Thunder Bay, ON, October 30, 2023 – Benton Resources Inc. (“Benton” or the “Company”) (TSXV: BEX) is pleased to announce that it has entered into an option agreement to acquire a 100% interest in a strategic mineral license (the “Property”) encompassing 27 claim units that surrounds the Northern portion of Benton’s recently acquired Great Burnt Copper-Gold Project. The Property was optioned from Stephen Stockley Agriculture and Fabrication Inc. (“SSAF”) and surrounds the South Pond, South Pond A and South Pond B deposits. The SSAF ground also hosts strong untested Electro Magnetic (EM) anomalies that sit on the flank of a magnetic high, indicative of a system that could host Volcanic Massive Sulphides (VMS) or Copper – Nickel Magmatic Sulphides. See attached map.
Benton is excited to add this strategic land position as it continues with its drilling effort 14km to the south on the Great Burnt Main deposit. Benton has now completed 2,236m of drilling in 9 holes with all holes intersecting semi-massive and massive sulfides containing significant chalcopyrite (copper) mineralization. The Company’s priority is expansion of the Great Burnt high-grade core in the Main Deposit which has been extremely successful to date. Hole GB-23-01 through GB-23-09 were completed over a 295m strike length. Hole GB-23-01 was an infill hole to test the zone 12m updip from GB-18-05 and 20m downdip from GB-20-20 and intersected a combined 12.30m of semi-massive/massive sulphide from 4 separate zones (from 69.05 to 72.30m, 82.75 to 87.10m, 90.00 to 94.05m and 95.05 to 95.70m). GB-23-02 intersected the zone 20m updip from GB-20-05 which cut 12.91m of semi-massive/massive sulphides between 162.89 to 175.80m. GB-23-03 intersected the zone 30m updip from GB-20-05 and cut a combined 1.3m of semi-massive/massive sulphides from 158.00 to 158.60m and 154.80 to 155.50m. GB-23-04 intersected the zone 12m south of historical drill hole GB-86 and intersected a combined total of 16.6m of semi-massive/massive sulphides from 186.60 to 193.20m and 200.00 to 210.00m. GB-23-05 drilled from this same set-up intersected the zone 15m up-dip and intersected the zone from 186.73 to 189.28m. GB-23-06 and GB-23-07 were collared a further 40m south of GB-23-04 and 05 and both cut semi-massive/massive sulphides from 196.72 to 203.46 (GB-23-06), 202.07 to 206.35 and 220.39 to 231.54m. GB-23-08 and GB-23-09 were collared 25m south of GB-23-06 and 07 and both holes intersected the down plunge extension of the semi-massive/massive sulphides. The Company has included photos of the various sulphide intercepts below.
Stephen Stares, President and CEO of the Company commented, “The Great Burnt project continues to deliver exceptional drill intercepts and I’m very excited about the overall potential of this large copper-gold system. We are also excited about the prospects of the new SSAF option, contiguous with the main project claim package, and we are delighted to work with the SSAF team in the mining-friendly province of Newfoundland.”
“We are pleased to partner with Benton, a reputable company with strong ties to Central Newfoundland, on this promising copper-gold project. The SSAF property complements Benton’s claim package and offers significant exploration potential. This partnership aligns with our strategy of developing quality assets and building long-term collaborations. We are impressed by the drill results announced today and look forward to exploring more opportunities with Benton in the future,” said Angie Stockley, Chief Commercial Officer of SSAF Inc., President of the NL Minerals Collective.
Figure 1
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 drill programs to date 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
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 true 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.
Benton is also a 50/50 partner in a strategic alliance with Sokoman Minerals Corp. through three large-scale joint-venture properties, including Grey River Gold, and Kepenkeck in Newfoundland.
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: 807-475-7474
Email: sstares@bentonresources.ca
Website: www.bentonresources.ca
Twitter: @BentonResources
Facebook: @BentonResourcesBEX
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