Thunder Bay explorer strikes option deal with Rio Tinto: Benton Resources deals Baril Lake claims to mining giant.

Though it remains a tough financing environment for the exploration industry, Benton Resources is kicking off 2019 in style.

The Thunder Bay-based junior announced the signing of an option-to-purchase agreement with mining giant Rio Tinto on a prospective base metal project in northwestern Ontario.

Under the agreement, Benton will receive $200,000 over four years on its Baril Lake claims. Should Rio Tinto put the property into commercial production, Benton snags an additional $1 million.

The two companies have been joint venture partners at the Bark Lake base metal project, which is halfway between Thunder Bay and Atikokan.

Baril Lake, a highly prospective copper-nickel and platinum group metals property, is five kilometres west of Bark Lake. Some past drilling at Bark Lake by Rio Tinto Exploration Canada yielded mineralization of 0.31 copper and 0.72 grams per tonne of platinum and...