Columbus Exploration to Receive US$1 Million If Santa Fe Merger Closes

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA -- (Marketwired - Mar 11, 2014) - Columbus Exploration Corp. (TSX VENTURE:CLX) (formerly Columbus Silver Corporation) announces that it has entered into an amended option agreement with Santa Fe Gold Corp. pursuant to which Santa Fe can earn a 100% interest in Columbus Silver's Mogollon Project by immediately paying US$50,000 to Columbus Exploration, followed by a binding and mandatory US$950,000 payment upon closing of Santa Fe's proposed merger with Tyhee Gold Corp.

Pursuant to the terms of the amended agreement, if Santa Fe's proposed merger with Tyhee Gold Corp. does not close, Santa Fe will have the option of paying US$950,000 within three months of the news release announcing the cancellation of the proposed merger and upon such payment it would earn the 100% interest in the Mogollon Project. The amended agreement amends and restates the original option agreement between Columbus Exploration and Santa Fe dated effective September 19, 2012, as amended effective June 28, 2013; all other material terms remain unchanged. For additional details please see Columbus Exploration's news releases of September 19, 2012, October 22, 2012 and July 3, 2013.


ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD,

Robert F. Giustra
President, CEO, and Director



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.

This release contains forward-looking information and statements, as defined by law including without limitation Canadian securities laws and the "safe harbor" provisions of the US Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 ("forward-looking statements"). In particular, and without limitation this news release contains forward-looking statements pertaining to the amended and restated option agreement, (the "Amended Agreement") including without limitation Santa Fe's payments and other obligations required thereunder to maintain the Amended Agreement in good standing, and future obligations discussed therein, and the closing of Santa Fe's proposed merger with Tyhee Gold Corp. (the "Proposed Merger"). Forward-looking statements involve risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results to be materially different from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, including without limitation whether the Proposed Merger closes, whether Santa Fe has the desire and ability to make payments to Columbus Exploration and in connection with maintaining the Amended Agreement in good standing; whether Santa Fe will maintain the option in good standing and will not terminate the Amended Agreement in connection with dropping the option; cost increases; unforeseen circumstances; risks associated with the exploration projects or title thereto held by Columbus Exploration; mineral reserve and resource estimates (including the risk of assumption and methodology errors); dependence on third parties for services; non-performance by contractual counterparties; title risks; and general business and economic conditions.

Forward-looking statements are based on a number of assumptions that may prove to be incorrect, including without limitation assumptions about; that Santa Fe will have sufficient funds and desire to continue earning into the Mogollon Project and maintaining it in good standing, and will do so; that required service providers will be available; general business and economic conditions; availability of financing; and ongoing relations with employees, partners and joint venturers. Although the foregoing forward-looking statements are considered reasonable at the time of preparation, the aforementioned assumptions and factors may prove to be imprecise and, as such, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements. The aforementioned factors and assumptions are not exhaustive. Columbus Exploration's actual results, performance, or achievement could differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, these forward-looking statements. We can give no assurance that any of the events anticipated will transpire or occur, or if any of them do, what benefits we will derive from them. The forward-looking information contained in this document is expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. The foregoing list is not exhaustive and Columbus Exploration undertakes no obligation to update any of the foregoing except as required by law.



Contact

Columbus Exploration Corp.
Investor Relations
604-634-0970 or 1-888-818-1364
info@columbusgroup.com