Benton Continues to Hit Wide Gold Zones at South Pond and Identifies New VMS System North of Great Burnt; Launches New WebsiteThunder Bay, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - December 17, 2025) - Benton Resources Inc. (TSXV: BEX) ("Benton" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has received the newest set of excellent gold results from its current drill campaign at South Pond Gold-Copper Deposit, including, 2.02g/t Au over 17.13 m (from 29.87 to 47.00 m), including 3.98g/t Au over 5.00 m (from 36.00 to 41.00 m), also including 9.12g/t Au over 1.00 m (from 36.00 to 37.00 m) in SP-25-54 (See Figures 1-3, Table 1).Additionally, Benton announces the discovery of a new Volcanic Massive Sulphide (VMS) system in the End Zone area located north of the Great Burnt deposit. Additional information will be made available on the newly launched website at www.bentonresources.caPresident and CEO of Benton Resources states, "I remain highly excited about Benton's future, particularly our near-term plans for 2026. The Company is well funded and plans to resume drilling in January, maintaining strong exploration momentum. With the continued success at South Pond, the discovery of an additional promising target at End Zone highlighted by drillhole EZ-25-01, meaningful expansion potential at the Great Burnt Copper Deposit, and a newly planned airborne geophysical survey over the southern half of the property, I believe we have only begun to unlock the full potential of the Great Burnt Project. I look forward to the continued exploration, discovery, and value creation throughout 2026". South PondThe company has now paused drilling for Christmas break and will resume in January, while it awaits final assay results from its ongoing drill campaign. The drill program is designed to demonstrate continuity along the >2.7 km long gold-copper horizon, which remains open north and south of the current drilling limits with results of eight (8) holes pending. Assays received to date continue to confirm the strength and continuity of the mineralized system, especially in the southern 1.7 km portion of the system, where wide zones of gold and copper have been intersected. To date, the system has only been tested to approximately 100 m depth, and significant additional drilling will be required to test the depth limits and evaluate controls of the system. The newest results also include intercepts grading 1.10g/t Au over 23.00 m (from 17.00 to 40.00m) including 2.81g/t Au over 6.68 m (from 17.00 to 23.68 m), also including 7.54g/t Au over 1.00 m (from 19.00 to 20.00m) in SP-25-55 (See Figures 1-3, Table 1). Photos of gold-mineralized core are shown in Photos 1 and 2 below. Base Metal assay results are pending for holes SP-25-50 to SP-25-61, EZ-25-01 and EZ-25-02. Gold assay results for holes SP-25-56 to SP-25-61, EZ-25-01 and EZ-25-02 are pending. A table of results is listed below. Table 1: South Pond Drill Results DDH #From (m)To (m)Length (m)Au (g/t)Cu (%)SP-25-4232.4038.706.301.370.14incl32.4033.401.006.500.05 SP-25-4352.6457.404.760.120.91incl55.1057.402.300.181.29 SP-25-4412.2515.002.750.981.57incl13.2514.140.892.403.78and35.0044.609.600.240.05incl36.0037.001.001.460.04 SP-25-4546.1155.008.890.490.52incl47.5548.801.251.541.35and88.4091.352.951.150.09incl89.3590.351.003.060.15 SP-25-4614.5219.525.000.230.06and58.5867.589.000.380.08and110.83113.612.781.480.12incl111.50113.001.502.620.16 SP-25-4724.2526.252.000.470.11and41.7044.703.000.230.01and108.80110.802.000.310.07 SP-25-4951.3052.301.000.540.26 SP-25-5021.7528.757.000.33Pending SP-25-5110.0015.405.402.05Pendingincl10.0011.001.004.70Pendingand28.0041.0013.000.53Pending SP-25-5257.0065.008.001.32Pending57.0059.002.002.16Pending SP-25-5366.0079.7013.701.01Pendingincl67.0072.005.002.10Pendingincl68.0069.001.003.83Pending SP-25-5429.8747.0017.132.02Pendingincl36.0041.005.003.98Pendingincl36.0037.001.009.12Pending SP-25-557.0010.003.001.10Pendingand17.0040.0023.001.10Pendingincl17.0023.686.682.81Pendingincl19.0020.001.007.54PendingNote: True widths estimated to be ~90% of reported core lengths.Photo 1: Gold-Mineralized Core SP-25-51To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/3657/278329_836e317a04f7cbef_003full.jpgPhoto 2: Gold Mineralized Core SP-25-53To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/3657/278329_benton_image2.jpgEnd Zone Two widely spaced drill holes, EZ-25-01 and EZ-25-02, were designed to target coincident magnetic and electromagnetic (EM) conductors located near areas of anomalous base metal surface grab samples. Drill hole EZ-25-01, located approximately 70 m south of SP-24-33, cut multiple sections of VMS-style, stringer pyrrhotite and chalcopyrite mineralization, with local semi-massive to massive sulphides over the upper 150 m of the hole, including:10.30 m of strong stringer-style and local semi-massive pyrrhotite-chalcopyrite from 100.30 to 110.60 m and;11.66 m of s