Development Update on the Murray Brook Zn-Cu-Pb-Ag Deposit, Bathurst Mining Camp, New Brunswick

• Additional metallurgical testwork designed to optimize copper recoveries has been completed on the Murray Brook polymetallic massive sulfide deposit.
  
  
• Metallurgical test work results will be incorporated as an integral part of a planned Preliminary Economic Assessment slated for completion in H1 2013.
  
  
• The Preliminary Economic Assessment will include an amended 43-101 compliant resource estimate which incorporates additional diamond drilling completed subsequent to the resource estimate provided by EL Nino Ventures in a news release dated February 28, 2012.

VANCOUVER, May 2, 2013 /CNW/ - El Nino Ventures Inc. ("ELN" and the "Company") (TSX.V: ELN; OTCQX: ELNOF Frankfurt: E7Q) is pleased to provide an update on the Murray Brook polymetallic massive sulfide deposit, Bathurst Mining Camp (New Brunswick) during the period December 2012 to May 2013.

Further to the announcement of January 15, 2013, the results from Phase 1 metallurgical testwork commissioned by our partner and project operator, Votorantim Metals Canada Inc. (Votorantim), on samples from the Murray Brook deposit (Figure 1), is illustrated in Table 1. The purpose of the testwork was to investigate flotation options for sequential recovery of copper, lead and zinc concentrates from Murray Brook feed.

Table 1.Assay and Recovery Results of Locked Cycle Tests for Murray Brook

Additional metallurgical testwork was planned to be carried out by RPC Science & Engineering Laboratories in early 2013. El Nino Ventures Inc. is pleased to announce that the additional testwork has been completed and the results will be reported in a planned Preliminary Economic Assessment to be completed in H1 2013. The additional testwork focused on optimizing copper and lead recoveries, in part through processing of larger samples in bigger equipment.  An expanded metallurgical test program involving pilot plant design work is planned to follow completion Preliminary Economic Assessment.

Qualified Persons Statement

This news release has been reviewed and approved for technical content by Ali Hassanalizadeh M.Sc. P.Geo., a qualified Person under the provisions of National Instrument 43‐101.

About El Niño Ventures Inc. Bathurst Projects

El Niño Ventures Inc. has two active projects in the Bathurst Mining Camp;

1.Murray Brook Project:
The Murray Brook project is a polymetallic, massive sulfide deposit. The Murray Brook property is located 60 km west of Bathurst.  It is supported by excellent infrastructure, including paved roads, grid electricity and communities to provide goods, services and skilled labour (Figure 1).  To date, more than 28,000 metres of drilling has been completed with encouraging results.  In February 2012, NI43-101 resource estimation was announced (see news release). The technical report is filed on SEDAR.com and also available on ELN's website.
A Preliminery Economic Assessment (PEA) is slated for H1-2013.

Figure 1 - Murray Brook and Camel Back Location map in the Bathurst Mining Camp (http://www.elninoventures.com/s/NewsReleases.asp?ReportID=583085)

2. Bathurst Mining Camp Project :( Tri-Party Agreement)
Consists of an initial 4,712 claims (Figure 2) in the Tri‐Party Agreement with Xstrata & VM Canada whereby VM Canada may incur exploration expenditures of $10 million over a period of 5 years to earn a 50% interest. VM Canada may further increase its interest to 70% by spending an additional $10 million over 2 years.

Figure 2 - Land tenure map showing the location of optioned properties in the Bathurst Mining Camp (http://www.elninoventures.com/s/NewsReleases.asp?ReportID=583085)

Votorantim Metals Canada Inc. Statement

Technical details in this news release were provided by Votorantim whose professional geologists conduct operations consistent with mineral industry best practices.  Votorantim accepts no responsibility for this news release or any inferences made from the technical details provided herein.

About Votorantim Metals Canada Inc.

Votorantim Metals Canada Inc. is a subsidiary of Votorantim Metals is a company that is part of the Votorantim Group that was founded in Brazil in 1918. The Votorantim Group operates in twenty countries and has over 40,000 employees. Votorantim Metais is the largest electrolytic nickel producer in Latin America and one of the world's leaders in the production of zinc, aluminum and nickel.   Votorantim Canada Metals Inc. in conjunction with Xstsrata Zinc and El Nino Ventures is operator of the Bathurst Option and Joint Venture which is actively exploring for base metal deposits within the Bathurst Mining Camp.

About El Nino Ventures Inc.

El Niño Ventures Inc. is an international exploration company, focused on exploring for zinc, silver, copper, gold and lead in New Brunswick, Canada and copper in the Democratic Republic of Congo ("DRC").

On Behalf of the Board of Directors

Harry Barr
Chairman & CEO
El Niño Ventures Inc.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward Looking Statements. Note:  This release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties.  These statements may differ materially from actual future events or results and are based on current expectations or beliefs.  For this purpose, statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking statements.  In addition, forward-looking statements include statements in which the Company uses words such as "continue", "efforts", "expect", "believe", "anticipate", "confident", "intend", "strategy", "plan", "will", "estimate", "project", "goal", "target", "prospects", "optimistic" or similar expressions.  These statements by their nature involve risks and uncertainties, and actual results may differ materially depending on a variety of important factors, including, among others, the Company's ability and continuation of efforts to timely and completely make available adequate current public information, additional or different regulatory and legal requirements and restrictions that may be imposed, and other factors as may be discussed in the documents filed by the Company on SEDAR (www.sedar.com), including the most recent reports that identify important risk factors that could cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements.  The Company does not undertake any obligation to review or confirm analysts' expectations or estimates or to release publicly any revisions to any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.  Investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.

SOURCE El Nino Ventures Inc.