El Nino Ventures Inc.

Drilling highlights:

• 4.62% zinc, 1.82% lead, 0.521 gpt gold and 69.8 gpt silver over 84.6 metres in MB-012-117
  • Including 10.34% zinc, 4.11% lead, 1.396 gpt gold and 126 gpt silver over 13 metres
• 3.45% zinc, 0.98% lead, 0.324 gpt gold and 46.5 gpt silver over 79.5 metres in MB-2012-114
  • Including 7.59% zinc, 2.48% lead, 0.557 gpt gold and 102.2 gpt silver over 28 metres
• 2.42% zinc, 1.12% lead, 1.141 gpt gold and 55.5 gpt silver over 89.1 metres in MB-2012-121
  • Including 3.13% zinc, 1.19% lead, 2.213 gpt gold and 66 gpt silver over 16 metres

July 30, 2012, Vancouver, Canada; El Nino Ventures Inc. ("ELN" and the "Company") (TSX.V: ELN; OTCQX: ELNOF Frankfurt: E7Q) is pleased to announce assay results from the latest round of drilling at the Murray Brook polymetallic massive sulfide deposit, Bathurst Mining Camp, New Brunswick (Figure 1). The drill program commenced February 9, 2012 and was completed June 17, 2012. Ninety seven vertical holes have been completed for a total of 18,470 metres drilled.

Results of the 2012 drill program have been successful in identifying two distinct massive sulfide zones. Holes MB-2012-114, MB-2012-115, MB-2012-117 and MB-2012-118 reported herein were drilled in the Western Zone (Figure 2), which is thicker and more Zn-Pb-Ag rich than the Eastern Zone. Holes MB-2012-116 and MB-2012-121 were drilled in the Eastern Zone (Figure 2), which is thinner and more Cu-Au rich. MB-2012-119 and MB-2012-120 were drilled to better delineate the boundaries of the East and West Zones respectively (Figure 2).

The assay results for the Western Zone are better (Table 1). Drill hole MB-2012-117 intersected 84.6 metres of 4.62% zinc, 1.82% lead, 0.15% copper, 0.521 gpt gold and 69.8 gpt silver (Table 1). This interval includes 13 metres grading 10.34% zinc, 4.11% lead, 0.29% copper, 1.396 gpt gold and 126.0 gpt silver from 170 metres down hole. Drill hole MB-2012-114 intersected 79.5 metres of 3.45% zinc, 0.98% lead, 0.53 % copper, 0.324 gpt gold and 46.5 gpt silver. This interval includes 28 metres grading 7.59% zinc, 2.48% lead, 0.18% copper, 0.557 gpt gold and 102.2 gpt silver from 98 metres down hole. MB-2012-114 also intersected mineralization 9.4 metres of 5.41% zinc, 2.30% lead, 0.12 % copper, 0.750 gpt gold and 71.0 gpt silver from 153.6 metres down hole.

2012-2013 Exploration Program

A minimum $3 million budget has been proposed for the 2012-2013 exploration program. The budget includes $2.5 million for diamond drilling work on the Murray Brook deposit and a $500,000 exploration geophysical program on the Murray Brook property and the adjacent Camel Back property (Figure 2). The objective of this exploration program is to explore for VMS deposits at depths of up to 200 metres below surface. The Camel Back property is located in the area between the Murray Brook deposit to the west, which is one of the largest massive sulfide deposits in the Bathurst Mining Camp (BMC), and the Caribou deposit to the east which was recently acquired by Trevali Mining Corporation.

The 2012 exploration program consists of:

• $2.5 million budgeted for drill programs to develop the project including;
  • 18,470 metre drill program began February 2012
  • Delineate the outer perimeter of the Murray Brook deposit and advance the resources into the measured (highest confidence) category
• $0.5 million budgeted for exploration of the Murray Brook and Camel Back Properties
  • Mapping and prospecting
  • Ground gravity geophysics
  • 2000 metres of drilling with bore-hole EM surveys
• Metallurgical studies

Three holes were drilled to provide sample materials for metallurgical tests on the Murray Brook deposit. Metallurgical tests are in progress in advance of a Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA or Scoping Study) study in Q1 2013.

The Exploration Agreement

Votorantim is the Operator of the Murray Brook Project. In January 2011, ELN announced that it provided notice to Votorantim to enter into a Participation Agreement on the Murray Brook polymetallic massive sulfide deposit situated in the Bathurst Mining Camp in New Brunswick, Canada.

Under Votorantimʹs Option and Joint Venture Agreement with Murray Brook Minerals Inc. and Murray Brook Resources Inc., both privately held companies, Votorantim can earn a 50% interest in the properties by funding $2,250,000 in exploration expenditures and making payments totalling $300,000 over a three year period that commenced November 1, 2010. Votorantim can earn an additional 20% interest in the properties by funding an additional $2,250,000 in exploration expenditures over an additional two year period. ELN has elected to enter into a participation agreement wherein it can earn 50% of Votorantim's interest by paying 50% of the costs incurred by Votorantim in the Option and Joint Venture Agreement.

On May 10, 2012 ELN announced that Murray Brook Minerals Inc. (MBM) has been given formal notice by ELN and Votorantim Metals Canada ("Votorantim") of a 50% earned interest in the Murray Brook, Polymetallic project, Bathurst, New Brunswick. MBM has also been provided with a valid notice that ELN and Votorantim are exercising their option to acquire and become owner of an additional 20% (for a total of 70%) beneficial interest in the Murray Brook mining claims.

Figure 1 - Land tenure map showing the location of the Murray Brook Project in the northwest part of the Bathurst Mining Camp, New Brunswick.

Figure 2 -- Contour map of Murray Brook showing massive sulfide thickness contoured at 10 metre intervals (source: Votorantim Metals Canada)


Table 1 - Composited Drill Hole Intercepts

*The composite assays provided are of massive sulfide intersections only employing a 0% Zn cutoff
**The widths of the intersections are approximate to the true width of the mineralized zone.
 

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 The Murray Brook Project

The Murray Brook Project is historically the 5th largest massive sulfide deposit in the Bathurst Mining Camp and has excellent infrastructure.

To date, more than 28,000 metres of drilling has been completed with encouraging results.

The first NI 43-101 Mineral Resource Estimate for the Murray Brook Zn-Cu-Pb-Ag-Au deposit, which includes explanatory footnotes, is presented in the table below (see ELN press release dated February 28, 2012). The resource estimate is based on various assumptions regarding mining methods, processing and metal recoveries, payable metal NSR credits and metal prices. This estimate makes no provision for capital costs to mine the deposit, nor mill the material mined, as resources are not reserves.
 

Murray Brook Mineral Resource Estimate Summary

Mineral resources which are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability.
The estimate of mineral resources may be materially affected by environmental, permitting, legal, title, taxation, socio-political, marketing, or other relevant issues.

1. The quantity and grade of reported Inferred resources in this estimation are uncertain in nature and there has been insufficient exploration to define these Inferred resources as an Indicated or Measured mineral resource and it is uncertain if further exploration will result in upgrading them to an Indicated or Measured mineral resource category.
2. The mineral resources in this news release were estimated using the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (CIM), CIM Standards on Mineral Resources and Reserves, Definitions and Guidelines prepared by the CIM Standard Committee on Reserve Definitions and adopted by CIM Council
3. The Dec 31, 2011 two year trailing average US metal prices used in this estimate were $3.71/lb Cu, $1.03/lb Pb, $0.98/lb Zn, $1,397/oz Au, $27.63/oz Ag. The C$/US$ Exchange rate was 0.99.
4. Overall payable metal in the NSR calculation were 81% Cu, 72% Pb, 64% Zn, 71% Au and 56% Ag.
5. Mineral resources were determined within a Whittle pit shell with 45 degree slopes utilizing mining costs of C$2.50/tonne for mineralized material and waste rock, and C$1.75/tonne for overburden.
6. Costs used to determine the C$20/tonne NSR resource cut-off value were processing at C$15/tonne and G&A C$5/tonne.
7. The Murray Brook Mineral Resource Estimate was undertaken by Eugene Puritch, P.Eng. of P&E Mining Consultants Inc.