Benton confirms new discovery with drilling at Area 41

2006-11-23

TSX - Toronto Stock Exchange · Oil · Natural Gas · Natural Gas Liquids · Potash · Canada

THUNDER BAY, ON, Nov. 23 /CNW/ - Benton Resources Corp. (the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has received assay results from the first two holes drilled into Area 41 on the western end of the Bermuda Property located near Marathon, Ontario. The first hole, SL-06-01, intersected 1.23 gpt (grams per tonne) TPM (Total Precious Metals (equal sign) platinum + palladium + gold) with 0.28% copper over 61.15 metres. The second hole, SL-06-02, cut 54.8 metres grading 1.05gpt TPM with 0.20% copper. It is significant to note that the first 200m from surface of the second hole was mineralized. The various intersections are tabulated below. Drill hole SL-06-01 was drilled at a minus 45-degree dip to the north and SL-06-02 drilled directly below at minus 75 degrees to the north. As the layering in the intrusion in the immediate area appears deformed and brecciated, the true thickness of the mineralization is currently unknown. The results show that the large PGE (platinum group element) and copper mineralization defined from Benton's summer trenching program continues to depth giving a third dimension to the mineralized zone. The first phase, 2000-metre drill program is now complete; it consisted of 11-diamond drill holes which tested a mineralized strike length of approximately 1.4 kilometres. Benton's management believes that these drill intercepts may represent the beginning of a new discovery in the Proterozoic-aged Coldwell Intrusive Complex. The Company is also excited to learn that the palladium to platinum ratio is less than 2:1, suggesting the new area may potentially host mineralization with a higher value per tonne than other mineralized zones in the intrusion, including the Marathon PGE deposit, (4:1 palladium to platinum ratio), located 12km to the southeast. Furthermore, a narrow interval from 203.70 to 204.35m near the base of the mineralized gabbro in SL-06-02 assayed 0.13% nickel and 0.04% cobalt along with the 1.02% copper and 0.73gpt TPM which indicates potential for larger base metal cumulate zones. Benton expects results from the remaining holes within the next few weeks. All samples were submitted to Accurassay Laboratories in Thunder Bay, Ontario.

<< A table of the first two holes from Area 41 is listed below:

HOLE NUMBER From To Interval Au Pt Pd TPM Cu (m) (m) (m) (gpt) (gpt) (gpt) (gpt) (%) SL-06-01 4.05 65.20 61.15 0.11 0.41 0.71 1.23 0.28 29.50 65.20 35.70 0.15 0.55 0.95 1.65 0.32 34.00 47.40 13.40 0.22 0.86 1.62 2.70 0.33 SL-06-02 3.70 206.55 202.85 0.05 0.16 0.27 0.48 0.19 3.70 58.50 54.80 0.09 0.34 0.62 1.05 0.20 3.70 9.00 5.30 0.10 1.06 1.90 3.06 0.15 45.00 51.65 6.65 0.17 0.82 1.49 2.48 0.18 183.60 191.00 7.40 0.06 0.15 0.29 0.50 0.42 203.70 204.35 0.65 0.09 0.17 0.47 0.73 1.02

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" Stephen Stares, President

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