Sokoman and Benton Provide an Update on Drilling at the Kraken Lithium and Grey River Gold projects, Southwest Newfoundland East dyke swarm has multiple Li-bearing (spodumene) dykes up to 27 m wide, located 600 m to the east of the Kraken discovery dyke
Sokoman and Benton Provide an Update on Drilling at the Kraken Lithium and
Grey River Gold projects, Southwest Newfoundland
East dyke swarm has multiple Li-bearing (spodumene) dykes up to 27 m wide,
located 600 m to the east of the Kraken discovery dyke
St. John’s, NL –Sokoman Minerals Corp. (TSXV: SIC) (OTCQB: SICNF) (“Sokoman”) and Benton
Resources Inc. (TSXV: BEX) (“Benton”) together, (the “Alliance”) are pleased to update
shareholders on the drilling progress at both the Kraken Lithium and Grey River Gold projects in
southwest Newfoundland.
Early in 2022, the Alliance completed the first -ever drill campaign for lithium on the Island of
Newfoundland at the Kraken Lithium discovery on the Golden Hope JV Project. Six diamond drill
holes tested the original Kraken discovery-dyke area where selective surface grab samples returned
values from trace up to 2.37% Li2O. The winter drilling program verified the existence of significant
lithium-rich dykes flanking the regional Bay d’Est Fault where hole GH-22-01 intersected 0.94%
Li2O over 8.4 m. Important structural information was obtained from the drilling including the
presence of relatively flat-lying dykes, as well as folding in the system. The flat-lying dykes are
significant, in that the bulk of the lithium mineralization at Piedmont Lithium’s Piedmont project in
North Carolina lies in flat-lying dykes linking subvertical dipping dykes.
In May and June, 2022, the Alliance constructed a ten-man exploration camp and mobilized a n
excavator and diamond drill rig to the project site. To date in this exploration phase , the Alliance
has completed further mapping, prospecting, trenching , and an additional 2392 m of drilling in 13
drill holes. The new drilling has targeted the East Dyke swarm, which is 600 m to 650 m to the east
of the Kraken discovery dyke, intersecting multiple spodumene-bearing pegmatite dykes, over core
lengths of up to 27 m while also gaining a better understanding of the geological setting of the dykes
for future targeting.
The drill program is shut down for a scheduled crew break with drilling to recommence in two weeks.
The Alliance will continue with regional exploration in the area including mapping, prospecting and
soil geochemical sampling over this large and prospective area.
Sokoman’s President and CEO Tim Froude, comments: “Drilling at Kraken’s East Dyke Swarm
has delivered multipl e significant intersections of spodumene -rich pegmatite with multiple targets
remaining to be tested. We will be completing a multidisciplinary program to further define drill
targets at this rapidly -emerging lithium prospect. At Grey River, the large silica system is being
tested by drilling that will continue for at least another month. The size of the system is impressive,
and we hope to determine regional controls on the gold mineralization as we move forward with the
program. We are proving again through th is exploration that much of Newfoundland has been
underexplored, and what is required is an aggressive approach to drilling, something that has been
lacking in the past.”
Benton’s President and CEO Stephen Stares, states: “We are very pleased with our success rate
thus far on both the Kraken and Grey River projects. While it is easier to assess success through the
visual identification of spodumene in the Kraken drill core, we are also looking forward to receiving
and analyzing the gold assays from the Grey River project. Our collective exploration teams are
hoping that we are in the early days of Newfoundland’s next wave of big mineral discoveries.”
More than 700 core samples have been cut and submitted to the SGS Prep Lab in Grand Falls -
Windsor and then shipped to SGS Lab in Burnaby, BC for Lithium and multi-element analysis.
Steve Stares, President and CEO of Benton Resources, with a section of spodumene dyke from GH-22-15
Spodumene (lithium) rich section of GH-22-15 – Kraken Prospect – Golden Hope Joint Venture
At the Grey River Gold Project, the Alliance is currently drilling hole GR-22-14, the ninth drill hole
of a planned 15-20-hole, 2,000 m program designed to test the geometry at depth of units associated
with anomalous gold on surface, as well as mineralized intercepts from the Phase 1 program. DDH
GR-21-01 intersected three parallel gold zones including 1.80 m of 10.58 g/t Au (see November 25,
2021 press release ). The gold mineralization is associate d with zones of silica associated with
disseminated and stringer pyrite (from 2% - 20% pyrite) in the >10-km-long quartz/silica body.
To date the Alliance has cut and submitted 400 core samples for analysis* at Eastern Analytical in
Springdale, NL. Prospecting and mapping will be continued throughout the summer to assist with
drill targeting.
Drill core from Grey River showing sulphide stringers cross-cutting the silica zone – GR-22-11
*All samples are shipped to Eastern Analytical Ltd., in Springdale, NL for Au (by fire assay) and 34
element ICP analysis. Any assay returning greater than 1 g/t Au (1 gram per tonne gold or 1000 ppb
gold) will be re-assayed using metallics pulp methods. Blanks and standards are regularly inserted as
part of the Alliances’ joint sampling protocols, in addition to standards and duplicates inserted by
Eastern Analytical Ltd. Eastern Analytical Ltd. is an ISO accredited lab.
QP
This news release has been reviewed and approved by Timo thy Froude, P.Geo., President and CEO
of Sokoman Minerals Corp. , and Stephen House, P.Geo., VP Exploration of Benton Resources Inc.
Both are 'Qualified Persons' under National Instrument 43-101.
COVID-19 Protocols
To ensure a working environment that protects the health and safety of the staff and contractors,
Sokoman and Benton will continue to use best practices in the course of performing all work programs
and will follow any future federally or provincially mandated or recommended COVID-19 guidelines.
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 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
has also entered into a strategic alliance (the Alliance) with Benton Resources Inc. through three large-
scale joint-venture properties including Grey River Gold, Golden Hope and Kepenkeck on the island
of Newfoundland. Sokoman now controls independently and through the 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 district. Sokoman also retains an interest in an early-stage
antimony/gold project (Startrek) in Newfoundland, optioned to 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.
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 in Gold, Silver, Nickel, Copper, and Platinum Group
Elements, and most-recently Lithium assets, and currently holds large equity positions in other mining
companies that are advancing high-quality assets. Whenever possible, BEX retains Net Smelter Return
(NSR) royalties for potential long -term cash flow. Benton has also recently entered into a 50/50
strategic alliance with Sokoman Minerals Corp. (TSXV: SIC) through three large-scale joint-venture
properties including Grey River Gold, Golden Hope , and Kepenkeck in Newfoundland that are now
being explored.
For further information, please contact:
CHF Capital Markets
Thomas Do, IR Manager
Phone: 416-868-1079 x 232
Email: [email protected]
Sokoman Minerals Corp.
Timothy Froude, P. Geo., President & CEO
Phone: 709-765-1726
Email: [email protected]
Benton Resources Inc.
Stephen Stares, President & CEO
Phone: 807-475-7474
Email: [email protected]
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 result s, 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 forwar d-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 ref lect new events or circumstances. Actual events or results could differ materially
from the Alliance's expectations or projections.