Benton Identifies Bulk Tonnage Target at Golden Harp Cook Zone; Including 1.69 g/t Au Over 37.6 m, 2.05 g/t Au Over 45.1 m, 1.36 g/t Au Over 15 m, and

Fri Nov 20, 11:04 AM

THUNDER BAY, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - Nov. 20, 2009) - Benton Resources Corp (TSX VENTURE: BTC.V), ("Benton" or "the Company") is pleased to announce the results from the second phase drill program on the Golden Harp Option. A compilation of Phase 1 and Phase 2 results for holes GH09-01 to GH09-10 on the Cook Zone has identified a bulk tonnage gold target which includes intercepts of 1.69 gpt gold over 37.6 meters from GH09-01, 2.05 gpt gold over 45.1 metres from GH09-02, 1.36 gpt gold over 15 metres from GH09-09 and 0.92 gpt gold over 27 meters in GH09-10.

In addition, drilling identified wide zones of highly anomalous gold mineralization from the MC zone as well as from several Induced Polarization (IP) and soil geochemical targets located between the Cook and MC zones.

The Phase Two drill program included three holes (GH09-08 to GH09-10) which tested the Cook zone, three holes (GH09-21 to GH09-23) which tested the MC zone and 11 holes (GH09-11 to 20 and GH09-23) which tested various IP and soil geochemical exploration targets located between the Cook and MC zones.

The Company is very encouraged about the exploration and drilling on the Block A Option to date as these programs have clearly identified a large gold-bearing alteration system with the potential to host significant gold mineralization. A further drill program is planned for early 2010.

The Phase Three drill program will focus on the bulk tonnage target at the Cook zone, the newly discovered Crocker zone, (surface grab samples of up to 9.7 gpt gold - see previous press release dated October 1, 2009) and additional testing of the anomalous gold mineralization intersected in this drill campaign.

The Golden Harp Block A property is located approximately 100 km south of Timmins and 87 km southwest of Kirkland Lake, Ontario. Benton is currently in the midst of earning up to a 70% interest in the property from Golden Harp Resources Inc. (Benton P.R March 12, 2009).

The table below lists drill hole intercepts from Phase 1 and 2 drill programs. A map showing drill locations can be found on the company's web site. 

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HOLE     ZONE / TARGET         FROM        TO         Au (g/t)      Drill
                                                                  thickness
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                                                                   (meters)
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GH09-01    COOK ZONE          200.1     231.2            1.99          31.1
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GH09-02    COOK ZONE           86.7      92.7            0.75           6.0
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                              114.7     157.3            2.15          42.6
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                   incl       130.4     135.9           11.97           5.5
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                    and       152.0     155.0            3.28           3.0
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GH09-03    COOK ZONE          216.6     221.6            1.43           5.0
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GH09-04    COOK ZONE          123.2     146.6            0.42          23.4
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                              163.7     169.4            0.74           5.7
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GH09-05    COOK ZONE          182.0     205.5            0.31          23.5
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GH09-06    COOK ZONE           55.9      73.9             0.2          18.0
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                              174.5     177.5           21.41           3.0
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GH09-07                    no significant results
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GH09-08    COOK ZONE       no significant results
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GH09-09    COOK ZONE           51.5     127.8            0.62          76.3
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                   incl        85.0      99.0            1.42          14.0
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GH09-10    COOK ZONE           24.0      84.0            0.68          60.0
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                   incl        35.0      45.0            0.83          10.0
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                    and        57.0      60.0            2.39           3.0
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                    and        74.0      84.0             1.2          10.0
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GH09-11    IP ANOMALY      no significant results
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GH09-12    IP ANOMALY      no significant results
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GH09-13    IP ANOMALY      no significant results
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GH09-14    IP / SOIL          20.60     42.9             0.72          22.3
            ANOMALY
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                   incl       25.50     27.5             2.36           2.0
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                    and        35.5     42.9             1.16           7.4
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GH09-15    IP ANOMALY         168.2    171.6             0.49           3.4
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GH09-16    IP ANOMALY          41.0     62.0             0.72          21.0
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                   incl        44.0     50.0             1.32           6.0
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                              230.0    239.0             0.53           9.0
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GH09-17    IP ANOMALY         116.0    167.0             0.22          51.0
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GH09-18    IP ANOMALY          83.4     86.5              0.6           3.1
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GH09-19    IP ANOMALY          83.0    101.0             0.42          18.0
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                              129.5    141.5             0.23          12.0
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GH09-20      MC ZONE          57.50     69.5             0.34          12.0
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                             118.60    153.0              0.3          34.4
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GH09-21      MC ZONE          71.00   131.00             0.33            60
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                   incl        71.0     75.0             1.54           4.0
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                    and       127.0    131.0             0.88           4.0
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                              180.5    192.9             0.59          12.4
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GH09-22      MC ZONE          187.0    203.0              0.7          16.0
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                   incl       187.0    193.0             1.53           6.0
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                              216.0    338.0             0.33         122.0
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                   incl       282.0    291.0             0.72           9.0
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GH09-23      MC ZONE          103.0    105.0             1.95           2.0
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                              134.0    158.0             0.27          24.0
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Benton currently has approximately $14.2 million in cash and in addition to holding various interests in a number of exploration projects, owns a 33% interest in Coro Mining Corp (TSX: COP.TO), holds an approximate 5% interest in Marathon PGM Corp (TSX: MAR.TO) and retains a 2% Net Smelter Royalty on the northern portion of the Marathon PGM deposit.

Clinton Barr (P.Geo.), V.P. Exploration for Benton Resources Corp., is the qualified person responsible for this release.

On behalf of the Board of Directors of Benton Resources Corp.

Stephen Stares, President

Forward-looking statements in this release are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform act of 1995. Investors are cautioned that such forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties.

THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE HAS NOT REVIEWED AND DOES NOT ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE.

Contacts

Stephen Stares
Benton Resources Corp.
(807)475-7474
(807)475-7200 (FAX)
www.bentonresources.com

611 Montreal Street
Benton Resources Corp.
Thunder Bay, ON P7E 3P2
www.bentonresources.com