Benton Completes Phase 2 Drill Program and Mobilizes Down-Hole Geophysical Crew to Delineate Electro-Magnetic Targets for Phase 3 Program at Great Burnt Copper Deposit, Newfoundland

Thunder Bay, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - March 21, 2024) - Benton Resources Inc. (TSXV: BEX) ("Benton" or the "Company")  is pleased to announce that it has successfully completed its Phase 2 drill program, encompassing 15 holes for a total of 3,260 m, at its Great Burnt Project in Newfoundland. Results for the initial drill holes are expected shortly and will be released once received and compiled.

Highlights from Phase 2 to date include:

• Successfully expanded the Great Burnt deposit 50 m down plunge and along strike to the south.
• Successfully demonstrated that the deposit is wide open for expansion.
• Defined partial up dip and down dip limits of the main zone.
• Majority of drill holes intersected stringer, semi-massive and/or massive sulphide from 0.5 m to 17.75 m.

In addition, the Company has engaged Eastern Geophysics to complete a Crone downhole pulse electro- magnetics survey on 7 drill holes for targeting of massive sulphides near the main zone over a 300-400 m area. This includes surveying the two deepest holes completed by Benton to date to test for further expansion of the massive sulphide zone. Benton's team continues to be excited about the excellent potential of Great Burnt project and the mobilization of the geophysical crew will commence this week.

Upon completion of the survey, the Company will prepare for its Phase 3 exploration program to begin in May-June, which will include drilling, trenching, surface sampling, prospecting, structural mapping, as well as soil and rock geochemistry sampling.

Benton's President and CEO Stephen Stares stated: "This will be an exciting summer for Benton and its shareholders as we embark on our third drill program at Great Burnt in the coming weeks. We have a tremendous amount of work to do on this highly prospective and underexplored 25 km volcanic belt at Great Burnt. We remain confident that our upcoming aggressive ground exploration program will lead to additional discoveries at the project. We look forward to receiving assays results from this program and continuing to expand on this large copper-gold system in 2024."

Great Burnt Phase 3 Drilling Longitudinal Section

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Great Burnt Hole 24-33

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Great Burnt Hole 24-37

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Great Burnt Cut Hole 24-34

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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. 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 currently 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. The Phase 1 drill program consisting of over 5,650 m, completed in November, 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 from hole GB-23-12.

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

Iryna Zheliasko, Investor Relations
Phone: 647-249-9298 ext. 322
Email: iryna@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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