News Releases

Nevada Copper to Purchase 17.8% of Mercator Minerals

October 5, 2012

October 5, 2012 - Nevada Copper Corp. (TSX: NCU) (“Nevada Copper” or the “Company”) is pleased to announce that it has entered into a share purchase agreement with Pala Investments Limited (“Pala Investments”) dated October 4, 2012, pursuant to which Nevada Copper has agreed to purchase (the “Share Purchase”) an aggregate of 46,000,000 common shares of Mercator Minerals Ltd. (“Mercator”) representing approximately 17.8% of the issued and outstanding common shares of Mercator from Pala Investments in consideration for the issuance of 7,315,000 common shares of Nevada Copper. The percentage ownership disclosed does not reflect the issuance of additional Mercator common shares pursuant to the private placement financing announced on October 1, 2012.

The completion of the Share Purchase is subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions which are customary for transactions of this nature, including the approval of the Toronto Stock Exchange. Completion of the Share Purchase will occur upon satisfaction or waiver of such conditions but in any event on or before October 12, 2012.

Pala Investments is currently an insider of Nevada Copper and holds an aggregate of 27,381,981 common shares of the Company representing approximately 37.4% of the current issued and outstanding common shares. Upon completion of the Share Purchase, Pala Investments will hold an aggregate of 34,696,981 common shares of the Company representing approximately 43.1% of the then-issued and outstanding common shares of the Company.

Nevada Copper intends to purchase Pala Investment’s shares in Mercator for investment purposes. Depending upon market conditions and other factors that Nevada Copper may deem material to its investment decisions, additional shares may be purchased in the open market or in private transactions. Depending on these same factors, the shares currently owned (or hereafter purchased) by Nevada Copper may be sold in the open market or in private transactions.

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 closing of the Share Purchase, 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, the completion of the Share Purchase, 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: there can be no guarantee that the Share Purchase will be completed by the anticipated closing date or at all; 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, 2012. 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
VP, Investor Relations & Communications
Phone: 604-683-8266
Toll free: 1-877-648-8266
Email: etoffolo@nevadacopper.com
Robert McKnight, P.Eng., MBA
Executive Vice President & CFO
Phone 604-683-1309
Email: bmcknight@nevadacopper.com

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