LONGUEUIL, QUÉBEC--(Marketwired - April 4, 2013) - Highland Copper Company Inc. (News - Market indicators) ("Highland" or the "Company") is pleased to announce results for 61 additional diamond drill holes from the 543S chalcocite deposit at the Keweenaw copper project in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, U.S.A. Some of the higher grade and longer intersections in holes include the following:

• CEN413: 16.1 meters of 2.93% Cu and 2.6 g/t Ag including
  • 3.5 meters of 8.40% Cu and 4.1 g/t Ag
• CEN415: 23.0 meters of 2.99% Cu and 10.1 g/t Ag including
  • 3.0 meters of 10.83% Cu and 6.3 g/t Ag
• CEN432: 28.0 meters of 3.62% Cu and 0.9 g/t Ag including
  • 2.6 meters of 8.11% Cu and 1.8 g/t Ag and
  • and 16.3 meters of 2.13% Cu and 3.1 g/t Ag including
  • 3.7 meters of 8.30% Cu and 1.8 g/t Ag
• CEN443: 29.0 meters of 2.51% Cu and 3.0 g/t Ag including
  • 4.5 meters of 8.03% Cu and 6.1 g/t Ag
• CEN451: 20.5 meters of 2.25% Cu and 2.1 g/t Ag including
  • 3.0 meters of 5.38% Cu and 1.7 g/t Ag
• CEN458: 26.1 meters of 1.62% Cu and 3.7 g/t Ag including
  • 4.5 meters of 8.03% Cu and 6.6 g/t Ag

Results for composite assay intersections in all 61 holes are shown on the attached table (http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/hcopper_table.pdf). Sampling of visually-identified high grade copper intersections is on minimum 0.5 meter intervals adjusted for the geology. Individual high grade samples tend to cluster in continuous zones within broader envelopes of lower grade material. Contacts with adjacent unmineralized wall rocks may be sharp or gradational. Several holes reported in this release that lack significant mineralization are edge holes along the east side of the deposit where earlier drilling had not completely limited the mineralization. The attached cross section is located on the eastern portion of the 543S deposit (http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/hcopper%202.pdf).

"We are very pleased with the results," noted Ross R. Grunwald, PhD, Vice president of Exploration for Highland. "The pattern of high grade zones within longer intersections of lower grade copper mineralization is similar to what we have reported in previous releases indicating a consistent style of mineralization throughout the deposit. This provides confidence that a reliable geological model may be developed to support a resource estimate. The eastern and western limits of the mineralization appear to be offset by fault structures, offering significant exploration potential in the vicinity of the known 543S deposit."

"The Company has delivered the 543S database to independent consultants and a resource estimate in compliance with Canadian National Instrument 43-101 ("NI 43-101") has been initiated."

Exploration program progress

Since July 16, 2012, 171 diamond drill holes totaling 26,972 meters have been completed in the 543S deposit (see Figure 1)(http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/hcopper%201.pdf). Highland's 2012 objective was to verify the 1970s drill results by reducing the historic drill hole spacing and twinning selected historic holes to establish a NI 43-101 resource estimate at the 543S deposit. The original grid at an approximate 200 ft collar spacing (60 meters) has been reduced to an overall collar spacing of approximately 30 meters or less. Collar spacing in the southwestern portion of the 543S deposit was locally reduced to 15 meters to gain a better understanding of the continuity of mineralization and local geological structure (see Figure 1). 

Both diamond drills have been moved to the G-2 prospect where 31 historic holes drilled in the 1970s indicate potential for chalcocite mineralization geologically similar to that found in the 543S deposit. It is anticipated that drilling will be suspended for most of April during spring snow-melt when roads are largely impassable.

Reviews of the mineralization regarding ore types with possibly differing metallurgical response have been completed by the geological staff. The principal difference identified is grain size which varies from sub-millimeter to centimeter dimensions. There is no significant surface oxidation. Chalcocite is the only abundant sulfide and only traces of other sulfides and native copper are present.

Geology

Lens-like zones of mineralization, largely in brecciated tops of amygdaloidal Precambrian basalt lava flows, consist mostly of primary chalcocite accompanied by small amounts of native copper and native silver. Silver in the copper-bearing zones generally varies from 1-15 g/tonne Ag. Traces of other sulfide minerals are also present. Mineralization comes to the bedrock surface and is covered by 3 to 30 meters of glacial deposits. The 543S deposit is in the western portion of a 20-mile long belt of chalcocite prospects that extends east from a belt of large native copper mines, centered near the town of Calumet, Michigan, that were mined for about 130 years before closing in 1968 due to low copper prices.

The 2012 drill holes are within an area of 101 historic diamond drill holes called the 543S sulphide deposit, a zone of chalcocite mineralization that was explored from 1973-1977 and briefly in the mid-nineties. The 543S deposit contains a historic resource estimate of 4.5 million short tons averaging 2.27% Cu at a 0.75% Cu cut-off grade as described in a Technical Report by Behre Dolbear & Company, Ltd. titled "Centennial and Kingston Native Copper, 543S, and Other Copper Sulfide Properties, Houghton and Keweenaw Counties, Michigan, USA'' dated September 29, 2011. The Company has not completed the work necessary to classify the historical estimate mentioned above as current mineral resources. The Company is not treating the historical estimate as current mineral resources as defined in NI 43-101 and the historical estimate should not be relied upon. The historical resource estimate is contained in six separate lenses averaging 5.0 meters (16.5 ft.) true thickness that dip about 40° to the north.

Drilling, sampling, assaying, and QAQC

All holes reported on Table 1 are inclined to the south along section lines shown on Figure 1. Drill hole inclinations are selected to approximate a true width intersection of the mineralized lenses based on regional information on the dips of the lava flows. Holes reported as unmineralized contain less than 3 continuous meters averaging at least 0.20% Cu and are mostly confined to edges of the 543S deposit. Down-hole surveys are made for all holes. A table listing collar coordinates, orientation and azimuth of all holes will be available on the Company's website.

All technical information for the 543S exploration program is collected under a formal quality assurance and quality control (QAQC) program that has been reviewed by two independent qualified persons as defined in NI 43-101. Samples are taken under the direction of qualified geologists and stored in sealed bags. Samples are then placed in sealed containers and delivered via courier or common carrier to Accurassay Labs and ActLabs, both certified analytical facilities in Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada, for analysis. Copper and silver contents are determined at both labs using a four acid digestion procedure.

The technical information contained in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Ross R. Grunwald, PhD., Vice president - Exploration for the Company. Dr. Grunwald is a qualified person as defined in NI 43-101.

Keweenaw Copper Project

The Keweenaw Copper Project covers about 13,000 acres of mineral rights and is being explored under a Mining Venture Agreement between Highland and BRP LLC. The agreement allows Highland to earn a 65 percent interest by spending US$11.5 million in expenditures on the project and providing a feasibility study by October 26, 2015. More information about the Keweenaw Copper Project is available in Behre Dolbear's NI 43-101 Technical Report, available on the Company's website at www.highlandcopper.com and on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

Clarification on investor relations retainer

As announced in a press release on February 28, 2013, the Company has retained Profinnotiv AG of Switzerland to provide investor and public relations services in Europe. Manfred Goldbach is the sole person authorized by Profinnotiv to provide these services to the Company. Neither Profinnotiv nor Manfred Goldbach hold directly or indirectly any of the Company's common shares, nor do they have a right or current intent to acquire any.

Cautionary Statement

Certain statements contained in this press release constitute forward looking information under the provisions of Canadian securities laws. Such statements include without limitation: the Company's plans and objectives to complete a mineral resource estimate and resource modeling; the geological interpretation of the results and the continuity of the copper system, and other statements and information regarding anticipated results regarding the Company's operations and exploration. Such statements reflect the Company's views as at the date of this press release and are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions, and undue reliance should not be placed on such statements. Actual results may be materially different from those currently anticipated. Many factors, known and unknown, could cause the actual results to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward looking statements. Such risks include, but are not limited to: the volatility of copper price; the uncertainty of exploration results, capital expenditure requirements and other costs; the uncertainties related to the Company's ability to acquire a 65% interest in the Keweenaw project; currency fluctuations; the availability of financing for additional capital requirements, cost of exploration and development programs; mining risks; risks associated with governmental and environmental regulation and obtaining all the necessary permits for the development of the project; and risks associated with global economic growth. The Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update these forward-looking statements and information, except as required by law. Accordingly, readers are advised not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.

Investors are cautioned not to assume that all or any part of a mineral resource, if confirmed, will ever be converted into mineral reserves. Mineral resources have a great amount of uncertainty as to their existence, and as to their economic and legal feasibility.

About Highland

Highland Copper Company Inc. is a Canadian exploration company focused on exploring and developing copper projects on the Keweenaw Peninsula within the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, U.S.A. through its 100%-held subsidiary, Keweenaw Copper Co. The Company is well capitalized with approximately $10 million in cash at December 31, 2012. The common shares of Highland trade on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol 'HI'. Additional information about the Company is available on the Company's website and on SEDAR.