Benton Receives Positive Metallurgical Results from South Pond with Gold Recoveries up to 88.4%

Thunder Bay, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - January 14, 2026) - Benton Resources Inc. (TSXV: BEX) ("Benton" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has received preliminary gold recovery results from its South Pond (SP) Gold- Copper Deposit, with recoveries up to 88.4%.

Stephen Stares, President and CEO of the Company, states, "We are extremely pleased with these initial test results. which demonstrates outstanding recoveries for a first-pass evaluation of the SP Deposit. I'm confident that with further optimization and additional testing, recoveries could be improved even further.

As we continue to advance and grow the Great Burnt and SP deposits, an important next step is developing an initial understanding of gold recoveries at the SP deposit using standard bottle-roll tests. These tests were conducted by SGS Canada Inc. ("SGS"), one of the country's top trusted analytical and testing companies. Benton remains highly encouraged by the project's future as we continue advancing South Pond and Great Burnt, alongside the potential new discoveries we've identified".

Study Parameters

The Company collected a representative composite sample of gold-mineralized intervals, weighing approximately 20 kg, from 16 drill holes throughout the South Pond Gold-Copper Deposit. Each individual sample was collected and quarter-cut from drill core at the Company's on-site storage facility. The composite sample was shipped by commercial courier to SGS Canada Inc.'s laboratory in Lakefield, Ontario for analysis. Analytical work included sample preparation, head assay analysis, and standard cyanide leaching using standard bottle-roll cyanidation tests. SGS performed three separate 24-hour recovery tests with varying criteria to determine gold recovery. A list of sample intervals that comprise the composite test sample is shown in Table 1 below.

Table 1: South Pond Gold Composite Metallurgical Sample

Note: All gold assays were determined at Eastern Analytical Ltd. by 30g fire assay and released previously.

Results

SGS conducted three separate gold recovery tests with varying criteria to determine gold recovery over a 24-hour leach retention time. Criteria for each test is shown in Table 2. Gold recovery results were highly favourable, with results up to 88.4% and increased progressively through the three tests. Gold recovery results for all three tests are shown in Figure 1.

Table 2: Bottle Roll Leaching Recovery Results - (SGS)

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Figure 1: Bottle Roll Leaching Recovery Results - (SGS)

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The metallurgical results reported herein are laboratory-scale only and are not intended to support, nor should they be construed as supporting, any mineral resource, reserve, or production estimates.

Previous Studies - Great Burnt Copper Deposit

Bento also notes that previous operators on the project had completed initial metallurgical grindability and floatation testwork in 2021 on the Great Burnt Copper Deposit (GBCD) at SGS Lakefield Laboratories*. A 60-kilogram composite sample of mineralized core averaging 2.82% Cu was submitted for a series of seven tests with varying specs for each test. The average copper recovery of the seven tests completed was 94.7% while SGS concluded that "predicted plant performance would be the production of a 25% Cu concentrate at 96% recovery". Since the time of this test Benton has expanded the GBCD from 650m to 950m strike length where it remains open.

*Excerpt from: Updated Mineral Resource Estimate and Preliminary Economic Assessment of the Great Burnt Copper-Gold Property, Central Newfoundland. P&E Mining Consultants Inc., 2022.

QP

Barry Sparkes (P.Geo.), Exploration Manager for Benton Resources Inc., a '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. Over limits 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 an NI-43-101 compliant 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 25km of strike and boasts six known Cu-Au-Ag zones over 15km 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.

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