grading 3.84g/t Au
• The new Stoney Caldera Project is host to multiple untested areas of high-grade gold and copper and sits along the same structural corridor as Benton's Great Burnt Lake and South Pond deposits
• Wide intercepts of high-grade copper at the Great Burnt deposit over 950 m strike
• Wide intercepts of Gold over 2.7 km at the South Pond deposit

Figure 1: Benton Resources Key Projects Map

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/3657/270588_99a40e0e9482a862_002full.jpg

The Company is currently awaiting further Gold and Base metal results from its ongoing drilling, mapping and prospecting campaigns. In addition, permitting for trenching work to expose any new zones and areas of interest for mapping and channel sampling, in preparation for additional drilling later in the season.

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). Grab samples are selective in nature and may not represent the average mineralization of a bedrock exposure.

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 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/270588

FAQ

What did Benton Resources (BNTRF) acquire on October 16, 2025?

Benton acquired a 100% interest in the Stoney Caldera Project: nine licences totaling 611 claim units.

What highest assay values were reported for BNTRF's Stoney Caldera Project?

Reported grab samples peaked at 6.41 g/t Au, 0.42% Cu and 2.1 ppm Ag.

Are the high-grade zones at BNTRF's Stoney Caldera Project drilled?

No; the news release states several high-grade zones are untested by drilling.

How does the Stoney Caldera Project fit with Benton's other Newfoundland assets?

SCP sits along the same structural corridor and complements Benton’s Great Burnt, Dominion and Victoria West projects.

What near-term work did Benton announce for BNTRF projects?

Benton is awaiting further assay results and pursuing permitting for trenching, mapping, channel sampling ahead of more drilling.

Which accredited lab performed assays for Benton (BNTRF)?

Samples were submitted to Eastern Analytical Ltd. in Springdale, Newfoundland, using Au fire assay plus ICP-34.