BEX:CC - Benton's Prospecting and Trenching Program Returns High-Grade Copper and Gold Results at the South Pond Zone within the Great Burnt Project

Thunder Bay, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - November 17, 2023) - Benton Resources Inc. (TSXV: BEX) ("Benton" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that its first pass trenching and prospecting program has returned multiple high-grade copper and gold zones at surface up to 14km north from the Great Burnt Main Zone, all part of the Company's recently acquired Great Burnt Copper-Gold Project in Newfoundland (the "Project").

Multiple surface grab samples located on or near airborne electromagnetic (AEM) conductors have outlined three significant mineralized areas near the north end of the Project, approximately 14km north of the main Great Burnt Main Zone. The surface zones were uncovered by new trenching in the vicinity of 1970's drilling that previously identified copper mineralization. Highlights of selective individual grab samples from three zones were as follows:

• Zone 1 graded up to 5.51% copper, 5.03g/t gold, 14.6g/t silver and 0.076% cobalt and 5.67% copper, 2.65g/t gold, 12.6g/t silver and 0.063% cobalt.

• Zone 2, approximately 40m southeast in the same trench, graded 2.74% copper, 6.34g/t gold, 10.4g/t silver and 0.02% cobalt and 4.86% copper, 1.64g/t gold, 11.0g/t silver and 0.030% cobalt.

• Zone 3, approximately 35m south, graded 1.64% copper, 5.92g/t gold, 2.0g/t silver and 0.023% cobalt.

Several other samples have identified highly anomalous copper zones along a 4.0km trend with grades up to 1.26% copper.

A table of the significant results (see Table 1) from the three exposed zones is shown below along with a map showing sample locations (see Figure 1 and Figure 2). The Company will proceed to enlarge the exposures of selected mineralized zones to permit geological mapping and channel sampling as much as possible as weather permits.

The Company has also increased its ongoing drill program from 4,000m to a minimum of 5,000m and continues its extensive compilation of historical data, ongoing prospecting and soil geochemical sampling to the north of the Great Burnt Main Zone.

Table 1: Samples from Prospecting/Trenching

Figure 1: Sample Location Map 1

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Figure 2: Sample Location Map 2 (Trench 4)

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Drilling from 2016 to 2023 at 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 previous drill programs and previously released results from the current program 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
• GB23-01: 3.25 m of 4.13% Cu and 4.30 m of 8.01% Cu (Benton 2023 drill hole)
• GB23-02: 13.0 m of 8.31% Cu including 3.0 m of 12.80% Cu (Benton 2023 drill hole)

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 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.

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

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.

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