Mr. Stephen Stares reports

BENTON HITS MULTIPLE HIGH GRADE COPPER ZONES IN FIRST TWO HOLES INCLUDING 8.31% CU OVER 13M AND CONTINUES TO INTERSECT COPPER-RICH MASSIVE SULPHIDES IN DRILLING AT GREAT BURNT

Benton Resources Inc. has received partial assay results from its inaugural drill program at the Great Burnt copper-gold project in Newfoundland. Holes GB-23-01 and GB-23-02 both intersected excellent copper grades including 4.13 per cent Cu over 3.25 metres from 69.05 to 72.30 m and 8.01 per cent Cu over 4.30 m from 82.8 to 87.10 m in GB-23-01 and 8.31 per cent Cu over 13 m from 161.89 to 174.89 m, including 12.80 over three m from 169.89 to 173.89 m, including 17.20 per cent Cu over one m from 171.89 to 172.89 m in GB-23-02. Intervals reported for the 2023 drilling are core lengths, estimated to be 70 per cent of true width. Due to the success encountered in early drilling, the company is expanding the continuing drill program to a minimum of 4,000 m.

The company is excited to report that all 11 holes drilled to date have intersected semi-massive and massive sulphides containing significant chalcopyrite (copper) mineralization. Benton's first priority is the expansion of the Great Burnt high-grade core in the Main deposit which has been extremely successful to date. Holes GB-23-01 through GB-23-11 were completed over approximately 350 m in strike length. Holes GB-23-01 and GB-23-02 are reported here while GB-23-03 intersected the zone 30 m up dip from GB-20-05 and cut a combined 1.3 m of semi-massive/massive sulphides from 158 to 158.60 m and 154.80 to 155.50 m. GB-23-04 intersected the zone 12 m south of historical drill hole GB-86 and intersected a combined total of 16.6 m of semi-massive/massive sulphides from 186.60 to 193.20 m and 200 to 210 m. GB-23-05 was drilled from this same set-up and intersected the zone 15 m up dip from 186.73 to 189.28 m. GB-23-06 and GB-23-07 were collared a further 40 m south of GB-23-04 and GB-23-05 with both drill holes intersecting semi-massive/massive sulphides from 196.72 to 203.46 m (GB-23-06), 202.07 to 206.35 m and 220.39 to 231.54 m (GB-23-07). GB-23-08 and GB-23-09 were collared 25 m south of GB-23-06 and 07 and both holes intersected the down-plunge extension of the semi-massive/massive sulphides. Holes GB-23-10 and GB-23-11 were drilled 25 m (GB23-10) and 50 m (GB-23-11) along strike and both holes encountered semi-massive/massive sulphides from 276.50 to 296 m (GB-23-10) and from 275.10 to 287.10 m (GB-23-11).

Drilling from 2016 to 2020 at Great Burnt copper-gold project

The Great Burnt Main zone has a National Instrument 43-101 compliant resource prepared in 2022 for Spruce Ridge Resources Ltd. by P&E Mining Consultants Inc. of 667,000 tonnes (47.2 million pounds (Mlb)) Cu at 3.21 per cent (indicated) and 482,000 tonnes (25.0 Mlb) Cu at 2.35 per cent (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 per cent Cu, including 7.75 m of 16.88 per cent Cu;
• GB20-20: 22.75 m of 6.89 per cent Cu, including 12.55 m of 10.59 per cent Cu;
• GB18-05: 20.94 m of 6.21 per cent Cu, including 6.98 m of 10.71 per cent Cu;
• GB18-06: 9.97 m of 7.45 per cent Cu, including 5.03 m of 11.42 per cent Cu;
• GB16-08: 7.50 m of 9.45 per cent Cu, including three m of 19.30 per cent Cu;
• GB16-09: 5.75 m of 6.68 per cent Cu, including 1.50 m of 11.70 per cent Cu.

Exploration at the South Pond zone has identified potential for both copper and gold along several kilometres of strike. Highlights of the 2021 drill program include:

• SP21-01: 1.69 grams per tonne Au over 51 m, including 3.19 g/t Au over 11 m, within 10 m of surface;
• SP21-03: 2.36 g/t Au over 15 m, including 11.33 g/t Au over one m;
• SP21-08: 1.75 g/t Au over 21.20 m, including 2.82 g/t Au over 10.20 m;
• SP21-11: 1.34 g/t Au over 17.60 m, including 2.48 g/t Au over 4.20 m;
• SP21-14: 2.06 g/t Au over 21 m;
• SP21-16: 1.72 g/t Au over 10 m.

Note: Widths quoted are true core length, true widths are estimated at approximately 70 per cent of core lengths.

Qualified person

Stephen House (PGeo), vice-president of exploration for Benton Resources, 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. 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, Benton retains net smelter return (NSR) royalties with potential long-term cash flow.

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