Benton Resources Corp. ("Benton" or the "Company") (TSX VENTURE:BTC) is pleased
to provide an update on its Sewell-West Timmins Project in northwestern Ontario,
located 60 km west of Timmins and 40 km west of Lakeshore Gold's Timmins Mine.
The Sewell-West Timmins property consists of 13 claims (107 units) optioned in
July, 2011 (see Benton PR dated August 10, 2011).


During the summer and fall of 2011, a 48 km grid was established over the centre
of the property and prospecting, mapping, IP and ground magnetometer surveys
were completed. This work identified several areas of anomalous gold
mineralization, the most significant being the "Baseline Showing", where 40
surface grab samples collected over a strike length of 300m returned values
ranging from trace to 5.09 grams per tonne Au. Mineralization at the Baseline
Showing is hosted within a NNW trending shear zone consisting of strong
carbonate altered mafic and lesser ultramafic volcanic rocks and highly altered
sulphide-rich chert-magnetite iron formation.


In December, 2011, an eight-hole, 1,476 metre drill program was completed to
test the Baseline Showing with significant results including 94.018 grams per
tonne (gpt) gold (Au) over 1.1m (hole SW11-03), 1.38 gpt Au over 2.3m (hole
SW11-06) and 1.44 gpt Au over 1.1m (hole SW11-08). Holes SW11-01, 02, 04, 05 and
07 returned trace to weakly anomalous gold values. The mineralized intervals
represent core lengths.


The Company is encouraged with the early high grade results intersected in
SW11-03 and is currently reviewing all data from the 2011 work programs. The
next exploration program will target the favourable gold-bearing horizon to the
north and south of drill hole SW11-03, as well as looking at other zones which
have been identified on the property.


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 41.9% 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.