Benton and Metals Creek Acquire a 7th Highly prospective Helium and Natural Hydrogen Project in Newfoundland
Benton and Metals Creek Acquire a 7th Highly
prospective Helium and Natural Hydrogen
Project in Newfoundland
Thunder Bay Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - May 12, 2026) - Benton Resources Inc. (TSXV: BEX) ("Benton"
or the "Company") and Metals Creek Resources Corp. ( "Metals Creek") (TSXV: MEK) (OTC Pink:
MCREF) (FSE: M1C1) (together the "Companies") are pleased to announce they have jointly acquired
through staking an additional 156 units under two licences to cover hydrogen/helium potential in
Newfoundland (Smoking Gun Prospect).
The Smoking Gun Prospect (See Figure 2) was selected after research uncovered highly anomalous
helium with values up to 8,900 parts per billion (ppb) (See Table 1) in water collected from an historic
drill hole. This drill hole (79-67), is located approximately 11.8 kilometers (km) from drill hole (Mills No. 1)
that encountered high pressure gas that flowed for a minimum of 12 months in a basin prospective for
uranium-thorium.
Ref:
https://gis.gov.nl.ca/mods/ModsCard.asp?NMINOString?temp=n&NMINOString=012H/03/Btm002
According to assessment report 012H/0748, Westfield-Northgate-Shell joint venture conducted deep
water sampling within these historic holes. Samples of ground water were collected from 5 diamond drill
holes with results determined for pH, temperature, U ppb, radon and helium content. Two samples were
collected from each hole. One was hermetically sealed at the site in a special container and sent to
Chemical Projects Ltd. in Toronto, where a gas sample was extracted and analysed for helium. The
second sample was measured on site for pH and Radon (Rn). This sample was then sent to Atlantic
Analytical Services Ltd. (Springdale, NFLD) for analysis of Uranium (U). Results are tabulated below.
Table 1: Water anyalysis for He in historic holes
Sample No
DDH No
pH
U ppb
Rn cpm
He ppb
WS-61
79-56
6.3
2.00
76
8.35
WS-62
79-57
7.1
0.70
30
139.00
WS-63
79-59
7.4
0.80
71
62.20
WS-64
79-67
7.5
0.15
198
8900.00
WS-65
79-61
7.2
0.15
80
14.90
Ref:
https://gis.geosurv.gov.nl.ca/geofilePDFS/Batch09/PDF/012H_0748.pdf
Figure 2: Project Location Map
To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/3657/297018_b8f0a7bf341e78e9_002full.jpg
These two licenses are located within the Deer Lake Basin, which is thought to be a prospective
environment for the presence
Helium (He)
and
Natural (White) Hydrogen (H
₂
)
. Historic exploration
focused mainly on uranium and hydrocarbons, but with semiconductor expansion and the global energy
transition, this has resulted in increased demand for Hydrogen and Helium. A re-evaluation of the Deer
Lake Basin has resulted in the identification of areas with ideal geological conditions to host gas.
These
conditions include thick sequences of sandstones and conglomerates containing uranium, which is
necessary to generate helium. When uranium-rich minerals hosted within the sandstones interact with the
high-pressure water, the water molecules are split, releasing hydrogen. The expansive presence of
mudstones and shales serves as an ideal cap for trapping gas.
Hole 79-67 is located 11.8 km northeast of hole Mills No.1, which produced high pressure gas (See
Figure 1). With the presence of high-pressure gas in hole Mills No. 1 and highly anomalous helium from
water samples in Hole 79-67, this potentially indicates an expansive system with favorable geological
conditions for the generation and entrapment of gas.
Hydrogen and helium have seen a significant increase in demand, with more expected in the future.
Hydrogen is used as fuel and a chemical building block, it helps create fertilizer for food, refines the
gasoline in your car, and is increasingly being used to power clean trucks and ships as well as fuel for
rocket propulsion for the launching of satellites. Helium is the world's ultimate cooler; its super-cold
properties are essential for keeping MRI machines running and making the computer chips found in your
phone and laptop. AI-driven chip manufacturing is the primary growth engine for helium. Helium keeps
our most advanced technology and medical equipment functioning.
In the neighboring province of Nova Scotia, companies such as Quebec Innovative Metals Corp are
having success in the search for Natural Hydrogen. This success is being explored for in similar
geological environments to that of the projects mentioned above.
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
Parties interested in seeking more information about properties available for option can contact Mr.
Stares at the number below.
For further information, please contact:
Stephen Stares, President & CEO
Phone:
807-474-9020
Email:
Nick Konkin, Investor Relations
Phone
: 647-249-9298 ext. 322
:
Website:
www.bentonresources.ca
Twitter:
@BentonResources
Facebook:
@BentonResourcesBEX
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