News Releases

Nevada Copper Intersects 9.08% Copper in Open Pittable North Deposit

March 13, 2012

March 13, 2012 - Nevada Copper Corp. (TSX: NCU) (“Nevada Copper”) is pleased to announce positive step-out drill results from its 100% owned Pumpkin Hollow project located near Yerington, Nevada. The drill holes reported below represent results from a 50,000 meter step-out and expansion drilling program. Three exploration drill rigs are currently active at the Pumpkin Hollow project.

Six drill holes have been recently completed in the North Deposit. Drill hole NC12-03 drilled along the deposit’s south border intersected high grade mineralization outside the open pit limits as outlined in the recently published Feasibility Study, intersecting 122.7 feet (37.4 meters) true thickness grading 3.96% copper, 0.384 grams/tonne gold, and 14.2 grams/tonne silver. Included within this zone is a higher grade intercept of 33.8 feet (10.3 meters) true thickness grading 9.08% copper, 0.764 grams/tonne gold, and 29.4 grams/tonne silver. In view of these positive results, follow up drilling is already in progress.

Drill holes NC11-36 and NC11-37 were drilled along the deposit’s southwest border and intersected multiple zones of mineralization. The mineralized zones in NC11-36 together totaled 585 feet grading 0.38% copperand the zones in NC11-37 totaled 614.5 feet grading 0.42% copper. 

Drill hole NC11-50 targeted the deeper stacked mineralized zones in the western portion of the North Deposit. In addition to intersecting the deeper zones, the upper zone was confirmed and higher grades were intersected than the nearby adjacent holes. Drill Hole NC11-50 was drilled 80 feet northwest of drill hole NC07-22(276 feet grading 0.49% copper). By comparison, Drill hole NC11-50 intersected 272.0 feet (82.9 meters) true thickness grading 0.73% copper. Drill hole NC11-50 hole continues to expand and further confirm the continuity of mineralization. 

Drill holes NC11-38 and NC11-39 were drilled along the northeastern border of the North Deposit. The mineralizations intersected in NC11-39 falls within the current open pit limits where the material was modeled as waste in the recently published Feasibility Study. The mineralization remains open and additional drilling is currently being planned.

Gregory French, Vice President, Senior Project Manager, CPG, M.Sc., commented, “The North Deposit continues to produce exciting drilling results. Drill holes along the south and north boundaries continue to intersect mineralization just outside the open pit limits as included in the Feasibility Study. While NC12-03 was drilled as a step-out hole, the unexpectedly thick zone of high grade mineralization, of approximately 4% copper, was well beyond our expectations. Follow up drilling to delineate this new zone of new mineralization is currently in progress. These high grade intersections and previous drill results, at the southern boundaries of the North deposit open pit limits suggest that the North and South pits will eventually merge.

Drilling to expand the deeper mineralization in the North Deposit has produced several additional benefits. Besides confirming the continuity of shallower mineralization several holes have intersected higher copper grades. The upper zone of NC11-50 intersected grades 30% higher than the nearby adjacent hole 80 feet to the southeast.” 

NORTH DEPOSIT - Assays greater than 0.15% Cu
Drill Hole #FromToLengthLengthTrue LengthCopperGoldSilverMo
 (m)(m)(m)(ft)(m)%(g/t)(g/t)(g/t)
NC11-36312.4373.461.0200.056.20.400.0161.70.016
 417.6484.667.0220.061.70.380.0291.00.005
 498.4533.435.0115.032.20.400.0631.10.007
 705.6714.79.130.08.40.220.0170.60.004
 784.9791.06.120.05.60.220.0300.50.001
NC11-37280.1296.015.952.014.60.550.0602.30.018
 334.7339.95.217.04.80.400.0691.20.035
 373.4390.116.755.015.40.330.0531.10.009
 400.8478.277.4254.071.30.370.0361.80.006
 510.5529.619.162.517.60.750.0382.70.009
 591.6644.653.0174.048.80.370.0241.30.003
NC11-38228.6237.79.130.07.00.390.0372.40.002
 262.1268.26.120.04.70.370.0512.20.001
 309.4318.59.130.07.00.300.0421.8<0.001
NC11-39187.4230.443.0141.035.20.450.0933.20.009
 288.0294.16.120.05.00.220.0491.45.3
 355.2360.55.317.54.30.410.0693.1<0.001
NC11-50184.4197.813.444.013.40.460.0491.10.003
 212.8295.782.9272.082.90.730.0782.00.003
 307.9329.221.370.021.00.290.0411.30.010
 381.0397.816.855.015.20.300.0381.00.004
 408.4416.07.625.06.90.500.0401.70.003
 458.7478.519.865.019.80.460.1111.40.003
 490.7515.124.480.024.40.220.0110.80.004
 541.0545.64.615.04.60.560.0072.00.002
 553.2573.019.865.019.80.540.0411.40.003
NC12-03196.6202.76.120.05.90.620.0120.7<0.001
 311.8350.538.7127.037.43.960.38414.20.007
Including335.3346.010.735.010.39.080.76429.40.007
 545.6554.79.130.09.00.560.0342.70.001

A cross section and a plan map with the respective drill locations will be made available at http://www.nevadacopper.com/site/assets/files/3890/2012-03-12_nr-media.pdf.

The Pumpkin Hollow drilling program is under the supervision of Gregory French, CPG #10708, and a Qualified Person as defined in Canadian National Instrument 43-101, who is responsible for the preparation of the technical information in this news release. All assaying and whole rock geochemistry is processed at the American Assay Laboratories (AAL) in Reno, Nevada. Samples are delivered from the project core logging facility to AAL by Nevada Copper or AAL personnel. A Quality Assurance and Quality Control Assay Protocol have been implemented whereby blanks and standards are inserted into the assay stream and check samples are sent to Chemex-Reno and Inspectorate-Reno laboratories.

About Nevada Copper
Nevada Copper has 72.8 million shares outstanding and is well funded with no debt and approximately $65 million in cash. Remaining drilling results from the 50,000 meter step-out and expansion drilling program will continue to be released as they become available.

Nevada Copper has recently filed a Technical Report-Feasibility Study on SEDAR (www.sedar.com) for the Pumpkin Hollow Copper project in accordance with National Instrument 43-101. An updated feasibility study targeted to be released later this year will incorporate the benefits of magnetite recovery and sales from the iron magnetite resource. Additionally, all drilling since October 2010 will also be incorporated into an updated mineral resource, mineral reserve and related mining plans. The duel benefits of the iron resource and results from the current drilling program are expected to have a further positive impact on already robust project economics.

For additional information about Nevada Copper please visit our website at www.nevadacopper.com.

NEVADA COPPER CORP.

Giulio T. Bonifacio, President & CEO 

Cautionary Language

This news release includes certain statements and information that may contain forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. All statements in this news release, other than statements of historical facts, including the likelihood of commercial mining, securing as strategic partner, expanding the mineral resources and reserves and possible future financings are forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements and forward-looking information specifically include, but are not limited to, statements concerning: Nevada Copper Corp. (the “Company”) plans at the Pumpkin Hollow Project; the timing of granting of key permits; from the Feasibility Study: the estimated metal production and the timing thereof; capital and operating costs, future metal prices and cash flow estimates derived from the foregoing.

Forward-looking statements or information relate to future events and future performance and include statements regarding the expectations and beliefs of management and include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to the estimation of mineral resources and reserves, the realization of mineral resources and reserve estimates, the timing and amount of estimated future production, capital costs, costs of production, capital expenditures, success of mining operations, environmental risks and other mining related matters. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements and forward-looking information can be identified by the use of words such as “plans”, “expects”, “potential”, “is expected”, “anticipated”, “is targeted”, “budget”, “scheduled”, “estimates”, “forecasts”, “intends”, “anticipates”, or “believes” or the negatives thereof or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results “may”, “could”, “would”, “might” or “will” be taken, occur or be achieved. Forward-looking statements or information include, but are not limited to, statements or information with respect to known or unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual industry results, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements or information.

Forward-looking statements or information are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties which could cause actual events or results to differ from those reflected in the forward-looking statements or information, including, without limitation, risks and uncertainties relating to: history of losses; requirements for additional capital; dilution; loss of its material properties; interest rates increase; global economy; no history of production; future metals price fluctuations, speculative nature of exploration activities; periodic interruptions to exploration, development and mining activities; environmental hazards and liability; industrial accidents; failure of processing and mining equipment to perform as expected; labor disputes; supply problems; uncertainty of production and cost estimates; the interpretation of drill results and the estimation of mineral resources and reserves; changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined; possible variations in ore reserves, grade of mineralization or recovery rates may differ from what is indicated and the difference may be material; legal and regulatory proceedings and community actions; accidents, title matters; regulatory restrictions; permitting and licensing; volatility of the market price of Common Shares; insurance; competition; hedging activities; currency fluctuations; loss of key employees; other risks of the mining industry as well as those factors discussed in the section entitled “Risk Factors” in the Company’s Annual Information Form dated September 26, 2011. Should one or more of these risks and uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described in forward-looking statements or information. The Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update forward-looking statements or information except as required by law, and you are referred to the full discussion of the Company’s business contained in the Company’s reports filed with the securities regulatory authorities in Canada. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially, there may be other factors that could cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. For more information on Nevada Copper and the risks and challenges of its business, investors should review Nevada Copper’s annual filings that are available at www.sedar.com.

The Company provides no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.

For further information call:

Eugene Toffolo
Corporate Communications
Phone: 604-683-8266
Toll free: 1-877-648-8266
Email: etoffolo@nevadacopper.com
Robert McKnight, P.Eng.
Executive Vice President
Phone 604-683-1309
Email: bmcknight@nevadacopper.com

Teamwork. Innovation. Execution.