Columbus Copper Discovers Gold Mineralization at its Kavaklitepe Gold Project, Turkey, Including 5.2 Grams Per Tonne Gold in Outcrop

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA -- (Marketwire - Jan. 17, 2013) - Columbus Copper Corporation ("Columbus Copper") (TSX VENTURE:CCU) (formerly Empire Mining Corporation (TSX VENTURE:EPC)) is pleased to announce that it has discovered bedrock gold in a hand-dug trench and in two separate soil sampling grids completed at its 100% owned Kavaklitepe Gold Project in western Turkey.

The mineralization discovered by Columbus Copper is a new discovery and consists of clay-gouge and sooty pyrite with gold/silver/arsenic/antimony geochemical suit, indicative of a shear-related epithermal system. The original discovery was in a stream bed in the course of following up a stream sediment anomaly with 5.2 grams per tonne ("gpt") gold from a rock chip composite of clay gouge material. A small trench in an adjacent road cut was opened up perpendicular to the observed strike of the mineralization and returned a weighted average grade of 2.67 gpt over 21 metres of exposure. The mineralized structure appears to be wider but conditions prevented the hand digging the next 15 metres, although a pit returned 2.14 gpt over one metre, which suggests some continuity over at least 36 metres while it remains open to the south. The observed strike of the mineralized zone aligns with the recently completed 50 metre x 50 metre soil grid gold anomaly and extends for 1.6 kilometres west-southwest, remaining open in all directions. Of the 211 soil samples collected, 52 show values in excess of 50 parts per billion ("ppb"), 33 greater than 100 ppb and 12 exceeding 250 ppb with a maximum of 6.05 gpt on the edge of one of the two grids.

To view maps of regional geology, project location, and Gold, Silver and Antimony sampling results, see link below:
www.empireminingcorp.com/i/nr/2013-01-17-maps.pdf

To view a table of results returned by the initial reconnaissance rock sampling by Columbus Copper, see link below:
www.empireminingcorp.com/i/nr/2013-01-17-table.pdf

The Kavaklitepe Gold Project is situated 120 kilometres south-southeast of Istanbul in western Turkey, immediately north of a fertile zone demonstrating copper, molybdenum and gold porphyry systems. Palaeozoic to Triassic sediments and schist and Mesozoic marble are the main geological units within the project area. A set of dominantly dextral strike-slip and cross sinistral faults have been interpreted to form extensional strain anomalies and pre-mineral shear zones and folds in the area. The dextral faults are also parallel to the Eskishehir Fault that is a regionally important, brittle fault system striking west-northwest over a length of 80 kilometres, probably penetrates to deep crustal level, and also controls the mineralization in the two porphyry deposits along its strike (Muratdere and Gurculer).

Past reconnaissance work conducted on the license by Rio Tinto in 2003 identified a stream sediment gold anomaly of 726 ppb that suggested a source within a three square kilometre area. The anomaly was then followed-up with a 200 metre x 200 metre soil grid that returned three anomalous samples with a maximum of 455 ppb. No mineralization was found to be responsible for the anomaly at the time and no additional work was done until the Columbus Copper work late in 2012.

The Kavaklitepe gold discovery is a new discovery by Columbus Copper where the initial sample of 5.2 gpt gold was followed up with further sampling to obtain an indication of the width of the mineralized structures. Columbus Copper plans to extend the soil sampling to better define the anomaly, open up trenches in the forest where the soil anomaly is defined and conduct orientation IP geophysics. A shallow drill-hole campaign is also intended once the follow-up has been completed.


Quality Assurance/Quality Control

All sampling was carried out according to procedures described in the Bursa CPR and comprise 'B' horizon soils sent under chain of custody to ALS Chemex in Vancouver after preparation in ALS' preparation facilities in Izmir, Turkey. In addition to the 211 samples, 10 standard reference materials and 9 duplicates were included in the sample batch. All standard reference material samples reported within their respective certified ranges.

Empire's Qualified Person, David C. Cliff, BSc (Hons), MIMMM, C Eng, FGS, also Empire's President & CEO, has reviewed and approved the content of this project description.


ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

David Cliff
President & CEO



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"), respecting Columbus Copper's exploration plans, and plans for the next 12 months. 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 the ability to acquire necessary permits and other authorizations; obtaining TSX Venture Exchange and other regulatory approvals; environmental compliance; weather risks; cost increases; availability of qualified worker; availability of equipment; competition for mining properties; ability to convert exploration permits into development permits; risks associated with exploration projects, 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. There is no assurance that the Kavaklitepe Gold Project will lead to a NI 43-101 resource, nor that future drilling will be desirable or conducted on the property. Forward-looking statements are based on a number of assumptions that may prove to be incorrect, including without limitation assumptions about; general business and economic conditions; favourable weather conditions; the timing and receipt of required approvals; availability of financing; ability to obtain required approvals including without limitation those of the TSX Venture Exchange; ability to locate applicable exemptions from securities law and policy respecting prospectus and registration requirements; power prices; ability to procure equipment and supplies; and ongoing relations with employees, partners and joint venturers. The foregoing list is not exhaustive and we undertake no obligation to update any of the foregoing except as required by law.

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.



Contact

Columbus Copper Corporation
Investor Relations
604-634-0970 or 1-888-818-1364
www.empireminingcorp.com