Benton Resources Corp. ("Benton") (the "Company") (TSX VENTURE:BTC) would like
to provide an update on the exploration plans for 2012 and the status of the
spin-out transaction (the "Transaction") previously announced on (March 29,
2011). 


Exploration plans for 2012 include a 2000-3000 meter diamond drilling program on
the Saganaga Gold Project to commence in mid-February. The program will test
recently discovered surface gold mineralization in addition to follow up
drilling on the Starr Zone where multiple past intercepts include 5.36gpt gold
over 20.6 metres and 3.0gpt gold over 20.5 metres. Benton has spent the past 12
months compiling all previous work and management believes that good potential
exists to have new discoveries on the property. Drilling on the Starr Zone will
work towards outlining a potential resource in the Starr Zone area. Follow up
diamond drilling is anticipated throughout the year after the new drill data is
received and compiled. 


Benton will also focus its efforts on the advancement of its Abernethy gold
project where the company has recently announced drill results identifying a
large gold system that's open for expansion in all directions (see Benton P.R.'s
dated November 15, 2011 and December 22, 2011). 


The company is has also put a small budget together to advance its early stage
grass root projects and project generation throughout the year. 


Benton would also like to update its shareholders on the current status of the
planned spinout as Management continues to work with its legal and accounting
advisors to obtain conditional approval from the TSX Venture Exchange for the
spin-out transaction. Management anticipates that it will shortly set the record
and meeting dates for its AGM at which it will ask shareholders to approve the
spin-out transaction. Management remains committed to completing this
transaction which is anticipated to conclude in Q1.


Pursuant to a plan of arrangement (the "Arrangement") and subject to the
requisite shareholder, court, and regulatory approvals, Benton intends to
spin-off all of its assets, other than its approximate 57,866,754 million shares
of Coro Mining Corp. ("Coro") (TSX:COP), sufficient working capital to maintain
operations and such other assets as may be required to maintain operations or
are required by the TSX Venture Exchange to a new company (referred to as
"Newco" for the purposes of this release). Newco will hold all of the
exploration assets, remaining cash and equity positions other than Coro and the
Goodchild Project. On the effective date of the Arrangement (the "Effective
Date"), shareholders of Benton will receive one new common share of Benton and
one new common share of Newco for each share of Benton that they held prior to
the Effective Date (as yet to be determined). Following the Effective Date, both
the common shares of Benton and Newco are expected on trade on the TSX Venture
Exchange ("TSX-V"), subject to Benton complying with the continued listing
requirements of the TSX-V and Newco meeting the original listing requirements of
the TSX-V, receiving approval of the TSX-V and meeting all conditions of listing
imposed by the TSX-V. There is no assurance as to if and when the common shares
of Newco will be listed for trading on the TSX-V. The Arrangement must be
approved by no less than 66 2/3% of Benton's shareholders. The completion of the
Arrangement is subject to, among other things: shareholder and court approval
and other necessary regulatory approvals, including TSX-V acceptance of the
Arrangement and conditional listing approval of the Newco common shares on the
TSX-V, and receipt by Benton of an advance tax ruling from the Canada Revenue
Agency confirming that the Arrangement can be finalized on a tax neutral basis
for Benton and its shareholders. There is no assurance that the TSX-V will
provide conditional listing approval for the common shares of Newco or that the
Canada Revenue Agency will provide a favourable advance tax ruling.


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 $8.1 million in cash, owns approximately
57.86 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 1.6 million shares in Puget Ventures (TSX
VENTURE:PVS), holds 8.47 million shares of Mineral Mountain Resources Ltd. (TSX
VENTURE:MMV), and holds 815,000 shares of Bell Copper Corporation (TSX
VENTURE:BCU), holds 1.67 million shares of Trillium North Minerals (TSX
VENTURE:TNM), holds 1.55 million shares of Golden Dory Resources (TSX
VENTURE:GDR) and holds 3 million shares of Parkside Resources (currently
private). 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 41.6% investment in Coro Mining from its cash, equities and exploration
assets. Benton shareholders will receive one share in this new company for each
share of Benton held 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.