Benton and Sokoman Provide Exploration Update on Li / Cs Exploration Golden Hope JV
Benton and Sokoman Provide Exploration
Update on Li / Cs Exploration Golden Hope JV
- Southwestern Newfoundland
Ten holes completed at Killick target - second drill to begin
testing the Hydra Dyke
Thunder Bay, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - May 18, 2023) -
Benton Resources Inc.
(TSXV: BEX)
("Benton") and
Sokoman Minerals Corp.
(TSXV: SIC) (OTCQB: SICNF) ("Sokoman") together, (the
"Alliance") are pleased to announce that 1,400 m in ten holes have been completed on the 50/50 Golden
Hope Joint Venture (GHJV) targeting lithium and other critical metals. Drilling has focused on the Killick
Dyke zone, where 2022 drilling returned up to
1.04%
Li
2
O over 15.23 m, including 4.18 m of 1.48%
Li
2
O, and 2.98 m of 1.23% Li
2
O in GH-22-27 and 9.50 m of 1.08% Li
2
O in GH-22-26.
All ten holes
have intersected spodumene-bearing dykes ranging from less than a metre to over 20 m thick.
Drilling will continue to test the Killick Dyke area plus any new dyke discovered in the ongoing soil
geochemical and trenching program along strike to the east of the Kraken Pegmatite Field, where
lithium-in-soil geochemical anomalies of similar strength to the Kraken Discovery Dyke area were found,
4 km along strike to the east of any known dykes.
The Alliance is also pleased to announce that it plans to mobilize a second diamond drill to test the
Hydra (cesium/lithium/tantalum) target 10 km northeast of the Killick Dyke. Trenching is ongoing here to
expose the dyke and help plan for the drilling. The Hydra Dyke is host to high-grade cesium
mineralization as pollucite, as well as significant lithium, tantalum, and rubidium values with a 1.2 m
channel sample from 2022 grading
8.76% Cs
2
O, 0.41% Li
2
O, 0.025% Ta
2
O
5
, and 0.33% Rb
2
O
(
news release December 1, 2022
).
The Alliance has received the first batch of soil sampling results from the Hydra area which shows a
significant lithium/tantalum anomaly (5 to 996 ppm Li; 5 to 141 ppm Ta) in the vicinity of the Hydra Dyke.
The soil survey is continuing, using 500 m spaced lines to cover the 10 km gap between the Killick and
Hydra fields crossing the favourable dyke-bearing corridor.
Figure 1: Close up of coarse-grained spodumene in GH-23-44
To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/3657/166633_0110d7a654e0e9f1_003full.jpg
.
Figure 2: Close up of medium-grained spodumene in GH-23-45
To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/3657/166633_0110d7a654e0e9f1_004full.jpg
.
Figure 3: Camp photo showing the drill setup testing the
Killick Dyke (both can be seen on the left-center side of the image)
To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/3657/166633_0110d7a654e0e9f1_005full.jpg
.
Figure 4: Golden Hope Project drill plan map
To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/3657/166633_0110d7a654e0e9f1_006full.jpg
.
Stephen Stares, President and CEO of Benton, says
: "We continue to be excited about the potential
of the Kraken Dyke system and the new Killick Dyke zone. The rate of success in expanding the lithium
zones in drilling continues to show that we are truly in a new lithium-cesium-tantalum (LCT) belt. We look
forward to our continued success as we move the project along."
Tim Froude, President and CEO of Sokoman, says:
"We are off to a great start at Golden Hope,
and we expect the 5,000 m drill program to be completed before the end of summer giving us plenty of
time to build on significant results and plan for additional drilling. Coupled with the ongoing soil sampling
and prospecting programs, this will be a defining year for the project."
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
Benton/Sokoman 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 mining 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 that are being explored.
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 (available for option) 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 recently 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:
Sokoman Minerals Corp.
Timothy Froude, P.Geo., President & CEO
Phone:
709-765-1726
Email:
Benton Resources Inc.
Stephen Stares, President & CEO
Phone:
807-475-7474
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
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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
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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
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