Benton and Metals Creek Introduce Hydrogen-Helium Soil Survey in Newfoundland

In July 2026, Benton Resources Inc. and Metals Creek Resources Corp. started a comprehensive regional soil gas sampling program at their Smoking Gun and Parson’s Pond hydrogen-helium exploration projects in Newfoundland. This is an important milestone in their goal to assess the potential for natural hydrogen and helium in those 2 basins. Rudy Willick of Rudiger Re-Chem has been appointed to oversee the program. He is an expert in hydrogen and helium based in Saskatchewan, Canada. He has significant experience working for various companies in the exploration of natural hydrogen.

The companies intend to collect 650 to 750 soil gas samples over a duration of 2 to 3 weeks. The collected samples would then be analyzed at Rudiger Re-Chem’s laboratory in Saskatoon for hydrogen, helium, neon, carbon dioxide, and light hydrocarbons ranging from methane to butane. The useful insights derived from the analysis would be compiled in an extensive report which will help the company devise its future strategies regarding exploration.

There have been promising results for helium gas during the recent evaluations of the historical exploration data of the Smoking Gun project in the Deer Lake Basin. The water samples from the drill hole 79-67 had helium concentrations up to 8,900 parts per billion. It is located approximately 11.8 kilometers from the Mills No. 1 drill hole, where high-pressure gas was reported to flow continuously for at least 12 months. There is also some proof of the presence of gas at the Claybar No. 3 hole, which is at a distance of around 32 kilometers.

The Parson’s Pond project also has favorable signs, as there have been many gas occurrences over a distance of 14 kilometers during the drilling process. Methane concentration was recorded up to 72 percent in certain locations. The basin is a substrate of the thrust-faulted rocks of the Humber Arm Supergroup, and it has shale and sandstone enriched with serpentine, chrome fragments, and glauconite.

Impact on the Chemical Industry

According to Precedence Research, the launch of the Hydrogen-Helium soil survey in Newfoundland is expected to positively impact the chemical industry. This is due to the fact that it promotes the natural extraction of hydrogen and helium, which have significant applications in various industries. They find applications in the manufacturing of semiconductors, aerospace, and healthcare. If the surveys yield positive results, the booming semiconductor manufacturing sector would benefit from the affordable supply of helium.

Impact on the Hydrogen Combustion Engine Market

The global hydrogen combustion engine market size is projected to be valued at USD 35 billion in 2030 and is expected to hit around USD 89 billion by 2040 with a registered CAGR of 9.78% over the forecast period 2030 to 2040.

According to Precedence Research, the introduction of the Hydrogen-Helium soil survey in Newfoundland is expected to benefit the hydrogen combustion engine market. This is owing to the fact that hydrogen as a fuel has zero tailpipe emissions, thus being aligned with the sustainability goals of various automobile manufacturers. It has certain advantages over electric vehicles, such as the fact that the automobile would be lighter in weight than an electric vehicle with similar horsepower and torque.

This is because electric motors are heavy and need extensive cooling systems, as the motors need an optimal temperature to function efficiently. It can also be cheaper for people in terms of cost incurred per kilometer of driving, as hydrogen sourced naturally would cost less as a fuel than electricity, which needs elaborate infrastructure depending upon the mode of production.

Impact on the Semiconductor Market

The global semiconductor market size was estimated at USD 627.76 billion in 2025 and is predicted to increase from USD 676.06 billion in 2026 to approximately USD 1,277.45 billion by 2035, expanding at a CAGR of 7.36% from 2026 to 2035.

According to Precedence Research, the launch of the Hydrogen-Helium soil survey in Newfoundland is expected to positively impact the semiconductor industry as it provides a cheap way to supply helium. Helium holds significant importance in the semiconductor industry as it is an inert gas and provides a favorable environment for chip production. 

Helium is an excellent conductor of heat and is thus used to cool the silicon wafers during etching and deposition. It is also used to detect if there is any gaseous leakage in the sealed production environment. This helps explain why the semiconductor sector would benefit if usable naturally occurring helium is found in Newfoundland. 

About Benton

Benton Resources Inc. is a copper and gold exploration company based in Canada. The company has significant experience in drilling in appropriate locations and producing high-quality metals. The company focuses on copper and gold resources in Newfoundland and has the Great Burnt project as its flagship initiative. 

About Metals Creek Resources Corporation

Metals Creek Resources Corp. is a TSX Venture Exchange-listed company under the laws of the Province of Ontario, Canada. The company specializes in the identification, acquisition, exploration, and development of mineral resources. They focus on resources in Ontario, Newfoundland, Labrador, and Yukon.