Thunder Bay, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - January 20, 2025) - Benton Resources Inc. (TSXV: BEX) ("Benton" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has received additional impressive Copper (Cu) results from the Great Burnt Main Zone and confirms mineralization in a parallel Footwall Zone. The Company was targeting the potential of a parallel conductor that was recently identified through the completion of a down hole geophysical survey. Given the location of this strong footwall conductor/anomaly, the Company planned drill hole GB-24-49 that would also serve as an infill hole within the Great Burnt Main Zone and continue eastward to intersect the Footwall Zone. The Great Burnt Main Zone was successfully intersected at 220 m downhole and cut an impressive 22.0 m grading 7.47% Cu, 3.76g/t Silver (Ag) and 0.03% Cobalt (Co), including 15.0 m of 10.02% Cu, including 8.0 m of 11.93% Cu. The hole continued to a depth of 454 m and cut several sections of silicified mafic volcanics with stringer sulphides, with one section grade 0.25% Cu and 0.9g/t Gold (Au) over 9.5 m including, 0.35% Cu and 4.21g/t Au over 2.0 m. The Company is pleased to receive further excellent results from the Great Burnt Main Zone and is equally thrilled to confirm the potential of this wide-open Footwall Zone located 170-200 m to the east. Drilling has now recommenced to test this parallel horizon in several areas in hopes of identifying the strong conductor and delineating this new copper-gold horizon. The Company is planning multiple drill holes on this horizon, along with testing the down plunge extension of the Great Burnt Main Zone.
A table of the results to date is listed below showing the mineralized zone. (see Table 1, Figure 1).
Table 1: Great Burnt Drill Results
DDH #
From (m)
To (m)
Length (m)
Cu (%)
Ag (%)
Co (%)
Au (g/t)
GB-24-49
220.80
242.80
22.00
7.47
3.76
0.03
0.05
incl
225.80
240.80
15.00
10.02
4.99
0.04
0.06
incl
232.80
240.80
8.00
11.93
5.51
0.04
0.08
and
425.00
434.50
9.50
0.25
0.11
0.01
0.94
incl
431.50
433.50
2.00
0.35
0.10
0.01
4.21
Note: Intervals reported above for drilling are core lengths, estimated to be approximately 70% of true width
The Company would also like to report that has received highly anomalous results from sections of newly discovered sulphides located 200 m west of the historical End Zone, located 5.5 km north of the Great Burnt Main Zone and 1 km south of the South Pond Copper Gold Zone, where high-grade copper boulders grading up to 4.55% Cu have yet to be sourced. Narrow sections with grades of 0.17% Cu have been received in addition to a 4.0 m section grading 0.12% nickel, further elevating the potential to make nickel discoveries on the project. The Company has initiated a detailed magnetometer survey in this area to narrow the search for the high-grade copper.
President and CEO, Stephen Stares, states, "Grades and widths of this calibre are exceptionally rare in our industry. Confirming gold and copper mineralization in a parallel zone that is associated with an unsourced strong conductor has our team extremely excited. Moreover, 8 km further north, we have another large system with gold-copper coming together rapidly. This presents us with an unparalleled opportunity and we look forward to continuing to uncover this project's potential."
Benton has a 70% interest in the Great Burnt Copper-Gold project with Homeland Nickel Inc. holding the remaining 30%, where they are funding their respective interest, with Benton as the project operator.
Benton also reminds shareholders that today (January 20, 2025) will be the last day of record to receive the Vinland Lithium Inc. spinout shares. (see Company PR dated January 16, 2025).
The Company would also like to express its appreciation to the Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Government's Junior Exploration Assistance program for financial grants supporting mineral exploration projects in the province. Benton has been fortunate to have received these grants, which are an important catalyst for mineral exploration in this highly favourable mining jurisdiction.
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. Phase 1, 2 and 3 drill programs returned impressive results with 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.
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.
