Benton Partners With Metals Creek To Acquire 6 Projects With Natural Hydrogen Potential In Newfoundland

Benton Resources Inc. (TSXV: BEX) (the "Companies" or "Benton") and Metals Creek Resources Corp. (TSXV: MEK) (OTC Pink: MCREF) (FSE: M1C1) (the "Companies" or "Metals Creek") are pleased to announce that they have jointly acquired through staking 6 potential natural white hydrogen projects located in Newfoundland, Canada (the "Projects").

The Projects (see Figure 2) were selected and staked after extensive research of historical data in areas of comparable geological settings to those that current hydrogen companies across the USA and Canada are targeting.

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Of particular interest is that 3 of the 6 projects have identified gas from historical drill holes or the surface venting of gas. The Projects, all located on the west coast of Newfoundland, are hosted in geological environments considered prospective for natural white hydrogen. A total of 763 claim units were staked to acquire the mineral lands with geological characteristics that support the targeting potential.

Stephen Stares, President and CEO of Benton, stated, "While Benton is primarily focused on advancing its Copper-Gold assets, there are times when unique opportunities allow management to act decisively as an early mover. Partnering with Metals Creek enables the Companies to share relatively low-cost exploration risk while maintaining meaningful upside, should even one of these projects lead to a significant discovery of hydrogen or helium. In neighboring Nova Scotia, companies such as Quebec Innovative Materials Corp. are already demonstrating success in exploring for natural hydrogen. We believe Newfoundland's geological setting offers comparable potential for these emerging and highly prospective discoveries."

Source: https://www.usgs.gov/media/images/aas-infographic-hydrogen-factories

project overview

Listed below are brief descriptions of the 6 projects acquired through staking.

parson's pond

_A large sedimentary basin in a thrust fault system, with gas noted in historical drill holes near serpentine and glauconite mineralization. In addition, gas venting at surface is documented in Newfoundland government files._See: https://gis.gov.nl.ca/mods/ModsCard.asp?NMINOString?temp=n&NMINOString=012I/04/Btm002

cape st. gregory

A large serpentinized ultramafic unit near documented structures and faults.

bond pond

15 historical drill holes noted, intensely sheared and serpentinized ultramafic intrusions and likely in contact with fault structures within a sedimentary basin environment.

deer lake basin

_Explosive gas encountered in historical hole that flowed for a minimum of 12 months in uranium-thorium rich basin environment._See: https://gis.gov.nl.ca/mods/ModsCard.asp?NMINOString?temp=n&NMINOString=012H/03/Btm002

bay st george

_Gas noted in historical drilling._See: https://www.gov.nl.ca/em/files/publications-energy-fwr-port-au-port-no-1-final-well-report-volume-2.pdf

bay of islands

A large serpentinite-bearing ultramafic unit near documented structures and faults.

parson's pond geological detail

At Parson's Pond (see Figure 1) research of the historical drill logs from two holes 14.2 km apart has observed C1 methane gas levels reaching 72%. The area is underlain by thrust faulted rocks of the Humber Arm Supergroup. Drill logs indicate unique sedimentary units composed of shales along with sandstones, containing fragments of serpentine and chrome. Of particular interest is the presence of mineral glauconite, which, combined with these geological indicators, suggests a highly prospective environment for the potential formation white hydrogen (natural hydrogen) to form within the basin. The presence of such high concentrations of methane alongside hydrogen indicators suggests a potentially active gas system within the basin. In addition, surface areas have been noted to vent gas within the project boundaries.

(Ref NALCOR ENERGY - OIL AND GAS INC FINAL HOLE REPORT For Nalcor Energy et al SEAMUS #1 https://www.gov.nl.ca/em/files/publications-energy-nalcorseamusfwr.pdf and
NALCOR ENERGY - OIL AND GAS INC FINAL HOLE REPORT For Nalcor Energy et al Finnegan #1 https://www.gov.nl.ca/em/files/FinniganFWR.pdf).

Source: NALCO Energy - Oil and Gas Inc. Final Well Report for Nalcor Energy et al FINNIGAN #1 & NALCO Energy - Oil and Gas Inc. Final Well Report for Nalcor Energy et al SEAMUS #1.

Source: Newfoundland. Geological Survey of Canada, "A" Series Map, 1678A. https://doi.org/10.4095/126990.

Please note that the presence of gas or methane on these staked projects or gas discovered on adjacent properties does not guarantee the presence of hydrogen or helium. Further studies are required to validate their presence.

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 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 25km 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. 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