Excelsior Reports Recent Permitting in Arizona

VANCOUVER, BC - Excelsior Mining Corp. reported on recent developments within the Arizona mining industry that demonstrate the ability of copper projects, and specifically in-situ copper projects, to successfully obtain operating permits.

On September 28th, 2012, Curis Resources Ltd. announced that the Florence In-situ Copper Project, located in Arizona, had received an Aquifer Protection Permit (APP) for their "Phase 1" in-situ copper recovery operation.

The APP, issued by the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality ("ADEQ"), represents one of the most significant permits in the lead-up to production. For in-situ recovery projects, this permit includes a number of operational, closure and post closure requirements that ensure all aspects of the injection/recovery wellfield and processing plants will be designed to meet the Best Available Demonstrated Control Technology guidelines provided by the ADEQ.

As a further validation of the improved permitting climate in Arizona, earlier this year, Augusta Resource Corporation was also granted an Aquifer Protection Permit for the Rosemont Copper Project.

Commenting on these developments, Stephen Twyerould, the President and CEO of Excelsior stated, "These results are very positive for Curis, Excelsior and the larger community of copper miners in Arizona. We congratulate Curis and Augusta on receiving this key permit as we look to move our company into the same position in the near future. Given the recent issuance of these permits and the remote location of Excelsior''s Gunnison Project, we do not see permitting as a barrier to production for an in-situ copper project such as ours."

Excelsior intends to begin collecting data later this year that will be supplied with applications to the federal and state agencies that are responsible for administering and issuing operating permits. To date, all state and federal permitting for drilling, pumping and hydrological studies at the Gunnison Project have been granted in a timely manner without objection.

Dr. Twyerould concluded, "The state of Arizona is clearly open for business. We have been very pleased with our experience in working with the various regulatory bodies and stakeholders when applying for our work program permits, and we look forward to navigating the rest of the permitting process."

Commenting on these recent developments, the Chairman of Excelsior, Mark Morabito, added, "The essential components required to take our copper deposit into production are aligning at Gunnison. All of the geological data compiled to date indicates that we have an in-situ recovery project that has the potential to return positive economic results with minimal environmental impact. Our remote location is ideal, and with this recent granting of an operations permit for another in-situ copper project, we have proof that the state of Arizona remains one of the most attractive mining regions within the United States."

Excelsior is an exploration and development company with a copper project located within the Copper Porphyry Belt of Arizona. The Gunnison Copper Project is located close to the required infrastructure and its oxide resource has the potential to be mined using in-situ recovery methods. The Excelsior team consists of experienced professionals with proven track records of advancing projects towards production.

The company's address is 1240, 1140 West Pender Street, Vancouver, BC V6E 4G1, 604-681-8030, fax: 604-681-8039.