Benton Resources Corp. (TSX VENTURE:BTC)("Benton") regrets to announce that it
has been advised by Coro Mining Corp. ("Coro" or the "Company") (TSX:COP) that
the Provincial Legislature of Mendoza has voted against the ratification of the
Company's approved Environmental Impact Declaration ("EID"). Stephen Stares,
President and CEO of Benton Resources made the following statement: "We are very
disappointed that the Mendoza Government has decided not to ratify the San Jorge
Project, especially after all the hard work, expense and mining education of the
highest quality that was provided by the Coro team. Benton gives Coro its full
support in taking the necessary steps to protect shareholders interest". 


Below is Coro's Press Release that was disseminated today:

Coro Mining Corp. ("Coro" or the "Company") (TSX:COP) regrets to announce that
the Provincial Legislature of Mendoza has voted against the ratification of the
Company's approved Environmental Impact Declaration ("EID"), notwithstanding
that the EID was conditional, inter alia, upon the Company's Argentinean
subsidiary, Minera San Jorge ("MSJ"), complying with the highest standards of
environmental protection, control and monitoring prior to, and during the
construction and operation of the project. Over the past 3 years, Coro has
strictly complied with all laws and regulations, including the 7722 law which
required the ratification of the approved EID, and has made every effort to
ensure that the legislators were fully informed about the project. In addition,
a Mendoza court recently determined that the process which led to the approval
of the EID was neither illegitimate nor arbitrary, and therefore fully complied
with provincial law. 


As recently as August 24th, the head of the Lower House confirmed that the
ratification vote would take place after the elections scheduled for October, in
order that the decision could be taken based on the merits of the project and
not on a calculation of electoral advantage. Unfortunately, the vote took place
in any event, without consideration of the conclusions of the legislature's
commissions who have spent the last several months evaluating the EID, and more
pertinently, the validity of the process which led to its approval. The decision
to not ratify the EID was taken against the clearly expressed wishes of the
current government, with whom the Company was in advanced discussions aimed at
delivering a carried 10% interest in MSJ to the province.


Coro will now consider its alternatives to seek legal redress and compensation
through the Argentinean and international courts. In particular, the 7722 law is
currently subject to legal challenges of its constitutionality by Coro and
several other parties. We anticipate that this law suit may be resolved by mid
2012 and in the event that the courts find that the law is indeed
unconstitutional, the denial of legislative ratification of the Company's valid
and approved EID, may be deemed to be null and void. 


Finally, we wish to express our gratitude to the people of Uspallata who had
supported the development of San Jorge. We sincerely regret the rejection our
project by your elected representatives, especially given the rigorous review
and consultation process that has taken place over the past 3 years. Coro had
hoped to work with you in raising your living standards and demonstrating the
economic and social benefits that San Jorge could have brought to your
community; unfortunately, this opportunity has now been denied to us."


About Benton

Benton is a Canadian based junior with multiple joint ventures and a diversified
property portfolio in Gold, Nickel, Copper, and Platinum group elements. The
Company currently has approximately $12.2 million in cash, owns approximately
57.9 million shares in Coro Mining Corp. (TSX:COP), holds approximately 348,000
shares of Stillwater Mining Company (NYSE:SWC), holds 782,500 shares in Marathon
Gold Corp. (TSX:MOZ), holds approximately 1.6 million shares in Puget Ventures
(TSX VENTURE:PVS), holds approximately 6.5 million shares of Mineral Mountain
Resources Ltd. (TSX VENTURE:MMV), holds 815,000 shares of Bell Copper
Corporation (TSX VENTURE:BCU), holds approximately 1.7 million shares of
Trillium North Minerals (TSX VENTURE:TNM), holds approximately 1.6 million
shares of Golden Dory Resources (TSX VENTURE:GDR) and holds 3 million shares
Parkside Resources (currently a private corporation). Benton is currently in the
process of spinning out the majority of its assets by a plan of arrangement into
a new listed company in order to separate its approximate 41.6% investment in
Coro Mining Corp. from its cash, equities and exploration assets. Benton
shareholders will receive a pro-rata interest in this new company on a
one-for-one share basis and pursuant to regulatory approval.


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.