Benton and Nordmin Release Environmental Impact Upate at Cape Ray GOLD Project

BENTON AND NORDMIN RELEASE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT UPATE AT

CAPE RAY GOLD PROJECT

February 22, 2017

Thunder Bay, Ontario: Benton Resources Inc. (TSXV: BEX) (“Benton” or “the Company”) is pleased to

announce that the Company and its joint venture partner Nordmin Engineering Ltd. (“Nordmin”) have

advanced with the Environmental Assessment (EA) process for its Cape Ray Gold Project (“Project”)

located in Southwestern Newfoundland approximately 20 kilometers northeast of Port aux Basques.

Provincially, a Project Description report (PD) was submitted to the Government of Newfoundland’s

Environmental Assessment Division in late June of 2016 and was accepted immediately without

additional information requests and subsequently posted on the NL EA project registry website. After a

45 day internal review and public comment period the province determined that an Environmental Impact

Statement (EIS) would be required and Draft (EIS) Guidelines for the EA were received in early

November and final EIS Guidelines issued in late December 2016.

Provincial EA related information and project documents can be viewed at:

http://www.env.gov.nl.ca/env/env_assessment/projects/Y2016/1851/index.html

The Federal EA process is progressing as well and a PD was recently submitted to the Canadian

Environmental Assessment Agency (CEAA) satisfying all the requirements of the Canadian

Environmental Assessment Act (CEAA 2012) and associated regulations. The PD was posted on the

CEAA EA Project Registry on January 19 th, 2017 and is currently under federal review and public

comment period with a decision on whether a federal EA would be required is anticipated within 45 days.

Federal EA related information and project documents can be viewed at:

http://www.ceaa-acee.gc.ca/050/details-eng.cfm?evaluation=80136

Baseline environmental studies are currently being planned to begin in the spring of 2017 and continue

through the late fall or as long as necessary to complete the biophysical field programs to support the

EIS. A consulting company in Newfoundland ha s been engaged to assist with the planning and

successful completion of the federal and provincial EAs and preparation of the EIS for the Project.

Further, through ongoing correspondence with CEAA and NL EA officials by Nordmin it has been

confirmed that if required, one EIS can be prepared to satisfy both federal and provincial EA

requirements, thus streamlining the process for completion. Preparation for environmental permitting for

the project will take place concurrent with EA activities to facilitate an early completion of the permitting

process once the Project is approved and all EA obligations have been met.

“Support for this project has been overwhelming from the local municipality, the provincial regulatory

authorities and other stakeholders. Wherever our staff travels in the local communities, be it the local

hardware store, hotels, or restaurants, many citizens have approached us and voiced strong support for

our Project” said Giovanni (John) Sferrazza, Director of Environmental Services at Nordmin. “This Project

will also bring much needed economic benefits to this region of the province; our project team is fully

aware of our corporate social responsibility and is absolutely committed to ensuring that this project is

conceived and developed from the base principle that we will absolutely minimize any impact to the

environment. We have had that as a cornerstone of our efforts to date and will continue in that

commitment right into operations and closure” states Sferrazza.

684 Squier Street

Thunder Bay, ON P7B 4A8

Tel: 807-475-7474 Fax: 807-475-7200

www.bentonresources.ca

TSX-V: BEX

Nordmin is earning up to a 50% interest in 4 of the 6 Cape Ray deposits (see Benton PR January 20,

2015) owned by Benton by completing various work programs and project milestones as well as carrying

Benton to a full feasibility study and arranging 50% of project financing to production. In February of this

year, the companies released the results of updated positive preliminary economic assessment (“PEA”)

for their Cape Ray Gold Project (see PR Feb 09, 2017). The results of the PEA include a pre -tax net

present value (“NPV”) at a 7% discount rate of $82.2 million with a pre-tax internal rate of return (“IRR”) of

40% and a post-tax NPV at a 7% discount rate of $56.9 million with a post-tax IRR of 34%. The reader

should be cautioned that the PEA is preliminary in nature. It contains inferred mineral resources that are

considered too speculative to have the economic considerations applied to them that would enable them

to be categorized as mineral reserves. The proposed 2017 drill campaign will help bring some of the

inferred resources into indicated which will help with the confidence level of the project as we move

towards the feasibility study.

About Benton Resources Inc. (TSXV: BEX)

Benton Resources Inc is a well-funded Canadian-based junior with a diversified property portfolio in Gold-

Silver, Nickel, Copper, and Platinum group elements.

Clinton Barr, PGeo, Vice-President of Exploration for Benton Resources Inc., is the qualified person

responsible for this release and has prepared, supervised and approved the preparation of the scientific

and technical disclosure contained within the release.

On behalf of the Board of Directors of Benton Resources Inc.,

"Stephen Stares"

Stephen Stares, President

THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE HAS NOT REVIEWED AND DOES NOT ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY

FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE.

The information contained herein contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable securities legislation.

Forward-looking statements relate to information that is based on assumptions of management, forecasts of future results, and

estimates of amounts not yet determinable. Any statements that express predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections ,

objectives, assumptions or future events or performance are not statements of historical fact and may be "forward -looking

statements."

Forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties which could cause actual events or results to differ

from those reflected in the forward-looking statements, including, without limitation: risks related to failure to obtain adequate

financing on a timely basis and on acceptable terms; risks related to the outcome of legal proceedings; political and regulatory risks

associated with mining and exploration; risks related to the maintenance of stock exchange listings; risks related to environ mental

regulation and liability; the potential for delays in exploration or development activities or the completion of feasibility studies; the

uncertainty of profitability; risks and uncertainties relating to the interpretation of drill results, the geology, grade and continuity of

mineral deposits; risks related to the inherent uncertainty of production and cost estimates and the p otential for unexpected costs

and expenses; results of prefeasibility and feasibility studies, and the possibility that future exploration, development or mining

results will not be consistent with the Company's expectations; risks related to gold price an d other commodity price fluctuations;

and other risks and uncertainties related to the Company's prospects, properties and business detailed elsewhere in the Company’s

disclosure record. Should one or more of these risks and uncertainties materialize, or s hould underlying assumptions prove

incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described in forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned against

attributing undue certainty to forward-looking statements. These forward looking statements are made as of the date hereof and the

Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances. Actual events or results

could differ materially from the Company’s expectations or projections

For further information contact Stephen Stares @:

684 Squier Street,

Thunder Bay, ON P7B 4A8

Phone (807)475-7474

Fax (807)475-7200

www.bentonresources.ca

Investor Relations:

Renmark Financial Communications Inc.

Bettina Filippone: [email protected]

Tel.: (416) 644-2020 or (514) 939-3989

www.renmarkfinancial.com