Metals Creek and Benton Announce Anomalous Concentrations of Hydrogen-Helium Soil Gas at Smoking Gun and Parson's Pond Projects in Newfoundland

Metals Creek Resources Corp. and Benton Resources Inc. have announced preliminary results from a soil gas program conducted at their Parson's Pond and Smoking Gun projects in Western Newfoundland. The initiative collected 710 samples, identifying four new highly prospective anomalies for hydrogen and helium.

Hydrogen concentrations reached up to 900 ppm at Parson's Pond and up to 600 ppm at Smoking Gun. Helium values reached up to 7.7 ppm at Smoking Gun. Management interprets these early-stage results as validating the potential for subsurface hydrogen and helium, citing favorable geological conditions including serpentinization, glauconite weathering, and radiogenic helium sources within the Deer Lake and Parson's Pond sedimentary basins.

The methodology utilized cordless rotary drills to an average depth of approximately 1 meter, with vials evacuated to 20 pascals to prevent contamination. Analysis was performed by Rudiger Re-Chem using Gas Chromatographs. Management explicitly notes that large portions of both projects remain unsampled, with potential for further expansion. A disclaimer states that the presence of gas or methane does not guarantee hydrogen or helium and that further studies are required.

Metals Creek Resources Corp. (MEK) issued an announcement following the completion of its soil gas sampling program in July 2026. The results confirm early-stage anomalies but remain preliminary and non-commercial. While the hydrogen values are comparable to Max Power Mining's Rider Project at 914 ppm, the results do not define a resource, estimate reserves, or provide economic viability.

The news validates the geological thesis but does not alter the fundamental risk profile. The company remains in a high-risk, early-stage exploration phase with no near-term revenue potential from these assets. The market impact is incremental, as the stock has already consolidated around the $0.04-$0.06 range.

Metals Creek Resources Corp. (TSXV: MEK) is a junior exploration company listed on the TSX Venture Exchange. Its flagship asset is the Ogden Gold Project in Timmins, Ontario, which sits on the Porcupine-Destor Break with approximately 8km of strike length. The project is a 50/50 joint venture with Discovery Silver Corp., with Metals Creek acting as the operator. Recent drilling in the Thomas Ogden Zone (TOG) returned high-grade intercepts, including 115.51 g/t Au over 9.85m.

In Newfoundland, Metals Creek has jointly staked 763 claim units across six prospects with Benton Resources. The prospects include Parson's Pond, Smoking Gun, Cape St. Gregory, Bond Pond, Deer Lake Basin, Bay St George, and Bay of Islands. The company is focusing on early-stage exploration for natural white hydrogen and helium, leveraging historical gas data and thrust fault geology.

The company is currently in the exploration and prospecting stage. No formal mineral resources or reserves have been disclosed.