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

Benton Resources Inc. and Metals Creek Resources Corp. have announced preliminary results from a soil gas program conducted at their Parson's Pond and Smoking Gun projects in Newfoundland. The initiative collected 710 samples, identifying four new highly prospective soil gas 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, showing a strong spatial association with the hydrogen anomalies. Management cited geological conditions favorable to these findings, including serpentinization, glauconite weathering, and radiogenic sources.

Management characterized the results as early-stage but encouraging, noting they validate the potential for subsurface hydrogen and helium. Future plans include defining potential zones, particularly in swamp and bog areas, and initiating an inaugural drill program to test favorable targets.

Benton Resources Inc. (BEX) issued a routine update on its hydrogen and helium exploration activities, serving as a follow-up to the July 29, 2026 announcement regarding the commencement of soil gas sampling. The company stated that the results are preliminary and do not constitute a resource estimate or drill result. While the findings validate the geological targeting strategy, they do not alter the company's financial position or near-term catalysts.

The market has already priced in the exploration phase for these projects. No new financing, M&A, or operational milestones were announced alongside this release.

Benton Resources Inc. is a junior mineral exploration company focused on Newfoundland, Canada. Its flagship asset is the Great Burnt copper-gold project, which holds an NI 43-101 resource of 667,000 tonnes at 3.21% Cu (Indicated) and 482,000 tonnes at 2.35% Cu (Inferred).

The company also operates the South Pond Gold-Copper Zone, a robust system spanning 2.7 km. Drill highlights from this zone include 74.20m @ 1.43 g/t Au and 43.75m @ 1.62 g/t Au.

Additionally, Benton Resources maintains a hydrogen and helium portfolio through a joint venture with Metals Creek Resources Corp. This partnership covers the Smoking Gun and Parson's Pond projects, targeting natural white hydrogen and helium within sedimentary basins and thrust fault systems.

The company’s corporate strategy follows a generator model focused on high-grade discoveries, retaining equity stakes and NSR royalties. It has planned the spinout of the Great Burnt project into Silverback Metals Corp.