Benton Resources (TSXV:BEX) - Raising Funds & Drilling Copper-Gold Project

Company Interviews

Interview with Stephen Stares, President & CEO of Benton Resources Inc.

Our previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/benton-resources-tsxvbex-cashed-up-to-prove-up-high-grade-copper-discovery-in-canada-5180

Recording date: 6th August 2024

Benton Resources Inc. is aggressively advancing its Great Burnt Lake copper-gold project in Newfoundland, positioning itself to capitalize on growing global demand for these metals. Despite challenging market conditions, the company is pushing forward with an extensive drilling program, reflecting management's confidence in the project's potential.

CEO Stephen Stares recently outlined the company's progress and plans in an investor update. Benton has completed approximately 11,000 meters of drilling since November 2023 and aims to drill an additional 10,000-15,000 meters by the end of 2024. This ambitious exploration program is focused on expanding the known mineralization at the main Great Burnt deposit and testing new targets across their 25-kilometer land package.

The company's exploration strategy leverages advanced techniques, including high-resolution ground magnetic surveys and detailed structural mapping. These methods are helping Benton target massive sulfide lenses containing high-grade copper and gold mineralization more effectively. Management believes this approach will lead to more efficient resource delineation and potentially significant new discoveries.

While Benton has not yet published a formal resource estimate, Stares hinted at the project's potential scale, suggesting it could ultimately host "a few million ounces of gold and hundreds of millions of pounds of copper" at relatively shallow depths. The shallow nature of the mineralization is particularly noteworthy, as it could translate to favorable economics in a future mining scenario.

To fund ongoing exploration, Benton is currently closing a flow-through financing round. The company is also transitioning towards working with brokerage firms and institutional investors, laying the groundwork for larger financings as the project advances. This strategic shift suggests management is preparing for rapid advancement if exploration results continue to be positive.

Investors should note that Benton's project is well-positioned to benefit from macro trends driving demand for copper and gold. Copper is experiencing strong long-term demand projections due to its critical role in renewable energy and electric vehicle infrastructure. Meanwhile, gold continues to attract interest as a safe-haven asset and inflation hedge.

The recent acquisition of Filo Mining by BHP for $4.5 billion underscores the appetite of major mining companies for copper assets, even at premium valuations. This M&A activity could benefit junior explorers like Benton if they successfully delineate significant resources.

However, potential investors should be aware of the risks inherent in junior mining exploration. These include exploration risk, financing risk, metal price volatility, and potential technical challenges related to the structural complexity of the deposit.

For those comfortable with these risks, Benton Resources offers exposure to a potentially significant copper-gold discovery at an early stage. The company's commitment to advancing the project despite market headwinds reflects management's confidence in its potential.

Key factors for investors to monitor include upcoming drill results, progress on resource delineation, successful closing of financings, and broader trends in copper and gold markets. As with any speculative mining investment, thorough due diligence is essential.

In summary, Benton Resources presents an intriguing opportunity for investors seeking exposure to copper and gold exploration in a favorable jurisdiction, backed by an experienced management team and an aggressive exploration program.

View Benton Resources' company profile: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/companies/benton-resources-inc

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