Benton Drills 94.0 gpt Gold Over 1.1 Metres at Sewell-West Timmins
THUNDER BAY, ONTARIO -- (Marketwire) -- 02/09/12 -- Benton Resources Corp. ('Benton' or the 'Company') (TSX VENTURE: BTC) is pleased to provide an update on its Sewell-West Timmins Project in northwestern Ontario, located 60 km west of Timmins and 40 km west of Lakeshore Gold's Timmins Mine. The Sewell-West Timmins property consists of 13 claims (107 units) optioned in July, 2011 (see Benton PR dated August 10, 2011).
During the summer and fall of 2011, a 48 km grid was established over the centre of the property and prospecting, mapping, IP and ground magnetometer surveys were completed. This work identified several areas of anomalous gold mineralization, the most significant being the 'Baseline Showing', where 40 surface grab samples collected over a strike length of 300m returned values ranging from trace to 5.09 grams per tonne Au. Mineralization at the Baseline Showing is hosted within a NNW trending shear zone consisting of strong carbonate altered mafic and lesser ultramafic volcanic rocks and highly altered sulphide-rich chert-magnetite iron formation.
In December, 2011, an eight-hole, 1,476 metre drill program was completed to test the Baseline Showing with significant results including 94.018 grams per tonne (gpt) gold (Au) over 1.1m (hole SW11-03), 1.38 gpt Au over 2.3m (hole SW11-06) and 1.44 gpt Au over 1.1m (hole SW11-08). Holes SW11-01, 02, 04, 05 and 07 returned trace to weakly anomalous gold values. The mineralized intervals represent core lengths.
The Company is encouraged with the early high grade results intersected in SW11-03 and is currently reviewing all data from the 2011 work programs. The next exploration program will target the favourable gold-bearing horizon to the north and south of drill hole SW11-03, as well as looking at other zones which have been identified on the property.
About Benton
Benton is a Canadian based junior with multiple joint ventures and a diversified property portfolio in Gold, Nickel, Copper, and Platinum group elements. The Company currently has approximately $8.1 million in cash, owns approximately 57.86 million shares in Coro Mining Corp. (TSX: COP), holds approximately 348,000 shares of Stillwater Mining Company (NYSE: SWC), holds 782,500 shares in Marathon Gold Corp. (TSX: MOZ), holds 1.6 million shares in Puget Ventures (TSX VENTURE: PVS), holds 8.47 million shares of Mineral Mountain Resources Ltd. (TSX VENTURE: MMV), and holds 815,000 shares of Bell Copper Corporation (TSX VENTURE: BCU), holds 1.67 million shares of Trillium North Minerals (TSX VENTURE: TNM), holds 1.55 million shares of Golden Dory Resources (TSX VENTURE: GDR) and holds 3 million shares of Parkside Resources (currently private). Benton is currently in the process of spinning out the majority of its assets by a plan of arrangement into a new listed company in order to separate its 41.9% investment in Coro Mining from its cash, equities and exploration assets. Benton shareholders will receive one share in this new company for each share of Benton held pursuant to regulatory approval.
Clinton Barr (P.Geo.), V.P. Exploration for Benton Resources Corp., is the qualified person responsible for this release.
On behalf of the Board of Directors of Benton Resources Corp.,
Stephen Stares, President
Forward-looking statements in this release are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform act of 1995. Investors are cautioned that such forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties.
THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE HAS NOT REVIEWED AND DOES NOT ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE.
Contacts:
Benton Resources Corp.
Stephen Stares
(807) 475-7474
(807) 475-7200 (FAX)
www.bentonresources.ca
Investor Relations
Clair Calvert
204-799-2086
