Benton and Sokoman Report Latest Results at Golden Hope JV - Southwestern Newfoundland
Benton and Sokoman Report Latest Results at
Golden Hope JV - Southwestern Newfoundland
Thunder Bay, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - September 6, 2023) -
Benton Resources Inc.
(
TSXV: BEX
)
("
Benton
") and
Sokoman Minerals Corp.
(
TSXV: SIC
) (
OTCQB: SICNF
) ("
Sokoman
") together,
(the "
Alliance
") is pleased to announce that it has received further results from the Phase 4 diamond
drilling program completed at the Kraken Lithium swarm. To date, a total of 10,095 m of drilling has been
completed in four phases at the main discovery areas, as well as an additional 522 m in six holes at the
Hydra Dyke, 10 km to the northeast. Most of the Phase 4 drilling was completed in the East Dyke and
Killick Dyke areas where the Alliance previously announced 2022 and 2023 drilling returned up to
1.04%
Li
2
O over 15.23 m in GH-22-27, 1.08% Li
2
O over 9.50 m in GH-22-26, 1.22% Li
2
O over 13.37 m in
GH-23-45, 0.81% Li
2
O over 21.00 m, and 0.99% Li
2
O over 10.16 m in GH-23-46
. The latest drill
program has expanded the dyke system to the south and has intersected a new dyke to the east of
Killick, which requires further testing. Referred to as Killick East, this new dyke was intersected in drill
holes GH-23-47, GH-23-56, and GH-23-59 over a 100 m strike length and returned values up to 1.54 m
@ 0.68% Li
2
O in hole GH-23-56. The Killick Dyke system remains open to the north and at depth. The
Alliance is currently planning a Phase 5 program to begin in late September or early fall, 2023. The
Phase 5 program will test numerous new targets generated from current mapping and channel sampling
as well as the main Kraken Dyke swarm area (including Kraken West and Kraken North) and drilling to
expand the East Dyke and Killick Dyke areas.
Steve Stares, President and CEO of Benton Resources Inc. said: "Lithium-rich pegmatite dykes are
highly variable and complex, but our approach of using multiple exploration techniques continues to
expand the target zone of this massive, still early-stage pegmatite field. Prospecting, soil sampling,
trenching, channel sampling, and diamond drilling all continue to provide essential data and encourage
us to continue to the next phase of the work, including some excellent drill targets for the Phase 5
program."
Table 1 - Phase 4 Diamond Drill Results
Kraken Phase 4 Drilling Highlights - Golden Hope Project
Hole #
Target Area
From
To
Length
Li
2
O %
Ta
2
O
5
%
GH-23-47
Killick East
and
81.48
82.00
0.52
1.34
0.013
and
82.40
82.85
0.45
0.54
0.009
GH-23-48
East Dyke
and
58.55
63.20
4.65
0.87
0.007
incl
59.50
60.50
1.00
1.14
0.006
incl
61.50
62.50
1.00
1.00
0.009
and
76.38
87.95
11.57
0.29
0.012
incl
76.38
76.75
0.37
0.78
0.018
and
106.50
115.20
8.70
0.54
0.009
incl
108.50
113.40
4.90
0.84
0.010
incl
111.50
112.50
1.00
1.73
0.009
and
137.28
138.28
1.00
0.59
0.010
and
139.28
143.79
4.51
0.34
0.003
incl
139.91
140.67
0.76
0.70
0.005
GH-23-50
Killick Dyke
and
91.30
94.76
3.46
0.34
0.049
incl
92.88
93.53
0.65
0.79
0.013
and
101.00
102.00
1.00
0.84
0.000
GH-23-51
Killick Dyke
and
109.60
112.77
3.17
0.38
0.053
and
117.84
125.28
7.44
0.32
0.004
incl
124.00
124.87
0.87
0.89
0.009
and
145.00
146.20
1.20
1.53
0.015
GH-23-52
Killick Dyke
and
157.50
159.00
1.50
1.12
0.013
and
185.00
188.98
3.98
0.59
0.010
incl
185.00
188.00
3.00
0.74
0.013
incl
187.58
188.00
0.42
1.03
0.025
and
192.70
196.00
3.30
0.34
0.006
incl
194.30
194.88
0.58
1.19
0.016
GH-23-53
Killick Dyke
and
110.50
110.70
0.20
0.75
0.014
and
110.94
111.61
0.67
1.04
0.011
GH-23-54
Killick Dyke
62.00
65.00
3.00
0.45
0.009
incl
62.95
64.00
1.05
0.79
0.014
GH-23-56
Killick East
and
25.99
27.53
1.54
0.68
0.012
incl
26.75
27.53
0.78
1.04
0.013
GH-23-57
East Dyke
and
125.27
134.46
9.19
0.45
0.008
incl.
126.27
127.58
1.31
1.25
0.011
and
148.93
149.15
0.22
0.90
0.010
GH-23-59
Killick East
and
46.00
47.48
1.48
0.66
0.010
incl
46.00
47.00
1.00
0.92
0.015
GH-23-49, 55, 58, 60 and 61 all intersected multiple dykes with
anomalous Lithium values >0.1% Li2O
Hydra Prospect Drilling
The Alliance is also pleased to announce that it has received significant results from the six-hole (522 m)
reconnaissance diamond drilling program recently completed on the Hydra (cesium/lithium/tantalum)
target 10 km northeast of the Killick Dyke.
Initial drilling on the Hydra Dyke was successful in intersecting cesium-lithium-rubidium-tantalum
mineralization in four of the six holes completed. The drilling has confirmed the continuation of
mineralization at depth and along strike to the north for approximately 100 m. Highlights of the Phase 1
drilling include:
13.55 m grading 0.14% Cs
2
O from 4.85-18.4 m including 1.22 m grading 0.51% Cs
2
O from 13.45
m - 14.17 m (Hole HY-23-01)
Additional work completed on the Hydra Dyke includes detailed channel sampling at the discovery
outcrop (44 samples) and geological mapping. The sections sampled are mineralogically similar to the
previous surface sampling and in recent drilling. The best results from channel sampling in 2022 at Hydra
averaged
8.76% Cs
2
O, 0.41% Li
2
O, 0.025% Ta
2
O
5
, and 0.33% Rb
2
O
over a
1.2 m channel cut (
see
news release December 1, 2022
). Additional results will be reported as received and after compilation
in the coming weeks. The Alliance is planning further follow-up work including deeper drilling and testing
the dyke along strike to the south. To date, the Hydra Dyke has only been tested to the north of the
discovery outcrop.
Table 2 - Phase 1 Diamond Drill Results - Hydra Prospect
2023 Phase 1 Diamond Drilling - Hydra Prospect - Golden Hope Project
Hole #
From
To
Length
Cs
2
O
%
Li
2
O %
Rb
2
O %
Ta
2
O
5
%
HY-23-01
4.85
18.40
13.55
0.146
0.158
0.119
0.010
incl
6.39
7.06
0.67
0.274
0.308
0.232
0.017
and
8.17
8.67
0.50
0.344
0.073
0.216
0.008
and
9.67
10.23
0.56
0.340
0.092
0.194
0.025
and
13.45
14.67
1.22
0.417
0.148
0.423
0.015
incl
14.17
14.67
0.50
0.800
0.152
0.474
0.022
and
15.84
19.40
3.56
0.131
0.105
0.216
0.008
HY-23-02
24.59
25.59
1.00
0.110
0.070
0.061
0.000
hole drilled underneath dip of dyke
HY-23-03
10.84
11.34
0.50
0.226
0.235
0.151
0.000
and
14.20
19.75
5.55
0.264
0.182
0.252
0.008
incl
15.32
16.00
0.68
0.503
0.452
0.278
0.000
and
21.75
22.80
1.05
0.286
0.232
0.246
0.003
HY-23-04
44.65
45.88
1.23
0.146
0.018
0.087
0.003
HY-23-05
11.55
15.82
4.27
0.118
0.085
0.102
0.003
incl
15.32
15.82
0.50
0.385
0.257
0.182
0.001
HY-23-06
6.00
9.90
3.90
0.089
0.045
0.119
0.004
incl
8.90
9.40
0.50
0.154
0.104
0.085
0.003
Kraken Area Channel Sampling
The Alliance has completed a series of channel cut samples across numerous newly discovered, as well
as known, dykes exposed during previous and ongoing prospecting and trenching activities at Golden
Hope. The most significant are newly exposed dykes to the west and north of the Kraken Discovery area.
A number of these exposures have yet to be drill tested and will be tested as part of the upcoming Phase
5 diamond drilling program later this fall. In addition, channel sampling was carried out over known dykes
trenched earlier this year or late 2022. All channel results are pending.
A total of 186 channel samples have been collected and most are currently being analyzed as sampling
continues. Most samples were channeled across well-mineralized spodumene-bearing pegmatite dykes
and sample lengths range from 0.35 m to 1.0 m, with an average of approximately 0.8 m. Channel
samples were collected (from west to east) from the following areas:
1% Trench
- 10 channel samples ranging from 0.6 m to 1.0 m in length were collected where
2022 prospecting sampling returned a grab sample assaying 1.11% Li
2
O to the west of the
Kraken Discovery area. All pegmatite dyke channel samples contained significant spodumene and
the dyke will be drill tested in the Phase 5 program.
Colin's Turn Trench
- 13 channel samples ranging from 0.5 m to 1.0 m in length were collected
on the west end of the Kraken North Dyke as currently exposed. Two continuous channel cuts
sampled spodumene mineralization over 2.0 m in width and are similar to that in the dyke further
east. Drilling is planned for this location in the Phase 5 program.
Kraken North
- 58 channel samples ranging from 0.35 m to 1.0 m in length were collected in four
separate trenched exposures of the Kraken North Dyke over a strike length of 150 m. All areas
contain spodumene-bearing pegmatite dykes that assayed up to 2.17% Li
2
O in earlier grab
sampling. Only one drill hole has tested one part of this dyke system with assays of 16.2 m @
0.43% Li
2
O including 1.8 m @ 1.10% Li
2
O in hole GH-22-05. Several drill holes are planned for
this target in the Phase 5 program.
Kraken Northeast
- 38 channel samples ranging from 0.6 m to 1.0 m in length were collected
from a new trench excavated near the site of drillhole GH-22-06 where assays demonstrated 1.5 m
@ 0.32% Li
2
O from 3.5 to 5.0 m down the hole before it was lost at 38 m. Recent mapping and
channel sampling indicate spodumene mineralization present in multiple exposures at the new
trench. Additional drilling is warranted and is planned for the Phase 5 program.
East Dyke
- 13 channel samples ranging from 0.45 m to 1.0 m in length were collected at the East
Dyke surface exposure. Pegmatite samples contained significant medium- to coarse-grained
spodumene similar to that encountered in drilling (e.g., 1.00% Li
2
O over 5.5 m in hole GH-22-08).
This channel sampling will assist in the 3D interpretation of the East Dyke and Killick Dyke zones.
Hockey Stick Trench
- 19 channel samples ranging from 0.70 m to 1.0 m in length were collected
at the Hockey Stick Trench. The pegmatite dyke exposed in the trench is mineralogically similar to
other lithium-bearing dykes nearby and along strike. Sample analysis will assist staff in vectoring
toward lithium-rich parts of the dyke system.
Northeast Dyke
- 48 channel samples ranging from 0.55 m to 1.0 m in length were collected in
two separate trenches in this area. Pegmatite dykes sampled contained spodumene in several
sections of the exposures. Two drill holes GH-22-23 and GH-22-24 were completed here in 2022
and yielded anomalous Li
2
O. Further evaluation of the dykes is warranted.
Soil Sampling
The Alliance is continuing to outline significant lithium in soil targets as part of its property-scale program
covering the greater than 20 km corridor of prospective geology to the NE and SW. Line spacing ranges
from 200 m to 500 m in recon areas to 100 m in detailed areas adjacent to known prospective dykes
(see Map 3 below). Results continue to match those received from the initial discovery area where
lithium values ranged from 75 to 200 ppm (Li) and are considered significant. These targets will be
subject to field follow-up work including prospecting and till sampling, and where warranted, diamond
drilling this fall. To date in 2023, a total of 2856, B-Horizon soil samples have been collected and
processed at Eastern Analytical Ltd. in Springdale NL for lithium, tantalum, rubidium, and tin analysis.
The results for approximately 900 soils remain pending and include lines completed to the west of all
known lithium occurrences to date, lines to the northeast of the main dyke swarm, and lines completed at
the Hydra Dyke area (detailed below):
Kraken West
- Data from 15 lines at 100 m spacing have been compiled at Kraken West
extending soil coverage 1.6 km west of previously known spodumene pegmatite dykes. Several
anomaly clusters are evident in the new soil data, which will be subject to immediate follow-up
evaluation.
Kraken Northeast
- Data from eight, 100 m - 200 m spaced lines have been received from the
Killick East Dyke to the Northeast Dyke areas. These lines provided infill sampling with positive
results near known spodumene dykes, confirming the effectiveness of the soil sampling, in addition
to extending anomalous Li in soils 450 m to the northeast of known spodumene dykes.
Triangle Pond
- 13 soil lines spaced 200 m - 500 m apart have now been received from the
Triangle Pond to Grandy's Brook area that outline at least two significant parallel NE-SW trending
Li-Ta anomalies over 4.5 km in length. Initial observations confirm the presence of multiple
pegmatite dykes in the areas of the soil anomalies with work ongoing to help vector within the
system toward lithium-bearing phases. Top Pond Ridge - eight soil lines spaced 500 m apart have
been completed with data received for the Top Pond Ridge area. Lithium in soil anomalies is
evident on six of these lines and exhibits broad multi-station responses continuous over a 2.5 km
strike length. Initial observations confirm the presence of multiple pegmatite dyke occurrences, and
some sampling has been completed.
Hydra
- A new soil grid with 500 m spaced soil sampling lines was recently initiated at the Hydra
Dyke area. A small, detailed orientation soil grid was completed near the known cesium-lithium-
rubidium-tantalum dyke occurrence in the spring of 2023 with positive results (soils to 996 ppm Li,
105 ppm Nb and 141 ppm Ta near the Hydra Dyke). Initial samples collected from the new larger
grid are pending analysis and sampling is ongoing.
Prospecting
Partial results have been received from the ongoing prospecting program underway at Golden Hope.
Much of the prospecting activity has focused on the follow-up of soil geochemistry results, which have
identified pegmatite dykes in each new anomaly area, as described above. The most significant result to
date is from the west Kraken area where spodumene-bearing float and outcrop, as yet untested by
diamond drilling, have been uncovered and where preliminary assays from grab samples have returned
up to 0.64% Li
2
O within open-ended soil geochemical anomalies. Large blocks of spodumene bearing
float uncovered between the Killick and West Kraken zones, which appear to represent a new dyke(s),
have returned values up to 0.58% Li
2
O and are untested by diamond drilling. This area will be further
evaluated in preparation for Phase 5 drilling targeting.
Prospecting results from selected soil geochemical anomalies have returned strongly elevated beryllium
(Be to 1,476 ppm) and tantalum (Ta to 507 ppm) enriched dykes which are part of the larger family of
Lithium/Cesium/Tantalum (LCT Type) dykes. Vectoring within the LCT dyke systems will assist in the
discovery of lithium-bearing pegmatites. Numerous soil geochemical anomalies remain to be
investigated and soil sampling activities are continuing.
QA/QC Protocols
Rock and core
s
amples are submitted to SGS Canada Inc. in Grand Falls-Windsor, Newfoundland for
preparation and then sent to the SGS Canada Inc. analytical laboratory in Burnaby, British Colombia for
analysis. All samples were acquired by hand (rocks) or saw-cut (channels/drill core) and delivered, by
Benton/Sokoman personnel, in sealed bags, to the Grand Falls-Windsor prep lab of SGS, which is an
accredited assay lab that conforms to the requirements of ISO/IEC 17025. Samples are analyzed using
SGS's GS_IMS91A50 method that delivers a 56-element package utilizing sodium peroxide fusion, ICP-
AES, and ICP-MS analytical techniques. All reported assays are uncut. Soil samples were collected by
Sokoman/Benton personnel utilizing a standard Dutch-auger, collecting B Horizon soil, where possible.
Where B was not present, the soil horizon or type was noted.
Soil samples were sent to Eastern
Analytical Ltd., in Springdale, NL, for Li, Ta, Sn, and Nb analyses by four-acid digestion, analyzed by
ICP-OES. Eastern Analytical Ltd. achieved ISO 17025 accreditation in February 2014 (for more details
on the scope of accreditation visit the
CALA website
).
QP
This news release has been reviewed and approved by Stephen House, P.Geo., VP Exploration for
Benton Resources Inc., and Timothy Froude, P.Geo., President and CEO of Sokoman Minerals Corp.,
both 'Qualified Persons' under National Instrument 43-101.
About Benton Resources Inc.
Benton Resources Inc. is a well-funded mineral exploration company listed on the TSX Venture
Exchange under the symbol BEX. Following a project generation business model, Benton has a
diversified, highly prospective property portfolio of Gold, Silver, Nickel, Copper, Platinum Group
Elements, and most recently Lithium and Cesium assets. In addition, it currently holds large equity
positions in other mineral exploration companies that are advancing high-quality assets. Whenever
possible, BEX retains net smelter return (NSR) royalties with potential long-term cash flow.
Benton also entered into a 50/50 strategic alliance with Sokoman Minerals Inc. (TSXV: SIC) through
three large-scale joint-venture properties including Grey River Gold, Golden Hope, and Kepenkeck in
Newfoundland.
About Sokoman Minerals Corp.
Sokoman Minerals Corp. is a discovery-oriented company with projects in Newfoundland and Labrador,
Canada. The company's primary focus is its portfolio of gold projects: flagship, 100%-owned
Moosehead, Crippleback Lake, and East Alder (optioned to Canterra Minerals Corporation) along the
Central Newfoundland Gold Belt, and the district-scale Fleur de Lys project near Baie Verte in
northwestern Newfoundland, that is targeting Dalradian-type orogenic gold mineralization similar to the
Curraghinalt and Cavanacaw deposits in Northern Ireland, and Cononish in Scotland. The company also
entered into a strategic alliance with Benton Resources Inc. through three large-scale joint-venture
properties including Grey River Gold, Golden Hope, and Kepenkeck in Newfoundland. Sokoman now
controls independently and through the Benton alliance over 150,000 hectares (>6,000 claims - 1,500
sq. km), making it one of the largest landholders in Newfoundland, Canada's newest and rapidly
emerging gold districts. The company also retains an interest in an early-stage antimony/gold project
(Startrek) in Newfoundland, optioned to Thunder Gold Corp (formerly White Metal Resources Inc.), and in
Labrador, the Company has a 100% interest in the Iron Horse (Fe) project that has Direct Shipping Ore
(DSO) potential.
For further information, please contact:
Benton Resources Inc.
Stephen Stares, President & CEO
Phone:
807-475-7474
Email:
Sokoman Minerals Corp.
Timothy Froude, P.Geo., President & CEO
Phone:
709-765-1726
Email:
CHF Capital Markets
Cathy Hume, CEO
Phone:
416-868-1079 x 251
Email:
Website:
www.bentonresources.ca,
www.sokomanmineralscorp.com
Twitter:
@BentonResources
,
@SokomanMinerals
Facebook:
@BentonResourcesBEX
,
@SokomanMinerals
LinkedIn:
@BentonResources
,
@SokomanMinerals
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 environmental 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 potential
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 Alliance's
expectations; risks related to gold price and other commodity price fluctuations; and other risks and
uncertainties related to the Alliance's prospects, properties and business detailed elsewhere in the
Alliance's disclosure record. Should one or more of these risks and uncertainties materialize, or
should 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
Alliance 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 Alliance's expectations or
projections.
Map 1 - East Dyke and Killick Dyke Area Drill Plan - Golden Hope JV
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Map 2 -
Hydra Drill Plan - Golden Hope JV
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Map 3 -
Soil Sampling Program - Golden Hope JV
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To view the source version of this press release, please visit
https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/179671